The Lumine News

Author: News

  • As It Stands Now, APC Is Fractured Beyond Redemption; Let Us See How The Annoited Aspirants Will Deliver The Party In Cross River State – Obla

    A frontline senatorial aspirant of the All Progressive Congress APC, and founding member who served as Secretary of the merger committee of the party, Chief Okoi Obono Obla Esq, has stated that the APC in Cross River State is fractured beyond redemption due to the imposition of candidates during the selection process.

    Chief Obla reacted to the just concluded APC primaries election held at Ikom Local Government Area, the central senatorial headquarters, on his Facebook page.

    The statement in full “The APC Senatorial Congress for the nomination of the candidate of the Central senatorial district of Cross River State held in Ikom on 28 May 2022, was a charade.

    T”election was marred by voting buying perpetuated by desperate aspirants in front of security agents.

    A” except the anointed one) did not know who would be the electors at the election until they got to the polling station.
    It was not surprising that altered and doctored delegate lists by the powers that be to support the “anointed aspirant“.
    Some of us know before voting that the election would be a sham.

    “Every politically informed person was aware that a particular aspirant was the favorite of the powers that be. The brandishing of the name of one particular as the favored one weeks before the election amounts to intimidation.

    “The potentate makes sure that you must have his endorsement before you can aspire to become a candidate.

    “Aspirants that did not have the endorsement of the potentate, had sorts of obstacles thrown along their paths.

    I”was the target from day one.
    The powers that be were at a crossroads on what to do with me and therefore devised crude and inferior methods to edge me out.
    The APC has completed deviated from the philosophy of its founding fathers.

    “Let us see how the anointed aspirants will deliver the Party in the Cross River State. As it stands the Party, is fractured beyond redemption”.

  • CRS PDP Governorship Candidate, Sen Sandy Onor Dedicates Victory To All Cross Riverians

    MY VICTORY IS FOR THE GOOD OF ALL CROSS RIVERIANS

    On Thursday, May 26 2022, delegates of the Peoples Democratic Party from all the three senatorial districts of our state made a loud and clear statement, availing me their mandate as their preferred flagbearer for the 2023 governorship election in Cross River State.

    It was a keen contest by all standards and in such contests, it is always expected that only one winner would emerge. Nevertheless, I must boldly make the point that even as the mandate was specifically handed to me, we are all winners.

    I have slept over what happened before and on that day and have come to the conclusion that it was neither a race for the swift nor a battle for the strong but it was God Himself that made it possible for me to emerge winner. I therefore thank the Almighty for finding me worthy to be that instrument that He will use to take our state back to the path of honour and pride.

    I am even more humbled at the maturity and sportsmanship displayed by all the aspirants, especially the major contenders for the governorship ticket -Senator Gershom Bassey and Rt. Hon Ntufam Daniel Asuquo. My respect for them has soared and I am sure they have also earned the respect of, not just our party members, but also the generality of the people of Cross River State. I celebrate them for displaying their love for our party and state. By publicly acknowledging the transparency of the entire electoral processes and congratulating me on the victory immediately after the exercise, I doff my hat for them. They have become heroes in our common struggle for the greater good of our state. By their collective action, they have jointly deepened the integrity of our party across the entire state and shown that together, we can truly move this state forward.

    I must also thank and commend the electoral panel for the display of extreme transparency in the conduct of the primary election. The panel was made of men and women of impeccable character who came to Cross River to show that transparent accountability is possible in the conduct of electoral exercises. They were not just transparent and sincere but were also seen by all to be so. They gave a very good account of themselves.

    Let me thank our party, the PDP, for allowing a level playing field for everyone.
    Our leaders were excellently wonderful. I therefore wish to particularly thank our former governors- Mr Donald Duke and Senator Liyel Imoke-for being true leaders. They showed class, character and purpose as they guided all of us throughout the entire processes. The same appreciation goes to our national woman leader, Professor Stella Attoe and other PDP leaders at all levels who were also there for us, ensuring that we have a peaceful and successful primary election.

    Before and after my election as the PDP flagbearer, other party members got their tickets for various positions. I commend and congratulate all of them. They have become partners in progress and together, we will take our state to a higher place.

    I am not unaware of the enormous responsibility ahead of me as the candidate of the best political party in our state and in Nigeria. Therefore, on my honour, I promise to guard this mandate jealously. I will provide purposeful leadership and do only those things that will invigorate our commonality and strengthen our desire for a better Cross River State where everybody, irrespective of language, local government, federal constituency and senatorial district will become a stakeholder and beneficiary of our programmes and projects. I have always said that I am in this race for the good of all the people and I stand by that.

