The Lumine News

Author: The Lumine News

Wike Dissociates From Suit Challenging Atiku’s Candidacy

Rivers State Governor, Mr Nyesom Wike few moments ago (Friday) distanced himself from a purported suit said to have been filed by him seeking the removal of Atiku Abubakar as presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in next year’s general election.

This comes few hours after some media outfits had reported that Wike had ordered the removal of PDP flags in Rivers State government house, which also turned out to be false.

In an exclusive chat with THISDAY, the Governor denied knowing anything whatsoever about the purported suit or even knowing the lawyers who filed the suit in the first instance. “I don’t know anything about the so called suit. I did not ask anyone to file any suit for me”

The media was on Friday morning awash with reports that Governor Wike and one Chieftain of the PDP, Mr Newgent Ekamon, had dragged the PDP to court seeking the removal of Atiku as Candidate of the PDP in next year’s presidential polls.

According to the purported suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/782/2022, the plaintiffs were said to have hinged their claims on the grounds that the PDP primary conferred undue advantage on Atiku which aided his emergence as candidate of the PDP in the May 28 and 29 primary.

Reacting to the publication, Wike flatly denied the suit said to have been filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja. He described the suit as the handiwork of mischief makers who merely want to use him to score cheap political goals.

He stated emphatically, “I don’t know the lawyers”. Continuing, he said, “am I a kid to be filing a suit at this time. I had 14 days after the primary within which to have filed any suit. I didn’t do that then, is it two months after primary I will file a suit?

He also recalled that, “just yesterday they came up with the claim that I ordered my Chief Security Officer to pull down PDP flag in Government House. This is all false, it’s all propaganda. Some people are trying to use me to win the election. Please disregard all these lies”.

ThisDay

August 12, 2022
Dear Prince Otu, Don’t Start From Where We Are Leaving BY AGBA JALINGO

We are leaving somewhere. Like, departing from a place of discomfort to another destination. That should happen in exactly 291 days. It is important for all of us to make sure we remind whoever will take over the reins of power from Governor Ayade, whether it is the ruling or the opposition party, that we are reading their lips and preparing their marking scheme.

Prince Otu, the APC guber candidate was on a thank-you tour of Cross River North recently. I think they had a good time going round without any major incident of violence or chaos. That is very commendable. Two things however have been sticking out like the sore toes of an elephantiasis infected feet. Among the events that took place in the North, Otu’s supporters have been particular about two. The spraying of money from an open roof car in Bekwarra for people to pick from the ground and Otu’s promise to revamp Okuku Market in Yala LGA, if he becomes our next governor.

While Otu supporters called what happened in Abuochiche junction the triumphal arrival of Prince Otu, to a tumultuous welcome, what I saw was people throwing Naira notes from the open roof of a speeding vehicle and luring poor villagers to scramble for a pick among bikes that could have hit anyone. Let me be very clear that in Nigerian politics and during campaign seasons, it is not only Prince Otu or his supporters that will be caught in this. Having said that, that cannot be a standard we will accept or tolerate in our State.

First, Prince Otu was a member of the National Assembly that passed the CBN Act which criminalizes the denigration of Naira notes in the manner we saw in Bekwarra. In a place where laws work, all those caught on video spraying or trampling on those notes should be facing a magistrate by now. Secondly, it smacks of taking our people for granted because of their poverty, anytime someone who says they want to go and lead us and alleviate our poverty, come around and begin to throw Naira notes to the ground for peoples’ fathers, mothers, aunties and youths to trample on themselves and pick and fight over after the convoys are far gone.

The toe, knee and elbow injuries they sustain in the running and falling, the risk of being knocked down by a rushing vehicle, are all part of the wickedness infested by such despicable show of shame. These are not sights that should be celebrated. Our people are not dogs and food should not be thrown to them on the ground. Dogs too don’t eat from the ground any longer. Even Ayade is putting the food on the table. He is not throwing it on the ground.

Prince Otu was also quoted as saying: “I spent most of my school days in the North, and during that time, people come from all over the country to buy at the Okuku market. I will revive that market and make sure that happens again in my time.” Now, this is where I want to caution that we cannot continue from where we are leaving. Stop the bogus promises and stop them now please. We are tired of these bogus gargantuan and olympotic promises. Do what the laws says.

