The Lumine News

Author: The Lumine News

  • GFO Orim Foundation Puts A Smile On The Face Of A Widow

    GFO Orim Foundation Puts A Smile On The Face Of A Widow

    By Elijah Ugani

    In line with the vision and mandate of GFO Orim Foundation to alleviate the plight of the less privileged in the society, the foundation had on Saturday October 7th, 2020 given hope to Mrs. Angelina Godwin Afo, a widow with four kids and a set of twins at Anyikang, Bekwarra Local Government Area of Cross River State.

    Mrs. Afo has lived in adject penury after the death of her husband, and life became very unbearable for her couple with the set of twins God blessed her with recently.

    The death of her husband forced her to live in an uncompleted building without doors and windows.

    The Chairman/Founder, GFO Orim Foundation, who is also the Chief of Staff to the Cross River State Governor, Hon. Martin Orim who is known for his magnanimity and humanitarian interventions aimed at changing the fortunes of the less privileged in the society, made a cash support to the widow and pledged to undertake the following;

    Plastering of the entire building, install doors and windows in the building, install solar light in her house, providing her with a grinding machine to enable her start a business, and to supply food items at regular intervals to enable her provide for the children.

    Hon. Orim was accompanied by the former leader, Obudu Legislative Council, Hon. Sylvester Agabi.

    This comes just three weeks after the foundation paid hospital bills for an abandoned twenty years old Miss Theresa, who delivered premature triplets at Sacred heart hospital Obudu, and made provision for the children to be incubated at Ebonyi State University Teaching Hospital Abakiliki.

    When contacted, the Chairman/Founder, GFO Orim Foundation told The Lumine News that “I feel very disturbed and I have no peace when I see people subjected to untold situations. I wish I have what it takes to change the stories of most vulnerable people in the society. But we are constraint by the limited resources within our disposal.

    “Despite the paucity of funds, we will continue to do the best we can. For us, the comfort of this widow matter a lot to us. Those children deserve the best form of care. No body knows what God has destined them to become. We have to support their mother to enable her give them the basic training needed for the realization of their destinies and potentials”

  • Obudu Local Government Chairman Imposes Curfew In Obudu

    Obudu Local Government Chairman Imposes Curfew In Obudu

    By Elijah Ugani

    The Chairman of Obudu Local Government Council, Mr. Boniface Eweh has imposed a curfew in Obudu from 5pm to 6am.

    In a release made sighted by The Lumine News and signed by the Personal Assistant to the Chairman on Media and Publicity, Mr. Richard Abu, indicates that the curfew became very necessary to curb the reprisal attacks by youth on properties of members of the suspended Youth Council.

    The release reads in parts “Following the reprisal attack by Youth on properties of members of the now proscribed Youth Council, the Executive Chairman of Obudu LGC, Hon. Boniface Eraye Ewhe has now imposed a curfew between 5:00PM to 6:00AM daily starting from today, Sunday, November 8, 2020.

    “Residents are advised to observe this curfew as those found flouting it will be arrested.

    “The restriction in movement is to help the security operatives fish out the perpetrators of these dastardly attacks and criminals that would want to take advantage of the situation and commit crimes, while the Chairman continue to dialogue with stakeholders on the way forward”

  • Mediatrix Holds A One Day Training For Advocates And Social Media Influencers In Calabar

    Mediatrix Holds A One Day Training For Advocates And Social Media Influencers In Calabar

    By Elijah Ugani – Calabar

    Mediatrix Development Foundation (MDF), under the Spotlight Initiative, held a one day training for advocates and social media influencers with the view to create awareness on Gender Based Violence and inspire advocacy towards eliminating violence against women and girls.

    Speaking at the training, at Treasure Land Hotels, Calabar on Friday, October 6th, 2020, the Chief Operating Officer of Mediatrix Development Foundation, Mr. Jeffrey Adamade charged the advocates to consider giving their best to engage the public with the view of ending all forms of violence against women and girls.

    Violence against women and girls is one of the most prevalent human rights violations in the world. It knows no social, economic or national boundaries.

    Worldwide, an estimated one in three children and women will experience physical or sexual abuse in her lifetime.

