THE GOSPEL OF A "SAINT" I AM NOT A THIE F – James Ibori Former Governor of Delta State, James Ibori, declared that he is not a thief. He made the declaration during a thanksgiving service organised in his honour in Oghara, his hometown. He disclosed that while in prison in the United Kingdom, UK, his biggest concern was how his people were coping with his absence. According to Ibori “I am not a thief and cannot be a thief”. Ibori was convicted by a UK court after pleading guilty to money laundering charges in 2014. The Oghara-born politician, who was recently released after completing his jail term in the UK, arrived the country last Saturday amid celebrations from people of Delta State. In a way,Ibori might be right since he was not found guilty of stealing under the Nigerian law. What do you think?

The parish priest of St. Michael's catholic church Okpanam, Rev Fr Donatus Chukwuedo, has urged christians to practice love irrespective of tribal differences or religion. Fr Chukwedu, gave the charge shortly after a requiem mass for a sierra leonian whose name was given as Lewis, who lived in Okpanam, Oshilimi north local government area for over thirty years and died without a trace of his origin or relatives. The clergy said due to loss of memory which affected Dewis as a result of the Sierra Leone civil war, when he was alive, he could not recall his past or whereabout of any of his relatives. Rev Fr Chukwuedo said a search for his ducuments at the Nigerian immigration service was unproductive. He said he decided to give the man a befitting burial after a sworn affidavit in court and having observed that the deceased died as a true christian who dedicated his life to God and service to the church. He commended the parishioners of St Michael's Okpan for donating the...