The Lumine News

Author: News

  • Magistrates Resumes Protest In Calabar Over 26 Months Unpaid Salaries

    Culled From Punch

    Magistrates in Cross River State on Monday resumed their protest in Calabar over their 26 months unpaid salaries.

    The 29 magistrates gathered at the entrance of the Governor’s office carrying placards with inscriptions such as ‘Ayade stop oppressing Cross River Judiciary, pay us our salaries,’ ’29 esquires are in penury pay us our 26 months salaries,’ among others.

    The magistrates had taken to the streets and Governor’s office in January to protest when they were being owed 24 months.

    According to the leader of the group and a Chief Magistrate with the state judiciary, Solomon Abuo, they suspended the first protest in January to allow the government to pay them.

    Abuo said while they were waiting, the governor invited them to a meeting where a committee headed by the deputy governor, Prof Ivara Esu, was constituted and given one week to look into the issues and submit a report so they could be payed.

    “That meeting took place on January 19, so we waited till the end of January and nothing happened. So, we went to the deputy governor and he told us that they couldn’t conclude their work within one week.

    “He told us that it won’t be possible for us to receive January salaries, that we will start receiving our salaries from February because by then they will be done with their report.

    “Even when Mr Olumide Akpata president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) came down to Calabar and had a meeting with the state government and proffered suggestions on how the issue could be resolved, nothing was done.

    “Recently we learnt that the committee had completed its work and sent its recommendations to the governor and the governor has still refused to act on it.

    “We have given the governor enough time and made some concessions which are four possible options on how to add us to the payroll system and pay us but nothing is being done.

    “If the government was sincere, it would have taken one of the options but the report was sent before February salaries were paid, now we are in March making it 26 months,” he said.

    He said they had had three meetings with the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Akon Ikpeme, and she said she was doing something about the issue and needed more time.

    No official of the state government had addressed the magistrates at the time of this report and they said they would continue the peaceful protest until they got paid.

  • Community Leaders, PDP Hail Rep For Attracting over 20 Intervention Projects To Constituency

    By Admin

    Community leaders and some PDP stakeholders have hailed the House of Representatives member, Rt. Hon. Ita Mbora, for attracting over 20 intervention projects to Calabar Municipality/Odukpani federal constituency in Cross River state.

    The stakeholders expressed delight at the  rate of people-oriented projects attracted  to the constituency and his effective representation since he was elected into the lower house of the National Assembly.

    Some of the intervention projects so far attracted to the constituency include: rehabilitation and construction of class rooms block and  VIP toilets at Primary schools – Ediba, Akim, Ekong Anaku, Ndon Nyam, construction and equipping of knowledge and ICT center at West African People’s Institute WAPI as well as solar powered  and conventional boreholes at Ikot Anwatim, Asiak Obufa, Adaha Uko, Ikot Ansa, Atan Eki,Obit Esu, Ito Idere Ukwa and Nyakassang. Others are  Akim Ring road, Akim Akim-Akpap Oboroko road, embankment and flood control at Ikoneto, the on-going construction of the old Adiabo road off Tinapa road, provision and installation of transformers, construction and equipping of health centers at Nasarrawa and Ndon Awon in Odot.

    Speaking during an appraisal on the performance of Ntufam Eta Mbora and distribution of first  batch  of  cars procured by the lawmaker for some members of  his constituency held in Calabar, the stakeholders expressed confidence in the Rep’s quality of representation.

    Speaking at the event, the member representing Calabar Municipality at the State House of Assembly, Ntufam Efa Esua, said his House of Representatives member has demonstrated without  doubt that the interest and well-being of the electorate is paramount. He said the intervention programmes clearly indicates that Ntufam Eta Mbora knows the needs of his people and is working assiduously to meet their expectations despite the odds.

    On his part, the member of  the State House of assembly Hon. Christopher Ekpo, said: “The impact of our  federal law maker is unprecedented given the  number of completed and ongoing projects within his domain.

