The Lumine News

Author: The Lumine News

  • Former President Goodluck Jonathan, Bags New Appointment

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan, Bags New Appointment

     

    The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has appointed Nigeria’s former President, Goodluck Jonathan as chairman of the ECOWAS Council of the Wise.

    ECOWAS disclosed the appointments in a statement published on its website after a two-day meeting which ended on May 25, 2021, in Ghana.

    As special envoy, Jonathan had helped ECOWAS to facilitate dialogue with all principal stakeholders in Mali’s leadership crisis.

    According to Jonathan’s media office, the former president ’s mediation efforts led to the release of the interim President of Mali, Bah Ndaw and Prime Minister, Moctar Ouane, by the country’s military.

    While Jonathan was appointed chairman, former Executive Secretary of the Mano River Union of Guinea, Madam Hadja Saran Daraba was named vice-chairman of the ECOWAS Council of the Wise – a supportive organ with a mandate to bring peace and stability among member states.

    According to ECOWAS, the council which was established in 1999 had been lying dormant for years, but was reconstituted lately due to the recent socio-political crisis across the region.

    Among the topical challenges bedeviling the West Africa region including Nigeria are terrorism and social unrest.

    On her part, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration of Ghana, Ms. Shirley Ayorkor Botchway, urged the new leadership of the council to “assist ECOWAS in delivering on its peace and stability mandate as a necessary condition for continuous development and regional integration efforts”.

  • World Menstrual Day: Wife Of Bekwarra Chairman, Mrs. Lucy Emeka Donates Sanitary Materials To Schools

    World Menstrual Day: Wife Of Bekwarra Chairman, Mrs. Lucy Emeka Donates Sanitary Materials To Schools

     

    The wife of Bekwarra Local Government Chairman, Mrs. Lucy Emeka has donated sanitary materials to schools in Bekwarra Local Government Area.

    Menstrual Hygiene Day is celebrated on the 28th of May yearly. The theme for this year’s World Menstrual Hygiene Day is: “Action and Investment in Menstrual Hygiene and Health”

    The First Lady who was represented by the Bekwarra Local Government Director of Education, Mr. Akpanke Thomas Akpanke noted that Menstrual Hygiene Day (MH Day) is a global advocacy platform that brings together the voices and actions of non-profits organizations, government agencies, individuals, the private sector and the media to promote good menstrual health and hygiene (MHH) for all women and girls. It is also aimed at breaking the silence, raises awareness and changes negative social norms and stigma around Menstrual Health and Hygiene.

    The event attracted dignitaries at the event were the Secretary to Local Government Education Authority, Mrs. Agnes Adams, Supervisor for Education, Mr. Adie Benard Ojeni and S.A. to Chairman on Culture and Tourism, Mrs. Mary Ogbeche.

    High point of the event was the distribution of souvenirs containing several sanitary materials to school girls at Bekwarra Secondary School, Abuochiche and a brief sensitization on menstrual hygiene.

    The students were excited and appreciated the wife of the Chairman for affecting their life and changing the perspective about menstrual hygiene.

  • Dr. Linda Ayade Impacting Women And The Vulnerable In Cross River

    Dr. Linda Ayade Impacting Women And The Vulnerable In Cross River

     

    By Fred Abua

    If you are asking me what Dr. Linda Ayade can do to please those who insist on fitting her into the mould they have created and comparing her to their old role models, I will answer simply, NOTHING!

    Because everything she has done proves that she is a unique, focused, moral, self-motivated professional who is not propelled by a quest for fame and undue recognition! She is an educated, intelligent and urbane First Lady who is gifted with beauty and brains, elegance and poise, yet her chastity has never been at question. Never!

    Regrettably, if I may say so, blowing her own trumpet is a skill set she is reluctant to acquire, even after stepping into the murky arena of politics where self-appreciation is the way to go. So, she will continue to give secretly to those within her reach and be a true friend to her friends; she would continue to do only what is possible and within her means in the hopes that the Almighty God is watching. The approval of God is better than the praises of men.

    Critics often fail to understand that the Office of the First Lady has no budgetary allocation. It exists only in name and each occupant can only leverage on the platform it provides to pursue and fulfil their passions through collaborations with various stakeholders, relevant MDAs and development partners. Some First Ladies have even worked with business entities interested in fulfilling their Corporate Social Responsibility within their states while some have, unfortunately, blurred the lines between the First Lady and the various Ministries of Health, Women Affairs, Social Welfare, International Development Corporation, Education, or whichever they are interested in, usurping the functions of those Commissioners.

