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Finally, Archbishop of Canterbury resigns over church child abuse scandal

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By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, shown on November 21, 2023, resigned on Tuesday. The most senior official in the Church of England was accused of failing to reprimand a prolific child abuser. Yui Mok/WPA Pool/Getty Images
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Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, the most senior leader in the Church of England, has resigned over his handling of a child abuse case, according to his official account.

Having sought the gracious permission of His Majesty The King, I have decided to resign as Archbishop of Canterbury,” Welby said in a statement on Tuesday.

Pressure had been mounting on Welby in recent days, following an independent review into “sickening abuse” committed by John Smyth, a deceased British lawyer considered the worst serial abuser linked to the Church of England.

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The incriminating report, commissioned by the church and released November 7, tracked a “worrying pattern of deference” to Smyth, concluding that “a serious crime was covered up.”

In Welby’s resignation statement, he said the review “has exposed the long-maintained conspiracy of silence about the heinous abuses of John Smyth.”

“When I was informed in 2013 and told that police had been notified, I believed wrongly that an appropriate resolution would follow,” Welby added. “It is very clear that I must take personal and institutional responsibility for the long and retraumatising period between 2013 and 2024.”

In his statement, the archbishop said the “exact timings” of when he officially leaves office were yet to be decided and would be established “once a review of necessary obligations has been completed.” It leaves open the possibility that the archbishop will remain in position over the Christmas period, while the process of finding his successor is expected to take many months. Welby, 68, will turn 70 on January 6, 2026, the retirement age for bishops in the Church of England, which meant he only had a little over a year left in post.

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While it is custom for Archbishops of Canterbury to be elevated to the House of Lords, Britain’s upper parliamentary chamber, after they leave office, the circumstances of Welby’s resignation will likely bring opposition against such a move.

Welby, a former oil executive, took up his post in March 2013 and was chosen as a skilled manager alongside his ability to hold different groups in the church together and focus on evangelization. However, disagreements over same-sex relationships have fractured church unity and have tested his authority.

On abuse, he described himself as “ashamed” of the church, although insisted he sought to improve the church’s response including dramatically boosting personnel numbers for its national safeguarding personnel. Nevertheless, problems persisted, and last year the chair of the church’s safeguarding office resigned.

A resignation by the Archbishop of Canterbury is extremely rare in the church’s history, and a resignation over the handling of abuse is without precedent. Welby’s decision to stand down underlines how the scourge of sexual abuse has damaged the credibility of the church, with accountability demanded of its leaders.

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Summer camps
Smyth perpetrated “traumatic physical, sexual, psychological and spiritual attacks” on as many as 130 boys and young men, with abuse spanning from the 1970s up until his death, in 2018 – according to the Makin Review.

He was accused of abusing his own family members, as well as attendees of evangelical Christian summer camps he helped run for students from Britain’s prestigious private colleges in the 1970s and 1980s.

From 1984 to 2001, when Smyth relocated to Zimbabwe and then South Africa, church officers “knew of the abuse and failed to take the steps necessary to prevent further abuse occurring,” the report added. Welby worked at the summer camps that Smyth helped run. The pair exchanged Christmas cards and Welby donated small sums of money to his “missions” in Zimbabwe.

In 2017, Channel 4 News reported on Smyth’s abuse. After the publication of the independent review earlier this month, Welby told the network he “did not” ensure the allegations were pursued as “energetically” and “remorselessly” as they should have been, when he rose to the highest rank in the church, in 2013. He was first ordained as a priest in 1993.

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The church’s review found that there was a “missed opportunity” in 2012 and 2013 by the highest levels of the church to “properly” report him to law enforcement.

The review said that “it is not possible to establish whether Justin Welby knew of the severity of the abuses in the UK prior to 2013,” adding: “It is most probable that he would have had at least a level of knowledge that John Smyth was of some concern.”