    Gender-based violence undermines the health, dignity, security and autonomy of its victims, yet it remains shrouded in the culture of silence.

    Victims of violence can suffer sexual and reproductive health consequences, including forced and unwanted pregnancies, unsafe abortions, traumatic fistula, sexually transmitted infections including HIV, and even death.

    The training was aimed at increasing the use of social accountability mechanisms by civil societies order to monitor and engage the ending of VAWG/SGBV/HP efforts and promoting women and girls’ SRHR.

    The objectives of the training was as follows;

    To increase the capacity of 16 participants (8 in Calabar and 8 in Obanliku) to act as social media advocates in response to violence against women and girls in Calabar and Obanliku local government areas.

    To Foster discussions on existing laws in relation to GEWE/VAWG/SGBV/HP/SRHR

    To build Partnership and Networks for Knowledge Exchange with relevant stakeholders

    To Increase coordinated efforts to jointly advocate on GEWE/VAWG/SGBV/HP/SRHR

    To give regular feedback on updates on GEWE/VAWG/SGBV/HP/SRHR in Cross River state

    To Increase Capacity of Social Media Advocates on Various Social Media Handle and Reporting.

    To setup State Media Team to to jointly advocate towards GEWE/VAWG/SGBV/HP/SRHR in Cross River State.

    To improve participants knowledge on Gender Based Violence, types and effect in our communities.

    To transfer new knowledge and skills through experience sharing on Violence Against programs. (Success stories, challenges and lessons learned)

    The facilitators, Mr. Obase Okanke, took the participants through the various forms of violence against women and girls, while Mr. Valentine Bassey tutored them on the use of social media handles to report activities, awareness campaigns/sensitization and cases of gender based violence against women which increased their knowledge on GEWE/VAWG/SGBV/HP/SRHR, and Social Media Reporting.

    One of the participants of the training, Mr. Boniface from Obanliku thanked thanked Mediatrix for the initiative to train them and maintained that despite his knowledge of ICT, he was exposed to so many things especially, twitter and promised to put in his best in the advocacy using social media to end all forms of violence against women and girls.

    Social media handles were set up for participants to ease their work while working to end gender based violence against women and girls.

    A WhatsApp group for reporting was set up for the trained advocates.

  • Cross River Peace Map Project: Developing a State Peace Map together

    Cross River Peace Map Project: Developing a State Peace Map together

    By Efio-Ita Nyok

    Recently, you’d have discovered that I have been talking about conflict, violence, as well as my conflict resolution and peace building activities across the length and breadth of Cross River and the Niger Delta region especially under the aegis of Partners for Peace in the Niger Delta, P4P.

    Accordingly, because of my experiences, and as a way of contributing meaningfully to societal development through peace building/conflict resolution, I feel compelled to develop a ‘Cross River peace map’ which will reflect the history, character and interventions on any kind of conflict in Cross River.

    I’m therefore inviting you to be part and parcel of the initiative. If developed very well, it can be a reference document for security agencies and government department whose turf is security and conflict resolution.

    All I request from you is to pick on any LGA of your choice listed below, state the community, and what kind of violence is ongoing there; and if possible the extent of destruction of lives and property or any other details you can etc.
    Conflict crisis can be intra-state or inter-state.

    I’ll begin the challenge thus:
    Odukpani Vs Itu: Mbiabo-Oku Iboku century-long communal crisis over little forest reserve and portion of land harbouring oil suspectedly. Lives and property have been destroyed repeatedly.
    Biase: Erei Palm oil Settlement crisis affecting Egbor, people have been internally displaced, lives lost, property destroyed, etc…

    1. Abi
    2. Akamkpa
    3. Akpabuyo
    4. Bakassi
    5. Bekwarra
    6. Biase
    7. Boki
    8. Calabar Municipality
    9. Calabar South
    10. Etung
    11. Ikom
    12. Obanliku
    13. Obubra
    14. Obudu
    15. Odukpani
    16. Ogoja
    17. Yakurr
    18. Yala.