    “The projects are of utmost importance and cut across education, health, infrastructure and basic amenities vital to improving our living standard and wealth creation.”

    Commending the Rep, the Ntoe of Akim Akim in Odukpani, Prince Pius Bassey, expressed gratitude for the construction of the 4-kilometers road network terminating at the beach .
    The royal father said the road would afford his people, who are mostly farmers, the privilege to easily convey their produce to the market thereby boosting their source of livelihood, adding that IRA has also intervened in human empowerment as well as fee support.

    Also hailing the Rep, a veteran journalist and secretary, Qua Traditional  Council, Ntufam Oqua Itu, noted that the construction of the Akim Ring road has added value to the Akim community and enhance the aesthetics of the environment.

    The former leader of Odukpani Legislative Council, Hon. Nyong Nyong, noted that the federal law maker has taken  representation to another dimension since the return of democracy as shown in the numerous and visible development programmes spread across his constituency. He said beside the projects executed, the parliamentarian had given out scholarship to some indigent students at Secondary and tertiary levels just as he had empowered some constituents with various skills acquisition for sustainable livelihood.

    Earlier in his remarks, Rt. Hon. Ita Mbora, member representing Municipality/Odukpani federal constituency, said he is committed to the welfare of his constituents as demonstrated by the numerous projects that he has attracted to the constituency.

    Hon. Mbora stated that the car empowerment, which is the first in the year, is to appreciate members of his constituency for standing by him and also help  alleviate their transportation challenges.

    The lawmaker disclosed that he is providing more street lights within the Municipality to curb crime activities as over 200 solar rechargeable street lights have been installed across the constituency.

    He called on his constituents to make the most of these projects and help protect them for the overall good of the people.

  • Wike Did Not Abuse Ayade Or Cross River, He Raised Salient Issues That Demand Answers – Agba Jalingo

    Wike Stir Clear, Wike Stir Clear, Wike Stir Clear, From Where?

    Indeed, I will not allow my voice to be drowned by that sanctimonous claim that Wike in that his recent video reaction, is leading an assault on Cross River State and our governor. It is those who are urging other full grown adults not to express how they feel about Wike’s reaction to Governor Ayade’s earlier outburst that should actually be ashamed of themselves.

    When aides and Governor Ayade himself were throwing direct jabs and veiled diatribes at Wike on TV, were they actually expecting that the Rivers State governor will keep mute?

    You don’t call someone out for an open fight, the person accepts your challenge and calls you out also, then some self appointed defenders of Cross River state are on the prawl warning Wike to stir clear of Cross River as if our State is not part of Nigeria. Is there anything that legally preclude Wike from commenting on developments in Cross River? Did any law say that if you are a governor of another State, you cannot comment on the State of affairs in another?

    It is true that Wike is seeking to interfere in the politics of Cross River State but in the end, it is the people of Cross River that will determine their governor come 2023, not Wike. We have had governors in Cross River before Ayade and every succession was a tough battle for the incumbents with external interference, but in the end, it was always Cross Riverians that went to the polls to decide their leader. This time will also not be different. I think the Wike-phobia is exxaggerated.

    As for what Wike said, was he even wrong?

    He said, “I am not a 419 governor.” Implying that Ayade that he was referring to is a “419” governor. In Nigeria, 419 is obtaining something under false pretence.

    Has governor Ayade not been collecting lands up and down in the State under the false pretence of building this and that?

    Has he not made numerous promises and failed Cross Riverians?

    Has he not pretended to cry on TV and the things he cries about never change afterwards?

    Wike also said, he declosed Rivers state’s share of the money FG refunded to the State for the construction of federal roads in the State and wondered if Ayade did same. Is Wike lying? Has Ayade disclosed to Cross Riverians how much was refunded to Cross River State and what it has been used for or will be used for?

