Southerner Xtra

Pope Leo XIV’s health update sparks prayers worldwide

My gistlovers, sometimes, even people wey millions of faithful dey look up to for spiritual strength need prayers and support too. Pope Leo XIV, the leader of the Catholic Church, don receive serious health diagnosis after doctors discovered a cancerous growth in his right lung, and the news put him recovery under global attention.

The 71-year-old Pope undergo surgery for Gemelli Hospital for Rome on October 13 after doctors discover the small growth inside his right lung. The growth, known as a nodule, turned out to be cancerous, and medical tests confirm say na adenocarcinoma, a type of lung cancer.

Doctors remove the lower lobe of his right lung during the operation. The Vatican announce say the procedure go well as planned, and the Pope returned to his hospital room after the surgery.

Doctors discovered the lung nodule during routine medical checks and recommend surgery to remove am. As the medical team prepare for the procedure, some hospital staff gather for chapel to pray the rosary, asking God to guide the doctors and strengthen the Pope through the operation.

Cardinal Baldassare Reina, the vicar of Rome, also called on people to remember the Pope and other patients for their prayers. E show say even people wey dey lead millions spiritually still need others to stand with dem when health matter show face.

Some pilgrims wey travel go Rome with the hope of seeing the Pope reportedly feel unhappy when dem hear say him dey hospital. But instead of allowing the sentiment to take over, many of dem turn to prayers for his recovery.

One woman, Yolanda Avella, 57, travelled from Tampa, Florida, and say she dey worried, but she still dey hopeful. The Rev. Pius Mathew, wey organise the group’s visit, also make am clear say the Pope’s health suppose come first.

Cardinal Kikuchi Tsutomu of Tokyo reportedly share another update, saying the Pope tell am say him dey feel fine and decided to address the health issue early, rather than allow am affect his future engagements.

For now, the Pope still dey recover for hospital, with doctors monitoring his progress. Latest reports say his recovery dey go well, and he may deliver the Angelus prayer on Sunday, October 18, depending on how him dey.

But the health challenge no be the only thing wey people dey watch. Pope Leo get a major trip planned for South America from November 6 to 17, with Uruguay, Argentina and Peru on the itinerary.

If the trip go ahead as planned, e go be the longest journey of his papacy so far, covering more than 19,000 miles. But whether the Pope go fit to travel go depend on how well him recover before November.

As the news continue to spread, prayers and goodwill messages don dey come from different corners of the world. People dey wish the Pope divine healing, strength and quick recovery, with many asking God to see am through this difficult period.

For now, na the Pope’s recovery matter pass every other thing. As the world dey wait for further updates, we join the faithful around the world to pray for his strength, healing and safe recovery.

Tupac’s murder case takes major turn nearly 30 years later

My Aprokonation, the long-running Tupac Shakur murder matter don reach another major milestone! The man wey jury find guilty of playing a major role in the killing of the American rap legend don finally hear his sentence. After nearly 30 years of questions and investigations, Duane “Keffe D” Davis don receive 40 years to life in prison, a sentence wey fit keep am behind bars for the rest of his life.

As we don report before, Keffe D na the former gang leader wey jury convict for the 1996 murder of Tupac. The 63-year-old was found guilty of first-degree murder in August, and on Tuesday, October 13, the court sentence am to 40 years to life in prison.

But even though the sentence don land, the matter never completely close, as Davis don indicate say he plans to appeal the verdict. According to prosecutors, Keffe D helped to organise the attack and provide the gun wey the group use to shoot Tupac.

Although Davis no be the person wey prosecutors say pull the trigger, dem maintain say na him play a leading role in planning the killing.
His nephew, Orlando Anderson, was identified as a suspected shooter, but he was never tried for the murder.

One major part of their case na statements wey Davis himself make about the incident, including details wey later appear for his 2019 memoir, Compton Street Legend.

But Keffe D’s defence team no agree with the prosecution’s version of events. Dem argue say him exaggerate or even fabricate some of his claims to sell books and make money. His earlier statements about the murder also became a major issue during the trial. One police interview, in particular, had been conducted under an agreement meant to protect am from prosecution.

The judge later allowed the interview to be used as evidence after prosecutors argued say Davis’s memoir and media interviews had breached the agreement wey supposed to protect his earlier statements from being used against him.