    Pick an LGA…

    #DiaryOfAnAfricanBlogger
    #PeaceInErei
    #LettherebePeaceinEgbor
    #ForgiveUrugbam
    #crossriverneveragain
    #crossriverpeacemap

  • Gully Erosion: Our Lives, Properties Under Serious Thread – Hon. Solomon Ika Cries Out

    Gully Erosion: Our Lives, Properties Under Serious Thread – Hon. Solomon Ika Cries Out

    By Admin

    The Honourable Councillor representing Ward 9 in Calabar Municipality, Hon. (Elder) Solomon Etim Ika has called the attention of Calabar Municipal Council and Cross River State governments to the lost of lives and valuable properties due to a deep gully erosion at Stream Road (Usung Efag) Water Board in Ikot Effanga Mkpa Clan, Ward 9, Calabar that have remain unattended to for several years and calls for urgent intervention.

    He made this known in a MOTION OF URGENT PUBLIC INTEREST before the 6th Legislative Council on Friday 30th day of October, 2020 over the imminent thread to lives and properties occasioned by the severity of the deep gully erosion at Stream Road (Usung Efak) Water Board in Ikot Effanga Mkpa Clan Ward 9 and it’s environs which falls within his constituency.

    Hon. Ika went further to tender photographs taken during his ON THE SPOT ASSESSMENT TOUR on the affected areas showing the extent of damage done by the said erosion for the house perusal.

    The lawmaker fondly referred to as the “People’s Honourable” in his prayers, urged the house to;

    √ The Legislative House rise to visit the affected areas for more clarity and insights on the matter;

    √ The Executive Chairman should as a matter of urgent public importance write a “Safe Our Soul (SOS) letter to draw the attention of our Humane / Passionate GOVERNOR, His Excellency Prof Ben Ayade to come to the rescue of the people of that area.

    The Leader thanked all the Honourable Members for their contributions and immediately set up an urgent Ad-hoc Committee, headed by the sponsor of the motion, Hon. Solomon Ika, to handle the matter. He asked the committee to visit the affected areas immediately after plenary and report same in the next legislative sitting.

    Hon. Solomon Ika used the opportunity to thank the Governor of Cross River State Senator Prof Ben Ayade for the ongoing works at the Ikot Nkebre area gully erosion sites, saying the intervention was quite commendable and sustainable.

     

  • Rotary Club Donates Desk To Lutheran Primary School In Calabar

    Rotary Club Donates Desk To Lutheran Primary School In Calabar

    By George Odok Jr.

    The head teacher, staff and pupils of Lutheran Primary School joy had no limit as Rotary Districts 9141 and 9142 Alumni Association in partnership with Rotary District 9141 donated 40 sets of 3 seater desks to the school whose pupils sit on the floor to receive lectures.

    Earlier this year, the Association donated computers/accessories and generating set to Correctional Center in Delta State; distribution of 1000 hand sanitizer and Covid – 19 preventive information handbills.

    Alumni associations are organized groups chartered by Rotary for people who have participated in programs such as Interact, Rotaract, RYLA, Rotary Youth Exchange, Rotary Scholarships, and Rotary Peace Fellowships. The alumni associations maintain connections between these former program participants and Rotary.

    Every year, they hold a reunion, which includes a lecture, dinner, social event and a project within one of Rotary’s seven areas of focus. They also recognize some of their members who have excelled, whether within Rotary or outside of Rotary. They move the event from city to city annually, and Rotarians are invite to join too. Most times they have about 100 people attending their reunions.

    While the pupils kept saying Thank You Rotary for picking us from Dust to Desk.

    They said: “Rotary is indeed a value-addition in the World”.

  • Gov. Ben Ayade Relaxes Curfew, Extends Time To 10pm

    Gov. Ben Ayade Relaxes Curfew, Extends Time To 10pm

    By Admin

    The Cross River State Governor, Sir. Ben Ayade has again relaxed the curfew imposed on the state capital following the wanton looting and destruction of properties worth millions of naira.

    In a release sighted by The Lumine News and signed by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr. Christian Ita, indicates that restriction movement is now relaxed by the hours of 6am and 10pm.

    The release reads in parts “The state governor, His Excellency Sir Ben Ayade has further relaxed the curfew imposed in the state.

    “Starting from tomorrow, Sunday, November 8, 2020, curfew will now be between the hours of 10pm and 6am.