The Bishop of Newcastle was the most high-ranking church official to call for Welby’s resignation. On Monday, Helen-Ann Hartley told the BBC that it would be untenable for members of the clergy to “have a moral voice… when we cannot get our own house in order.”

Throughout his tenure, Welby has demanded accountability from those accused of mishandling abuse, including his predecessor, George Carey, and the former Bishop of Lincoln. Until now, there’s been no historical precedent for an Archbishop of Canterbury resigning over child abuse.

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Lagos Youths Condemn Attacks on Seyi Tinubu By Faceless Groups

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By Gloria Ikibah
A group under the auspices of Coalition of Lagos Indigenous Youth (CLYI), has disassociated itself from recent media publications aimed at discrediting Mr. Seyi Tinubu, the son of President Bola Tinubu.
Coordinator of the group, Hon. Tunde Azeez in a strongly-worded statement issued on Tuesday, described the allegations as baseless and perpetrated by faceless individuals seeking to tarnish Mr. Tinubu’s reputation.
The coalition clarified that the controversial post circulating on social media, purportedly made by its members, is fraudulent.
“We wish to categorically state that the earlier post did not originate from the members or executives of the Coalition of Lagos Indigenous Youth,” Azeez asserted.
Describing Mr. Tinubu as a “proud and industrious son of Lagos,” the coalition pledged unwavering support for him, and noted his significant contributions to youth empowerment and development in Lagos.
The group further expressed its readiness to support Mr. Tinubu should he decide to declare interest in the governorship of Lagos State, although they clarified that he has not engaged in political discussions with any group or individual regarding such aspirations.
“Seyi Tinubu is one of us, Lagos is home and will remain home for him, not just as an indigene but also as a critical player dedicated to helping young people.” ,” the statement emphasized.
The group further directed a stern warning to the faceless individuals behind the defamatory campaign, particularly one Ibrahim Whyte, whom they accused of impersonating the coalition.
“We strongly caution Ibrahim Whyte and his cohorts to desist from blackmailing Mr. Seyi Tinubu while falsely impersonating our group,” it added.
The coalition vowed to explore legal options to protect its integrity and that of Mr. Tinubu, should the defamation persist.
CYLI, concluded by urging Lagosians to disregard the misleading narratives and focus on fostering unity and development in the state.
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House Approves President Tinubu’s N1.767trn Loan Request

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By Gloria Ikibah
The House of Representatives has granted approval for the implementation of the new external borrowing of N1,767, 610, 321, 779.00 (USD 2.209B).
The approval was sequel to the adoption of the recommendations of the House Committee on Aids, Loans and Debt Management Chaired by Rep. Abubakar Nalaraba, and presented at the Committee of the Whole on Thursday.
Presenting the report, the Committee Chairman, Rep. Nalaraba said the committee met and made the following recommendations, which he entreated the House to approve.
He said: “Approve the implementation of the New External Borrowing of one trillion, seven hundred and sixty seven billion, six hundred and ten million, three hundred twenty-one thousand, seven hundred and seventy-nine Naira (₦1,767, 610,321,779.00) (equivalent of USD2, 209, 512, 902. 22b) at the Budget
Exchange rate of USD1.00/800 in the 2024 Appropriation Act and that the amount should be raised from one or more sources. Namely; issuance of Eurobonds in the ICM, Issuance of debut sovereign Sukuk in the ICM, Bridge/syndicated loans, subject to market conditions;
“That based on availability and cost, to issue Eurobonds in the sum of USD1.70 billion or more, but not more than USD2,209,512,902,.22b, approved as New External Borrowing in the 2024 Act;
“Given the significant increase in the official exchange rate from USD1.00/₦800 to approximately ₦1,640, it is recommended that the exchange rate excess resulting from this adjustment be exclusively utilised for implementation of capital projects in 2024, to ensure that additional funds are
directed to impactful infrastructure & developmental projects that will contribute to the Nation’s long term growth and stability;
“Approve the Promissory Note Programme and Bond Issuance to settle outstanding claims and liabilities of the federal government. This approval prioritizes the issuance of Promissory Notes to address outstanding reimbursement debts owed to States, high-priority judgment debts, and other liabilities incurred by Federal Ministries, Departments, and Agencies. This measure is critical to preventing additional interest costs, mitigating further increases in the Federal Government’s debt profile, and reducing the debt-to-GDP ratio;
“That the Hon. Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, working with the Debt Management Office are authorised to take all necessary actions required to give effect to this.”
The lawmakers unanimously adopted and passed the recommendations.
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Reps Direct IGP, DG DSS To Deploy Personnel To Etsako LGA Over Worsening Insecurity