    This First Lady will NOT usurp another person’s duties!

    Dr. Linda Ayade is already running a pet project like almost all governors’ wives do – and she is not pedestrian about it, she is achieving her strategic goals with every passing day. Empirical evidence shows that her NGO, the Mediatrix Development Foundation, has impacted over 100,000 vulnerable and less privileged people within Cross River in various ways – various health services, sustainable livelihood interventions, educational services, advocacy for rights and justice.

    Those who try to diminish her achievements within this constituency by comparing them to some unrealistic once-upon-a-time feats done by someone somewhere are mere mischief makers who cannot differentiate media hype from actual impact on ground. Or perhaps, because of political differences, they are blinded to the very strides that have attracted many multinational organizations who now provide technical support and funding for many of MDF’s activities. Never in the history of Cross River has a First Lady’s pet project attracted funding from any UN organization (I stand to be corrected) but Dr. Linda Ayade’s MDF has partnered with the UNFPA, UNHCR, UNWomen, CUSO International, FHI360, GADA, US Embassy, Lafarge Holcim, 9Mobile Nigeria, amongst others. Pictorial evidence of interventions abound to prove all these claims.

    Dr. Ayade understands the problem of street children in Calabar and desires to contribute to solutions to this perennial problem that has been there from the early 2000s. This particular menace was one of the challenges Mrs. Obioma Imoke tried to address with her Destiny Child Centre located in Calabar South and we recall how some of the rehabilitated children always returned to the streets, rejecting reintegration with their families, while some of them either had no families to return to or were no more welcome there. Acknowledging this response and to avoid another failure in the effort to get our children off the streets means that a holistic programming that employs sustainable strategies relating to the protection of children is necessary. This, Dr. Linda Ayade, is fashioning with the Commissioner for Humanity and Social Welfare already.

    Time will fail me if I delve into the exploits of her political organization for women, Cross River Women Emancipation Initiative, CROWEI, which was created for the realization of the political and socio-economic goals of women in the state. This organization has ensured the inclusion of a reasonable number of women in appointive and elective offices in the state and has structures and an EXCO in all the wards of all the LGAs of the state.

    CROWEI is set to increase women participation in politics come 2023.

    Fred Abua is the Chief Press Secretary to Dr. Linda Ayade.

  • UNFPA Donates 1297 Dignity Kits To CRSG For Refugee Settlements in Ogoja

    UNFPA Donates 1297 Dignity Kits To CRSG For Refugee Settlements in Ogoja

    By Elijah Ugani

    UNFPA is the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency. Its mission is to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled.

    The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), as part of its resolve to support the Cross River State Government to cater for the welfare of the Cameroonian Refugees in the state, has donated 1297 dignity kits to refugees in the settlements in Ogoja to help women and girls maintain their dignity during humanitarian crises.

    The dignity kit is a collection of different items: reusable sanitary pads, rechargeable solar lamp, omo detergent, medicated soap, female underwear, rubber slippers and blankets.

    Presenting the dignity kits to the Director General of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), the Head of UNFPA Calabar Sub Office, Dr. Omolaso Omosehin (represented by FGM Analyst- Ms Theresa Adah) noted that UNFPA is pleased to identify with the plight of the Cameroonian Refugees, as he commended the effort of the Cross River State Government and UNHCR to alleviate the plight of the refugees and stressed that the gesture is in consonant with the ‘delivery as one’.

    The Head of Calabar Sub Office averred that the focus of distribution of the dignity kits was on girls and women of reproductive age as well as other vulnerable women (such as women living with disabilities, women living with HIV and the elderly who may be the most vulnerable).

    She used the occasion to appeal to other refugees especially the male folks to bear with UNFPA at the moment.

     

    Receiving the Items on behalf of State Emergency Management Agency Director General, Mr. Princewill Ayim, the SEMA Supervisor for Adagom 1 settlement, Mr. Hillary Agida commended UNFPA for the donation and promised to work with UNHCR to ensure the successful distribution of the kits to the beneficiaries.

