The Lumine News

Author: News

  • Love In Politics: Do Not Allow Anyone Deceive You Into Dying For A Political Cause; It’s Not Worth It BY FR PETER OBELE ABUE

    LOVE IN POLITICS
    In this era of political wranglings, we are reminded that fighting with a brother or sister is not worth comparing with the bond that once existed over the years. Love is meant to last forever, whearas political position will come and go. Do not allow anyone deceive you into dying for a political cause; it’s not worth it. It is more important that you live peacefully with your neighbour in this world than with rancor, inherit a title that will pass away. Be careful and don’t allow yourself be fooled by someone else. Love is being able to sit down with a brother or sister after a fight to say: “I know I have wronged you. Please, I need your forgiveness. I also feel offended but I am ready to lay down my anger because what we share together is stronger and more important than what we are fighting for.”

    It is this type of love that Christ demands from his disciples: unselfish, disinterested, and unconditional love even of enemies. He said, “love your enemies and do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you” (Lk. 6: 27-28). We are called to exhibit this kind of love to our blood relatives, our political opponents, those we have offended, and those who have offended us. David noticed that Saul, his mortal enemy, was within his reach. His ally and admonisher, Abishai even admonished him saying: “God has delivered your enemy into your grasp this day, lets nail him to the ground with one thrust.” David, however out of Love was able to use his common sense to say to his adviser: “Do not touch him” (cf. 1 Sam. 26ff).

    Much of the rancor we experience with each other is often as a result of listening to bas advice or the evil influence of our supporters. Do not harm anyone just because you are on opposite sides of the political divide. Pay no heed to any adviser who encourages you to kill or hate your neighbour simply because of a quarrel or an argument. This type of love is true and it is what Christ expects of us. After all, Love is not only when you have to be nice to close friends and family. If love was meant for only those who love us, what differentiates us from people of the world who love their friends and hate their enemies. Just like gold in a fiery furnace, the beauty of true love shines through the fiery furnace of our disputes and misunderstanding.Real love entails forgiveness of your opponent(s) who are in disagreements with you.

    There is time for everything. A time to hate and a time to love. Nothing on this earth is worth dying for. If its politics, play your own part and move on, for life goes on. Remember your family and those who will depend on you now and in the near future. Go the extra mile, think of the meaning of love and reconsider that fight you are planning with your so-called opponent. It is not worth it. The Lord says: “for if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?” (Luke 6: 32ff). Our love must truly extend to our enemies if it must have true meaning. Paul reminds us that if we truly believe in the new body that we shall receive after death, then we cannot hate or do wrong to each other in this world and think it is okay. If we believe that one day we shall all sit down together in the house of our Father then we can as well start practising that Love here on earth by the way we reconcile with our enemies (1Cor. 15:45ff).

    The future hope that binds us together is stronger than any earthly positions that divide us. Elections will come and go, positions will come and go, but our actions and their effects would linger for much longer. It does not seem right that brothers and sisters who have been best of friends or community builders together for long or even blood family members should separate and become mortal enemies because of elections. Charity, they say, begins at home. If you must love your neighbour, begin by loving yourself, your life, your sanity, and avoid whatever will bring you a headache.

  • Seeds Of Violence: Ogoja/Yala Bye-election BY First BABA ISA

    SEEDS OF VIOLENCE – OGOJA/YALA BY-ELECTION

    The police is right now preventing the PDP from holding a rally on a private property. Read that again: I say, private property.

    The police has no powers to do this. The police don’t even have the powers to grant or refuse approval to hold rallies. People who keep applying to the police to get this approval keep sustaining the illegal impression that the police has such powers. They don’t.

    Yesterday, a purported APC over N200m-budget for the Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency By-election hit social media. I didn’t comment on that because as a lawyer, I love direct and incontrovertible evidence but there is something also known as circumstantial evidence.

    Millions were budgeted to bribe the police in that budget and today the police has been deployed to carry out a grossly illegal assignment. Are you thinking what I am thinking? It takes a lot, including money, to deploy the police like that. If that budget is real, then the owners of that budget truly has the money to fund illegality. Can the police be used against those who has such election budgetary provisions for them? If no, then who is using the police right now? There is something known as circumstantial evidence.

    Now, to the crux of the matter.

    Whoever or whatever is making the police act this way should be called to order immediately. By this act, the very institution saddled with the responsibility to tame violence is being used by politicians to sow seeds of violence; and when these seeds are allowed to blossom, Cross River State will be the worst for it. This is a state that is yet to recover from the #EndSARS protests that later snowballed into Covid19 palliatives looting.