    “Consequently, restriction of movement is now relaxed between the hours of 6am and 10pm.

    “By this development, members of the public are free to go about their businesses from 6am to 10pm”.

  • Youth Barricades Ogoja Road, Burnt Houses Suspected To Belong To Youth Council Members

    Youth Barricades Ogoja Road, Burnt Houses Suspected To Belong To Youth Council Members

    By Elijah Ugani

    The youths of Obudu took the street to protest the unjustly killing of an innocent fifteen years boy by the members of the National Youth Council of Nigeria NYCN, who was reported by his father on the guise of having stolen his ten thousand naira.

    The youths barricaded Ogoja road the major road in Obudu the late hours of Saturday, 7th October, 2020 to register their displeasure over the killing of the innocent boy.

    According to our source, Mr. George Abetianbe “The whole Streets of Ogoja Road in obudu was filled with young men and women today protesting the unlawful killing of a young boy carried out by the Obudu youth council alleged to have stolen from the father the sum of ten thousand naira, and the father as a way of reprimand, handed over the boy to the Obudu youth council to take disciplinary measures which resulted to death after incessant beatings and manhandling.

    “Presently this has caused tension as boys are every where looking for members of the youth council. Some have began destroying properties suspected to belong to members of the youth council.

    “Just like the #EndSARS degenerated to something else in Lagos, Calabar, Abakeliki and so forth, this may follow the same path seeing many aggrieved already.

    “I have also gathered that two persons are dead already as they engaged in physical confrontation with the youth council at their hide outs”

    Fidelis Ishoja took to his verified Facebook page, @Fioe Castro to express his grief over the burning of their house when they are not connected to the youth council.

    His words “This act is barbaric, how on earth will you set our innocent house ablaze when we neither know or have anything to do with Obudu Youth Council. God will never forgive anybody involved in this act”

  • Fifteen Years Boy Beaten To Death By National Youth Council, Obudu.

    Fifteen Years Boy Beaten To Death By National Youth Council, Obudu.

    By Admin.

    A yet to be identified boy, age fifteen is beaten to death this evening by the members of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), in Obudu Local Government Area of Cross River State.

    The Lumine News learnt that the boys guardian reported a missing sum of money to the council where the innocent boy was suspected to have stolen the money.

    According to our source, the boy was beaten to death with the malicious intent to coerce the boy to admit to the theft.

    A development according to reports that has led to the killing of two other persons in the Obudu main town causing chaos and social malady according to our source.

    When contacted council Chairman, Mr. Boniface Ewhe confirmed the killing of the innocent boy as well as the unrest in Obudu following the death of the boy.

    Eraye confirmed the proscription of the National Youth Council of Nigeria NYCN, Obudu Chapter and he is making adequate arrangement to deploy men from the Brigadier Godwin A. Ally military cantonment to restore peace as at the time of filling this report.

  • Obudu Local Government Chairman Proscribes National Youth Council

    Obudu Local Government Chairman Proscribes National Youth Council

    By Elijah Ugani – Calabar

    The Chairman of Obudu Local Government Council, Mr. Boniface Ewhe has proscribed the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Obudu Chapter.

    The proscription comes on the heels of a fifteen years boy accused of stealing money which led to his death by members of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, Obudu Chapter.

    In a release signed by the Chairman and made available to theluminenews, investigation has commence into the ugly and barbaric situation, and all those involved would be made to face the full wrath of the law.

    The release reads in full:
    “Press Release.

    “The National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYSC), Obudu Chapter is hereby proscribed. This is sequel to the unacceptable manner in which a suspected fifteen years old boy accused of stealing was beaten to death in Obudu by overzealous members of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, Obudu Chapter.

    “I urge the public to remain calm, law abiding and cease to relate with any person or group of persons as NYCN, as the police commences thorough investigation into the unfortunate incident.

    “Be rest assured that all the people involved in this barbaric act will be made to face the full weight of the law.

    “Meanwhile, people with useful information are encouraged to provide same to the police to aid investigation.

    “Hon. Boniface Eraye Ewhe
    Executive Chairman
    Obudu Local Government Council”