The Lumine News

Author: News

  • CBN To Sanction Banks Dispensing Old Naira Notes In Cross River

    Culled From Leadership 

    Arrangements have been concluded by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to sanction any commercial bank, which still dispenses old Naira notes to its customers in Cross River State beginning from Thursday, January 19, 2023.

    CBN Branch Controller in the State, Mrs Glory Iniunam, disclosed this on Thursday in Calabar, while answering questions from journalists shortly after sensitizing Calabar market women on the re-designed new Naira notes.

    Mrs Iniunam, who though did not mention the kind of punishment to be meted out to any erring bank, threatened that the apex bank would from Thursday not hesitate to wield its sledge hammer on any bank, which fails to adhere to the directive of dispensing new Naira notes to customers.

    She added that the CBN would henceforth not take it lightly with any of the commercial banks that dispenses old Naira notes to its customers via Automated Teller Machine (ATM).

    “Visit the nearest bank or any Shared Agent Network Expansion Facilities SANEF agent, to deposit your old N200, N500 and N1,000 banknotes.

    “We are here to sensitize the people about the redesigned Naira notes and its acceptance. Let them know that as at January 31, 2023, old notes will cease to be legal tender.

    “As at February 1, 2023, new notes will come to bed completely. There will be no acceptance of old notes anymore.

    “Anybody who carry old notes should carry the old notes to bank.

    “From now, banks are not supposed to dispense old notes. We have given them new notes,” she maintained.

    The CBN Branch Controller added, “You can still collect the old notes from over the counter and use. But before January 31, take it back to the banks, by then, they must have received enough. We have given them new notes.”

    Iniunam further warned that it has become a sanctionable offense for any bank ATM to dispense old Naira notes given the fact that banks have been given enough new Naira notes to dispense to thier customers.

    She urged villages, towns and communities without banks to group themselves together and write to the CBN for the apex bank to make PoS machines available to them, so that they can have access to new Naira notes.

  • Under Gov Ayade, Some Of Us Were Given Clan Heads Seven Years Ago, And We Are Still Receiving Stipends As Village Heads.

    By Elijah Ugani 

    Ikom Traditional Rulers Council has berated Gov Ben Ayade over what they described as abysmal performance, citing the filthy and stinking nature of the once beautiful streets of Calabar and his deliberate attempts to undermine the functions of the traditional institution, and stressed that some of them were given clan Heads seven years ago, but they are still receiving stipends as Village Heads.

    Speaking on behalf of the Traditional Rulers Council, as was delegated by HRM Ntolemang Dr Peter NfuKu, Paramount Ruler of Ikom Local Government Council, the Clan Head of Ekpokpo, HRH Ntun Bassey Okey, during a consultative forum by the People’s Democratic Party PDP Campaign Council, held on the 19th January 2023, at Ikom, the traditional leaders held that “Some of us were given clan heads seven years ago and we are still receiving the stipends of a village head. Village heads have not been certificate.

    “Some of the Village Heads are yet to be issued certificates which makes it very difficult for them to discharge their duties. Their subjects challenge them and tell them that they are not recognized as Village Heads”.

    Speaking further, royal father averred that the once beautiful streets of Calabar has been littered with refuse against the intentions of Gov Donald Duke. “Refuse has taken over the streets of Calabar against the intentions of Gov Donald Duke.

    “Duke did everything humanly possible to put us on global recognition. Our schools are shattered, everything is gone. Very unfortunate that under this present APC government that promised us change, we have seen the change, everything has changed from good to bad. Our children know when they go to school, but don’t know when they will graduate.

    “Nigerian has changed from good to bad. In Cross River State, we don’t have anybody who can revive us apart from what we have seen here today.

    “We would speak to our ancestors and they would listen to us and you would win and succeed with your team. Success is yours from what we have seen. Go in peace”.

  • I Commend You For Enduring The Sufferings For 7 And Half Years And You Would Be Stronger – Donald Duke To Ikom Traditional Rulers

    By Elijah Ugani 

    The former Governor of Cross River State and Chairman, PDP Campaign Council, Mr Donald Duke has commended the Ikom Traditional Rulers Council for enduring the long sufferings mated on cross riverians by the government of Sen Ben Ayade and assured them that things are going to be better.