    Wike talked about Ayade selling our forest reserves as timber. Is that a lie? Our forest, the largest rain forest in West Africa, is ferociously depleted by criminal timber cartels who daily carry truck loads of illegal timber for sale with the active connivance of State government and security officials. The governor has appointed numerous SAs and PAs on Forestry, who have no other job specification than to depend on illegal logging for survival. Till today, we have no knowledge of what happened to the timber that was harvested from the portion of the Super Highway that was cleared before the project was abandoned.

    Wike also mentioned the scandalous budgets that our governor has signed in the past five years. No matter the professorial grammar you want to use, it was never going to be possible for a State that earns barely N50billion as allocation to meet an annual budget of over a trillion Naira. Those highfalutin figures were not only unrealistic, they were actually hallucinatory and the governor has abandoned that path himself. So what is the lie that Wike told?

    Those urging us to go up in arms against Wike for insulting our State, what exactly did he say that is a lie or are you just angry with the manner he said it?

    Since #TeamAyade had already dared Wike and vowed that they were ready for a fight, they should go right into the ring and respond to Wike, allegation for allegation and stop whining. Wike did not abuse or insult Ayade or Cross River, he raised salient issues that demand answers. That is what I want to hear. Not anyone telling me, an adult, how to react to what Wike said.

    In a State where most of the citizenry is cowed by fear and stomach infrastructure, where the political class have lost their voices to complicity in the rot, if Wike and Ayade’s unusual style of open peer review is the mechanism that will stir the nest in our State, so be it. Let the roforofo continue. Afterall, both are not radically different.

    Yours sincerely,
    Citizen Agba Jalingo.

  • Operation Akpakwu: I Thumbs Up For Governor Ayade – Agba Jalingo

     

    In December 2020, when Governor Ayade launched Operation Akpakwu, a special joint security team to combat rampant kidnapping in the State, it was a tall order. To enhance their operations, Ayade handed over 100 patrol vehicles fitted with communication gadgets, 10 power bikes and drones, to the operation.

    “You must deal decisively with any form of criminality, banditry, cultism and kidnapping of any form. Let this therefore be a message to every resident in Cross River; today is the end of criminality,” he said on the occasion.

    For months to the time the Governor was reading this riot act, CrossRiverWatch was reporting an average of 9 to 12 incidents of kidnapping every week in Calabar/Akpabuyo alone. But since January 2021, the frequency of such incidents have reduced to 1 in a month. Also worthy of note is the fact that these kidnappings are now restricted to riverine areas like Jebbs and Esuk Atu at the University of Calabar axis; unlike when these dare devil criminals came frequently into the heart of Calabar Municipality, in broad day light and pick their victims randomly, and escape with ease.

    The joint security operations have relatively cleared notorious criminal rendezvous in 8 miles, Uwanse, Asabanka in Akpabuyo, Essien Town and Bogobri. The remnants are also running out of town due to the heat from Operation Akpakwu.

    But there are still names that security sources say remain a real danger and must be caught before they can relax the security alert level in Calabar. The four names according to sources who spoke to Yours Sincerely include, Romance, Emmanuel AFANG, Bombo and Virus. The Police say they are currently on the trail of the four.

    Romance, according to a security source, is the leader of the gang that stormed a police post near Tinapa in February, killed four policemen on duty and escaped. Some suspects were later arrested while others are still fleeing.

    Information available also reveal that a Police Orderly to a serving Judge in the State was withdrawn and detained in the course of the investigation after he was fingered in the incident.

    I commend Governor Ayade hugely for this particular initiative. I think this was well thought out and the results are self evident. Kudos also to the field commanders and the public that has been cooperating with the security forces.

    There are however grey areas in the activities of Operation Akpakwu, which the Governor and various field commanders of the component forces on ground will have to address very quickly. Victims of the arbitrariness of some operatives of Operation Akpakwu are swelling by the day and that trend must be checked with alacrity.