We need to tell Prince Otu early enough that, if by any chance he becomes our governor, rather than bother about fixing Okuku market, he should promise Cross Riverians that, he will not touch or pilfer LGA funds like all his predecessors have been doing and will allow the LGAs to work and function as enshrined in our Constitution. If he does that, Okuku market will function as he desires without his intervention. Historically, markets have always been out of the purview of governors even from colonial administration. Communities and local chiefs have always had a way to manage their market places peacefully until big government began to unfairly interfere.

Let us also remind Prince Otu again that, sub(e) of the Fourth Schedule of the 1999 Constitution, clearly vests the establishment, maintenance and regulation of slaughter houses, slaughter slabs, *markets* , motor parks and public conveniences on LGAs and not on Governors. It is the refusal of the governors to do what the law says that is killing markets like the one in Okuku and several others across the State. I am very sure that even that time Otu spent in the North like he said, the Okuku market he says was doing well and bringing people from across the country was developed and run by the LGA not the State government.

We shall continue to standby and gather together what those who want to lead us are promising us on their way to power and keep the promises as their marking scheme. This will serve as a good reminder and a wealthy library for the social contract.

Yours sincerely,
Citizen Agba Jalingo.

August 11, 2022
No One Can Be More PDP Than Chief Soni Obache Abang BY JOE OBI BISONG

Chief Soni Abang stirred the hornet’s nest late last week when he granted an interview to one of the Governor’s one thousand media aides and instead of speaking about the issues surrounding his party’s difficult campaign, as its supposed Director General, he needlessly took a bronco – charge at the People’s Democratic Party, haughtily unleashing an extensive narrative that belied and made a mockery of the real facts that are alive and on ground in Cross River State today.

While Chief Soni Abang speaks about the PDP as having a moral baggage in the interview, the real moral baggage of the PDP was and still is, with the greatest respect, Chief Soni Abang himself. Apart from the fact that he was Chairman of Boki local government area under the umbrella of the party and thereafter Chairman of the same PDP for about seven years, his tenures witnessed unbridled greed and extortion by his goodself or agents, while selection of Party candidates was administered like a bazaar with the tickets going to the highest bidders. He was draconian in leadership and elephantine in his appetite for money, big cars and good food. At one point, the leadership had to make the difficult decision to banish him to the Republic of Mali, just to keep him far away from the cookie jar. This is the moral baggage that Chief Soni Abang has fortunately transferred to the All Progressive Congress and its tainted candidates, which he should frankly be speaking about.

His reference to an imaginary principle of zoning in Cross River State flies in the face of truth because he is obviously aware that such a principle does not and has never existed. The Cross River State Director General of the APC campaign should be well advised to rather focus on the following issues:
1. The difficult matter of running on Governor Ben Ayade’s legacy.
2. The yet to be answered questions about the certificates of his party’s governorship candidate.
3. Whether his party’s governorship candidate was duly cleared to contest the Primaries or otherwise.
4. The questionable character and reputation of his party’s candidates, generally speaking.

5. The dire need to find workable ways to boost the economy of the state, create jobs and restore investor confidence in Cross River State.
6. The Director General of the APC campaign may also wish to address the allegations hanging around his neck, like the sword of Damocles, that he has been fully paid by this government for his portion of the Boki East – West Road which has been abandoned.

One cannot live in a glass house and continue to throw stones at his neighbours indiscriminately. The campaigns for the elections of 2023 shall be conducted the way the parties model them to be.
The choice is between an issues – based campaign or a mudslinging model. While the Senator Sandy Onor campaign organisation in particular and the PDP at large, has chosen to deal with the issues as they affront and affect the generality of our people, we are also prepared to respond appropriately in kind, whenever and wherever the integrity of our patriotic charge is considered to have been unduly impugned.