    Former Governor Duke made the remarks during the PDP consultation with the Traditional Rulers on January 19th 2023 at Ikom.

    In his words “I commend you for enduring the sufferings for seven and half years and you will be stronger.

    “This is the time for your all to stand up and be counted. This election would determine the next level of the state. If what has happened in the state is right, then vote for them, but if not vote wisely for the future of your children.

    “We want to groom young people. But you don’t get it by sitting down and hoping for honey. Don’t wait for monthly alert and other forms of deception”

    Speaking further, Duke called on community leaders to effect the needed change. “We call on community leaders to effect this change because our communities are decaying. We believe in you and your subjects.

    “Sandy is the arrowhead to rescue the state at this time. It has nothing to do with where you come from. We hope with him things would be different. We need restoration and if we don’t get it right this time, we are doomed”

    On his part, the Governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party PDP, Sen Sandy Onor thanked the Ikom Traditional Rulers Council for honoring his invitation and maintained that “We came to formerly let you know that I am the official candidate of PDP.

    “Chiefs are custodians of truth. The voice of the people is the voice of God. We must stand up together and repair our state.

    “We have quality people and would give you quality representation.

    “Old Ikom has never had the privilege or opportunity of producing a governor. And we have not done anything wrong.

    “We have joined hands in the past to make others governor. So they should join hands to reciprocate our gesture. We are qualified, we have the intellectual capacity and are in the right party.

    “I have been endorsed by Duke and Imoke whose years as governors were brilliant.

    “And then Gov Ayade came and put the state in reverse gear instead of going forward, we are going backward. They have turned things upside down. Govt has been reduced to wururu.

    “They recruit young men with no office and job description and then pay them higher than the chiefs that govern our land.

    “All the APC candidates would resemble Gov Ayade. Your mandate is a value and trust. It should be used responsibly”.

  • Kalita Igbe Aruku Leads Hundreds of Defectors To PDP As Campaign Council Storms Ogoja

    By Elijah Ugani 

    As the quest by the People’s Democratic Party PDP, to reclaim Cross River State heightens, a former State House of Assembly Aspirant for Ogoja State Constituency under the All Progressive Council APC, Engr Kalita Igbe Aruku, led hundreds of supporters and defected to the People’s Democratic Party PDP in Ogoja.

    The event which was held on Wednesday 18th January 2023, was part of the party statewide campaign ahead of the general elections.

    Addressing the people at the former St Thomas’s Teachers Training College TTC, Ogoja, Aruku held that “My decision to leave the APC is due to the many failed promises of governor Ben Ayade. There is no functional project of this administration in Ogoja. He promised us the rice mill, and up till now, nothing is happening. There is virtually nothing happening there, they keep snapping pictures daily to deceive us.

    “See the purported dual carriage, the road is impassable from Ugaga to Okpoma. The Abouchiche – Imaje – Okuku, axis is a mirage.

    “Having failed us, Ayade has no moral justification to seek election to represent us in the senate. He imposed the governorship candidate and all candidates in the state on us.

    “Surprisingly, the PDP conducted the most freest primaries that led to the emergence of candidates at all levels in the state, which gives credence to it preparedness to alternative leadership in the state.

    “I see passion, commitment, genuineness and readiness in the candidates of the People’s Democratic Party PDP. I see passion in Sen Sandy Onor, he has a track record. Sen Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe’s projects are littered across the 54 wards that makes up northern senatorial district. It is only natural that every northern cross riverian of good conscience, should align with Sen Jarigbe Agom to give him the opportunity to continue to attract democratic dividends to our people.

    “I have here with me my supporters who are very determined to begin a house to house crusade to sensitize our people”

    Receiving Kalita Igbe Aruku into the party, the Cross River State Chairman, Mr Vena Ikem Esq, welcomed and thanked Mr Aruku for the bold step to join hands with people of good will to reclaim Cross River State.

    He assured that all rights and privileges will be accorded all defectors.

    Prominent among the dignitaries at the rally were, the governorship candidate and deputy, Sen Sandy Onor and Lady Emana Emawe Duke, former governor of the state, Mr Donald Duke, former Deputy Governor and Director-General of the campaign council, Mr Efiok Cobham, members of the PDP State Executive Committee, led by the Chairman, Mr Vena Ikem among others.