    Almost every other day, there are verifiable accounts of brutality, highhandedness and illegalities perpetrated by men of Operation Akpakwu. Still fresh in our memory is the molestation of a 17 year old daughter of an aide to the Wife of the Governor of the State, at Bogobiri market, where the terrified teenager was harassed by a soldier attached to Operation Akpakwu and forced to sit on the ground, for not greeting them when she walked past. And only two days ago, soldiers attached to Operation Akpakwu, brutalized a Chief Magistrate and his doctor at about 11pm by UCTH Road Calabar. The duo were hospitalized.

    Public opinion also seem to agree with ending the curfew imposed in Calabar at the peak of the security challenges. Even if it is not ended, it should be extended from 10pm to midnight or further into the night. This will reduce the chances for security forces finding alibis to trample on citizens rights.

    There are also concerns that Operation Akpakwu operatives, are getting involved in civil disputes.

    These boundaries must be clearly defined and enforced strictly. But on the whole, Governor Ayade has done well with Operation Akpakwu. The security situation in Calabar has improved greatly. Kudos to him again.

    God bless Cross River state.

    Yours sincerely,
    Citizen Agba Jalingo.

     

    Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here ate strictly that of Agba Jalingo and does represent The Lumine News or the organization the author works for.

  • Estimated Billing Will Soon Become A Thing Of The Past – Minister

     

    The federal government has vowed to end the issue of estimated billing before the end of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration in 2023.

    Minister of State, Power, Goddy Jedy Agba, OFR, gave the assurances on Friday when he paid the Enugu State Governor, Rt. Hon. Ifenyi Ugwuanyi courtesy call in his office.

    Agba who has been on a tour of facilities in the state said that the conflict between customers and distribution companies over the issue of estimated billing is of great concern to the government hence, the initiative to distribute six million free meters to Nigerians.

    He said that “the constant disagreement between customers and distribution companies over estimated billing has become of great concern to government. This is why President Muhammadu Buhari has given us the mandate to distribute free six million meters by the first half of this year.

    If we’re able to complete that by June, we’ll buy more meters and distribute for free to Nigerians. The programme is designed to continue till next year because our thinking is that by the end of this administration, if not all, three quarter of Nigerians should be metered”.

    While discussing the Refuse-Derived-Fuel Electricity Gastification Plant developed by the University of Nigeria, NSUKA, (UNN), the Minister said that if government at all levels key into the technology, it has the potential of solving 70 percent of Nigeria electricity issues.

    Also speaking, the Governor on his part, thanked the Minister for his interest in the state even as he appealed to the federal government to urgently come to the state’s aide in addressing its power challenges.

    Ugwuanyi lamented that about 300 transformers connecting half of the state essentially the Enugu North are no longer working due to age, over load and other related issues.

    He also revealed that in terms of bulk sharing, what the state was getting was inadequate and cannot serve their electricity needs hence, there was need for increase.

    According to him, “We have serious electricity issues in Enugu State. Over 300 transformers that provides light for half of the population of the state are bad. We used to have a lot of industries in this state but many of them have left because of lack of electricity.

    “We want to appeal to the federal government to complete the 3.2kv New Heaven power line. The President has been very supportive, there’s nothing I’ve taken to him that he has not addressed” .

    Hammering on the issue of estimated billing, he said that “Some local governments in this state did not have light for up to 7 months because of estimated billing until I had to intervene. I was in the National Assembly for 12 years but I did not see nay law that supports estimated billing. When customers complain of the outrageous bills they get, the next thing they do is to cut them off thereby promoting crime because economic activities are halted when there’s no light.

    We want to beg the Honourable Minister to give us light because Enugu is expanding, most of our people are returning home. We’re building industries massively, land has become even more expensive here than Abuja so, we need light “.

  • The Nuisance Of Scary Cat Politicians By Vena Ikem

     

    It is laughable that I am being informed today that there has been an announcement on Radio that Gov Ayade’s sponsored Exco, led by One Okadigbo “won” in the recent Judgment of the Court of Appeal, Calabar! Nothing can be farther from truth!