    Mr. Princewill Ayim, DG, State Emergency Management Agency, also used the opportunity to thank UNFPA for all the interventions in the state that seek to address the plight of Cross Riverians, and by extension the Cameroonian Refugees.

    He maintained that “Cross River State under the leadership of Sen. Prof. Ben Ayade will continue to do its best for the Cameroonian Refugees”.

    Responding on behalf of the refugees, the Chairman, Relief Support and Crisis Management, Mr. Lawrence Eno thanked UNFPA for the support and averred that the gesture will support girls’ and women’s self-esteem and confidence to be able to participate in activities in the settlements. The solar lights, he says “will help our children read at night”.

    This donation of dignity kits comes barely one month after UNFPA organized a one-week training to increase the knowledge, skills and professional competencies of state and non-state actors to provide effective services to Gender Based Violence survivors in humanitarian settings.

  • Converting Our Secretariat To APC Is Illegal, Immature Politicking – PDP

    Converting Our Secretariat To APC Is Illegal, Immature Politicking – PDP

    By Admin

    STATEMENT ISSUED AT THE WORLD PRESS CONFERENCE HELD BY THE PDP CARETAKER COMMITTEE, CROSS RIVER STATE, IN REACTION TO EVENTS FOLLOWING THE DEFECTION OF GOVERNOR BEN AYADE TO THE APC

    1. On Thursday, the 20th of May, 2021, Senator Ben Ayade, Governor of Cross River State elected on the platform of our party the PDP, defected to the APC. His defection was unprovoked. The reason given by the governor for his action being his admiration for the way President Buhari is running the affairs of the country with absolute integrity. It is Buhari’s sterling management of the Nigerian economy and the affairs of the country in general, especially the handling of herdsmen farmers crisis, that so impressed Governor Ben Ayade that he feels drawn to support the President by decamping to the APC.

    2. Members of the PDP in Cross River State, even nationally, are not in the least surprised by Governor Ayade’s decision to decamp; he openly admitted that he has been sitting on the fence and dancing. We are relieved that the Governor has finally, we hope, come down from the fence on the side of the APC. This will allow our party some space to regenerate the internal peace and cohesion that existed in the Cross River PDP family before Governor Ayade happened upon us. We respect Governor Ayade’s choice and wish him and the APC peace and equanimity.

    3. On 22nd May, 2021, two days after defecting from our party, Governor Ayade, now a full-fledged APC member, invaded the state secretariat of PDP at 42A Murtala Mohamed Highway, Calabar, with thugs under the cover of armed men of the Nigerian Police force, Cross River Command. Governor Ayade forcefully took over the secretariat and on his instructions the building has now been repainted in the colours of the APC. We understand that the building now serves as one of the several state secretariats of the APC in Calabar. The building currently stands, under guard by the police, painted in APC colours, flying the APC flags, as monumental signpost of impunity, political rascality and absolute disregard for law and order.

    4. We had earlier raised alarm that vital documents, sensitive party membership registers and other facilities are being carted away or destroyed. That situation has not abated.

    5. This building has served as the state secretariat of PDP for over 22 years; it was the secretariat of the PDP even before Governor Ayade joined PDP. The current rent for the property has been paid and the tenancy of PDP subsists. The rent receipts issued to our party, in the name of PDP, are available in proof. The Lessor who rented the property to the PDP, has issued a statement to the effect that PDP is the lawful tenant, and there is not arrangement to have APC as tenant on the property. Clearly the invasion and occupation of the building is immature politics, unnecessary provocation and outrightly illegal.

    6. In an official statement from his Chief Press Secretary, Governor Ayade defended his invasion of the PDP secretariat on the ground that he paid the rent for the current year. We do not know who governor Ayade gave money to; he can ask for his refund because PDP paid the rents and we have the rent receipts to show. Governor Ayade can bring his own proof of payment. Neither Governor Ayade nor the APC are privy to the tenancy agreement between the PDP and the Lessor.

    7. Even if PDP were in breach of any term of the tenancy (which we are not), there are laid down processes and procedure for ejection of tenants and recovery of premises which need to be followed. A third party has no right to forcefully move in and occupy a building with a sitting tenant still in lawful possession. It may be necessary for Governor Ayade to seek some education in this elementary area of law so he may mitigate his embarrassment.

