The Lumine News

Author: The Lumine News

Looting: JOHESU seeks FG, NDDC Assistance For Psychiatric Hospital Calabar

By George Odok Jr.

The Join Health Sector Union (JOHESU) and Assembly of Health Professionals, Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Calabar branch, has called on the Federal Government and corporate organisations to assist them over the looting of their valuables by hoodlums.

The Union made the call in a statement jointly signed by its Chairman and Secretary, Mr Daniel Odo, and Mr Ken Bassey and made available to newsmen on Friday in Calabar.

The Union said that on Oct. 24, hoodlums made up of women, men and children, heavily armed with guns and machetes, descended on the hospital in a Gestapo-style operation.

The statement said that when members of staff finally settled to know what went on, they discovered that the once pride of mental health services in the country had been looted dry.

“The unimaginable plunder of our institution was an exhibition of man’s bestiality at its best. Items looted include refrigerators, computers, fans, generators, hospital beds, laboratory x-ray equipment, drugs, books, tables and chairs among others.

“All the official and private cars parked within the precincts of the hospital were vandalised without any milk of human kindness. Also caught in the melee are members of staff who lost substantial amount of money and other valuables.

“The attack and desecration of our establishment to say the least was satanic and should be condemned by well meaning individuals and groups.

“We seize this rare opportunity to salute the courage, resilience and sense of commitment to duty displayed by both management team and members of staff who braved all odds to ensure that they render mental health services to our patients literally on top of rubbles,” the statement said.

The Union appealed to the Federal Ministry of Health to dispatch a high-powered team to assess the extent of destruction towards finding a remedy.

“We are constrained to specifically appeal to the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Federal and Cross River State Emergency Management Agencies and the Niger Delta Development Commission to come and assist us.

“We also call on members of State Assembly and National Assembly from Cross River, Non Governmental Organisations and philanthropists to come and help us’’, the statement added. (NAN)

November 7, 2020
Rt.Hon Jarigbe Agom Hosts Senate President, Ex-Gov, NASS Members And Others

By Admin

The member representing, Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency, Rt. Hon Jarigbe Agom, today, hosted Nigeria’s Senate President ably represented by Sen. Abaribe as well as Former Governor of Cross River State, Sen. Liyel Imoke and Other members of the National Assembly at his Ogoja residence.

After the burial of Late Sen Rose Okoji Oko, The MP in his usual nature, decided to host visitors to his federal Constituency in honor of the late Amazon.

The National Assembly members were led by Sen. Abaribe who represented the Senate President, other members in attendance include, Sen. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Sen. Gershom Bassey, Sen. Sandy Onor and Rt.Hon Etta Mbora amongst others.

Former Governor of Cross River State, Sen. Liyel Imoke and other dignitaries were also in attendance.

November 6, 2020
Sen. Rose Shone At Every Stage Of Her Career – Sandy Onor

By Admin

The Senator representing Cross River State Central Senatorial District, Sen. Prof. Sandy Onor has described the late Sen. Rose Oko as a woman who shone at every stage of her career and overwhelmingly productive as a member of the Cross River State Executive Council.

Sandy stated this at the funeral mass of the late Sen. Rose Oko at her country home Ijegu Yala Local Government Area of Cross River State.

In his words “Senator Oko shone at every state of her career. She flourished in the academia and was exceedingly brilliant and overwhelmingly productive as a member of the Cross River State Executive Council. She performed so well that it attracted several appointments in apex institutions over the years until she joined politics as a legislator, where she offered quality representation to her people, as a devout Catholic, Dr Rose Oko lived a life in service to God and humanity. She was an excellent mother, sister, and friend to many across the Nigerian landscape. She was indeed a model, mentor and benefactor to several persons who would surely miss her, therefore on behalf of the good people of Cross River State Central Senatorial District, my family l commiserated with the family of late Sen Dr. Rose Okoji Oko at this trying moment in their lives and prayed that God gives them the fortitude to bear the huge lose.

May her soul find rest in the bosom of the lord. Amen”

A 23 man high power delegation of the NIGERIA Senate to the burial obsequious was led by the senate minority leader ,Sen Abaribe, who presented a condolence message to the family on behalf of the Nigerian Senate.

Other dignitaries at the event include former governor of cross River State, Sen Liyel and the incumbent governor His Excellency Sen prof Ben Ayade amongst other dignitaries.

November 6, 2020
Breaking News: CRUTECH Gets Substantive Vice Chancellor

By Elijah Ugani – Calabar

The management of the Cross River State University of Technology CRUTECH has announced Prof. Austin Angbah as the substantive Vice Chancellor of the institution.

Prof. Angba was until now the Acting Vice Chancellor of the institution, and the third VC in the series in eighteen months after the expiration of the tenure of Prof. Anthony Owan-Enoh.