    It is shameful to say the least. Some have quoted him as saying ” it’s politics” !
    Sorry it’s not ” politics”! It’s the working of a criminal mind.

    1. The judgment of the Court of Appeal said absolutely nothing about the already sworn in Exco at the wards and local govt levels.

    2. Okadigbo or whatever they call him was not a party to the suit and could not have”won” any case as he claims and is extorting money from unsuspecting members of the Public as the sole candidate of the party for the Chairmanship position of the party in CRS!

    3. I am appealing that judgment to the Supreme Court as he knows, because it is strictly about my purported disqualification to contest against him, which fear is driving him crazy and nothing more! If he says otherwise, let him produce the Court judgment that says so and I will withdraw from the race for him! I have a certified true copy of the judgment!

    4. Please, if you know him advise him to be a man and come for the contest for the position of Chairman of PDP in Cross River State, with all of Ayade’s support, instead of hoping and praying for a no contest so that he will emerge unopposed.
    That’s not about to happen!

    5. All the juju in his village will not be enough to change that. We are not all like Gov. Ayade that is allegedly susceptible to such occultic manipulations!

    6. All the billions of Naira of Cross River State money Gov. Ayade is allegedly wasting and continues to waste have not changed anything and will not change anything.

    Let the people have their say!

    Vena Ikem.

  • State-of-the-art Enugu NEMSA Building Excites Minister

     

    The Minister of State, Power, Goddy Jedy Agba, OFR, has expressed satisfaction with the quality and progress of work in the soon-to-be commissioned building of the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) in Enugu State.

    The Minister while addressing journalists after touring the facility said that he was pleased that one of the agencies under him is set to deliver on yet another huge project.

    Agba said that the state-of-the-art building which will be furnished with ultramodern modern facilities is a national asset that will directly improve the quality of work of the agency’s staff covering area.

    According to him, “as an agency responsible for maintaining statutory technical standard, it was necessary for its staff to be provided with conducive environment to work because when the environment is not conducive, the result will be poor.

    This is why this project is so important. It’s a national asset. I’m satisfied with the quality of work so far so I want to congratulate the MD and his team for their sacrifices and commitment to achieving this”.

    The Managing Director of NEMSA, Engr. Peter Enesor said that the building which is 99 percent complete and billed for commissioning in the coming days will house meter testing station, laboratory and the inspectorate unit.

    Enesor who thanked the Honourable Minister for his vision and support in seeing to the completion of the project, assured that when commissioned, the facility will be properly maintained.

    The Minister after inspecting the building, toured some power installations in the state.

  • FG Pledges Support For UNN Refuse-Derived Power Plant

     

    The federal government has pledged to support the University of Nigeria, Nsuka (UNN) to develop its 100KVA
    Refuse-Derived-Fuel Gastification Plant for electricity generation to address electricity challenges in the institution and Nigeria at large.

    Minister of State, Power, Goddy Jedy Agba, OFR, stated this on Thursday while on inspection of the facility.

    He said that the government is very impressed with the development and would do everything to support the institution to develop the innovation even more.

    The Minister added that, with the government ‘s investment in renewable and alternative energy, it is great that Indigenous Engineers and Scientists were coming up with inventions and ideas to boost the efforts of government.

    “I was not trying to impress the Vice Chancellor when I said that I’m impressed with what I’ve seen here. UNN has always set the pace and I’m very happy with this innovation.

    When I was told of this, the team lead, Prof. Emineke Ejiogu said they wanted to come to my office in Abuja to present it on video but I said no, I want to come down here and see things for myself so that when I want to present it to the President during Federal Executive Council meeting, I will do it convincingly. I have come and I’ve seen for myself”, the Minister said.

    The Minister added that “We have concluded the first phase of the Energizing Education Programme. We’re about to start the second phase. I’ll do all my best to see that UNN is one of the very first universities that we’ll start the next phase of installation of solar power plant in Federal Universities”.

    Speaking, Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Charles Igwe commended the Minister for his commitment and willingness to support the University to develop the innovation.