    It’s like the Governor has forgotten the tears he shed for peace to return. We all wept with him. We don’t want a repeat. The Governor is the Choirmaster of politics with ethics and the humanity mantra. It’s time for him to walk his talk.

    We can do this politics and hold elections without harassment, intimidation and violence. No one has the right to tell a political party where to hold their rally or flag off their campaign.

    Some APC members say it is foolishness to flag off the PDP campaign for Ogoja/Yala By-election in Calabar. Then why are you worried? Why are you afraid? Why not allow them to do their “foolishness” and then bank on it to win the by-elections? Why are you using the police to prevent a “foolishness” that is not illegal?

    Stop supporting this, and just dismissing it with “it’s politics”. These seeds of violence you are sowing or encouraging in the name of politics, will swallow you up tomorrow.

    – By First Baba Isa (FBI)

     

  • Ayade’s Attempt To Stop PDP Flag-off Rally: A Joke Taken Too Far – PDP

    PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY CROSS RIVER STATE

    19th February 2022.

    Press Statement:

    Ayade’s Attempt To Stop PDP Flag-off Rally: A Joke Taken Too Far

    We received with utmost dismay and consternation the news of the ignoble attempt by Governor Ben Ayade to stop the epoch-making PDP Flag-off Rally scheduled to hold today, 19th February 2022. As a party, we condemn in strong terms this bizzare act of Political intolerance, bullying and intimidation by the Governor. It is worthy of note to stress that the said flag-off rally has been approved by INEC and all the relevant agencies in the State, as such, we find the Governor’s attempt to stop the rally absolutely unbecoming, nauseating and undemocratic.

    Aware that the Governor is currently suffering from pre-election trauma sensing the imminent defeat awaiting the APC in the forthcoming by-election, we heartily sympathize with him and his failure-personified Political Party, while calling on him to retrace his step and follow the path of nobility, as we cannot be intimidated or cowed by his shenanigans.

    We call on Security agencies to rise up to the occasion and guarantee the safety of all PDP faithfuls. We call on all party faithfuls to remain committed and resolute, as this too shall pass. Cross River State belongs to all of us and nobody, no matter how highly placed can deny us the privilege of Political participation.

    God bless Cross River State!!

    Signed
    Prince Mike Ojisi
    (State Publicity Secretary)

  • N210Million Budget For Bye-election: PDP Clears The Air On The Intertwine Of Propaganda And The Sacrosanctity Of Truth

    PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY CROSS RIVER STATE

    18th February 2022.

    Press Statement:

    N210Million Budget For By-election: The Intertwine of Propaganda and the Sacrosanctity of Truth

    The Attention of our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party Cross River State, has been drawn to a cheap, frivolous and scandalous ploy by the unproductive broom-wielding All Progressive Congress, aimed at arm-twisting facts and hoodwinking unsuspecting Cross Riverians into believing that the Peoples Democratic Party budgeted the sum of 210million Naira for the Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency and Akpabuyo State House by-election, when in essence, it is the APC that actually budgeted such humongous amount for a mere by-election. Aware that, with the by-election underway and the APC sensing her imminent failure, a lot of intrigues, manuvering, propaganda and intricacies are bound to emanate from the cocoon of the APC and with the information about the 210million naira now in Public domain, we understand this act of desperation by the APC to cover their heinous crime and rigging plan. It does appear once again that the days of lies, confusions and deceptions are back, as such we are not perturbed by the propaganda and distortion of facts coming from the APC and their faceless hirelings as they are known to be unapologetic liars and pathological rabble-rousers.

    Arising from the above, it has become apparently instructive that we address this issue squarely and puncture the many lies of APC and its fifth columnists. We have it on good authority that the Governor, through the Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, deducted the sum of 20million naira from each Local Government Account which is in excess of the sum of N210million, hence making it logical that they are capable of budgeting such amount for the purpose of rigging the February 26th by-election.

    Aware that it amounts to electoral breach to budget such humongous amount solely for election rigging, we invite the Security agencies to inspect our account and see if we have such money as opposition party. We call on all Cross Riverians to remain vigilant and resist any attempt by the APC to rig the by-election and truncate democracy in Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency and Akpabuyo Local Government Area. As a people-oriented Political Party, we will continue to stand with the people against the whims and caprices of the All Progressive Congress. We remain confident that there Shall be light at the end of the tunnel.