    8. Upon decamping to APC Governor Ayade declared pompously that in Cross River once the Governor moves everyone follows. To Governor Ayade’s consternation and embarrassment, nobody followed. Governor Ayade has now adopted unconstitutional methods to compel his cabinet and appointees, and other public office holders to follow him to the APC against their choice of remaining in PDP. Members of the House of Assembly have been offered 2 million naira and an SUV each if they agree to decamp. Commissioners in Ayade’s cabinet are being offered 3 million naira and a car each to defect to the APC. Local government chairmen and councillors are under threat of removal from office unless they defect. All appointees of the governor have been instructed to produce their APC membership cards before they can receive salaries.

    9. The defection of Governor Ayade to APC is to cost Cross Riverians 2 Billion naira. This is what Ayade needs to buy defectors from even his cabinet to follow him to the APC. Even this filthy lucre put forward by Governor Ayade is not enough to compel obedience as several commissioners from his cabinet, and majority of members of the House of Assembly and other political office holders have elected to reject the Greek gift and stay with the people of Cross River State in PDP.

    10. Governor Ayade can readily expend 2 billion naira to fund his defection to APC because he has ready cash from the almost 19 Billion naira recently paid to Cross River state as refund for federal road maintenance undertaken by the PDP administrations of Governors Donald Duke and Liyel Imoke. Governor Ayade has refused to declare this money to the people of Cross River state and is frittering it away on purposes other than the common good of Cross Riverians.

    11. We call on Governor Ayade to declare this 19 billion which is the single largest revenue flow to Cross River State since the creation of the state, and to apply same in infrastructure like rural roads, urban road network and water which benefits the common man. We are all embarrassed that governor Ayade inherited the best public water supply systems developed by the PDP administrations of Governors Donald Duke and Liyel Imoke across the state, and has allowed them today to all fall into disrepair. Our people have gone back to streams and wells for water.

    12. Magistrates in Cross River state have been demonstrating at the gate of Governor Ayade’s office demanding 2 years unpaid salaries. Two days ago teachers were on the streets of Calabar demonstrating in demand for 5 years of unpaid salaries. Pensioners in their old age were forced to block the Murtala Mohamed Highway in protest for non payment of pensions. This is at a time that Governor Ayade received almost 19 billion windfall from the federal government.

    13. Governor Ayade’s exuberance to impress the APC leadership has led him down this path of impunity, illegality and flagrant abuse of the mandate of the people of Cross River state. But as Governor Ayade plunders the state ostensibly to please the APC, we notice the deafening silence from the state and national leadership of the APC. Silence means acquiescence; an endorsement of the shenanigans being perpetrated on behalf of the APC by Governor Ayade. The people of Cross River State now know how the APC intends to run the affairs of the state and are getting ready for the worst.

    14. We again appeal to the APC leadership to call Governor Ayade to order and remind him that Nigeria is a country governed by laws in spite of nation’s experience in the last 6 years. While we continue to appeal to our teeming party members to remain calm in the face of extreme provocation, this should not be interpreted as a sign of weakness or cowardice. We are acutely aware of all the legal remedies available to us in the circumstances, and we intend to engage the appropriate processes to propagate the rights and interest of our party.

    15. The Cross River State police command provided cover for thugs sent by Governor Ayade to invade the PDP secretariat and forcefully occupy same. Currently the police have stationed an armoured personnel carrier (APC) at the gate of the PDP secretariat. In an official statement, the police command explained their actions; that the police were merely giving cover to the owners of the building to carry our renovation works on the building.

    16. Certainly, the Cross River state police command know that the building has been the secretariat of PDP for 22 years. The police have also received letters of protest from the PDP; the police now know that they were hired to give cover while the crimes of unlawful entry, criminal trespass, malicious damage to property, theft and conduct likely to cause a breach of peace, were being committed at the PDP secretariat. It tells badly on police intelligence gathering if as at today police claim to still be ignorant of the fact that they have been misused to aid criminality. The continuous presence of the police till date at the PDP secretariat signifies active mischief, rather than honest mistake, on the part of the police.

    17. We therefore call on the police authorities to call their officers and men to order, and focus attention on the apolitical responsibilities of the police.