    The Vice Chancellor however appealed to the federal government to design a special electricity billing regime for universities and other tertiary institutions in the country.

    “We want to appeal to the federal government to design a special billing system for us. In UNN, when we get funds from Abuja, what we get for overhead is N7 million but what we pay for electricity alone every month is N70 – N80 million”, he said.

    The Head of the research team, Prof. Emineke Ejiogu said that the plant was designed and facilitated by the University ‘s Laboratory of Industrial Electronics, Power Devices, and New Energy Systems (LIEPNES).

    While saying that the plant is capable of reducing diesel consumption by 60 percent, he disclosed that the team with the support of the University, was already working on expanding the plant from 100KVA to 500KVA.

  • YOBOO, Projecting Northern Cross River To The World – Jude Agaji

    By Elijah Ugani

    The Founder/Coordinator of YOBOO, Mr. Jude Agaji has stated that the main objective of initiating YOBOO was/is to harness the collective interest vested on the people to promote peace and unity geared towards emancipation and self reliance while promoting the rich sociocultural heritage of the people.

     

    YOBOO, is an acronym for Yala, Ogoja, Bekwarra, Obudu and Obanliku Local Government Areas of northern Cross River State.

    Speaking with The Lumine News, Mr. Agaji noted that YOBOO has the potentials to become the leading Commerce and Tourism destination in the Southeast and South south geopolitical zones.

    His words “YOBOO has the potentials to become the leading Commerce and Tourism destination in the Southeast and South south geopolitical zones.

    “It is our desire to undertake massive agric – commerce value chain and tourism drive, using our rich agricultural products.

    “It is also our desire to initiate the one man, one hectare project to reinvigorate diversification through the speedy return to agriculture.

    “This approach is projected to guarantee steady supply of raw materials to sustain the agric value chain, the off takers, the processing, packaging and branding to the distribution of finished products, the YOBOO way”

    Speaking further, the Initiator of the YOBOO project used the opportunity to call on all sons and daughters of Northern cross river extraction to consider supporting this great initiative irrespective of who initiated the YOBOO idea, but the impacts it will create, through intellectual research on the origin, substance, livelihood and the rich sociocultural potentials of the five Local Governments that made up northern cross river.

    He also disclosed that YOBOO maiden edition was held on the 20th September, 2016 with a road walk/show from FCE Obudu to Utugwang market in Obudu Local Government Area.

  • Cross Riverians, The Future and The Historical Move.

     

    As the Population Council and Civilian Panel of Citizens’ Solution Network make the pro-citizens’ move to sign an historical Pact on the Political and Citizens’ Future of Cross River state with both the New and Purpose-Driven Leadership of Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) in the State –a body overseeing the political discourse and processes within the State across the 18 Local Government Areas/196 Wards, and the dedicated and visionary Executive of Online Media Practitioners Association of Nigeria (OMPAN) –an institution committed to shaping national debate and media conversation across the country;

    several media houses, political leaders, traditional, women, religious, academic, NGOs and youth leaders, etc, from across the divides, and a greater section of the 4.2 million Cross Riverians across the length and breadth of the State have been adorned with this pan-Cross Riverian objective that seeks to engage citizens across the State, end voters’ apathy, oversee the political process and ensure that the right leaders emerge with a level playing field for all aspirants, while shaping and leading media discourse to enforce its mandate and build a Cross River state where only true and sound leaders emerge for the socio-economic transformation of the State.

    Hence, the general public has been enjoined to be hopeful with the prospective and potential of the much anticipated historical Pact Signing on *The Political and Citizens’ Future of Cross River State* by the aforementioned leaderships of the three giant and uncompromising multi-demographic institutions.

    Signed

    Joint Executive Boards
    To: *Cross River Joint Alliance On Political and Citizens’ Future. (CROJAP-CF)*

    For:

    Citizens’ Solution Network.

    Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC)_ CRS.

    Online Media Practitioners Association of Nigeria (OMPAN)