  • PDP Governorship Campaign: As The Journey To Reclaim Cross River State Begins BY UMEZULIKE DESMOND-CRUZ

    Beaming in his signature immaculate white apparel and his ever-alluring smile, is the Irrunando of Africa, conspicuously occupying the front pew of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church Ikot Ansa. Flanked on the side are his pulchritudinous wife, Barr. Gertrude Onor, and his ever-alluring Deputy Governor-designate, Lady Emana Duke Ambrose-Amawhe–the presence of both women offered a dazzling illumination to the auditorium. The arrival of the Irrunando into the church premises held the parishioners spellbound and bestowed a selcouth ambience, as parishioners in a spontaneous and electrifying mood, whispered uncontrollably his name, “The Original Caterpillar”. It took the ecclesiastical anointing of the service moderator to control the exhilarated parishioners. Then came the solemn songs ringing in the ears of parishioners and thousands of political supporters that filled the auditorium, as the liturgical men and the Parish Priest opened the mass of Eucharistic celebration with the ceremonial burning of incense. Outside the auditorium was a sea of heads converging in their numbers with their countenances bearing different inscriptions of hope and faith in the candidacy of Senator Sandy Ojang Onor.

    “We are reclaiming our state” said Mrs Offiong Ikpeme, a retiree from the State civil service who according to her, was yet to receive neither her gratuity nor pension 5years after her unceremonious retirement from the State Civil Service. “This is our chance to bring back the lost glory of our state. It’s now or never. I believe in Senator Sandy Ojang Onor” she would later continue in her eulogy.

    Cross River State, everyone agrees, is sick, with its list of ailments enough to make one mad. Unemployment rate has risen from 23.1% in 2019 to 33.5% in the early quarters of 2020, then skyrocketed to 53.65% in 2021. Data from Debt Management Office indicates that the state has a strangulating debt profile of #176.086billion as at 2022. The State IGR has been personalized and its tourism potentials bastardized.

    As the priest began his message, taking his reading from the holy Gospel according to John 1:29-34, he spoke about the lamb of God who took away the sins of the World and further admonished parishioners to remain as light to the Nation despite the despairing situation they find themselves today.

    Speaking during the dedication of the campaign, Senator Sandy Ojang Onor reiterated his unflinching belief in the Trinity and Catholicism.
    “We are here because we believe in God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit and we have no other God. What he gives us we take, what he chooses not to give to us, we thank him for. We urge you to continue to pray for us. For those of us who have been living in this state for the last 15years, you will agree with me that we are currently living in a dark place and our state needs total rejigging. We are confident that by God’s grace, we shall lead the charge for that revitalization”

    In a way of appreciation, the Parish Priest presented a Holy Bible to Senator Sandy Ojang Onor as a symbol of God’s presence and protection.
    “You are called the Caterpillar and the Caterpillar smashes. Go in God’s might” charged the Parish Priest as the Parishioners echoed a thunderous Amen!.

    …..As the Journey begins, Girdle your loins! We are making a worthy Governor!

  • *PDP Governorship Campaign: As The Journey To Reclaim Cross River State Begins*

    (Telling The Story)

    *By Umezulike Desmond-cruz*

    Beaming in his signature immaculate white apparel and his ever-alluring smile, is the Irrunando of Africa, conspicuously occupying the front pew of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church Ikot Ansa. Flanked on the side are his pulchritudinous wife, Barr. Gertrude Onor, and his ever-alluring Deputy Governor-designate, Lady Emana Duke Ambrose-Amawhe–the presence of both women offered a dazzling illumination to the auditorium. The arrival of the Irrunando into the church premises held the parishioners spellbound and bestowed a selcouth ambience, as parishioners in a spontaneous and electrifying mood, whispered uncontrollably his name, “The Original Caterpillar”. It took the ecclesiastical anointing of the service moderator to control the exhilarated parishioners. Then came the solemn songs ringing in the ears of parishioners and thousands of political supporters that filled the auditorium, as the liturgical men and the Parish Priest opened the mass of Eucharistic celebration with the ceremonial burning of incense. Outside the auditorium was a sea of heads converging in their numbers with their countenances bearing different inscriptions of hope and faith in the candidacy of Senator Sandy Ojang Onor.

