The Lumine News

Author: The Lumine News

  • Communique: APC Has No Justification To Be On 2023 Ballot – PDP Govs Forum

    Communique: APC Has No Justification To Be On 2023 Ballot – PDP Govs Forum

     

    The Peoples Democratic Party PDP Governor’s forum held its meeting on Wednesday, 23rd March, 2022, at Aba, Abia State.

    The meeting reviewed the excruciating hardship and suffering being meted out to Nigerians by a failed APC led Federal Government; the near collapse of the APC as a viable political party, the readiness of the PDP to take over and offer qualitative leadership options to rescue the nation and issued the following Communique:

    1. We lament the terrible pain and hardship facing Nigerians in virtually all aspects of life. The meeting noted that life was much better in 2015 under the PDP than today under the APC as exemplified in the following Comparative Indicators obtained mainly from the National Bureau of Statistics:

    a. Diesel which is critical for running of SMEs was N131.47 in 2015, it now costs above N700
    b. Fuel: Official and Black-Market was N87/155 in 2015, it now costs N167/350.
    c. Aviation Fuel/Air Ticket Rate on Domestic Flights was N110 per Litre/N18,000 in 2015, it now hovers around N700 per Litre/N70,000, where available. Indeed, the scarcity of fuel which has resulted in loss of several man hours is a disgrace to Nigeria.
    d. The collapse of the National Grid (126 times in 7 years – (June 2015 to March 2022) and its consequences for non-availability of power is most unfortunate.
    e. Kerosene (NHK) used by the ordinary Nigerian for cooking and power was N180 in 2015, it now sells at ₦450.
    f. Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) – 12.5kg Cylinder sold for N2,400 in 2015, is now sold at between N8,750 and N10, 000.
    g. Prices of basic food stuffs are now three times higher than what they used to be in 2015. Staple foods such as rice, beans, cassava flakes are now slipping out of the hands of average Nigerians. Indeed, a Bag of Rice sold for N8500 in 2015 is now N39,000.
    h. Electricity was N14.23 per kilowatt in 2015, it is now N38.530, and not even available.
    i. Unemployment rate was 11.4% in 2015, it is now over 33%, one the highest in the world.
    j. The poverty rate in 2015 was 11.3% but now about 42.8%.
    k. Accumulated Inflation in 2015 was about 4%, it is now 15.50%; Inflation Rate was 9.01% in 2015 and now 15.7%.
    l. Perhaps the Exchange Rate has been one of the most disastrous. N150 to a dollar was the parallel market (patronised by most businessmen and Nigerians) rate in 2015, it is now about N580 to $1 in the parrel market and still rising.
    m. Debt and Debt Servicing:
    Domestic Debt of N8.4T and External Debt of USD 7.3b was incurred between 1999-2015.
    While Domestic Debt of N7.63T (June 2015-Dec 2020) and USD28.57b as at Dec 2020 was incurred. External debt of USD21.27b was incurred between June 2015 and 2021.
    n. National Debt to GDP Ratio was 23.41% (2016) it is now 36.88% (2022).
    o. The Corruption Index has risen from 136 in 2015 to 150 now.
    p. Nigeria’s Misery Index, an indicator used in determining how economically well off the citizens of a country are, is usually calculated by adding the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate to the annual inflation rate, has moved from 14.75 percent in 2015 to 50.48 (2021).
    q. The major threat to the agricultural sector and food security in Nigeria is insecurity. In the northeast of Nigeria, it is estimated that no fewer than 70,000 hectares of arable farmland have been abandoned in the affected States and Local Government areas. The trend is the same all over the country. This further contributes to food inflation. The APC led Federal Government must take steps to cooperate with States to bring security down to the grassroots.

    2. The Forum is surprised that in the face of these statistics of complete failure in all ramifications and areas, the APC still wants to be on the ballot in 2023.

    This shows how uncaring and insensitive the APC is.

    3. The Forum urges Nigerians to reject the APC, a party run undemocratically by a Committee contrary to the Constitution (S.228) with Mr. President regularly issuing instructions and dictates. It is impossible for a party so disorganized to offer good governance to the people of Nigeria.

    4. The meeting expressed concern and alarm over various reports and claims of incidents of stealing of crude oil ranging from 80% to 95% of production made by industry practitioners and called on the Federal Government to set up an appropriate mechanism to reverse this trend and bring perpetrators to account.

