News
Tears as Vanguard Associate Editor Henry Umoru buries mother, wife same day
Friday, October 20, 2923 would remain a day of ash in the lives of veteran journalist and Associate Editor of the Vanguard newspaper, Mr. Henry Umoru, his family and friends as they watched and saw his beloved mother and wife buried minutes apart.
Below is the narration of the events as told by Victorson Agbenson, an OAP and management staff of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FRCN:

FUNERAL UMORU
Friends, colleagues and family members of an associate political editor with Vanguard Newspaper Mr.Henry Umoru have trooped out to join him in laying his mother , Mrs Celestina Aboda and wife, Mrs Bridget Umoru to rest at Ikpeshi in Edo state.
In an uncommon mix of hard luck and pain, the mother of Mr Henry Umoru, Mrs Celestina Ogbakhena Aboda died after a being illness on the 26th of September 2023, at the age of 75.
As Henry and family members were still mourning, his wife, who is a staff of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FRCN, Mrs Bridget Umoru also gave up the ghost after a brief illness at the age of 46.
The family therefore decided to lay both of them to rest on the same day at Henry Umoru’s home town, Ikpeshi in Akoko Edo Local Government area of Edo state.
Before then, a service of songs was held at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Catholic Church, Sabon Lugbe, Abuja mainly for Mrs Bridget Umoru.
At the service, Mr. Morobo Desmond – Dan, a brother to Mr. Umoru described the late Bridget as a women of peace.
“She was a very peaceful woman, even when you are the one who offended her or she offended you, she will come and tell you , sorry, please don’t be angry”
A close confident of Mr. Umoru, a former General Manager of Benue Printing and Publishing Company, Mr. Ben Agande said the late Bridget was a supporting wife who would be sorely missed.
“She was indeed a highly supportive wife to my friend. Henry and I have known for over thirty years and I know them very well, I just don’t know how my friend would cope without her. I’m really afraid”
A Deputy Director and colleague of the late Bridget at the department of Corporate Development and Communications, CD&C of FRCN, Mrs. Onyinye Orji Kalu who spoke on behalf of the Corporation, prayed God to console her loved ones.
“We cannot question God indeed. May her beautiful sould rest in peace”
For a former chairman of the FCT Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, and Editor in Chief of Forefront Magazine, Mr. Amos Duniya, the circumstances required that Mr Umoru should brace up as a man.
“This is indeed sad and devastating. I can’t imagine my close friend and confidant, Henry Umoru losing his wife and mother within less than 24 hours. Very painful, but we would try and see how we can encourage him to overcome. He will surely overcome by God’s grace”
Amidst singing of hymns such as ‘fading away like the starts of the morning’, ‘ it is well’ and Bible reading in the rich Catholic tradition and ambience, the Presiding Priest, John Adimula encouraged the faithful with the biblical hope of evalasting life in Christ Jesus.
Henry Umoru while expressing appreciation to the people for the love and support shown to him since the tragic loses, said “if it was the visitations, prayers and support, my lovly wife would not have died. This show of love has made me to vow that I will serve God more than ever!”
By Victorson Agbenson
We at Nationwide Reports wish Henry’s mother and wife peaceful repose of their souls while praying God to grant our colleague the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
News
Fubara: Fathers are society’s foundation
Sir Siminalayi Fubara, the Governor of Rivers State, has extolled the virtues of unconditional love and immeasurable sacrifice as the defining hallmarks of fatherhood and the bedrock upon which families and society are built.
In a goodwill message to commemorate the 2026 Father’s Day celebration, Governor Fubara paid glowing tributes to fathers for serving as the pillars that hold families together and, by extension, strengthen communities across Rivers State and Nigeria.
According to a statement by Onwuka Nzechi, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor on Media, Fubara noted that across the 23 Local Government Areas of Rivers State, fathers labour daily to provide for their families despite the economic and social challenges confronting the nation. According to him, Father’s Day is a special occasion set aside to honour the quiet love and selfless sacrifices that fathers make across generations and throughout the world.
“A father’s love is quiet strength. It is the man who leaves home before dawn and returns after dusk so his children can eat and go to school. It is the man who denies himself so his family can have. It is the firm hand that corrects and the open arms that forgive. That love is the invisible thread that holds our homes together, and that sacrifice is the foundation of our society.
“I have seen fathers labour under the sun, paddle through floods and endure hardship, all so that the next generation will have a better chance than they did. That is heroism without medals,” he said.
Governor Fubara emphasised that when fathers stand, families stand; when families stand, communities stand; and when communities stand, Rivers State stands. He stressed that responsible fatherhood produces stable homes, while responsible sons and daughters help to build peaceful neighbourhoods, harmonious communities and a prosperous state.
The Governor pledged that his administration would continue to draw inspiration from the resilience and sacrifices of fathers in building a Rivers State worthy of their commitment and labour.
He prayed that God would grant every father, grandfather, uncle, guardian and mentor good health, strength and long life to enjoy the fruits of their labour.
Father’s Day, celebrated in Nigeria and many countries around the world on the third Sunday of June, highlights the invaluable contributions of fathers to the family and society at large.
News
Edo: Convicted kidnappers to face public execution
Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has announced plans to establish a special court to fast-track the prosecution of suspected kidnappers and cultists in the state.
He said anyone convicted by the special courts would face public execution, adding that he would not hesitate to sign their execution order
He spoke in Benin during the parade of suspected kidnappers and cultists arrested by the Edo State Police Command.
He warned residents against engaging in kidnapping and cult-related activities, saying such crimes would only lead to the loss of lives and property.
The governor said the proposed special court would become operational within the next few weeks to ensure speedy trial of suspects.
“We are setting up a special court to try kidnappers and cultists. In the next two or three weeks, it should be ready,” he said.
News
Wike orders Fubara to join Rainbow coalition or face impeachment
River State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara has been served a new impeachment threat by his political tomentor, former governor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
This time, Fubara, who has faced series of troubles from Wike, has allegedly been ordered by the FCT Minister to join the Rainbow coalition or face impeachment.
This would be the third time the Governor has been threatened with impeachment since he assumed office in May 2023, all coming from Wike.
According to reports, Wike sent a delegation headed by Ambassador Desmond Akwor to governor Fubara.
The delegate met the governor behind closed doors to deliver an ultimatum from Nyesom Wike to to the effect that he must join the Rainbow Coalition within a two-week timeline.
It was reported that although the delegation did not tell the governor that if he refuses to join the coalition that he will be impeached, the request was delivered in a manner as though it were a command rather than persuasion or appeal.
However, Fubara was said to be currently unperturbed about whatever they are conspiring against him as he is focused on delivering good governance to the Rivers state people adding that the source said Fubara aware of the plot and does not seem bothered.
“Ambassador Desmond Akwor of Oyigbo who also heads the LGA campaigns for Rainbow Coalition led the delegation from Wike to governor Sim Fubara. The meeting was behind closed doors. They came to order the governor to join their Rainbow Coalition–I said order because of the way they came and how they made it as a demand rather than a persuasion. I heard they have concluded that if the governor refuses to join them in two weeks time, they will remove him but his excellency is not even concerned about their desperation. He is currently focused on delivering his campaign promises to the people,” the reported quoted a source to have said.
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