My people, make we no forget how this whole matter start. Tupac was only 25 years old when gunmen attacked the car wey him dey inside with music executive Suge Knight in Las Vegas on September 7, 1996. The rapper suffered multiple gunshot wounds and died six days later.

For decades, Tupac’s murder remained one of America’s most talked-about unsolved cases, with fans debating who was responsible and wetin really happen that night. Now, Keffe D’s conviction don bring a major development to a case wey remain unresolved for almost 30 years.

Tupac’s music, meanwhile, continues to reach new generations, and the rapper don sell more than 75 million records worldwide. Even as the legal case dey move forward, his legacy remain strong, with fans still celebrating the music and message wey him leave behind.

As the news spread online, some Nigerians begin connect the development to the unresolved questions surrounding singer Mohbad’s death. One person wrote, “Na so dem go sentence whoever orchestrated Mohbad’s death too.” Another person asked, “How many years remain for him life like this Omo,” while someone else simply dropped, “Very good.”

The comments show say some people dey hope for justice in other high-profile cases too. But my gistlovers, make we remember say every case get its own evidence and legal process; Keffe D’s conviction no automatically determine the outcome of another investigation.

Nearly three decades after Tupac’s death, the case still dey hold people’s attention, and Keffe D’s sentence don give fans another reason to revisit the painful chapter. But with an appeal still on the table, the final word on this legal battle never reach yet.
Tupac’s music don outlive him, and the questions surrounding his death still dey command attention.

Akpabio’s comment on suicide bill gets Nigerians talking

My people, one comment wey come out during Senate debate don set social media on fire, and Nigerians no dey keep quiet about am!

As lawmakers dey consider whether people wey survive suicide attempts suppose face jail or receive medical help, Senate President Godswill Akpabio’s position don trigger serious reactions, with people asking whether punishment na really the answer when somebody dey go through a difficult time.

The matter come up on Tuesday when the Senate considered a bill sponsored by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, wey dey push for attempted suicide to stop being treated as a criminal offence. But Akpabio opposed the proposal, insisting say anybody wey attempt suicide but survive should face jail.

The Senate President even made the controversial remark: “If you attempt suicide, make sure you die. Anyone who attempts and fails will go to jail.”

My people, na this statement make the debate gather more attention. While Akpabio argue say removing the punishment fit encourage the act, Ekpenyong dey look the matter from another angle.

According to the bill’s sponsor, Nigeria’s laws dey send mixed messages because the National Mental Health Act recognises attempted suicide as a psychiatric emergency wey need medical intervention, while provisions of the Criminal Code and Penal Code still make am an offence.

Ekpenyong argue say person wey survive such experience need urgent care, instead of being taken straight to the police station or correctional facility. He also warn say when people fear arrest, dem fit hide their struggles or avoid seeking help, while families fit conceal incidents because dem no want make their loved ones enter legal trouble.

The proposed bill therefore seeks to replace punishment with medical assessment, treatment, psychological support and follow-up care.

Some senators also backed the proposal. Senator Dayo Faduyile, a medical doctor, maintain say a suicide attempt should be treated as a medical emergency, explaining say people wey reach that point need professional assistance rather than criminal charges.

Senator Abdul Ningi also back further consideration of the bill, although Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele raised questions about how the proposed changes go apply across different states, given the differences in their legal frameworks.

The comment section no waste time making its position known. One person wrote, “Anyone who attempts suicide needs urgent medical attention and not jail!” Another asked, “Even your own life you have no right over it,” while someone else challenged Akpabio’s position, asking, “You wan control Nigeria, still control my life?”

But another commentator admitted, “Somehow I support him,” showing say no be everybody dey look the issue from the same angle.

Beyond the online arguments, this matter touch people wey fit dey carry burdens others know nothing about. Supporters of decriminalisation argue say fear of punishment fit make somebody hide their crisis instead of reaching out for help.

When person dey face a mental health emergency, getting proper care fit matter more than adding another problem to the one wey dem already dey battle.

The bill don pass second reading and move to the relevant Senate committees for further consideration and a public hearing. E never become law yet, and the debate don go beyond the chamber, with the Association of Psychiatrists in Nigeria criticising Akpabio’s remarks and calling for an apology.

And na this be the heart of the matter: when somebody survives a suicide attempt, should the first response be punishment, or a chance to receive help and recover?