package cron 3.0pl1-128ubuntu2 failed to install/upgrade: subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1

[frances]

cron could not be installed while updating 16.04 to 18.04

ProblemType: Package
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 16.04
Package: cron 3.0pl1-128ubuntu2
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.4.0-210.242-generic 4.4.262
Uname: Linux 4.4.0-210-generic i686
ApportVersion: 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.30
Architecture: i386
Date: Mon Mar 28 21:16:55 2022
ErrorMessage: subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1
InstallationDate: Installed on 2013-10-01 (3100 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 12.04 LTS "Precise Pangolin" - Release i386 (20120423)
RelatedPackageVersions:
 dpkg 1.18.4ubuntu1.7
 apt 1.2.35
SourcePackage: cron
Title: package cron 3.0pl1-128ubuntu2 failed to install/upgrade: subprocess installed post-installation script returned error exit status 1
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to xenial on 2022-03-28 (0 days ago)