In the face of the greatest rape of our State throughout the history of our corporate existence, and the systematic destruction of everything we hold dear, young men holding food on the table jobs could be excused to join the Hallelujah Choir; not men like Sony Abang who till today, are known to be unrepentant secret critics of of Governor Ben Ayade’s misgovernance. It is a blatant tragedy indeed, for people like Chief Soni Abang, to whom this state and the PDP gave life, to be seen to validate, as the cheerleader, the complete decimation of all the achievements their excellencies Donald Duke and Liyel Imoke both of whom brought him up by hand, left behind. Surely there must be other ways of baking bread beside being a zombie or puppet for someone else.

DG, CATERPILLAR MOVEMENT

August 10, 2022
Jarigbe Agom Facilitate FG Palliatives For The Aged, Vulnerable, Widows And Widowers In Cross River North

The Senator Representing Cross River North Senatorial District, Distinguished Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe has facilitated the disbursement of palliatives from the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster management and Social Development, to the vulnerable, Aged, widows, and widowers in Cross River North Senatorial District.

The disbursement which was made in Ogoja LG council by Staff of the FMHADMSD, has over 100 beneficiaries from the 5 LGAs of Cross River North, who received a token of N20,000 each.

The facilitation is in line with the Senator’s relentless effort to ameliorate hunger and suffering in the Senatorial District while also striving to put other social amenities like water, good roads, conducive learning environment, etc, in place, for the overall wellbeing of his constituents.

Beneficiaries were selected from the 54 wards of Cross River North.

TEAM JARI MEDIA

August 10, 2022
Amb Soni Abang: The Ignorance Of A Politician On Sabbatical – PDP

PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY CROSS RIVER STATE.

9th August 2022.

Press Statement:

AMB. SONI ABANG: THE IGNORANCE OF A POLITICIAN ON SABBATICAL.

Our attention has been drawn to a scathing and vitriolic comment credited to Amb. Soni Abang, the factional Director General of one of the many APC Gubernatorial Candidates in Cross River State, wherein Amb. Soni Abang, mischievously insinuated that the Peoples Democratic Party is coming into the 2023 elections with a very heavy moral baggage as a result of the Gubernatorial Candidate of the PDP coming from the Central Senatorial District.

In a bid to score cheap Political point and whip up ethnocentric sentiment, Amb. Soni Abang who just returned from political sabbatical threw caution to the wind and spoke disparagingly about the PDP, the same Political Party that gave him the platform to become who he is.
Abang as erstwhile chairman was the most dictatorial and undemocratic in the history of party politics in Nigeria. The same Abang who is today talking about brotherliness and natural justice, fought against His Excellency, Senator Liyel Imoke and nearly truncated Imoke’s 8years tenure as Governor. So, where’s the brotherliness?

As Amb. Soni Abang appears to be recovering from the rude shock that visited him following his loss of favour with Senator Liyel Imoke since his ignominious ambassadorial posting to the Republic of Chad, that sent him on Political exile, we would love to ask him what he negotiated for the Six Local Government Areas of Central SenatoriaI District where he comes from, as someone interested in Political inclusiveness. Where is the equitable distribution of offices in his beloved APC, when the Senatorial District with a sitting Governor is still imposing a deputy Governorship Candidate on his party for the sole purpose of shoring up his failed bid to return to the Senate, an ambition that he can see clearly is bedeviled with bad omens indicating that it is already stillborn.

If we may ask, why is Ambassador Soni Abang working tirelessly to give his younger brother the ticket of the PDP to contest the Federal House of Representative seat of his Constituency Ikom/Boki, instead of his party the APC, if he considers the APC a just and preferred platform?
Maybe the APC needs to interrogate these inconsistencies of a pretentious returnee Political gangster with the reputation of trading only on electoral goods.

Ordinarily, we would have chosen to remain calm and let the tantrums thrown at us slide but for the sake of clarity and emphasis, we wish to reiterate that we are not interested in playing the Politics of ethnocentric agitation. We have, for the umpteenth time, reminded Cross Riverians that while others are preaching ethnicity, we are preaching unity and oneness, hence our philosophy of Back To Us.

For the avoidance of doubt, it is on record that the Peoples Democratic Party Cross River State carried out the most transparent, free and fair primaries in the history of our state, unlike the APC where a group of persons sat down over some bottles of alcohol, drank themselves to stupor and unilaterally forced other aspirants to step down for the preferred Candidate of a cabalistic few, even against the interest of their party faithfuls, which has led to series of litigations.