    God bless Cross River State!

    Signed
    Prince Mike Ojisi
    (State Publicity Secretary)

  • Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency Bye-election: 21 Reasons Why I Be Voting For Mike Usibe BY FIRST BABA ISA

     

    REASON 1 – ZONING

    I do this whenever there is an election. I share my thoughts about the candidates I will be voting for, for certain offices. Many persons have reached out to me in the past to say I swayed them to vote one way or the other. I love it. I hope to sway more with this latest round of conversation. 😄

    But seriously, this is something I enjoy doing. I also enjoy the conversation around this. I also enjoy the naivety or deliberate obscurantism of folks who come to say things like “social media don’t win elections; there is no polling booth on social media”. Yet, Governors and other politicians appoint hundreds of aides on social media, open and maintain social media channels.

    Some of these folks who want to belittle these conversations we have on social media are even SA’s and PA’s to a Governor on Social media. Very ironic, right? Well, we know they are not sincere because they only attempt to belittle or ridicule these conversations when it doesn’t align with their political stance.

    Social media is important. These conversations work. Let’s have them.

    Now, back to the first reason that will make me vote for Hon Mike Usibe to represent me and the good people of Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency; it is zoning and inclusion.

    A few days ago I shared my thoughts on the concept of zoning and inclusion as the very bedrock of democracy. I said it is ideal but I also warned against it’s usage by mercantile politicians who use it as a weapon of deceit and aggrandisement.

    In my own words, my resolve on zoning is: “I have, therefore, resolve to promote this as much as I can but not to split unnecessary hairs about it. I will always consider it but I will not put it first in my consideration for choosing someone for an elective position.”

    So, whenever I see the concept of zoning or inclusion happening truly by chance or by design, I will jump on board. This is what is happening now. I don’t think Mike Usibe emerged as a candidate for this election based on any deliberate zoning arrangement by the PDP or anyone, but I’m happy that his emergence resonates with the idea of inclusive democracy.

    Since 1999, an Ukelle man or woman has never represented us either in the Senate or House of Representatives; Mike Usibe is an opportunity to give them a chance to represent us and lead us in this democratic conversation at that level. All lovers of democracy and inclusiveness can’t miss this chance.

    But effective representation at the House of Representatives or any elective office for that matter goes beyond zoning, tribal or ethnic inclusiveness. If that is all Usibe is bringing to the table then he is not worth our time. But this is not all. There are 20 other reasons why we should vote for Mike Usibe.

    Keep a date with me as we discuss other reasons; the more important ones.

    suffragiumus, Usibe!

    #JoinTheUsibeConversation

    – By Firsts Baba Isa (FBI)

  • Ogoja/Yala Bye-Election: Alex Ajor Donates Campaign Items To Hon Mike Usibe

     

    A PDP Stalwart and member of the Unconquered Movement, Don Alex Ajor has presented Campaign Items to Hon. Mike Usibe in his Ogoja residence.

    The items includes ; Flex banners, stickers,face cap, T- Shirts etc were presented by Sani Mohammed Isa, on behalf of Alex, as his support for the campaign organization of Hon. Mike Ede Usibe for the February 26th Bye-Election for Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency.

    Mr Ajor had during the Senate Bye-Election presented similar items to the Senator representing Cross river North, Senator Jarigbe Agom, stated that, “the unity of the party in the North under the leadership of the Distinguished Senator is one quality that has proven truly that he is God sent, not underestimating his giant strides in Infrastructural/Human Capital Development in the entire Senatorial District”.

    He used the opportunity to call on Constituents of Ogoja/Yala to rally round the party’s flagbearer and provide the necessary support needed for the actualization of the party’s goal which is victory comes February 26th.

    Don Alex is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from Ibiaragidi ward in Bekwarra LGA.

    TEAM USIBE MEDIA

  • Court Orders C’River Assembly To Pay Withheld Allowance To PDP Lawmakers

    Culled from the Parchment

    Justice Nnang Isoni of the Cross River State High Court, Calabar has ordered the Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly and the Clerk of the house to immediately pay the allowances owed some members of the state assembly who refused to defect to the All Progressives Congress, APC.
    In a consent judgement, Justice Isoni submitted that the lawmakers being elected members of the state house of assembly, were entitled to their allowances and therefore directed that their allowances be paid to them.
    The Court also restrained the leadership of the house from suspending or attempting to suspend the lawmakers until the expiration of their tenure in office.

