The passing of Pope Francis, whose burial is scheduled for Saturday, has reignited discussions regarding the possibility of an African ascending to the papacy.

Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama of Nigeria’s Abuja Diocese expressed that African Cardinals possess an equal opportunity to become pope, similar to candidates from any other region.

In related news, it was announced on Tuesday that numerous world leaders, including former U.S. President Donald Trump and his wife Melania, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Javier Milei, are expected to attend the funeral at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City.

Prince William will also represent the King at the funeral, according to Kensington Palace, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has met with the Pope three times, plans to attend as well.

In an interview monitored by THISDAY, Archbishop Kaigama emphasized that while qualified Africans do not have lesser chances, the current need is for a Pope with a diverse perspective. He stated, “Historically, there have been black Popes, particularly in the early centuries of the Church, but there has not been a black Pope in modern times. Who says a black person cannot be Pope?”

He affirmed, “An African can be Pope. We have African Cardinals who hold the same chances as anyone from America or Europe. However, we are not solely praying for an African Pope; we seek a good and holy Pope, regardless of race or origin—be it black, Asian, American, or European.”

Africans are hopeful that one of their own may become the first modern Black Pope, continuing Francis’s legacy of supporting the developing world, although reports suggest the likelihood of this occurring is slim.

Africa, where religion deeply influences both private and public life, is home to the fastest-growing Roman Catholic population, as indicated by recent Vatican statistics.

Charles Yapi, a Catholic priest from Ivory Coast’s commercial hub, Abidjan, remarked, “Having a Black Pope would invigorate the Christian faith in Africa and reshape perceptions of the continent by demonstrating that an African can hold this esteemed position.”

Potential African papal candidates include Ghanaian Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, 76, Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu from the Democratic Republic of Congo, 65, and Ivory Coast’s Cardinal Ignace Bessi Dogbo, 63.

As of 2023, Africa accounted for approximately 20 percent of the global Catholic population, adding 9 million adherents the previous year.

It’s important to note that an African pope may not necessarily align with Pope Francis’s more progressive views, such as the conditional blessing of same-sex unions, which has been a contentious issue among Africa’s predominantly conservative followers. Yapi noted that an African pope might assert that same-sex relationships “are not part of our culture” and resist external pressures to accept them.

This issue could influence the cardinal electors during the conclave, as many may prefer a candidate whose views are more aligned with those of Pope Francis.

Pope Francis, aged 88, passed away on Monday following a stroke and cardiac arrest, marking the end of a often tumultuous papacy characterized by conflicts with traditionalists and advocacy for the marginalized.

He spent five weeks hospitalized earlier this year due to double pneumonia and had been on a path to recovery. However, the Vatican reported that his death was swift and painless. He began feeling unwell around 5:30 a.m. (0330 GMT) on Monday, received immediate attention, and approximately an hour later, he bid farewell to his nurse before slipping into a coma. His time of death was recorded at 7:35 a.m.

As part of the funeral preparations, his body will be transported to St. Peter’s Basilica on Wednesday morning at 9:00 a.m. in a procession led by cardinals, where he will lie in state until Friday evening at 7:00 p.m. The funeral service is set for the following day at 10:00 a.m. in St. Peter’s Square, presided over by Cardinal Giovanni Battista, the 91-year-old Dean of the College of Cardinals.

While Europe still represents the largest portion of cardinal electors at approximately 39 percent, this is a decrease from 52 percent in 2013 when Pope Francis took office. The second largest group of electors now hails from Asia and Oceania, making up about 20 percent.

The senate leadership says Pastor Tunde Bakare’s recent remarks on the national assembly’s role in the declaration of emergency rule in Rivers state and suspension of Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, the Kogi central senator, are misleading.

On Sunday, Bakare, the serving overseer of The Citadel Global Community Church, condemned the senate’s suspension of Akpoti-Uduaghan, the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers by President Bola Tinubu, and subsequent ratification by the national assembly.

“It is clear that our so-called leaders are determined to turn Nigeria into a mafia state,” Bakare had said.