We are bemused that the APC can muster the effrontery to talk about moral baggage against the PDP. What can be more burdensome than the fact that APC handpicked all its Candidates in an unjust and unfair manner. What can be more burdensome than the fact that the APC took both their Gubernatorial and Senatorial ticket in the South to one Local Government Area, while excluding the other six Local Government Areas. What can be more disturbing than the fact that the APC in a bid to fruitlessly safeguard the Governor’s already embattled Senatorial ambition, took the position of the Deputy Governorship Candidate of their Party to the Northern Senatorial District. Where is the justice and fairness Amb. Soni Abang is sanctimoniously trying to preach when a particular Local Government Area occupies the Governorship seat, Ministerial seat and currently battling to lay claim to the Senatorial ticket of the Northern Senatorial District. What happens to other Local Government Areas in the North and Central Senatorial District?

While we do not wish to involve ourselves in the malicious diversionary Political antics of the APC, we enjoin them to prepare themselves and meet us in the field as we are confident that the good people of Cross River State are eagerly waiting to vote them out and reclaim our dear state.

Signed.

Prince Mike Ojisi
State publicity Secretary.

August 9, 2022
Are You Running For National Assembly Election From Cross River? Let Me Have Your Attention Please BY AGBA JALINGO

Six years ago, just after taking office, Governor Ayade made a very strong case for the abundant mineral resources in our State in a visit by the Minister of Solid Minerals to Peregrino House in Calabar and shortly after, the Cross River State Ministry of Solid Minerals obtained exploration licences for mineral resources from the federal government. The licences include quarry lease for granite, exploration licence for limestone, clay and shale as well as reconnaissance permit.

That deft move by Governor Ayade was and still remains a huge milestone because the Mineral Resources Act 2007 vests the total control and appropriation of mineral resources on the federal government, yet the Land Use Act says the Governor holds the land in trust for his people. Getting the mining licenses was therefore a massive opening for our State to directly participate in the exploration of our natural endowment. Governor Ayade immediately admitted afterwards that financing was the next challenge and called for patience. He said the next step was the sourcing and provision of financing for exploration in his bid to diversify the State economy.

The Governor pushed again and in February 2021, the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development announced that an artisanal and small scale mineral processing cluster will be established in Cross River State and will be completed within six months. The Minister of State, Uche Ogar, disclosed this in Calabar while he was receiving title documents for a five-hectare land donated by the Cross River State government in Yala LGA for the project.

The choice of Cross River State for the siting of the cluster project for barite value chain development was predicated on the fact that the state is endowed with large commercial deposits of the mineral. Barite deposit occurrences in Cross River State are mainly around Obubra through to Yala Local Government Area which informed the siting of the cluster project in Yala. Under the project, the Federal Government intended to embark on infrastructural development within the cluster area such as a barite processing plant, mining equipment leasing bay, training center, warehouse, office complex amongst other amenities.

The National Bureau of Statistics aggregate production of mineral products in Nigeria peaked at 89.48 million tonnes in 2021 with Ogun, Kogi, and Cross River States recording the highest output. Breakdown of State profile analysis showed Ogun recorded the highest production in 2021 with 32.04 million tons, followed by Kogi with 18.40 million tonnes and Cross River with 11.64 million tonnes.

Till date, that project is in the limbo. It has been overtaken by politicking and nothing is been heard about it.

The second project was announced in February 2017. The Federal Ministry of Science and Technology and Cross River State launched a waste-to-wealth program in Calabar. The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, laid the foundation for a plant to process waste-to-wealth at the Idundu Industrial Layout in Calabar and said the Calabar site was the pilot project. Governor Ayade noted on the occasion that the project would help in the production of biogas, organic waste and feeds for aquatic culture in the State.

These are two well thought-out but pending or stagnated or siphoned federal projects designated for our State already. Whoever is going or returning to the National Assembly from the State should get a small team to take pens and papers and ask these questions:

1. How can the Mineral Resources Act 2007 be amended to give States increased stake and access to their mineral resources? This will lead to the drafting of an amended bill that member.