    18. We thank the people of Cross River state, and Nigerians in general, for overwhelmingly standing by the PDP, and for pledging continuous support to the party. We are particularly elated at the show of solidarity with the party and assure fellow Cross Riverians that the development agenda which the PDP pursued under Governors Donald Duke and Liyel Imoke will be restored after the Ben Ayade era.

    LONG LIVE THE PEOPLE’S DEMOCRATIC PARTY
    LONG LIVE CROSS RIVER STATE

    Signed:
    Mr Effiok Cobham
    Chairman, PDP Caretaker Committee
    Cross River State

  • Sandy Onor, Two Businessmen Makes Huge Donations For The Repair Of Ogoja Magistrate Court 2

    Sandy Onor, Two Businessmen Makes Huge Donations For The Repair Of Ogoja Magistrate Court 2

    By Elijah Ugani

    The senator representing Cross River Central Senatorial District, Sen. Prof. Sandy Onor has donated half a million naira to the repair of Ogoja Magistrates Court 2.

    In release made available to TheLumineNews signed by the Convener, Operation Rescue and Repair Ogoja Magistrate Court 2, Citizen Agba Jalingo indicates that “Senator Sandy Onor just contributed 500k for the repair of Ogoja Magistrates Court 2.

    “Mr. John George, a businessman, who earlier donated 500k, has also offered to fix the aluminum windows at the Ogoja Magistrates Court 2. The window cost 615k.

    “Mr. Chris Agbe, another businessman has also offered to give two new office tables and six chairs worth over 300k, from his furniture shop in Calabar to furnish two offices at the Ogoja Magistrates Court 2″.

    The release further indicates that ” the Court still needs generator/Inverter, 2 laptops, wall fans, photocopier, air-conditioner, chairs, tiles and cement “.

    The second phase of donation commenced when the committee for the repair had submitted the report for the first phase of the donation and was published by the Convener of the Operation Rescue and Repair Ogoja Magistrates Court 2, Citizen Agba Jalingo.

  • ICYMI: Jarigbe Slams Senate President For Rudderless

    ICYMI: Jarigbe Slams Senate President For Rudderless

    By Mike Odiegwu, The Nation Newspaper

    A member of the House of Representatives, Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, has described the Senate under Senate President Ahmed Lawan as rudderless.

    In an advertorial, Jarigbe said the problem of the ninth National Assembly is the Senate President whom he accused of desecrating the sanctity of the legislative institution through his actions and inactions.

    Jarigbe said: “The seeming epileptic nature of the legislature in Nigeria cannot be unconnected to a compromised leadership in the Senate. Nigerians attack legislators over the state of the nation, for not playing its role, as an arm of government. The House of Representatives has its role, separate from the Senate.”

    He explained that “the problem of the ninth National Assembly is the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan. It is not about protecting the ruling APC, because the APC’s House of Representatives members led by Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, are also very protective of this government and the APC.”

    He noted that “the Senate President’s shortcomings have nothing to do with loyalty to the APC-led government, but deliberate acts of compromise and incompetence.

    On the recent decision by the 17 Southern governors calling for restructuring of the country, Jarigbe questioned the Senate President’s opposition, asking “How can we have a Senate President that is opposed to the restructuring of a country that is at its precipice? The governors of the South came together and unanimously took a position and Lawan thinks that it can be swept under the carpet? It is impossible.”

    On the way forward, Jarigbe suggested that “all the governors in this country should meet with the leadership of the legislative arm, beyond party lines. This will provide for a proper interface. Let us remember that the governors of the south are a blend of APC, PDP and APGA. It is beyond Party lines. Let us be careful with sensitive issues.”

    On the refusal by the Senate President to inaugurate him as the winner of the Cross River North Senatorial by-election despite a subsisting apex court ruling, Jarigbe said “The Senate President has also shown clearly that he abhors legally by allowing an illegal occupant of a Senate seat, to be attending plenary, after the Supreme Court has given a judgment that ousted him.

    “A man is attending plenary with a Certificate of Return that has been invalidated by the issuance of a new Certificate of Return to a new Senator-elect by INEC, in line with a Judgment of Court. My greatest dismay, is the fact that, other Senators, of proven integrity, sit and watch the sanctity of the hallowed Chamber, desecrated.”

  • Gov Ayade Approves Interactive Session With Stakeholders

    Gov Ayade Approves Interactive Session With Stakeholders

     

    The Cross River State Governor, His Excellency, Senator Ben Ayade has approved interactive meetings with stakeholders across all stratas of government.