    5. The PDP Governors once again decried the inability of the NNPC to make its statutory contributions to the Federation Account, inspite of Oil selling at above $110. It is patently unconstitutional for NNPC to determine at its whim and discretion when and what to pay to the Federation Account, as it is a mere trustee of the funds for the three tiers of Government: Federal, States and Local Governments. We once again, call for investigations and audit of the quantity of consumption of fuel ascribed to Nigerians and for deployment of technology at the filling stations to determine in a transparent manner the volume of consumption.

    The Governors would resist any further attempt by NNPC to ascribe unsubstantiated subsidy claims to other tiers of government.

    6. Furthermore, S.162 (1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended stipulates that “The Federation shall maintain a special account to be called “the Federation Account” into which shall be
    paid all revenues collected by the Government of the Federation…”
    and S.162 (10) states that “For the purpose of subsection (1) of this section, “revenue” means any income or return accruing to or derived by the Government of the Federation from any source and includes –
    (a) any receipt, however described, arising from the operation of any law;
    (b) any return, however described, arising from or in respect of any property held by the Government of the Federation;
    (c) any return by way of interest on loans and dividends in respect of shares or interest held by the Government of the Federation in any company or statutory body”

    a. As of today, 18 (Eighteen) Federation Revenue Agencies are not paying/remitting any revenue to the FAAC Account. These include (i) Central Bank of Nigeria (ii) Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) (iii) Nigeria Liquefied National Gas (NLNG) (iv) Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC) (v) Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) (vi) NPA (vii) Security and Exchange Commission etc

    (b) FIRS and DPR takes cost of collection of 4% (Four percent) of Revenue collected while Customs collects 7%. In March 2022 for instance, FIRS took N15.4Billion as cost of collection and Customs took N8.4b. If these are annualised, FIRS and Customs collects about N1.84Billion and Customs N100B per annum. Obviously, some states of the Federation’s capital budget does not come close to these.

    (c) Nigeria Federation has 49% shareholding in NLNG. According to the Minister of Finance during the 2020 budget performance brief at the National Assembly stated that the federation received dividend of N144billion (One Hundred and Forty Four Billion) from NLNG. These figure to the best of our knowledge was never paid into the Federation Account.

    (d)) NNPC deducts N8.33Billion monthly for the rehabilitation of the Refineries in Nigeria. Till date no refinery is working.

    (e) On priority projects of the Nation’s oil industry, NNPC deducted N788.78Billion for various investments between 2018-2021 without recourse to FAAC.

    (f) NNPC in 2021 alone claimed to have paid over One Trillion Naira as petroleum subsidy. Indeed, the month of March 2022, N220Billion was deducted as oil subsidy with a promise that N328Billion will be deducted in April 2022. This is unacceptable.

    (g) NNPC and FIRS as well as other remitting Agencies continue to apply an exchange rate of N389/$1 as against the Import and Export window of N416/$1. The extent of this leakage can be better felt, if this rate is compared to the current N570/$1.

    (h) From available records about N7.6T is withheld between 2012 and 2021, by NNPC from the Federation Account. All these are said to be payments for oil subsidy.

    (i) Conclusively, we believe that all these leakages in NNPC have been made possible because the President is also the Minister of Petroleum. The urgent separation of these two portfolios have become necessary

    7. The Forum noted the approval by the PDP NEC of the Time Table and Timelines for Congresses and Convention of the Party and urged all party members and party leadership to remain focused and united to win power in 2023, to tackle the myriads of problems facing the country.

    8. The PDP Governors congratulated the host, His Excellency, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, the PDP Governors’ Forum Vice Chairman, for his generosity and hospitality in the hosting of the meeting.

  • Liberian University Seeks Partnership With UNICAL In Research, Exchange Programmes

    Liberian University Seeks Partnership With UNICAL In Research, Exchange Programmes

     

    African Methodist Episcopal University (AME), a Liberian institution is seeking partnership with the University of Calabar (UNICAL) in the area of research, students and staff exchange programmes.

    The proposed partnership was brought to the fore when the Vice-Chancellor of AME, Dr Alvin Attah, paid a working visit to UNICAL Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Florence Banku Obi in Calabar.