    “We are reclaiming our state” said Mrs Offiong Ikpeme, a retiree from the State civil service who according to her, was yet to receive neither her gratuity nor pension 5years after her unceremonious retirement from the State Civil Service. “This is our chance to bring back the lost glory of our state. It’s now or never. I believe in Senator Sandy Ojang Onor” she would later continue in her eulogy.

    Cross River State, everyone agrees, is sick, with its list of ailments enough to make one mad. Unemployment rate has risen from 23.1% in 2019 to 33.5% in the early quarters of 2020, then skyrocketed to 53.65% in 2021. Data from Debt Management Office indicates that the state has a strangulating debt profile of #176.086billion as at 2022. The State IGR has been personalized and its tourism potentials bastardized.

    As the priest began his message, taking his reading from the holy Gospel according to John 1:29-34, he spoke about the lamb of God who took away the sins of the World and further admonished parishioners to remain as light to the Nation despite the despairing situation they find themselves today.

    Speaking during the dedication of the campaign, Senator Sandy Ojang Onor reiterated his unflinching belief in the Trinity and Catholicism.
    “We are here because we believe in God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit and we have no other God. What he gives us we take, what he chooses not to give to us, we thank him for. We urge you to continue to pray for us. For those of us who have been living in this state for the last 15years, you will agree with me that we are currently living in a dark place and our state needs total rejigging. We are confident that by God’s grace, we shall lead the charge for that revitalization”

    In a way of appreciation, the Parish Priest presented a Holy Bible to Senator Sandy Ojang Onor as a symbol of God’s presence and protection.
    “You are called the Caterpillar and the Caterpillar smashes. Go in God’s might” charged the Parish Priest as the Parishioners echoed a thunderous Amen!.

    …..As the Journey begins, Girdle your loins! We are making a worthy Governor!

  • Construction Commences On 1.2Km Otuche-Olachor, Okpoma Road Facilitated By Sen Jarigbe

    Construction work has Commenced on the 1.2 Kilometre Otuche-Olachor road in Okpoma, Yala Local Government Area of Cross River State.

    The road project facilitated by Sen Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, Senator Representing Cross River North Senatorial District, is to serve as a linkage between communities within the area.

    Upon completion of the project, the strategic “Ikor Market” will also open up the area to economic activities and other development.

    Senator Jarigbe is committed to the social and economic well-being of his people, in his bid to transform Cross River North Senatorial District.

    TEAM JARI MEDIA.

  • You Must Be Interested In Who Is In Charge Of The Affairs In Your State – Sandy Onor To Business Community

     

    The Governorship Candidate of the PDP and Senator representing Cross River Central Senatorial District, Senator Prof. Sandy Ojang Onor has charged business community in Cross River State to be interested in who is in charge in the affairs in the state.

    He gave the charge on January 13th, 2023 at the Calabar Business & Community Initiative Town Hall Meeting with the Governorship & Deputy-Governorship Candidates of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Prof. Sandy Ojang Onor & Lady Emana-Duke Ambrose Amawhe and owners of business in Cross River State held at Nkonib Town Hall in Calabar, Cross River State.

    Senator Onor while reacting to the issues raised by various associations, thanked the organizers for their thoughtfulness and averred that, “One of our greatest problem as a state is lack of courage. There’s too much complacency. People in other climes say it as it is; they are courageous. A lot of us just sit, murmur, and complain in the dark. If you do that how can you change society?.

    “You ‘re businessmen. You know where it pinches you. You know that things are not right. You know that the business climate is gone. You know that the processes have been bastardized. You know that you’re holding the rough end of the stick. You know that when government is not functioning properly your businesses would not run well. So you must be interested in who is in charge of the affairs in your state.”

    Earlier in his opening remarks, the Coordinator, Calabar Business Community, Ntufam Dr Francis O. Effiom described the event as an interactive forum between members of the business community and the leading candidates where input can be made, “We thought it necessary at this point that beyond the rallies by political parties, we the businessmen should be able to have an interface and interact with the candidates so that our input will matter in the policy direction of the incoming administration. That is what informed the Town Hall Meeting” he said.