    In a statement signed by his Senior Special Adviser on Political Affairs, Ntufam Dr Peter Ojie, the underlisted stakeholders have been scheduled to meet as follows:

    Tuesday, May 25, 2021
    Members of the CRS House of Assembly
    Venue: Gov’t House.
    Time: 10am

    Wednesday, May 26, 2021
    Special Advisers
    Venue: Exco Chambers
    Time: 1pm

    Wednesday, May 26, 2021
    Snr. Special Assistants/Special Assistant
    Venue Exco Chambers
    Time: 3pm

    Thursday, May 27, 2021
    Chairmen of LGAs/Councillors
    Venue: Exco Chambers
    Time: 1pm

    Date: Thursday, May 27, 2021
    DGs/Chairman of Boards/Members
    Venue: Exco Chambers
    Time: 3pm

    Date: Friday, May 28, 2021
    Party Executive(States & LGA)
    Venue: Peregrino Hall
    Time: 1pm

    Please treat as very important.

  • Excerpts From Sen. Sandy Onor’s Speech At The PDP Stakeholders Meeting Held In Transcorp Hotels, Calabar

    Excerpts From Sen. Sandy Onor’s Speech At The PDP Stakeholders Meeting Held In Transcorp Hotels, Calabar

    By Modlin Odu

    “Your Excellency (Sen. Liyel Imoke), Colleagues, very senior Citizens, Party Chieftains and Democratic soldiers who are veterans of many political wars. I salute all of you. From Abuja, my analysis was very clear as to the fact that there is no shaking at all.

    “Across the State, we have heard reports of the resistance of those who are good people on ground, refusing to be cajoled by the evils of stomach infrastructure. Even Jesus Christ Himself said it when the devil came to tempt him in the wilderness that, “Man shall not live by bread alone”.

    “You cannot come and compromise the values that all of our leaders have put together for this State. You made our State dirty, compromised all that we represent, destroyed our infrastructure and just reduced us to symbols of food on the table. Any man who does not understand that his destiny is bigger than mere food, that is, poisoned food that does not avail you the liberty to think and the capacity to invest and grow is clearly intended to make you a slave. No more,no less.

    “We cannot afford to have leaders who deceive us. This movement to APC is completely personal and thoroughly selfish. Now, if you’re afraid of EFCC, you jump from PDP to APC and have your sins washed away. That is clearly the calculation and the entire nation understands it.

    “The other day somebody was on T.V saying that anybody who dares him will come face to face with the arrogance of power at the centre. How can a leader speak like that? Arrogance of which power? When Power is transient. When that power will soon evaporate. When the power was given to you by the people. When it was given to you by the PDP and you turn back 24hours after defection to seize our secretariat. That is a most irresponsible act.

    “Let me assure all of you that even the few that are pretending to go with him shall return to their umbrella. The party belongs to the people and they shall fundamentally hold the key to the future of the party.

    “This is a democratic party and we have resolved that all the democratic processes must be followed from Wards to Chapters and to all other levels. Nobody will be denigrated or set aside.”

     

  • Obanliku In The Politics And Leadership Of Governor Ben Ayade BY DAVE IMBUA

    Obanliku In The Politics And Leadership Of Governor Ben Ayade BY DAVE IMBUA

     

    Perhaps, I should begin by stating the obvious, which is that until the emergence of Prof. Ben Ayade as the Executive Governor of Cross River State, many people in Obanliku did not really know what it means to be despised, alienated and neglected by a leader who has been entrusted with public funds to engineer human and capital development. The dividends of democracy delivered to the good people of Obanliku by astute leaders like Donald Duke and Liyel Imoke created the impression that a leader would always be committed to the wellbeing and welfare of the led.