On assumption of office, Prof. Angba has exhibited a high administrative prowess in the discharged of his duties.

The confirmation of Prof. Angba appointment as the substantive Vice Chancellor, comes on the heels the numerous calls from all spheres condemning the path government had taken to reduce the position of Vice Chancellor to acting capacity.

Angba’s appointment is greeted with widespread jubilation as cross riverians took to Facebook to celebrate his appointment, stating that they believed in his capacity to deliver.

Prof. Austin Angba is a lecturer, Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Sociology, Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Wildlife Resources Management, University of Calabar, Calabar, Cross River State.

November 6, 2020
Gov Ben Ayade Presents N277.7bn 2021 Budget, Christened ‘Blush And Bliss’

By Admin

The Cross River State Governor, Prof Ben Ayade has presented Two Hundred and Seventy Seven Billion, Seven Hundred and Eight Million Naira (N 277,708,000,000) as Budget Estimates and Appropriation Bill for 2021 to the State House of Assembly.
The Budget which he tagged budget of “Blush and Bliss” has One Hundred and Ninety Two Billion, Five Hundred and Eleven Million (N 192,511,000,000.00) representing Sixty Nine percent (69%) as recurrent expenditure while Eighty Five Billion, One Hundred and Ninety Seven Million (31%) is slated for Capital expenditure.

The Governor stated that 2021 Budget will focus more on “the Humanitarian perspective” disclosed that 70% of the recurrent expenditure will be targeted for Youth empowerment, medical support, scholarships, immediate suspension of tuition fee for indigenous Students as well as other Humanitarian support to better the lives of Cross Riverians.

Ayade described the Budget as unusual coming against the backdrop of several challenges including the COVID 19 pandemic and the #ENDSARS protest which hoodlums hijacked leading to wanton destruction of both public and private properties across the state. He condoled with all Cross Riverians who suffered losses during the mayhem and prayed that “may 2020 never come in the history of Nigeria”.

Other specific areas which the 2021 Budget will address according to the Governor include; neighborhood protection to enthrone better security for citizens, extension of the NYSC period, boost in Agriculture as well as the take off of the State’s airline, CALI AIR.

Earlier, the Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon. Eteng Jonah Williams in a welcome address commended Governor Ayade for his achievements including measures put to in place to tackle the COVID 19 pandemic, efforts to address Youth restiveness as well as his Industrialization drive. “your Excellency, recent happenings are not enough to cast doubts on the giant achievements your administration has made in the State. The Industrialization programme is on course and most Industries are either already completed or above 90% completion”. he said.
Williams promised an early passage of the budget after due legislative processes.

November 5, 2020
NDAF Set To Shut Down Julius Berger’s Quarry Site At Akamkpa LGA.

By Admin

The Niger Delta Activists Forum NDAF, has disclosed that it would not hesitate to shutdown all Julius Berger’s facilities across the Niger Delta region with emphasis on their quarry site at Akankpa local government area if their demand is not given deserved priority attention within 7-days of its publication.

The forum made this known in a press release sighted by The Lumine News and signed by the National President, Comr. Jack Success, National Youth Leader, Comr. Bernard Oko Okori, Cross River State Chairman, Comr. Paul Ajie, State Public Relation Officer, Comr. Ogar, Emmanuel Oko.

The release reads in full:

“5th Noverber 2020

PRESS STATEMENT BY THE NIGER DELTA ACTIVISTS FORUM ON THE DELIBERATE MISAPPROPRIATION OF FUND BY JULIUS BERGER IN FLAGRANT NEGLECT TO THE DIRECTIVES OF THE FEDERAL MINISTER OF WORKS PERTAINING TO ODUKPANI-ITU ROAD.

“Good morning Comrades and gentlemen of the Press!
The Niger Delta Activists Forum (NDAF) is constrained by the reality on ground to make this statement on good authority as we also rely upon the veracity of our sources that had informed us of the intel between the Honourable Minister of Works, Babatunde Raji Fashola and the management of Julius Berger over the construction of Odukpani/ITU road.

“It is now an incontestable fact that huge fund has been released to Julius Berger via Sukkuk Bond with specific instruction to commence work from the Cross River State axis of the Odukpani/Itu road since it’s most deplorable. Since the release of the money, nothing is yet happening at the site and we are worried and disturbed.

“It baffles us at this juncture as we observed that the fund appears to have been misappropriated in flagrant disregard to the Minister’s directives.

“NDAF frowns at this highhandedness and being the only proponent agitating for the reconstruction of the road, and not ignorant of the latest happenings in the country with particular reference to the many unrests and #EndSar protest, would not want to be compelled to hit the streets as that would be colossal considering this volatile time of the moment.