    Speaking on behalf of the Calabar Chamber of Commerce, Mr Ken Asim decried the unfavorable business environment in the state, inspite of the fact that the MSMEs employs over 86 percent of the labour force. He said: “Our business environment has continued to nosedive between 2014 and 2021. There have been backward slide in the business environment.”
    He further lamented access to finance, markets & knowledge, multiple taxation, infrastructural decay and government policies as impediments to businesses in the state.

    Also speaking on behalf of the Association of Non-Bank Micro-Finance Association, Pst Theodore Ebuta, lauded the event as first of it kind to have a governorship candidate interface with the business sector. He further lamented the lack of access to finances as he said: “Government over time have rolled out intervention funds for those in this sector and several times you have politicians used this funds for their cronies, their loyalists, their political sons and daughters and at the end of it, those in this sector which the fund was meant for end up benefitting nothing.”

    On his part and speaking on behalf of the Timber Dealers Association, Chief Effiong Ewa Ebani, accused the Cross River State Forestry Commission of negligence when he said: “Today, for those of us who come from villages, we heard that timber is banned, yet our Forests are been destroyed. The Forestry Commission has failed to live up to its responsibilities.” He further pleaded with the incoming Governor to come to the aid of landlord communities and rescue the forest from extinction.

    Responding, the Deputy-Governorship Candidate, Lady Emana-Duke Ambrose Amawhe decried the lack of political will by the incumbent government to implement her own policies as reasons for the dwindling small scale businesses in the state. She assured the community of favourable business environment. “The Senator Sandy Onor’s administration which I would be deputizing by God’s grace is willing and has the political will to implement policies that would be favourable to the business community in the state.” She said.

    The event was well attended by Estate developers, timber dealers, Keke owners & riders, taxi owners & drivers, bus & mini bus owners & drivers, shipping & clearing agents, auto mechanics, furniture & wood workers, fashion designers, makeup artists, carpenters, spare parts & metal scraps dealers, car wash shop owners & workers, geologist & miners, graphic designers & printers, MSME Businesses and Association of Non-Bank Micro-Finance Institutions (ANMFIN), etc.

    CATERPILLAR MOVEMENT MEDIA

  • C’River PDP To commence Gubernatorial Campaign With A Thanksgiving Mass At St Patrick’s Parish Ikot Ansa

    The Cross State Chapter of the People’s Democratic Party  PDP, is set to commence its Gubernatorial Campaign with a Thanksgiving Mass to be held at St. Patrick’s Parish Ikot Ansa, Calabar.

    In release made available to TheLumineNews and signed by the Director, Directorate of Media & Communications, Mr Ken Egbas indicates that the mass is slated for 10:00am on Sunday 15th January, 2023.

    The release further requested all supporters, party men and well wishers of the People’s Democratic Party to be join the thanksgiving mass as the party commits her activities to God.

     

  • Ukelle Nation Declares Support For PDP Candidates As Sen Jarigbe Agom Includes Its Road In The 2022 Supplementary Budget

    The ahead of the 2023 general elections, the Cross River Northern Campaign train stormed Ukelle nation with the message of hope to build on the already established projects of Sen Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe spread across the five local government areas comprising of 54 wards.

    During the tour, the Six(6) wards of Ukelle, Yala LGA of Cross River State, endorsed the candidacy of Prof Sandy Onor, Sen Jarigbe Agom, Barr Godwin Offiono and Dr Martins Achadu for the 2023 general elections.

    The Candidates, party leaders and stakeholders, visited Wanihem, Wanikade, Wanokom, Igede, Mfuma Ntrigom and Ijiraga wards as the Party continued its Ward-to-Ward Tour in Cross River North Senatorial District today.

    Sen. Jarigbe, while addressing supporters amidst cheers, restated his commitment towards the construction of the Ukelle road, beginning with the inclusion of the road in the 2022 Supplementary Budget worth N10.7 Billion.

    On their parts, Barr Godwin Offiono, the Party’s candidate for Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency and Dr Martins Achadu, House of Assembly Candidate, took turns to share their visions with the people, assuring them of quality representation at the state and federal levels respectively.

    The Party Chairman in the State, Barr Vena Ikem, Chief Austin Edibe, Chief Peter Akpanke, Barr Paul Ebiala, Hon Mike Usibe, Comr Brown Odey, Hon Mom Olom, other party leaders in the Senatorial District were in attendance.

    CRN CAMPAIGN MEDIA