    As governor, Donald Duke constructed the Sankwala Ring Road within his first 100days in office. In the course of his eventful tenure, he completed and commissioned other projects including the Obanliku General Hospital, the Bebi Airstrip, Utanga Safari Lodge. Duke also upgraded the Ranch Resort to international standard, making it the flagship of Nigeria’s tourism. He also electrified Bendi, Bisu, and Bebi among other communities. It is to his credit that he initiated and sustained the defunct annual Obudu Mountain Race which brought a great company of men and women from across ethnic, national, religious, linguistic and gender divides for the purpose of winning laurels and leisure. The Obudu International Mountain Race was endorsed by both the World Mountain Running Association (WMRA) and the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) in 2005 shortly before Duke left office

    As a co-visionary with Duke, Governor Liyel Imoke consolidated and expanded Duke’s legacies in the tourism sector. Painstaking efforts were dedicatedly deployed to ensure that the dream that informed the huge investment in the Ranch Resort was not allowed to wither and die. The Imoke – led administration opened new vistas in a bid to sustain the influx of both local and international tourists to the Resort. Under the Imoke’s administration, the road to the resort was fortified and driving through the 22 breath-taking U bends became pleasurable. In the same committed manner, Senator Liyel Imoke opened up our rural communities with asphalted roads like the Basang East Road, Busi Road, and Utuhu-Kakwe-Lishiche-Shikpeche Road. This was in addition to the rehabilitation and upgrading of numerous health centres and schools in the LGA. Unless influenced by other considerations, it is hard for Obanliku people to talk of Duke and Imoke without enormous debt of gratitude to their commitment to the provision of basic amenities in the LGA.

    And, then, the era of Ben Ayade came! Expectedly, Obanliku people were ecstatic and excited that the swearing-in of a brother and kinsman as Governor of Cross River State was going to bring about massive improvement in their social, political and economic fortunes. Indeed, even those of us who had advised caution in the euphoria based on our knowledge of the complexities of man, had cause to be optimistic. Six years down the road, the Obanliku situation has deteriorated to a level that could not have been imagined. The euphoria and fanfare that greeted the emergence of the Ayade administration have given way to regret and frustration in Obanliku, leaving sycophants and booth lickers with the onerous responsibility of convincing the masses that we are not going through our worst experience under greedy, selfish and heartless misleaders who want to be richer than the state.

    The fact that Governor Ayade has consistently treated Obanliku as an after-thought and a dispensable neighbour is visible to the blind and audible to the deaf. Under Ayade, our Ranch has become a mere footnote in the world tourism map. The Bebi Airstrip is an abandoned project. One can’t even recall the last time a plane landed or took off from it. The Mountain Race has become history. Even the Cottage Hospital in Kabun, Basang, that was singlehandedly built by our illustrious brother, Dr Emmanuel Akashie, and donated to the State Government, was abandoned immediately after commissioning more than five years ago. Even the staff of the hospital that were promised immediate employment when the government took possession of the hospital, are still languishing in Ayade’s University of Unemployment. Unless you don’t know what is injustice, you will surely wonder what the Obanliku people have done wrong to warrant the level of neglect and marginalisation that has been visited on Obanliku. Ayade era is a debacle for the Obanliku nation. Apart from dispossessing people of their land, there is absolutely no project that Ayade has executed and commissioned in the entire Obanliku LGA in the last six years.

    Unless something is fundamentally wrong with us, Obnliku people should not quarrel and abuse themselves with regard to the antics of their common oppressor, whether he chooses to stand with the PDP or the APC. I am convinced that his neglect of Obanliku has nothing to do with political parties. We should all stand together irrespective of political affiliation against anyone that takes delight in the underdevelopment of Obanliku.

    I should end this piece by reminding Obanliku elites and other people that are polluting the streets and bad roads in Obanliku with the suffocating stories of our oppressor whose actions are simply dictated by the fear of the EFCC of W.E.B. Du Bois’ immutable assertion that it is a tragedy for an enlightened individual to pursue personal gains while ignoring the plight of his/her oppressed kin. We should always remember that from the time of Esau till now, people who sold their birth rights for a pot of porridge have lived in regrets. As the very Distinguished Senator Professor Sandy Ojang Onor admonished yesterday, “Any man who does not understand that your destiny is bigger than mere food, that is, poisoned food that does not avail you the liberty to think and the capacity to invest and grow is clearly intended to make you a slave.” Enough of the noises about “Food on the Table” and the nauseating calls for the maintenance of Table Manners in a food basket like Obanliku.

    We must take our destiny into our hands by thinking Obanliku!

    Dave Imbua writes from the hills of Bendi.

     

     

    Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article is strictly that of Dave Imbua and does not represent the views of TheLumineNews or the organization the author works for.