Poverty Isn’t a Crime, It Could Be a Virtue of God – Senate President Akpabio Tells Nigerians

By Tgnews

Senate President Godswill Akpabio has urged Nigerians to embrace a message of love and solidarity, emphasizing that poverty should not be viewed as a crime but rather as a potential virtue bestowed by God.

Akpabio made these remarks during an interview with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) via Zoom from Rome, where he led a five-member Nigerian delegation to attend the funeral of Pope Francis at the Vatican on Saturday, April 26.

Akpabio, reflecting on the life of the late Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21, 2025, at the age of 88, highlighted the pontiff’s modest legacy as a lesson for Nigerians.

When you look at the Catholic Church, the Catholic Church is not just a church. The Vatican is also regarded as a state. So you have the head of state that died and was buried today

“When you look at the Catholic Church, the Catholic Church is not just a church. The Vatican is also regarded as a state. So you have the head of state that died and was buried today,” Akpabio said.

He noted that Pope Francis, who led a global flock of over 1.5 billion Catholics, died with a personal worth of only $100, underscoring the value of self-sacrifice. “You have a man who died as a man today, the Pope, who was worth only $100, showing that yes, we cannot worship God in splendour and that the best way to worship God is to worship God through self-sacrifice for others,” he added.

The message is very clear that Nigerians should love one another and that poverty is not a crime and that poverty could sometimes be a virtue, a virtue of God

Drawing inspiration from the Pope’s example, Akpabio encouraged Nigerians to support one another during challenging times. “The message is very clear that Nigerians should love one another and that poverty is not a crime and that poverty could sometimes be a virtue, a virtue of God, and that whatever you have, you should be able to share with your brothers and sisters, above all in this period of Easter,” he stated.

The Senate President’s comments come in the wake of Pope Francis’ passing, which occurred just after Easter Sunday celebrations, a timing President Bola Tinubu described as a “sacred return to his Maker” in a condolence message.

Akpabio’s delegation, appointed by President Tinubu, included Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria Archbishop Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, Archbishop of Sokoto Diocese Matthew Hassan Kukah, and Archbishop of Abuja Diocese Ignatius Ayua Kaigama. The group delivered a formal letter conveying Nigeria’s condolences to the Acting Head of the Vatican, with Akpabio paying tribute to the late Pope on behalf of the Nigerian people during a visit to St. Peter’s Basilica, where Francis lay in state.