    Dr Attah, who is an alumnus of UNICAL, said that the need to give back to his alma mater informed his decision to pay a visit to UNICAL.

    The AME vice chancellor, who said he would continue to be a good ambassador of UNICAL, expressed optimism that the partnership would expand the frontiers of knowledge.

    “I am here to see how well we can collaborate in some common areas like staff and students exchange and research.

    “We have issues in Africa and unless we find solutions within ourselves to solve them, nobody will do it for us.

    “We have common traditions, common cultural values and we all need each other to see how we can move forward.

    “As a malabite, it is a good thing for me to come and visit where I was trained,” he said.

    According to him, AME is also partnering with other universities in Africa, and maintained that UNICAL being a reputable tertiary institution have been chosen among many others.

    Responding, the vice-chancellor of UNICAL, Obi said she was pleased that an alumnus of UNICAL was at the helm in a Liberian university.

    Obi, who said she was proud of the AME vice chancellor, said “you have done so well, we congratulate you as a malabite, once a malabite, always a malabite’’.

    She called on the AME vice chancellor to always make his alma mater proud by projecting the image of the institution.

    Prof. Obi told the AME vice chancellor that having risen to the position of a vice-chancellor in Liberia, it shows that UNICAL churns-out quality individuals who have been found worthy in character and learning.

    She commended the AME boss for deeming it fit to involve UNICAL in his quest for African collaboration and partnership.

    Obi said that it was easier for Africa to partner with itself rather than looking outward all the time.

    “UNICAL is ready for the partnership and modalities will be put in place by the institution’s Directorate of External Relations and Partnership to cement the relationship between both universities,” she said.

  • Reclaim Cross River Took The Initiative To Purchase Nomination Form For Sen Sandy Onor Because He Has The Pedigree To Take Cross River Out From The Doldrums Of Maladministration – Paul Ishabor

    Reclaim Cross River Took The Initiative To Purchase Nomination Form For Sen Sandy Onor Because He Has The Pedigree To Take Cross River Out From The Doldrums Of Maladministration – Paul Ishabor

    By Elijah Ugani

    The Director General of the Reclaim Cross River, Paul Ishabor Esq, has stated that the group decided to purchase the expression of intent form for Sen Sandy Onor to actualize his dream to reclaim Cross River State from the doldrums of maladministration and return it to the path of growth and development.

    Ishabor disclosed this to TheLumineNews on a telephone call.

    His words “The dream to reclaim Cross River is meant to take Cross River State back from the doldrums of maladministration and return Cross River State to the part of growth and development.

    “And we found out that the only person who can do the job among those who have come out to aspire to lead us is Distinguished Sen Sandy Ojang Onor. He has the pedigree, he has the intellect, he has integrity, he has character and he has the institutional memory that can galvanize the needed support from those who mean well for Cross River State and bring us back to the path of growth and development.

    “We are happy that we took the initiative to purchase the expression of interest and nomination form for him as Reclaim Cross River.

    “As the Director General of Reclaim Cross River, I want to commend particularly the Board of Trustees Chairman, Mr John George, and all members of the group for our enormous support and contribution for the actualization of today”

    The DG noted that “the journey to reclaim Cross River was signaled by the judgement of the Federal High Court which took back our 18 House Assembly and two Federal House of Representative seats which the present administration felt that it was within their capracises to decide on”

    Ishabor used the opportunity to call on all lovers of Cross River State who are still undecided to come to terms with the fact that Cross River State is already ran underground, and we need to reclaim the state. “The umbrella is big enough to accommodate every Cross Riverian of goodwill, who has the right vision. Politics is a game of number. Our doors will be opened between now and 2023 to welcome Cross Riverians of all works of life into our fold to ensure that we actualize our dreams” He added.

  • Scores Of Heads As Armed Men Invades Kagoro Community In Kaduna

    Scores Of Heads As Armed Men Invades Kagoro Community In Kaduna

    By Steve E Okpale

     

    These are not Ukrainians, these are Nigerians.

    These are indigene of KAGORO right here in KADUNA STATE massacred in their own land by heavily armed, and sponsored men who successfully passed through various check-points unhindered. Over 50 persons lost their precious lives last night, and over 100 houses were razed down with fire.

    Let the world know that southern Kaduna, and KAGORO in particular is under ATTACK. These attacks occur every week either in different locations, or at spotted location.