    As we look ahead to the general elections, I enjoin all lovers of peace and development to get ready to join us as we bulldoze everywhere in a bid to reposition our state and restore her lost glory. I am actually in a hurry to restore the dignity of our state and will be glad and honoured to have all patriotic Cross Riverians with us to enable us reclaim the state with ease. Let us shun everything that will divide us along ethnic lines. Let us stop every attempt to balkanise our state along the lines of primordial sentiments. Wherever you may come from, it is important to see yourself first as a Cross Riverian. This way, we will rediscover ourselves and will be bound by one purpose, one vision and one focus.

    A new and better Cross River is possible. Let’s make it happen.
    May God bless us all.

    Signed
    Senator Sandy Ojang Onor
    PDP Governorship Candidate
    Cross River State

  • Sen Jarigbe Agom Does Not Need Introduction, His Works Speaks For Him And Tells The Story – Emmanuel Adariku

    By Elijah Ugani

    A social commentator and Political Analyst, Mr Emmanuel Adariku has posited that the senator representing Cross River Northern Senatorial District, Sen Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, does not need any form of introduction as his works speaks for him and tell his story so eloquently that people get naturally attracted to him.

    Mr Adariku disclosed this to TheLumimeNews today at Ogoja while unveiling the campaign billboards produce to give publicity to the reelection bid of the senator.

    In his words “Sen Jarigbe Agom doesn’t need introduction, his works speaks for him and tells the story so eloquently that people get naturally attracted to him”.

    Adariku stressed that “the senator has long showcased his leadership acumen when he was appointed (youngest) Coordinator for Johnathan Campaign Council.

    “As the then member who represented Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency, he facilitated the installation of solar panels at Abuochiche, Bekwarra Local Government in Obudu/Bekwarra/Obanliku Federal Constituency.

    “On assumption of office as Senator, he has longclong the process to electrify Bekwarra Local Government which has been in darkness for over seven years. He also renovated a Primary School in Kutiang in Obudu Local Government Area.

    “Sen Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe is a man with special grace. Wherever you go, people who don’t know him, speaks good of him”

    Mr Adariku who hails from Beten ward in Bekwarra Local Government Area, stressed that t”first ward in Bekwarra Local Government Area that has been unflinching in their support for the very distinguished Sen Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, is Beten ward”.

    He vowed to mobilize total support for the reelection of the Sen Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, with the production of billboards to be mounted at the ward secretariat and other strategic places in Bekwarra.

  • Sen Jarigbe Agom Empowers Cross River North Women With Cash Grants

     

    The Senator Representing Cross River Northern Senatorial District, Distinguished Sen. Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, in collaboration with National Productivity Centre, today, empowered about one thousand (1000) women in Cross River North with capital for business start-up/Expansion.

    The Women (Artisans), who were selected from the 5 LGAs of Cross River North, received cash grants to start up/expand their existing businesses.

    Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, during the event, encouraged the beneficiaries to invest the cash wisely. He also encouraged those yet to benefit from his empowerment scheme to remain hopeful.

    The beneficiaries expressed their gratitude and prayed for the Lawmaker’s success in his political pursuit and general life endeavor.

    TEAM JARI MEDIA.

  • Emmanuella Imo Invites You To The Maiden Edition Of Social Impact Marketing Summit

    The Chief Executive Officer of Ellah Communications, Emmanuella Imo is inviting you to attend the maiden edition of social impact marketing summit. The summit will be an annual event.

    In a release made available to TheLumineNews, and signed by the convener, indicates that the social marketing summit is designed to help upcoming nonprofit leaders and individuals in the social impact sector to gain relevant skills and increase capacity with digital media thereby attracting the necessary resources for changing lives for exceptional impact.

    The release reads in full:

    “Are you a nonprofit leader or social impact innovator? This is for you.

    “The Social Impact Marketing Summit is a marketing conference that brings together the top and upcoming players in the nonprofit sector for knowledge transfer.

    “It is designed to help upcoming nonprofit leaders and individuals in the social impact sector to gain relevant skills and increase capacity with digital media thereby attracting the necessary resources for changing lives for exceptional impact.

    “Expect:
    Impactful sessions
    Free Resources
    Access to unlimited materials to build your organisation online

    “Date: July 30th 2022
    Venue: ONLINE
    Registration: FREE”

    To register visit: https://sims2022.crd.co

  • Gershom Bassey And His Epileptic Media Strategy: The Last Kick Of A Dying Horse

     

    We in the Caterpillar Movement Campaign Organisation have overtime, consciously refrained from joining issues with contenders and their barking dogs because we consider it unnecessary to mudsling when we’re confident of victory. This is why we have repeatedly paid deaf ears to distracting noises from people that are pained by the massive goodwill and support enjoyed by our capacity and competent principal. Our attention has once again been drawn to an unfortunate vituperation and vitriolic against the esteemed personality of Distinguished Senator Professor Sandy Ojang Onor and his highly cerebral media team as well as undaunted teeming supporters, authored by a team of spineless and faceless hirelings and given to their hapless hatchet man, Prince Zebis to append his name. But like Al-Capone posited in the book–Mafia Manager, “He who answers for another, pays the Bills.”