“The two main contenders in the ongoing institutional immorality Olympics are the executive and the legislature.”

However, in a statement issued on Tuesday, Yemi Adaramodu, chairman of the senate committee on media and public affairs, said the red chamber was compelled to respond to Bakare’s comments, describing the remarks as “crossing the line”.

“The attention of the senate of the 10th national assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has been drawn to recent public remarks made by Pastor Tunde Bakare, which included sweeping generalisations and disparaging commentary aimed at the institution of the national assembly,” the statement reads.

“While the senate respects the right of every citizen — regardless of station — to express views on the state of the nation, we are constrained to respond when such commentary crosses the line into unwarranted invective and misleading assertions that risk eroding public trust in democratic institutions.”

Describing Bakare as a cleric and political voice, Adaramodu said the senate acknowledged the cleric’s past contributions to national conversations but noted that his latest statements were laced with “contempt and unsubstantiated claims”.

“Pastor Bakare, a cleric and political voice in his own right, has previously contributed to national discourse in ways that have spurred reflection and debate,” the senate spokesperson said.

“However, his most recent statements veer away from constructive criticism into rhetoric, unfortunately laced with contempt and unsubstantiated claims.

“We view his corrosive criticisms of the national assembly as a biased and political ecumenical homily.”

While acknowledging his stature as a cleric, Adaramodu said Bakare’s political and legal background must be taken into account when assessing the implications of his remarks.

“While he remains a respected cleric, his role as a prominent political figure cannot be discounted when assessing the lens through which his comments are made,” he said.

“His position as a political leader influences the context of his statements, which are not only reflections of personal views but also carry significant political implications.”

He added that the senate expected Bakare, as a trained lawyer, to know the constitutional limits of public commentary, especially on issues that are sub judice.

“Pastor Bakare is not only a cleric and political figure but also one with a legal background,” he said.

“He is, therefore, well aware of the constitutional boundaries that guide public commentary — particularly on matters that are sub judice.”

He maintained that the senate would not engage in matters already before a court, out of respect for the rule of law and judicial independence.

He also addressed suggestions that the national assembly should engage in open hostility with the executive arm, calling such displays performative.

“While some may attempt to portray an unnecessary adversarial dynamic between the national assembly and the executive arm of government as a marker of virility in checks and balances, we must clarify that such tension, though it may entertain some, does not necessarily equate to effective legislative oversight,” he added.

“The true test of institutional maturity lies not in performative hostility but in principled engagements and results-driven processes.”

He dismissed Bakare’s reference to the “infamous third-term agenda” as a flawed benchmark, stating that the 10th national assembly has never been approached with any unconstitutional request by the executive.

“To cast aspersions on the entire institution based on personal frustrations, ideological differences, or as positioning ahead of possible future political alignments is not only unfair but also counterproductive to our collective democratic journey,” he said.

Adaramodu noted that Bakare had also been critical of previous assemblies, which he now praises.

“We are confident that, in time, with a nuanced review of the performance of the 10th national assembly — within the context of the exigencies of this time and season — Pastor Bakare may, at some point in the future, commend us for acting in the best interest of the people of Nigeria, in line with our constitutional mandate,” he added.

Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has claimed that the perpetrators of the recent wave of killings across the state are not Nigerians, stating that they speak unfamiliar languages and exhibit foreign characteristics.

Governor Alia disclosed this on Tuesday while speaking as a guest on Politics Today, a current affairs programme on Channels Television in the wake of assaults on the North-Central state that have left scores killed and many displaced.

When asked about the identity of the attackers terrorising communities in the state, the governor said it was important to first clarify the nature of the threat.

“Let’s have the narrative very correct. We know Nigerians—by our ethnicities, we can identify a Fulani man, a Yoruba man, a Hausa man—we know them. Even the regular traditional herders, we know them. They work with cows, herding with sticks,” Alia said.

“But these folks [the attackers] are coming in fully armed with AK-47s and 49s. They do not bear the Nigerian look. They don’t speak like we do. Even the Hausa they speak is one sort of Hausa. ”

According to the governor, intelligence from locals suggests the attackers may be foreign nationals.

“It’s not the normal Hausa we Nigerians speak. So it is with the Fulani they speak. There is a trend in the language they speak, and some of our people who understand what they speak give it names. They say they are Malians and different from our people. But they are not Nigerians—believe it,” he added.

Governor Alia explained that this marked a new and more dangerous phase of violence compared to previous confrontations with traditional herders.

“This is the second phase we are seeing. The initial ones were with the traditional herders. The traditional herders—we had fewer troubles with them. What we are experiencing has a new, different, strange face, and it’s now alarming,” the governor said.

“These terrorists are everywhere. We are under a siege. These people just come and hit and kill and run back. Where are they running to?”

He further revealed that the attacks appear highly coordinated and strategically executed.

“The way these killings are being planned and carried out is definitely coordinated,” he noted. “Some local government areas in Benue share borders with Cameroon, and those borders are quite porous.”

The governor also said intelligence reports point to the existence of terrorist hideouts in parts of Taraba and Nasarawa states, as well as in areas within Cameroon.

“The terrorists have their own havens in Taraba, Nasarawa, and in border regions of Cameroon,” Alia stated.

The remarks come amid growing concern over a spate of attacks across Benue and Plateau States that have claimed dozens of lives, displaced entire communities, and deepened the security crisis in Nigeria’s Middle Belt.

Two weeks ago, on the same show, Plateau State Governor, Caleb Muftwang, also raised fresh concerns about the identity of those behind the persistent killings in the state, revealing that many of the attackers do not speak any known Nigerian language. This, he said, raises questions about their origin and motive.

Speaking during the televised interview, Governor Muftwang highlighted the growing trend of cross-border banditry across states in Nigeria’s north-central region.

“What people who have come under their attacks have told us is that sometimes these people cannot even speak any Nigerian language. That is the truth. Some of them are non-Nigerians, but some migrate from the northwest into places like Bauchi and Plateau,” he stated.

While acknowledging the presence of aggrieved locals occasionally involved in violence, Muftwang maintained that the current wave of killings had broader implications.

“I don’t want to be accused of ethnic profiling. I’m not driven by ethnic bias. In Plateau State, we’ve operated on the principles of fairness, justice, and inclusion.

“We believe that everyone has a right to move freely within the country. However, we will not shy away from acknowledging the reality that the majority of herders speak a language that is well known to all Nigerians.

“Is it possible that once in a while, you’ll find an Angas man, a Mwaghavul man, or a Berom man involved in criminal activity? Yes, because they are human beings like everyone else. And I can assure you, when we find them involved, we deal with them decisively. But this crisis is now a national menace creeping into the north-central and must be urgently addressed,” the governor stated.’

Lingering Attacks

Families of slain Plateau residents weep after marauders killed their loved ones in overnight attacks
Plateau governor lamented that more than 60 communities have already been taken over by these invaders. He stressed the urgent need for federal intervention to stop what he described as systematic land-grabbing and relentless bloodshed.

The crisis in Benue State remains just as grave. Over the weekend, suspected herders launched attacks on Ukum and Logo local government areas, killing at least 56 people. The death toll as of this report has risen to 72.

Governor Alia, in response, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu’s administration to take decisive and immediate action to restore peace and protect citizens from further violence.

Meanwhile, in response to the renewed violence and mounting casualties in Plateau State, Christian groups under the Church Denominational Leaders Forum and CAN held a peace walk on Monday to protest the ongoing killings.

President Bola Tinubu, in his Easter message, condemned the attacks and assured Nigerians that “forces of evil will never prevail,” directing security agencies to act decisively.

However, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi criticised the government’s response, urging more compassionate and community-driven approaches. The Inspector-General of Police has since ordered heightened patrols and increased security around public spaces during the Easter period.

The latest onslaughts — including the April 2025 attacks in Bokkos and Bassa, which claimed over 100 lives — mark some of the worst bloodshed since the 2023 Christmas Eve massacre in Plateau, where about 150 people were killed in a single night.

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