    Let the world know that that these people were not supposed to die yesterday.

    Nigeria is experiencing GENOCIDE, we have not just accepted that.
    #Kagoro

  • Woman Caught With Kidnapped Children In Port Harcourt

    Woman Caught With Kidnapped Children In Port Harcourt

     

    Children allegedly kidnapped by an aged woman have been rescued at Mango Estate, Elelenwo, Port Harcourt.

    The woman whose name is still unknown, allegedly kidnapped and kept the children in her house.

    According to an eye witness, one of the children had escaped and informed people around. A mob broke into the house and found 6 children with their hands tied to their back with one already dead.

  • Cross River APC In Urgent Need Of Peace, Unity And Healing BY DOMINIC KIDZU

    Cross River APC In Urgent Need Of Peace, Unity And Healing BY DOMINIC KIDZU

    The much awaited National Convention of our great party is only three days apace yet there are still too many discordant voices coming from the party in Cross River State. It is almost as if there exists a simmering underlining discontent especially amongst the old members who held sway at the party before Governor Ben Ayade’s entrance and the deluge that followed him into the party. Although the malignant grudge has remained largely understated in open spaces it has been festering threateningly on the inside and now requires an urgent and masterful political apothecary to clean, heal and bind us all together even before the epoch making event of March 26, 2022 gets underway.

    Perhaps that is why in spite of the party’s attempt at consensus agreement in selecting its torchbearer for the position of National Women Leader zoned to the state, two other women went ahead to purchase forms for the contest and are even now campaigning vigorously for the same position in the Federal Capital and other states. A robust contest among the three women on the grounds of the convention will only expose the innate weakness on the part of party members from Cross River, the lack of cohesiveness thereof and show us off as an unorganised brigade of the APC army that is ill prepared for the general battle of 2023.

    Fortunately for the party, both sides to the argument have a valid point to canvass and it seems to me that the loincloth is at this point only soaked with water but not burnt in the fire. The state Chairman of the party and our leaders must move swifty to listen to the complaints from both sides and offer needed assurances urgently to forestall the possible shameful debacle that looms ahead in a few days. As a party man and a statesman what is important to me is the way that my party and my state are presented and seen in the comity of other states and the respectability that should be our just trophy if we conduct our affairs positively with unity, poise and candour.

    The old members of the party who unfortunately now feel that their years of labouring in the vineyard of opposition to hold the party aloft up until recently have not been rewarded and that instead of their just desserts the party has been stealthily taken away from them harbour genuine concerns and must be assured of their place and entitlement in the party and there is no better time to do so than now. The APC was formed in the first place as a bulwark against the perceived unfairness of the PDP in the distribution of advantage which drove many of its state governors and legislators to join forces with the opposition parties to form the APC. Such a party cannot now be seen as foisting injustice on its members be they old or new.

    It is important for the older members of the APC in Cross River State to also note that once there is a merger or collaboration with a larger and stronger group the political equity holding must of neccesity change and the balance of advantage would at first appear to be in favour of the arriving but powerful group until a proper and deliberate redistribution is put in effect that can assuage and satisfy all contending interests. While it may appear today that the new members of the party have seized the power base, the two groups must recognise the fundamental structure of the party nationwide which has put enormous power in the hands of the Governors as leaders of the party in their various states. The way this enormous powers is deployed however would be key in building a strong and cohesive party that both the old and new members can be proud of.

    Political parties are entities with a life of their own which grow and develop with time and space. Unfortunately, the APC is one of the youngest parties in the country and is still grappling with the teething challenges of stabilisation nationwide. In Cross River State the party is just taking its first few steps in governance and it will take some time for the new wine to mature in the cellar no matter that it was made from the most vintage of grapes. For the moment everything must be done by the Cross River State delegation to the National Convention to work together as a single interest so that they can bring back home the best that we deserve as a state and as a party. I have no doubt in my mind that in the coming days what appears today as differences would ultimately become the very wires that will bind us together as a solid party. For instance the position of Special Leader which was also zoned to the state has graciously been taken by someone from the old APC and I have not heard one complain from anyone from the new APC. That is the only way we can grow going forward and strengthen ourselves for the challenge of the PDP as we move closer to 2023.

  • PDP Hails Court Judgement Sacking 20 Lawmakers In Cross River State, Describes Verdict As Victory For The Electorates

    PDP Hails Court Judgement Sacking 20 Lawmakers In Cross River State, Describes Verdict As Victory For The Electorates

    *PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY CROSS RIVER STATE*

    22nd March 2022.

    Press Statement.

    *PDP hails Court Judgement Sacking 20 Lawmakers in Cross River State*
    …..describes verdict as victory for the electorates.

    The Peoples Democratic Party Cross River State has describe the judgement delivered by the Federal High Court Abuja, sacking 20 lawmakers from Cross River State who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress as a landmark judgement and victory for the electorates in Cross River State.

    The judgement which was delivered by Justice Taiwo in a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/975/2021 filed by the PDP, held that the defendants, having decamped from the Political party that sponsored their election before the expiration of the period for which they were elected have by virtue of the provisions of Section 68(1)(g) and Section 109 (1) (g) of the Constitution of the federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) respectively, vacated their seats and are not entitled to continue to occupy the various seats or offices into which they were elected. The court also made an order of mandatory injunction compelling INEC to accept from the PDP, the list of its members for the purpose of filling the vacancy created by the exit of the lawmakers.

    In view of the judgement, the Peoples Democratic Party Cross River State congratulates the electorates for standing formidably with the PDP, assures them of more victories ahead.

    Reacting to the judgement, the State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Barr Venatius Ikem called on other members of the All Progressives Congress to take advantage of the “April Transfer” season and return to the Peoples Democratic Party. The State Chairman expressed optimism that the judgement of the court will be implemented and upheld by the appellate courts.

    The Peoples Democratic Party enjoins party faithfuls to remain steadfast and committed to the party in the quest to reclaiming the party’s mandate stolen by APC.

    God bless Cross River State.

    Signed:
    Prince Mike Ojisi
    (State Publicity Secretary)

  • The Obvious Disconnect Between The Constituents And Their Representatives Is My Motivation To Offer Myself To Serve My People – Okiri

    The Obvious Disconnect Between The Constituents And Their Representatives Is My Motivation To Offer Myself To Serve My People – Okiri

     

    Mr Cosmas Okiri, an aspirant to represent Obudu State Constituency in the Cross River State House of Assembly, comes 2023 under the People’s Democratic Party PDP, has stated that the disconnect between the constituents and their representative is his major motivation to aspire to bridge the gap.

    In this interview with The Lumine News, he bares his mind.

    TLN: Can we meet you please?

    Cosmas: My name is Cosmas Okiri, from Ukwutia village in Utugwang North ward of Obudu LGA. I hold a masters in Business Administration from the University of Calabar and an international certified Supply Chain Professional with about 15 years experience in the oil and Gas industry. A former student unionist and Trade union leader with a passion for serving and liberating people.

    TLN: What is your motivation to serve?

    Cosmas: My motivation to offer myself to serve the people of Obudu state constituency is drawn from the obvious disconnect between the constituents and the supposed Representative in the state Assembly in the past administrations. Majority of Obudu constituents do not know who is representing them presently in the House of Assembly. worse still is the fact that the representative doesn’t know upto 2% of those she represents. How then can we achieve the best for our people when there is this gap disconnecting the people. I intend to bridge this gap and bring on board an all inclusive participatory approach of representation to midwife group impact and effect on the people and not individuals effect, where others are only onlookers.

    TLN: What is your plan for youth inclusiveness in your policy formulation and implementation?

    Cosmas: The youths remains the main focus of my policy blue print as I personally have a passion for youth development as the youths constitute more than 60% of the populace and remains the most active resource for our collective growth and development as a nation. I intend to engage the youths and carry them along in every project to be embarked on. I will work with the youth council and students associations to synergize and achieve this.

    TLN: How do you intend to harness the vast potentials in the youths to solving the myriads of challenges confronting us using the Tech Solution?

    Cosmas: The youths remains the most active part of the entire population in our constituency and the world over, this should be seen as an advantage to be utilized for the good of the populace. If the energy and active ingredients that the youths go about with is not properly harnessed and positively utilized, they will channel it to something negative and unwholesome to the detriment of the society. I will engage and encourage the youths in capacity building by providing the right activities and resources required to keep them on the positive track. This includes but not limited to special skills acquisition in ICT training majorly and other important sectors of the economy where they can provide needed services and earn income.