    The seven (7) PDP lawmakers who refused to defect to the APC had dragged the leadership of the house to court for refusing to pay their allowances.
    The members, Rt Hon Efa Esua, Calabar municipal State constituency, Rt Hon Friday Okpechi, Obubra 1, Hon Francis Ovat, Obubra 2, Rt Hon Fredrick Osim, Ikom 1, Rt Hon Itam Abang, Boki, Rt Hon Nelson Ofem, Yakuur 1 and Elizabeth Ironbark, Akpabuyo state constituency had prayed the court to compel the house leadership to pay them their allowances.

    Hon. Elizabeth Ironbar later died in October 2021.

    Findings by The Parchment reveals that the judgement which was delivered on February 7, 2022, is however yet to be implemented. One of the APC lawmakers who pleaded not to be mentioned, told our reporter that, despite the rulling, the state governor, Ben Ayade has ordered the house leadership never to pay the lawmakers until they defect to the APC.

    In May 2021, Cross River State governor, Ben Ayade abandoned the People’s Democratic Party for the All Progressives Congress. Few weeks after, 18 lawmakers joined the governor and defected to the APC, while the other 7 out of the 25 member house remained in the PDP.

    For refusing to defect to the APC, the Eteng Williams led house of assembly refused to pay the PDP lawmakers their statutory allowances, allegedly on the orders of the State governor, Ben Ayade.

    In a special interview with the The Parchment last September 2021, leader of the house, Hon. Peter Odey had denied that the PDP members were refused their allowances.

    “As far as I am concerned, I know that all what is due them, still gets to them as members of the state house of assembly” Odey told our reporter.

    The recent rulling now exposes Hon. Odey and the house leadership as liars.

    One of the affected PDP lawmakers who spoke with our reporter on the implication of the court ruling said.
    “ The important thing is that we sued them individually, we only Joined the house of assembly because they are members of the house. So what that means is that, in implementing the judgement, we can begin to sieze their properties individually”

    The house leadership led by speaker Eteng Williams had been accused of sharing among themselves over N15 million monthly allowances meant for the seven lawmakers who refused to defect to the APC since May lasted year.

  • FG Signs €9.3m Agreement With Eight Indigenous Solar Delvelopers For 23-Mini-grids

    By Inyali Peter

    Poised to improve electricity supply to rural communities in the country, the Federal Government has signed Interconnected Mini-grid Acceleration Scheme (IMAS) award grant agreement with eight (8) indigenous Solar Mini-grid developers for the development of twenty three (23) mini-grids across eleven states of the federation.

    Expected to generate a 5.4-kilowatt peak to connect about 27,600 households, and impact over 138,000 Nigerians in two years, the €9.3 million project is coordinated by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) with support from the European Union and the German government through the Nigerian Energy Support Programme (NESP).

    Speaking at the grant award signing ceremony, Honourable Minister of State, Power, Goddy Jedy-Agba, OFR, said that he was pleased with the development which is geared towards achieving the country’s vision of generating at least, 30, 000 megawatts of electricity by 2030.

    The Minister who commended the management of REA for their efforts and actions towards ensuring power reaches the off-grid Communities in the country, noted that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is always open to opportunities that will achieve the acceleration of electricity in Nigeria.

    He maintained that “according to the developed National Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Policy, the vision 30:30 aims at achieving 30,000 Mega Watts of electricity by the year 2030, with renewable energy contributing 30 per cent of the energy mix. To achieve this, Nigeria will have to construct over a thousand mini-grids of 100 Killowatts”.

    While admitting that government cannot achieve the target alone, he however, said that it was important to continue to find creative and innovative ways to achieve it, and one of which is through collaborating with development partners and the private sector.

    “We understand that one of the major bottlenecks for the private sector’s involvement is financing, hence, the reason the NESP and REA have worked closely to develop and implement the Interconnected Mini-grid Acceleration Scheme.

    The eight (8) local solar mini-grid developers, Acob Lighting Technology Limited, Gve Projects, Nayo Tropical Technology Limited, Rubitec Nigeria Limited, Darway Coast Nigeria Limited, Havenhill Synergy Limited, Sosa-Protergia Joint Development Company Limited, and A4&T Power Solutions Limited will receive in-kind grants through REA with support of the European Union and the German Government within the framework of the NESP.