2. What is my strategy for engaging with lawmakers from Ogun, Kogi and other mineral resources rich States to achieve this goal based on shared interest? This collaboration based on shared interest across several States will create the robust and necessary initial buy-in for the amended bill.

3. What is the oversight intervention required to push through with the federal ministry of mines and minerals to make sure that the mineral processing cluster that was to be established in six months in Yala returns immediately? Who did what and who did not do what and what was left to be done on the part of our State or FG? Who is in the NASS committee that oversights the ministry of mineral resources or any other relevant committee that needs to be engaged and lobbied to ensure every bottle neck is cleared for the return of the project? This may lead to increased appropriation to the ministry to fast track the project. This will reveal the reasons why the project was stalled and also provide an opportunity for effective oversight function.

4. Question 3 is applicable to the waste-to-wealth program of the Ministry of Science and Technology. Same questions need to be asked with adequate follow up.

I cannot over emphasize the impact that these two projects and their value chain will unleash in the State economy and job creation if executed. But like most things associated with our Governor, he starts on a very promising note and then blows the expectations away in no time. Indeed, Governor Ayade may be like former Super Eagles player, Pius Ikedia who skillfully dribbles everyone with mastery until he enters the 18 yard box and wastes the ball without scoring; it is now time for others on the pitch with him to assist him knock these loose balls into the net. This will not stop anyone from buying the usual okada and wrappers for distribution back home. It will only improve the quality of representation that the State will be getting from the next set of National Assembly members. I am only making suggestions since I am not running any election.

Yours sincerely,
Citizen Agba Jalingo.

August 9, 2022
Ukwortung Clan Appreciates Anonymous Gesture, Seeks Government’s Approval To Commence School Renovation

The leadership of Ukwortung clan has commended the benevolence of an anonymous who have indicated interest to renovate one of the delapidated buildings at St John’s Primary School Ukwortung, Obudu Local Government Area.

The community received the representative of the anonymous on Saturday, 6th August 2022.

The Community Chairman, Mr Peter Ugani who spoke on behalf of the community noted that “We want to very sincerely that our anonymous brother for his thoughtfulness to assist us renovate this school. He has shown us that he is very serious about this renovation work. Please convey our unalloyed commitment to the completion of this project. We will make our contribution where we can to ensure that this project sees the light of the day”

The community noted that they will write to officially notify and seek the approval of SUBEB Chairman as work begins on site.

In a letter sighted by TheLumineNews, and signed by the Clan Head, HRH, Uti Moses Odikpo and Community Chairman, Mr Peter Ugani, indicates that the roof was blown off in 2016 and that series of letters were written calling on SUBEB to renovate the building.

The letter reads in parts, “We write to notify you of our intention to commence the renovation of a classroom block in our community, St John’s Primary School, Ukwortung, that was blown off by windstorm in 2016.

“Our children had received lessons under very terrible conditions which have impacted negatively on them.

“Our interactions with previous Head Teachers reveled that series of letters calling on SUBEB to step in were written to this effect.

“Poised to ensure that our children have a condusive learning environment, we are glad to inform you that an anonymous has indicated interest to renovate the block for our children’s use.

“It is on this premise that we write to request your approval for the renovation of this classroom block as we continue to support government to provide the basic amenities”

The anonymous representative, stated that there is no political undertone to the renovation of the school building, but that he was touched by the disturbing pictures circulated on social media.

He commended the resilience of Elijah Ugani who drew the world’s attention to the state of the school and promised to commence work as soon as possible.

August 8, 2022
Embracing The Reality Of Dwindled Popularity BY AGBA JALINGO

At the thanksgiving mass in honor of Justice Emmanuel Agim, on his elevation to the Supreme Court, at the St. Patrick Catholic Church in Calabar yesterday, Governor Ayade, after launching the 2022 harvest theme and donating N25m, reportedly told the Bishop, John Ayah, who came from Uyo to Calabar that, “Before you depart for your station from Calabar, I will whisper to you.” A euphemism for “I will send money to you.”

And Bishop Ayah replied: “Kindly add the whisper to the salary of your workers and pay them, I don’t need it.” And the congregation spontaneously sprang up and gave the Bishop a standing ovation. As governor Ayade navigates his remaining 294 days in office, there is abundant chances that many more of those kinds of situations will repeat themselves. Whether in the church or village playground or even campaign grounds, he will be booed in many places publicly and with more audacity.

Whether those who work with him tell him the truth about the reality outside the security wall around him or not, honestly speaking, a greater majority of Cross Riverians are unhappy with governor Ayade. Even on his own verified Facebook page, they aren’t sparing him there with invectives whenever he does a new post. Even his own appointees are some of his most acerbic critics then they come out to praise sing him.

While this turn of events and trend should not be encouraged or pampered, it can also be argued that it is becoming inevitable because it is difficult to point to anything that Governor Ayade has done that is functioning effectively. The governor should rather realize now that people are tired of his big grammar and his public drama. It used to sound like music in their ears when they still thought things will change under him.

His songs and shoki dance steps used to ‘ginger’ the crowds. The town used to be grounded and emptied into the airport when he returns from his frequent trips. Now he doesn’t get up to a dozen welcomers. He should also stop thinking that people will continue to genuflect when he mentions money in those public events. They are building their hopes on the next person already. The Governor has to search for urgent results to showcase to a frustrated population. Everytime he has a public outing henceforth, he has to find and point to what he has done that is working and stop the propaganda about he has built this and that, which have all never worked.

Until he can show functional results no matter how minimal, he should expect more public hostility even from unexpected quarters as his days in office get thinner.

Yours sincerely,
Citizen Agba Jalingo.

August 8, 2022
Elijah Ugani Circulates Pictures Of A Delapidated Primary School Building In His Village, Calls For Help

The Publisher/Editor-In-Chief of the TheLumineNews.com, Elijah Ugani has displayed pictures of a dilapidated building in his village.

According to Elijah, series of letters were written to the SUBEB Chairman, through the Executive Secretary, Education Authority, Obudu Local Government.

He took to Obudu Stakeholder’s Forum WhatsApp platform and his verified Facebook page to call for help.

Find full story on his Facebook page:

“Our education is under serious threat.

“This is the state of St John’s Primary School Ukwortung, Utugwang North ward in Obudu Local Government Area of Cross River State.

“This building was blown off by wind around 2016.
“Succeding Head Teachers have written to Executive Secretary(ies), Obudu Education Authority to draw the State Government’s attention to the school through SUBEB.

“Jonathan Abang Ugbal of #crossriverwatch has done some reports including interviewing my Clan Head and one of the Head Teachers within this period.

“Getting any attention to this school has been an uphill task.
We can’t continue like this.

“Interestingly, this is our polling unit for elections.
“When will my community rise to having sons and daughters that take on our challenges headlong.

God, I can’t wait.

W”is that person that God will use to renovate this school?
My community need help
The future of our children is shaking!”

#WeCantContinueLikeThis
#RecueStJohnPrimarySchoolUkwortung

August 3, 2022
70th Birth Anniversary: Bishop Donatus Akpan Commissions Youth House, Charged Youth To Remain Resilient In The Pursuit Of An Ideal Society

As part of activities to mark the 70th birth anniversary of the Chief Shepherd of the Catholic Diocese of Ogoja, His Lordship, the Most Rev Dr Donatus Akpan, the bishop used the opportunity to commission the Youth House for the Catholic Youth Organization of Nigeria CYON, St Thomas Aquinas Parish Igoli-Ogoja.

The event was held on Wednesday, July 3rd 2022 at the parish pavilion.

Commisioning the Youth House, the bishop expressed satisfaction with the commitment and resilience of the youth to have come up with the idea of the house.

He charged the youths not to lose hope despite the seemingly challenges that ravaged us currently, and insisted that as the
hope of the future we all anticipate, the youths must be delibrate and resolute about the things that will sustain the yearnings and aspirations that guarrenttees a better society.

The Bishop used the opportunity to commend the Parish Priest, Rev Fr Dr Peter Obele Abue for his innovations and thoughtfulness to assist the youths realize their dreams.