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By Gloria Ikibah
The House of Representatives has directed the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa and Director General, Department of State Services, Oluwatosin Ajayi to urgently deploy personnel to tackle the worsening insecurity in Itsukwi, Imiakebu, Imiegba and Okpekpe communities in Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State.
The resolution was sequel to the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance on the “Urgent need to deploy security agents to Itsukwi, Imiegba, Okpekpe and Imiakebu communities to halt herdsmen’s onslaught against innocent citizens,” by Rep. Billy Osawaru, member representing Orhionmwon/Uhunmwode Federal Constituency, Edo State on Thursday at plenary.
Rep. Osawaru, drew the attention of the House to the provision of Section 14 (b) of the 1999 Constitution (As amended) on the need for government to provide security and welfare for the people.
He stated that Section 17 (b) of the Constitution provides that the sanctity of the human person shall be recognised and human dignity shall be maintained and enhanced; governmental actions shall be humane.
According to him,  Chapter 4 of the nation’s Constitution in Section 33 (1) provides that “Every person has a right to life, and no one shall be deprived intentionally of his life, save in execution of the sentence of a court in respect of a criminal offence of which he has been found guilty in Nigeria.”
He said: “The House is aware that on Monday, October 28, 2024, herdsmen invaded Ugbereke, a popular farmland known for its fertility and destroyed completely the yam plantation of a youth leader in Itsukwi community (Ward 9, Etsako East Local Government Area, Edo State), Mr Samuel Igbeneghu.
“The House is also worried that on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, three farmers by the names Umuagene Obey, Emuesugheli Obi and Ogbitabu Imoudumhe (all from Okpekpe community in Ward 10, Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State were ambushed on the way to their farms and brutally murdered by suspected herdsmen.
“Same day, the killers made their way to Ugbereke, and killed one Undyar Aondongu (male) while  five women were beaten and left to flee with various degrees of injuries.”
The lawmaker stated that as a result of these violent campaigns, farmers in these communities no longer visit their farms for fear of being attacked or killed.
He therefore warned that if the Federal Government fails to take urgent steps to address the crisis, acute hunger owing to food scarcity would be the natural consequence, not just for the people of the area but the entire Etsako East Local Government Area and by extension, Edo State as a whole.
Then the presided officer, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas put itcto a vote, the House unanimously adopted the motion, observed a minute silence in honour of the dead and directed the immediate deployment of security agents to the four communities.
The House also mandated the Inspector General of Police and other relevant security agencies to investigate this tragic incident and fish out the perpetrators for prosecution, while also tasking them to Immediately step up the security surveillance to contain the escalation of insecurity within Itsukwi, Imiakebu, Imiegba and Okpekpe communities and beyond.
The legislative body also urged the Inspector General of Police, Chief of Defence Staff, DG, DSS, General Officer Commanding 2 Division of the Nigerian Army and the Commander, 4th Mechanised Brigade in Edpo State to deploy their personnel to Itsukwi, Imiakebu, Imeigba and Okpekpe communities to safeguard the lives and properties of the people.
The motion was subsequently referred to the House Committee on Army, Police, National Intelligence and Legislative Compliance with a timeframe of four weeks to report back for further action.
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