The Senior Pastor of The Second Coming of Christ Ministry, Adewale Giwa, on Sunday, reacted to reports that the United States Agency for International Development, USAID, funded terrorist organisations to the tune of $697 million annually.

Pastor Giwa said the exposure about USAID funding has shown that any leader who wants to transform Nigeria must be ready to sacrifice himself like the late Mamman Gaddafi of Libya.

Scott Perry, a Republican representing Pennsylvania, had made the claim during a hearing of the Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency.

Perry said USAID’s reported funding of $136 million for building 120 schools in Pakistan has yielded “zero evidence” of the schools’ construction.

He also questioned the allocation of $60 million annually for the Women’s Scholarship Endowment and $5 million annually for the Young Women Lead program, suggesting that these funds may be supporting terrorism instead of empowering women.

According to Perry: “Who gets some of that money? Does that name ring a bell to anybody in the room? Because your money, your money, $697 million annually, plus the shipments of cash funds in Madrasas, ISIS, Al-Qaeda, Boko Haram, ISIS Khorasan, terrorist training camps. That’s what it’s funding.

“You are funding terrorism, and it’s coming through USAID. And it’s not just Afghanistan, because Pakistan’s right next door.”

Affirming Perry’s claim, Pastor Giwa recalled how former US President, Barack Obama used USAID and Chibok girls abduction against former President Goodluck Jonathan while campaigning for ex-President Muhammadu Buhari.

Addressing his members in Akure, Pastor Giwa said: “I think we had a prayer concerning our nation and do not forget I said foreigners are behind the problems facing Nigeria, and we prayed that God should destroy and expose the mercinaries they are using.

“Just a few days ago, a publication came out from the US, where a Republican US lawmaker exposed a lot of things concerning the crisis going on in Africa.

“The lawmaker made us to understand that USAID under the former US president, Barack Obama was sponsoring Boko Haram and terrorism. This showed that our prayers worked because they have been exposed.

“A lawmaker from the US exposed the administration of Obama who was sponsoring terrorism in Africa. I’m not surprised about this because I’m aware that the election that brought Buhari was anchored by Obama, he was campaigning for him during the election.

“They used Chibok girls situation against Jonathan but the secret has been exposed and we are grateful to God.

“A leader who wants to transform Nigeria will have to sacrifice himself. Who killed Gaddafi? Why did they kill Gaddafi? He was killed because he refused them from controlling his country, that is why they joined hands together to kill him.

“Libya was a great nation under Gaddafi, at a point, there are funds Libyan government gives as child support when you give birth there – but he refused to listen to them – so they joined hands together and killed him.

“So, if a leader truly wants to transform Nigeria, he has to sacrifice himself, but who is ready to sacrifice himself for the peace of Nigeria.”

A priest of the Catholic Diocese of Awka, Anambra State, whose name was given as Rev. Fr Jude Muokwe, has allegedly beaten up a 50-year-old widow, Mrs Ikeorah Maureen.

The priest was said to have used a whip on the widow, flogging her mercilessly and inflicting multiple injuries on her in the process.

A video of the widow, which is already trending on social media, showed the primary school teacher crying like a baby, and displaying bodily injuries inflicted on her by the priest.

The widow is said to be from Ifitedunu community in Dunukofia LGA and also a teacher in Angel Primary School, Ifitedunu, a school said to be owned and managed by the Catholic mission.

Though the real cause of the incident has not been ascertained, DAILY POST gathered that the widow and some other staff of the school were meeting in one of the classrooms in the school over salary increment, which they planned to pass to the management, when the priest came into the classroom and flogged her mercilessly, to the amazement of everyone.

When DAILY POST reached out to the priest, Rev Fr Jude Muokwe, to ascertain what truly happened, the priest did not deny the allegation. He simply said he would not like to comment on the matter.

“I cannot speak to you, I can’t speak especially to someone I do not know about this matter,” the priest said in a sober tone.

Catholic pontiff, Pope Francis, was hospitalized in the early hours of Friday.

Francis was taken to the hospital for tests and to continue treatment for his ongoing bronchitis, the Vatican said.

Confirming the development, the Vatican said the pontiff was taken to the Policlinico Agostino Gemelli.

A statement by the Vatican said: “This morning, at the end of his audiences, Pope Francis was admitted to the Policlinico Agostino Gemelli for some necessary diagnostic tests and to continue his treatment for bronchitis, which is still ongoing, in a hospital environment.”

Francis, 88, has been pope since 2013 and has suffered from influenza and other health problems several times over the past two years.

In early February, Pope Francis was unable to deliver a public address due to an ongoing health challenge, bronchitis.

Ekwutosblog reports that during the weekly general audience at the Vatican, the pope, who leads 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide, asked a priest to read his prepared statement on his behalf.

The 88-year-old pontiff explained that he was unable to read it aloud himself.

Recall that the pope had to stop his sermon midway and asked a colleague to finish delivering the rest of the address.

He attributed the interruption to breathing difficulties.

The pope has had to adjust his schedule multiple times due to his declining health, particularly with respiratory issues that worsen during the winter months.