“However, we would not hesitate to shutdown all Julius Berger’s facilities across the Niger Delta region with emphasis on their quarry site at Akankpa local government area if this release is not given deserved priority attention within 7-days of its publication.

“Failure to adhere to the aforestated within the stipulated time, the Niger Delta Activists Forum will respond accordingly including but not limited to sustained mass action.

“For the Niger Delta people:

Comrade Success Jack
(National President)

Comrade Okori Benard Oko
(National Youth Leader)

Comrade Paul Ajie
(Chairman, Cross Rivers State Chapter)

Comr.(Hon) Ogar Emmanuel Oko
(State Public Relations Officer)

“Cc:
The Director Department of State Service (DSS) CRS Command
The Commissioner of Police CRS Command
The Brigade Commander 13 Brigade Calabar
The Commandant Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Core CRS command.
The Federal Controller Works CRS.
The GM Julius Berger Nig.LTD.”

November 5, 2020
BREAKING: Okuku Ward Wins RT. Hon Jarigbe Agom’s 2020 Football Tournament.

By Admin

Okuku Ward has emerged victorious in the Rt. Hon Jarigbe Agom football tournament 2020 after defeating Nkum Irede ward by 1:0.

The highly entertaining Football encounter between Nkum Irede Ward VS Okuku Ward ended with a lone goal scored during the 1st half of the thrilling encounter.

The honorary Kick off for the final Match was taken by Elder Stateman, Barr. Baba Idi Yakubu on behalf of the host, Rt.Hon Jarigbe Agom, Member Representing Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency and PDP Candidate for the Cross River Northern Senatorial district 2020 Bye-election.

Urban ward 1 defeated Yahe Ward by a lone goal to clinch third(3rd) place.

Prices won include, N300,000- Winner, N200,000 -2nd place, N150,000- 3rd place, Other prices won are, Highest goal scorer, Ogar Solomon (Urban Ward 1) with 6 goals, Best goal Keeper, Ipuole sunday- (Okuku ward) and N30,000 for each team that participated in the tournament.

The trophy was presented to the winners by Barr. Idi Baba Yakubu. Dignitaries in attendance include, Hon Mike Usibe, Hon Issac Okpokpo, Barr. Paul Ishabor,
Chief Austin Edibe, Elder Clement Obok, All PDP chapter Chairmen, Mason j, amongst others.

The Rt.Hon Jarigbe Agom Football Tournament had all 24 wards of Ogoja/Yala federal Constituency participating with each ward/team getting two pairs of complete sporting gear and other accessories courtesy of Rt.Hon Jarigbe Agom

November 5, 2020
Cross River Lawmakers Attend 2-Day Capacity Building Workshop

By Admin

The Cross River State House of Assembly has engaged in a capacity building workshop for members organised by Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) in partnership with the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) held at Nike Lake Resort, Enugu from the 21st to 22nd of October, 2020.

At the two-day Capacity Building Workshop for members and selected key Management staff, the Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Eteng Jonah Williams in his remarks lauded Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) for the magnanimity in organizing the workshop in spite of the challenges in the country.

“As a third termed lawmaker, the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Foundation is not new to me as I have had the privilege to participate in their previous trainings but I must say this is the best I have attended,
from the carefully selected topics to the excellent resource persons, no doubt, the gains from this workshop will impact positively in our legislative work wen we return,” the Speaker said.

According to him, as Legislators, the importance of training and re-training cannot be overemphasized.

“On behalf of my dear colleagues, we are indeed grateful to Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Foundation and the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) for taking us through such impactful exercise”, he said.

Resident Representative of Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, Dr Vladimir Kreck in a welcome address said that; “We believe that the State Houses of Assembly in Nigeria should play a more decisive role in governing their states. This is the reason why we have been supporting democratic governance on state level for more than a decade. And this is also the reason why we approached the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies about a year ago with a request to partner with us to elevate our services to a new quality”.

Also, the Director-General, National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), Prof. Abubakar Suleiman, in his remarks, pointed out that the lawmakers must begin the process of building internal capacity within the Assembly, preparatory to full autonomy by understanding its implications on legislative administration and parliamentary business as lawmakers and career officers needed to understand the various roles and responsibilities that the autonomy seeks to put on them.

Meanwhile, among papers delivered at the training programme included: “Legislative Agenda and Benchmarking the activities of the State House of Assembly, Overview of Legislative Practices and Procedure, Management Models of Parliaments and State House of Assembly Service Commission, Financial Autonomy of State Houses of Assembly and LGAs in Budget Budget Management Processes , Legislative Code of Conducts and Ethics”, amongst others.