    These eight solar mini-grid developers will develop 23 mini-grids across eleven states which include, Zamfara, Niger, Plateau, Kwara, Kogi, Osun, Ogun, Lagos, Delta, Anambra, and Cross River, the indigenous developers”, he added.

    Earlier, the Managing Director of REA, Engr. Ahmad Salihijo Ahmad said that the scheme is aimed at bridging the funding gap which is affecting indigenous developers in the renewable energy sector.

    Ahmad said that” it is our hope that the signatures we put down today in these documents set a precedent for the new and improved power and energy sector in Nigeria.

    As an agency, we encourage investors to explore the solar mini-grid sector. However, one major constraint to this is usually financing. This is why the Rural Electrification Agency, with the support of NESP, is working together to alleviate this bottleneck.

    We do this by providing in-kind grants to selected mini-grid developers on favourable and encouraging terms as contained in the Grant Agreement”.

    The MD explained that “the main objective of the intervention is to design and test a tender model for interconnected solar mini-grids, invariably leading to the foundation of the Scheme. The wonderful thing about the iMAS project is that we have ensured that all the developers are Nigerians. This is to say that the Nigerian energy sector has come a long way from what it used to be and we are proud of this”.

    Head of programme, NESP, Benjamin Duke assured that his team will continue to work to build investors confidence in the sector by developing an accurate electricity market intelligence that will provide investors with accurate data about the country’s electricity needs.

  • How To Help An Activist: This Happen To Me Always BY FIRST BABA ISA

    HOW TO HELP AN ACTIVIST

    This happens to me always.

    Whenever I take up a case that goes public I get several calls and texts asking me “please how can I help?” Of course I usually say nothing to such questions.

    I don’t say anything not because I don’t need help, financial help. I do. Most Human Rights activists, if not all, need financial enablement to execute their causes. Infact, and sadly so, I have abandoned several cases I took up for poor clients because I couldn’t foot the bills.

    I have abandoned cases of persons I believe are innocent who are rotting in jails. One that really breaks my heart happens last week. A young chap who is serving a life sentence in Port Harcourt prison got my number and called from prison (yes, it’s possible). I took up the matter but… Flight to PH… And… Became issues. No money. No budget. Justice is capital intensive.

    So why then don’t I answer questions like “what can I do to help?” I don’t for three reasons. All those who asked this question (especially in the Federal Government Girls College, Calabar Saga) or its variant should please take note.

    1. Most people who ask this question don’t really want to give you shishi. They are just having an emotional ejaculation and ventilating their anger. They want that feel-good feeling that at least they tried to help. And I don’t want to burst their bubble by telling them, yes I need some sort of financial help. They will end up not giving a dime and start feeling guilty of sins they have not committed.

    So I allow them have their moment of “Im-with-you-on-this-just-name-the-amount-and-I-will-send-it”. This set of people will usually turn on you and accuse you of extortion and all manner of things if you take their bait and ask them for money.

    2. Though I have never received a dime from anyone to execute a human right case or pursue a legal issue of public interest, my instinct tells me that if someone really wants to help they won’t ask too many questions or even wait for you to provide lengthy answers. They might just need a hint or a brief request and they will give their assistance. “Send me your account details” and “what can I do to help?” or “if you need anything let me know”, takes the same effort to type or say na.

    3. The most important reason borders on ethics. I cannot take up public interest cases and use that premise to raise money. That is unethical and grossly unprofessional and my opponents and detractors can make mince meat of me on this account. You will be shocked at the number of persons waiting and watching for an activist to make a slip so that they can ridicule and embarrass him. In this business of fighting for justice, I have come to realize that public goodwill is better than public money. That’s why activists must be extra careful.

    I will rather, and sadly so, watch someone face the firing squad than raise money to activate the judicial process for him. I will rather dump a case and join the client to weep for lack of justice than ask for monetary contributions from the public to pursue the matter. It’s not pride, it’s ethics. I can raise money to do charity or philanthropy but not legal work per se.

    But how can those who really want to help, help?

    They are those who ask this question because they really want to help but don’t know how. To members of this group. Let me give you a clue. Empower the activist.

    You don’t really have to wait until you see him pursuing a matter of public interest. You already know what the activist does why not give him links and referrals that will breastfeed his bank account? You know for every penny you help him make, a large chunk will go into helping him fight for the masses.

    Why not make him that lawyer that prepares your documents (MoU’s, deeds, contracts, wills, company and NGO registration, juicy litigation, etc)? Some activists have books and other projects that will fetch them money when executed; help them bring such projects to birth.