    First, we commend the spineless writers of the junk article full of the need to impress rather than communicate, for acknowledging the intellectual prowess of the Caterpillar Media Team and the fact that the Caterpillar Media by all standards, surpass the motley of intellectually debased entities parading as Gershom Bassey’s media team, both in content, style and audience. This is as a result of the consistency we have built since the senatorial journey of our Principal in 2018 when those parading today as Media aides to Senator Gershom Bassey were still wallowing in absolute obscurity.

    As a team, we commiserate and deeply sympathize with the helpless Prince Zebis for being used by a coarse conglomerate of intellectually lazy adults squeezed into Senator Gershom Bassey’s hurriedly put together Media Team whose usefulness starts and ends with copying, pasting and sharing of propaganda, mendacious and senseless vituperation against Senator Sandy Ojang Onor and sharing of blur Selfie Pictures taken by their Principal in the Red Chambers, where he ought to be concentrating on the serious business of legislation. For us, we understand that you cannot beat a child mercilessly and still deny him the privilege of shedding tears–so we understand their songs of Lamentation.

    It is without a doubt that, the gubernatorial ambition of Senator Sandy Ojang Onor has shaken off Political docility and entitlement mentality in the Politics of our dear state. It has not only decimated the zoning argument, it has also given it a befitting funeral. Therefore, the fear of the embattled Consensus candidate of the All Progressives Congress by Senator Gershom Bassey is rather a function of his incompetence than it is of fact, and we cannot help him out of his self inflicted dilemma even as he expects the People’s Democratic Party to throw the governorship ticket on his laps when even as a two term Senator in his Senatorial District, he was sufficiently and overwhelmingly rejected by his people and the leadership for an Arthur Jarvis that has neither been a Councilor, Chairman nor State or National Assembly member. This goes to show how unpopular Senator Gershom Bassey is.

    His recent strategy is not unconnected to the decision of the PDP National, officially proclaiming that there would be no zoning for its Presidency, he fears the implication of this on State governorship. Gershom Bassey and his co-travellers should therefore stop parading their fear of healthy competition and obvious geo-ethnic biases through the facade of a non-existent zoning formula and meet us in the field. More worrisome is the fact that Gershom Bassey and his infantile media handlers that circulated news of them sweeping all the ad-hoc delegates in the just concluded ward congresses, are today crying foul and looking for a soft landing. So, where are the phantom ad-hoc delegates they claimed to have bountifully harvested? Isn’t it crystal clear that Gershom Bassey and his team are obviously suffering from “Atychiphobia” an intense fear of failure.

    On the claim that our Principal, Distinguished Senator Prof Sandy Ojang Onor controls only Etung Local Government Area and lacks the capacity to win in other Local Government Areas. We are tempted to ask, between Senator Sandy Onor who according to Gershom Bassey’s minions controls Etung Local Government Area and Gershom Bassey who had only one vote in a consensus meeting that took place in his own backyard–Calabar South, and was mercilessly beaten by his constituents at Transcorp Hotels in 2018 for poor performance, who is more qualified to be our Party’s flag bearer?

    A team like theirs, popular only for its gutter politics should bear it in mind that we are very prepared to throw rocks when they throw sands and still beat them silly in the field and we are not joking about it.

    Caterpillar Movement Media

  • Chris Agara Reacts To Orok Otu Duke’s Threat, Says Governor’s Word Or Preferences Can Not Become Law Unto All

    PRESS STATEMENT ON THE THREAT OF VIOLENCE AGAINST CHIEF (BAR) CHRIS AGARA BY OROK OTU DUKE

    1. The attention of Chief (Bar) Chris Agara Campaign Organisation has been drawn to a comedy strip in which Honourable Orok Otu Duke is the stand up comedian. In the video Duke laboured to ridicule the disclaimer by our team in respect of the phantom consensus Governorship agreement in Abuja. While he succeeded in making his audience laugh he also made a very serious commitment to violence against those who refuse to accept the Consensus Option.

    2. We recognise the obvious threat to the life of Chief Chris Agara and his followers advocated in the video to the loud applause of the men sitting in the room, including the state Governor, and will take very profound measures to protect our Principal and ourselves throughout the period of electioneering. While he humoured Governor Ben Ayade in the same video for making Chief Chris Agara rich during his Governorship, our Principal who God has already generously blessed long before 2015 will make an appropriate response to this matter himself at the right time.