    TLN: How do you intend to advance the course of empowerment in your constituency?

    Cosmas: My approach to empewring my constituents will be first to engage the people in quarterly town hall meetings and getting first hand priorities from a collective perspective, the areas that would best benefit our people and then providing the needed resources to boost such activities our people engage in. Empowerment should have a collective impact and effect on the people and not only individual effect where others are only onlookers.

    TLN: Bearing in mind that your constituents are predominantly peasant farmers, what is your plan to advance their livelihood?

    Cosmas: Agriculture remains the most important aspect of any economy as we need food for sustenance and commercial purposes. The raw materials required by most of our industries are from the Agricultural sector and this has to be properly harnessed by our local farmers. We will encourage the peasant farmers with the necessary things required to boost and expand their farming scope to be able to earn better income from their farming activities. Empowerment in the Agricultural sector will be a focal point.

    TLN: How do you intend to strengthen stakeholders engagement in your constituency?

    Cosmas: I intend to be holding townhall meetings with the constituents every quarter, thereby providing opportunity for continued engagement with the people where needs assessment will be carried out per time and worked on for the collective good of the people.

    TLN: Your party, the PDP is all over saying that it has returned the powers to the people to elect their leaders, do you have the confidence that you will have a level playing ground to advance your aspiration?

    Cosmas: The people’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Cross River State is on a new pedestal with a leadership that fought strongly against imposition and anti-democratic tendency of previous party leaders. The narratives have changed as witnessed by party faithfuls in the recent by-elections for Akpabuyo state house of Assembly seat and Ogoja/Yala Federal house of Representative. The party conducted a transparent primaries where all aspirants had a level playing field and accepted the outcome of the process without bickering.

    This has given me confidence as an aspirant to remain hopeful that the party will do the right thing.

    I have been a long standing party faithful and strongly believe that PDP is the right democratic platform to progress my ambition to serve our people.

    TLN: How have you impacted your people previously?

    Cosmas: In my private and personal life, I have reached out and supported a lot of students and youths from the constituency and believe that with the expanded scope of public office will offer me, it will give a better opportunity and liverage to impact the general populace through programs and projects that will benefit the people.

    TLN: What is your campaign ideology and your advice to your supporters?

    Cosmas: My campaign ideology is providing an all inclusive participatory representation in the house of Assembly if voted into office, comes 2023.
    The Obudu constituents have not felt any sense of representation for some years going in the CRSHA and we intend to bring back those days of reckoning where the people are properly carried along and people oriented legislation is being promoted in the legislative assembly.

    We will review obsolete laws in existence and bring on more relevant motions and bulls related to trending issues that best suits the modern and evolving society of this digital age.

  • Sandy Onor To Run A Participatory Government

    Sandy Onor To Run A Participatory Government

     

    By Amaechi Victor

    Democracy is often defined in the words of Abraham Lincoln as “Government of the people, by the people, and for the people. It is indeed a system of Government which gives power to the people as they not only choose those who preside over their affairs but are also expected to be active participants in the managing of their collective affairs towards the good of all. It is therefore no wonder that a society like ours as it is today, cannot in all truthfulness, be defined as a democratic society. A society where power belongs to a few cabal who dispenses such as they deem fit just as every conscious effort is made to deny the people freedom of speech in the running of their own affairs; cannot qualify as a democratic society. Can the people be exonerated from any blame towards this ugly situation?

    When we as a people for whatever reason fail to ask the right questions towards the pedigree and intent of those who seek to preside over our affairs; when avarice and wanton materialism make us settle for less than the best in choosing our leaders; when we allow sentiments to becloud our sense of accurate judgements; when we are complacent in the manner is which our affairs are handled: the result no doubt, would be bad leadership with all its attendant maladies such as those prevalent in our National and State Governments. For how long shall this dangerous dive towards the very lowest ebb of acclaimed leadership continue? For how long shall the people continue to wallow in compromise, ignorance and darkness? Who is that leader that would take the lead towards returning power to the people thus letting them witness first hand, the very many great potentials that they possess and how such can be harnessed for the good of the Society?

    Cross River, our dear State is a State blessed with unprecedented natural and human resources waiting to be tapped. A State of great minds in various fields of endeavour such that can be harnessed to bring about a mind-blowing development in the history of our Country. Why then, has ours remained a laughing stock in the comity of States, a complete shadow of itself? The answer is simple; there has not been a participatory Government engineered by a credible Leader with some sincerity of purpose towards harnessing our abundant human resources for the development of our State. This terrible situation no doubt brought about a total lack of confidence in Government hence, the people could not participate in the handling of their own affairs just as a few who tried even against all odds, do not have any good stories to tell as they were either ripped off of their resources or utterly neglected. The result of this bravado of callousness is the terrible shape of our State and her Citizens today. No doubt, the times of that ultimate decision is here again and the question is, is there someone bringing to the table, a total paradigm shift from the callousness and governmental decadence we have witnessed so far?

    “…Once I identify a talent that would be of significant help to move our State forward, I will never hesitate to work with such a person…”; “…Your input into the State economy is very significant..We will go into Collaboration with you..You are stakeholders in Cross River proejct…”; “…In appreciation of our limitations, we shall set up an Advisory Council that will be composed of seasoned, accomplished and knowledgeable Cross River Sons and Daughters to catalyze our much needed regeneration, reorganization and re-engineering..” Senator Prof Sandy Onor 2020. These Statements made at different occasions by the only credible frontline gubernatorial aspirant in our State, go a long way to demonstrated beyond any reasonable doubt, his willingness and preparedness to run a participatory Government where Cross Riverians would reclaim and rebuild Cross River and make her a pride State.

    Yes, Senator Prof Sandy Onor is a firm believer in participatory Governance. This he demonstrated starting from his early year at the national assembly through constituency briefing and interactions. Participatory Government is indeed not alien to the person of R
    Senator Prof Sandy Onor and there is indeed no doubt that under his watch, Cross River people will no longer be spectators in the handling of their affairs rather active participants. His determination to tap into our abundant human resources towards reclaiming and rebuilding our State, is indeed commendable and a right step in the right direction. The question is, how ready are we to key into his optimism of reclaiming and rebuilding Cross River State and making her a proud home for all of us; how prepared are we to answer this clarion call?

    Vote integrity! Vote Credibility! Vote Preparedness! Vote Participatory Governance! Support Sandy Onor for Governor Cross River State!

    #JoinHandsToReclaimRebuildCrossRiverState

  • Why Okpoko: For me, It Is One Anambra, One People, One Agenda – Soludo

    Why Okpoko: For me, It Is One Anambra, One People, One Agenda – Soludo

    Why Okpoko?

    One of the amusing retortions I have received since I expressed readiness to set off from Okpoko is, “why Okpoko?”. There seems to be some sense of self-centred prioritisation from a few who believe there are more pressing issues than heading to Okpoko on a rescue mission. When you probe further to situate their dissent in context, what you get is that innocent desire in all of us to always “begin charity from home”. This may not be totally bad, especially when we all agree where home is or should be.

    For me, it is One Anambra, one People, one Agenda.

    If this be the case, it then follows that the often taken for granted but real assumption that “every system is only as strong as its weakest link” must then apply. This makes Okpoko a priority for starters and should worry every onye Anambra how a State that prides itself as the light of the nation would keep a deafening silence as Okpoko dies, yet spreading infectious social, economic and environmental malady that leaves Onitsha as a City in self-destruct.

    Ụmụnnem, ife dị na Okpoko; the Genius, the unemployed and the criminal. The challenge before us is to decide whether to continue ruing the ugly situation or turn the flipside that will provide us enormous opportunities for the development of our Homeland.

    Okpoko is the largest Urban slum in Anambra State. Therefore, we have to begin our urban renewal effort from our weakest link. Like my now 16 year old daughter once asked me when she was just 14, “it is not enough to wish change or show the will to cause a change. How are you sure, Daddy, that the people themselves want to change?”

    Of course, this is not so easy a question to be answered without far-reaching consultation with the people. So far, the people of Okpoko and residents, from Ndikpa to East Niger, are more in a hurry for a change than we can ever be.

    That trip I made in 2009 to Okpoko where I was accosted by a little boy, who raced towards me and audaciously demanded, “Soludo nyem ego” still occupies a better part of my memory. That boy, and millions like him need much more than money. They need a life.

    May God help us!

    CC. Soludo