November 4, 2020
He never listened —by Chief Ray Morphy

He never listened

1. I told him to concentrate on citizen-enhancing projects spread across the LGAs, he ignored, he never listened.

2. I told him to forget his MoUs and concentrate on skill acquisition for our youth. I told him to use the Togolese model and the Indian model where they trained their youth and then export them as skilled-trained labor who will in turn repatriate Dollars and help boost the economy. He never listened.

3. I told him to forget those grandiose impossible projects such as super highway and concentrate on fixing and improving the rural road networks. He ignored, he never listened.

4. I told him that our school standards were low! I told him to embark on a massive teacher recruitment and education upgrade program. He ignored, he never listened.

5. I told him to appoint experienced hands who would look him in the face and correct him. He didn’t want that, he knew all things. He never listened.

6. I told him to reduce the greed and the playing around. I told him that government was a serious business that requires thinking and thinkers, not just a food-on-the table approach. He ignored he never listened.

7. I told him that he will regret his approach to governance. I told him that the thing will rotten and smell in his hands and he will be cited as the worst governor ever. He ignored the sane free advice, he never listened.

8. I told him to concentrate on projects such as roads and finish them before embarking on other ones. I told him it was wrong to scrape off existing roads and destroy people’s roadside shops when he had no intention of speedily doing the roads, of course he ignored. He never listened.

9. I told him that our people needed rural hospitals and rural roads, boreholes and enhanced markets. I told him our people needed to be empowered through cooperatives. I told him to stop his obvious family-based nepotism since the entire state voted for him, the entire state should benefit from government. He ignored, he never listened.

10. I told him not to abandon the nearly completed roads of the previous Liyel Imoke’s administration, he ignored, he never listened!

Now he knows that I was right. And I am still right. What a wise gifted thinker sits down to see, a comic on a tall tree can never see it.

Now you you know WHY I RESIGNED THAT APPOINTMENT! Today, I stand tall because I am vindicated! But I am saddened by the wasted years!

I am Chief Ray Morphy
Mgba Ntol, Njoram Mfan, Ovar Okan, Nkpume Utonkor! Shaman!
Former Special Adviser to Gov Ben Ayade on Strategy and National Contact

Disclaimer: The opinion expressed in this article are strictly that of Chief Ray Morphy and does not represent The Lumine News or its staff.

November 4, 2020
Fr. Titus Armon’s Arrest, Detention, Release and Matters Arising!

By Elijah Ugani

The media space has been inundated lately with the disgusting story of the arrest of Fr. Titus Armon, the Assistant Parish Priest of Holy Spirit Parish, Abuochiche, Bekwarra Local Government Area of Cross River State, just after the much celebrated #EndSARS protest that was hijacked by hoodlums that led to the looting and destruction of properties across the country.

As a devote Catholic of the Ogoja Diocese, I joined the crusade in my personal capacity to question the rationale behind Fr. Titus arrest, as well as the advocacy for his unconditional release.

Thank God Fr. Titus was released unconditionally on the intervention of the team sent by the Bishop of Ogoja Diocese, His Lordship, Most Rev. Dr. Donatus Edet Akpan, led by the Vicar General Admin, Rev. Fr. Peter Obele Abue.

Being curious to know what led to Fr. Armon’s arrest, I contacted the team lead and Vicar General Admin, and he assured me that the Director of Communications of the Diocese, Fr. Emma Eroh was going to reach me on developments.

I consistently called and Fr. Emma Eroh perhaps hurriedly sent me a WhatsApp massage, stating that an #EndSARS video was shared from Fr. Titus’s phone being the alleged reason for his arrest, and I immediately published same without premeditation.

However, the Director of Communications, Issued a press release and published same on his Facebook page, which supersede any other statement credited to him, where he fingered the Governor, Sen. Prof. Ben Ayade to be responsible for the arrest of Fr. Titus.

A perusal of the release by Fr. Emma Eroh, necessarily demands the Media Aides of the Governor as mater of necessity to address all the issues raised by the said press release that accused the Governor to have masterminded Fr. Titus arrest, they are busy copying my publication, which is subservient to the later press release by the Catholic Diocese of Ogoja.

Someone should help me tell the Governor’s media aides to address the issues raised by the Director of Communication of the Catholic Diocese of Ogoja alleging the Governor’s involvement in the arrest of Fr. Titus Armon.

Let the aides of the Governor gather and do a combined rebuttal of the said allegations, or if they are wangling in guilt, they should apologize to the priest and the diocese.

Until we see a strong worded rebuttal of Fr. Emma Eroh’s press release, addressing all issues raised, I’m also tempted to share the sentiment that Fr. Titus arrest was masterminded.

The public is hereby advised to disregard any document shared other the one shared by the Director of Communications, Fr. Emma Eroh.

Elijah Ugani is
The Editor-In-Chief/Publisher of
www.theluminenews.com

November 1, 2020