    It is demonic to always remember an activist when a public interest case without a budget arises but when you want to buy or sell land or prepare a document for an oil deal you don’t remember the lawyer activist. Who are you empowering? I have seen other activists raise funds, but for the lawyer activist nothing is more unethical.

    And this is not just about lawyers. Once you locate an activist, try to locate his workshop or line of business and patronize him. That’s how you put money in his pocket to do what he is doing without turning him into some sort of ass licking beggar.

    Now you know how to support an activist financially. Give him money without waiting for him to beg. Contribute if he is raising funds. Patronize his area of expertise or trade.

    As for those of us activists, those who stake their lives fighting for others, those who take up causes of public interests, let’s lift up our heads to the heavens where all help comes from. Let’s avoid the allure of filthy lucre. Let’s do what we can do with all we have always… God will do the rest.

    Aluta Continua. Victoria Ascerta. Yogejulnor.

    Firsts Baba Isa is a Legal Practitioner,
    07037162029

  • The Raging Arson In UNICAL, A Call For Concern BY PATRICK OBIA

     

    It was an English philosopher and scholar, Thomas Hobbes who postulated in his book, Leviathan, Book I, Chapter 13 that; “Whatsoever therefore is consequent to a time of war, where every man is enemy to every man, the same consequent to the time wherein men live without other security than what their own strength and their own invention shall furnish them withal. In such condition there is no place for industry… no knowledge on the face of the earth; no account of time; no arts; no letters; no society; and which is worst of all, continual fear, and danger of violent death; and the life of man, solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.”

    Hobbes, in this chapter of the natural condition of mankind concerning their felicity and misery, states clearly that all men are made equal by nature while acknowledging that some men may be smarter, or stronger than others even though in the end, this does not impede man’s ability to achieve his means as man’s aspirations and quest for a better life, leads to the locking of horns which lead to hostility.

    In light of the above, life is full of protagonists and antagonists, who all bring about the reality of life stories.

    The recent arson in the University of Calabar (UNICAL) can be likened to what Hobbes described as the “state of nature,” wherein, in the past few weeks, the Ivory tower, founded 47 years ago, has lost back-to-back, academic infrastructure to fires.

    Though, the varsity has, in recent years, witnessed violent activities that have led to the destruction of infrastructure, the most recent which occurred on Wednesday, February 9, 2022 which saw the Department of Continuous Education and Development Studies razed is fresh in mind.

    This is coming three weeks after the Department of Mathematics, was razed on Sunday, 30 January 2022 by what many have described as “strange fire” at the wee hours of that day. A week later, on Sunday, 6 February 2022, the Department of International Relations was gutted by the same magical fire with no history so far with almost nothing saved.

    While the cause of the fire remains a mystery to management, students and the public, there are allegations that, some aggrieved students in the varsity have hands in the destruction as a result of the management’s increment in school fees as well as courses registration which have generated public uproar.

    Also, there are insinuations that students are vexed over the fact that the school is yet to finish its first semester talk less of starting second semester especially as the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) indefinite strike has commenced.

    Whichever is correct or wrong, there is no reason to justify destruction in any guise. Meanwhile, this is not time for blame game on whose fault it is.

    It is time to look at the continuous arson with eagle eyes whether done by students or enemies of the institution or whoever; it calls for all hands to be on deck, lest it renders academic activities in the varsity impotent.

    UNICAL management should, as a matter of urgency, beef up security in the campus to protect its assets especially during odd hours but must be careful in order not to affect the innocent ones. Though it is said management has imposed curfew and halted night classes to checkmate insecurity.

    Furthermore, in as much as the institution has increased its fees/service charges, there is needed for an extension in the closure of the portal.

    Like the holy book says: “while men slept, the enemy came and sowed a wrong seed,” It is not time to input damage charges in the service charges to innocent students rather, it is a wake up call for management and relevant security agencies to dive into action and carry out tight investigation and bring perpetrators to book.

    Finally, when a child is beaten, the child runs back to who beats him or her for consolation. Therefore, the management of the University of Calabar as a parent should listen to the wailing of their children (students). A stitch in time saves nine.

    Patrick Obia is a journalist and writes from Calabar, Cross River State.

    NB: Opinions expressed in this article are strictly attributable to the author, Patrick Obia and do not represent the opinion of CrossRiverWatch or any other organization the author works for/with.