He thanked the parishioners for coming together to celebrate him and maintained that “what God approves will always come to pass. He attributed the success of the event to God’s approval.

The bishop appreciated the parish’s solidarity and every gift, especially the talents in the youths as displayed during the special rendition, drama and dance.

He used the opportunity to encourage parishioners to continue to support the Church as much as they can. He acknowledged the rapid development going on in the church and held that “I have seen the development in your Church. I see you have quality men and women.
You have a quality pastor and Assistant.

“I thank God for the gift of my life. I thank all of you. I thank all my brother priests. Continue to pray for me that the Lord will grant me the grace to look after you”

Speaking during the event, the Parish Priest and Vicar General Administration of the Diocese, Very Rev Fr Dr Peter Obele Abue, held that “this initiative which is being inaugurated on this 70th birthday of our dear Bishop reminds us all of the dire need of empowerment programmes that benefit underrepresented populations in our society. Above all, the need for such initiatives to be spearheaded by the youth themselves. We hope such programmes could be replicated across the leaps and bounds of our diocese and the country in general”.

On his part, the Parish President, Mr Adie Julius welcomed the Bishop to St Thomas Parish and noted that “70 looks good on you”

He noted that “as we celebrate with you this day, we your children of the great St Thomas Aquinas Parish deem it fit to invite you to bless and open our youth house.

“It may please you to know that our digital Parish Priest, Rev Fr Dr Peter Obele Abue and his amiable Assistant Rev Fr James Aburu for the love and wellbeing of their parishioners, initiated the STAP EPP (St Thomas Aquinas Parish Economic Empowerment Program).

“STAP-EEP is a programme whereby parishioners will access funds to engage in small business enterprises and the cultivation of Agricultural ventures geared towards a targeted population (Parishioners) especially youth and women. The programme will also encourage Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship, promote small businesses and shall be run by the CYON of the parish.

“The AIMS and OBJECTIVES of the programme is basically to build an economic and financial support base for parishioners, encourage entrepreneurial framework and create an avenue for revenue generation for the parish through direct investment projects. Proceeds or profit from these investments shall be remitted to the parish development account where projects are implemented and further support given for diocesan projects.

“The Programme is divided into Four (4) basic ares:

SMALL BUSINESS LOANS FOR PARISHIONERS
Parishioners who are already engaged in legitimate businesses and have need for expansion will be given soft loans on demand. The interest rate charged is 2% flat rate to encourage more participation with stringent measures for repayment. Proceeds accruing from this shall be re-deployed to the Parish development fund for projects. The term soft loan shall span between 6-10months depending on their needs. Under this loan granting system, we shall encourage Cassava cultivation for those parishioners who are interested and are disposed for farming. Interested members are expected to cluster in five and shall be funded through input financing. Farm inspectors shall supervise and ensure that the farms succeed.

“ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND SKILL ACQUISITION
This category engages parishioners in the area of training for small business management while the youth shall be trained free of charge to acquire vocational skills in various areas such as baking of snacks, art works etc. Skills Acquisition training will be done in collaboration with ODAIP ventures.

“FOOD STUFFS STORAGE
This is a parish direct investment project which will involve sourcing for raw food stuffs, storing them up during harvest and disposing them at the market when prices have appreciated.

“RELIGIOUS ARTICLES/PROVISION STORE
A Bookshop (religious articles) and Provision store has already been opened and shall be operated and supervised by the Parish CYON. The store shall carter for children and adults needs by providing a market for the sale of religious articles, provisions, drinks and food items”.

The event featured cutting of birth anniversary cake, presentation of gifts, group photograph, dance presentation and drama.

In a vote of thanks, the Assistant Parish Priest, Rev Fr James Aburu, thanked the bishop for finding time to identify with the parish as he marked his 70th birth anniversary.

He thanked all priests who despite their pastoral schedules found time to identify with the parish. Special mention was made of the Parish Priest, Rev Fr Peter Obele Abue, who is futuristic is in his thinking, and the leadership he has provided. He thanked all parishioners for the sacrifices made and for coming out to celebrate the bishop.

August 3, 2022