    3. One of the profound tenets of liberal democracy is the right to disagree with a decision that one feels differently about within the framework of the law. That is precisely what Chief ( Bar) Chris Agara has done. Governor Ben Ayade himself recently said openly in his interview with Channels Television that while he wishes that the Governorship returns to the South “I cannot play God and force everyone to agree with me”. We will like to remind the pseudo democrats in the room that Section 84 (9) of the Electoral Act, 2022 provides that consensus may be used after cleared aspirants have emerged. Also, the written consent of the aspirant must be extracted before any consensus would be said to have been arrived at. Cleared aspirants who must have bought the nomination form and gone through due clearance are the ones who can enter into consensus agreements not pretenders to the Crown at Peregrino Hall.

    4. Democratic civil rule does not confer the status of a monarch or potentate on the Governor or President for that matter, and therefore the Governor’s word or preferences cannot become law unto all. We have chosen to disagree with the Consensus Option and are fully prepared for the Governorship race of Cross River State at this time, no matter the number of comedy strips, threats of violence and all types of intimidation that we may come against in the course of prosecuting our legitimate aspiration.

    SIGNED
    BAR. RICHARD OGBECHE
    DIRECTOR GENERAL.

  • Sen. Sandy Ojang Onor Empowers Women Leaders Of Central Senatorial District

    Caterpillar Media

    Th Senator representing Central Senatorial District, Sen Prof Sandy Onor empowered all Chapter and Ward Women Leaders across the senatorial district.

    The empowerment held on the 10th May, 2022 at Ikom the senatorial district headquarters.

    This  comes after a series of diverse skill acquisition training programmes facilitated by the Senator to enlighten and empower women for self-reliance.

    Senator Onor who has repeatedly appraised the role of women in family and societal development, encouraged them to continue to participate actively in politics in order to enable them put their natural abilities into deciding the kind of leaders they want to have.

    The enthused beneficiaries expressed gratitude to the Senator and hailed him for his impressive inclusion of women in his politics and developmental programmes. They assured him of their continuous loyalty, prayers and support.

    The items were presented to the benefiting women by the Director General of the Caterpillar Movement, Chief Hon. Joe Obi Bisong, Mr. Pius Abang Bessong, frontline aspirant of the Ikom/Boki Federal Constituency and some other critical members of the People’s Democratic Party in the District.

  • Chris Agara Dissociates From The APC Consensus Candidature, Describes The Meeting As Merely A Talk Shop Amidst Good Food And Vintage Liquor

    WE ARE NOT PART OF THE SO – CALLED ‘CONSENSUS’ APC CANDIDATURE

    The Chris Agara Campaign Organisation wishes to state very clearly as follows:

    1. That we are legitimate members of the All Progressives Party (APC), who have always respected and will continue to respect the lawful decisions of the Party and all is organs at all levels.

    2. That we recognise the leadership of the Party in the state by His Excellency, the Governor, Professor Ben Ayade and have been and will continue to be loyal to his leadership.

    3. We wish to state very clearly that such respect and loyalty should however be mutual since the leadership of the Party and the Governor are as important to the members as the members should be important to them.

    4. That our Principal was invited to the meeting which took place on Monday, May 9th at the Transcorp Hotel, in Abuja to discuss the report of the Seven – Man Committee earlier set up by the Party and not to agree on any consensus.

    5. That right there on the floor of the meeting when the matter came up, Chief (Bar) Chris Agara clearly expressed his reservations about the Consensus Option and declined to go along with it.

    6. That Chief (Bar) Chris Agara went further to point out the grave disrespect to some Governorship aspirants that the obvious ambush meeting entailed, by inviting them to a meeting for a specific purpose and then turning around to do something else.

    7. The Chris Agara Campaign Organisation will like to point out to His Excellency the Governor and the leadership of our great Party that while the Electoral Act allows the option of Consensus, it also prescribes that such agreements shall be in writing and shall be endorsed by all relevant parties concerned.

    8. To the best of our knowledge the meeting at Transcorp of the May 9th instant was merely a talk shop amidst good food and vintage liquor and should not be accorded any further importance beyond what it truly was.

    9. The Chris Agara Campaign Organisation assures its teeming supporters that Chief ( Bar) Chris Agara remains committed and competitive in the race and is prepared to pursue his Governorship aspiration to its logical conclusion.

    SIGNED
    BAR. RICHARD OGBECHE
    DIRECTOR – GENERAL

  • Ayade’s Chief Of Staff, Hon Martin Orim Obtains APC Northern Senatorial Form

    The Chief of Staff to the Cross River State Governor, Hon Martin Orim has today, May 5th, 2022 obtained the All Progressive Congress APC nomination form to contest the Cross River Northern Senatorial District election.

    Hon Martin Orim becomes the first person to pick the form to challenge the incumbent, Sen Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe.