The Lumine News

Author: News

  • Ayade’s Chief Of Staff, Martin Orim To Empower Bedia Youth As The Community Honours Him

    By Elijah Ugani

    The Chief of Staff to the Cross River State Governor, Hon. Martin Orim has been honored by Bedia Community in Obudu Local Government Area.

    The event was held at Sacred Heart Primary School, Bedia today, the 27th December, 2020.

    In an address of welcome presented by the community Secretary, Mr. A. U. Alawa, the community maintained that their sons and daughters in government appointment in the state was facilitated by the Chief of Staff. “May we use this opportunity to appreciate your generosity towards Bedia community. Our sons and daughters who are now on government appointment wouldn’t have been so easy without your concern”

    “Let us sound it loud and clear that your recognition in Bedia is not just as a son in-law, but as an illustrious of Bedia. We pledge our solidarity and maximum support to you whenever the need arises”

     

    Bedia community used the opportunity to request the Chief of Staff to consider empowering its youth through skill acquisition. “This community will appreciate and celebrate you the more if you can help empower our teaming youth through skill acquisition; so that when trained, they will be of use to the development of the community and depend less on their parents.

    “We may not have enough to give you for all you’ve done for us but whatever we shall offer you, we pray you take it in good faith as a mark of honour and appreciation for you good works”

    In the same light, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of an emerging hospitality industry in Obudu, Valley of Barachy Hotel, Obudu, Uknandi George Utsu Imayi, presented a plaque award to Hon. Martin Orim for his magnanimity in both humanitarian services and empowering the teaming unemployed youth in Obudu.

    On his part, the Clan of Bedia Likwu, who is also the Chairman of Forestry Commission, Chief Tony Unianyandeye eulogized the Chief of Staff to the Governor. He maintained that “As much as I avoid talking about the Chief of Staff, I’m always compelled by his sterling performance to say a few things about him. The Chief has indeed touched the lives of so many persons positively and I can say is that I wish him the very best”

    Responding, the Chief of Staff thanked Bedia community to have honored and treated him to a sumptuous reception despite the fact that he has continuously turned down the invitation for a reception by his community.

    Hon. Orim stressed that the peace he enjoyed to effectively carry out his functions as the Chief of Staff is courtesy of the support of his dear wife who is a daughter of Bedia community, and so he has no reason to turn down the invitation for a reception from Bedia.

    The Chief of Staff assured the community that his pet project, GFO Orim Foundation, which he founded in memory of his late father will liaise with the community to enroll some youth for the skill acquisition.

    Hon. Orim had earlier joined in the thanksgiving mass of two sons of Bedia who recently ordained Deacons in the Catholic faith that was held at the Roman Catholic Mission (RCM), Bedia and pledged to undertake the fixing of rails in the church.

    Hon. Orim stressed that to be singled out from over 4 million Cross Riverians to be appointed Chief of Staff, remains a mystery.

    In a vote of thanks, Utsu Christopher Ugbe thanked the Chief of Staff to have found time to honor their invitation and prayed for God’s guidance and journey mercy for all those who came to identify with Bedia community.

    The event was attended by a litany of dignitaries as Mr. Boniface Ewhe, Chairman of Obudu Local Government Council, Hon. Victor Agwu, Commissioner for Power, Hon. Kenn Aklah, Senior Special Adviser to the Governor on Event Management, Governor’s Office, Hon. Edward Ajang, Member representing Bekwarra State constituency in the Cross River State House of Assembly, Evangelist Margaret Inde, Chairman of Obanliku Local Government Council, Engr. Thomas Aruku, Director General, Road Maintenance Agency, Mr. Thomas Odama, PDP Chairman, Bekwarra Local Government Chapter.

  • Obudu State House Member Celebrates With Constituents, Calls For Love And Peace On Christmas

    By Elijah Ugani

    The member representing Obudu State House of Assembly, Hon. Maria Akwaji has celebrated the 2020 Christmas with her constituents and charged them to embrace love and peace which the ultimate ministry of Jesus Christ whose birth anniversary we celebrate.

    Hon. Akwaji was represented by the Chairman of Council, Mr. Boniface Ewhe admonished the people to imbibe the spirit of sharing with one another whatever that is their disposal as a way of expressing and showing love at the Christmas celebration.

    The event was held at the Chairman’s official residence at Obudu council Secretariat on the 24th December, 2020, had leaders drawn from the ten wards of Obudu local government area.

    The lawmaker was sworn in on the 17th of December, 2020 is barely one week in office.

    Hon. Akwaji presented 120 bags of rice and a cash donation.
    Leaders expressed gratitude to the benevolence of the lawmaker despite been sworn into office within one week.

    Speaking to The Lumine News, Mr. Joseph Utukwu said that “Hon. Akwaji has started very well, she has done what others cannot do, we all need to rally support around her to ensure that she succeeds”

     

  • Lagos Based Lawyer Emphasises Need For Human Capital Development, As A Way To Move Cross River State Forward

     

    A Lagos based lawyer Barr. William Ballantyne has stressed on the importance to encourage human capital development in the state as a way of moving the state forward.

    In a telephone interview with journalists in Calabar, he said “We do not have people with critical minds who can think critically. That is why we have to introduce a different Educational system which will entail basically critical thinking for future development that will lead to the advancement of our State”

    He said there was need for government and political leaders in the state to concentrate on human capital development as a way of economic and socio-political development of the state.

    Barr. Ballantyne who is also a senior member of the All Progressives Congress, APC, also described as unfortunate the suffering faced by the displaced Bakassi people said ” it was their choice to agree to come and settle at a Primary School in Akpabuyo, leaving their ancenstral land behind”

    The legal luminary who faulted the decision of the international court to cede the oil rich penisulayto the Cameroon however accused the political elites in the state of being too selfish at the detriment of the people.

    Barr. Ballantyne who has contested to represent Bakassi, Akpabuyo and Calabar south federal constituency at the federal house of representatives has spent the last 16 years lending his voice to several serious issues in the state, especially as it concerns the displaced people of Bakassi.

  • Legor Idagbo Rewards Party Faithfuls With Motorcycles, Grinding And Sewing Machines

    By Elijah Ugani

    The member representing Obudu/Bekwarra/Obanliku federal constituency, Rt. Hon. Legor Idagbo has rewarded party supporters with motorcycles, grinding and sewing machines for the ten wards in Obudu Local Government Area of Cross River State.

    Presenting the items at the council Chairman’s official residence at Obudu, on Saturday, December 26th 2020.

    The lawmaker was represented by the Special Adviser to Governor Ben Ayade on Political Affairs, Chief of Staff Office, Hon. Peter Okaba.

    Hon. Idagbo admonished the beneficiaries to ensure that the items given them serve the purpose of providing livelihood to better their lives. “I want to charge you to make good use of these items given you to increase your source of income and provide livelihood to better your lives”

    On his part, the Obudu Chapter Chairman of PDP, Mr Alpha Ublili admonished the beneficiaries to see themselves been fortunate to be selected from among the crowd to benefit from the honorable member’s goodwill.

    He used the opportunity to request the beneficiaries to assist him reach out to ward Secretaries, Women and Youth Leaders who proposed to have benefited from the gesture to exercise patient as the honorable member has a plan for ward exco members.

    Reacting to the development, one of the beneficiaries, Mr. Matthew Okem from Utugwang North ward, expressed gratitude to Rt. Hon. Legor Idagbo to have extended his magnanimity towards them and promised to make judicious use of his gift.

    Items distributed includes; 10 motorcycles, 10 grinding engines and 10 sewing machines.

  • Sen. Prof. Sandy Onor Calls For Peace And Love On Christmas. Showers Constituents With Cash, Rice And Gift Items

    By Caterpillar Media

    The senator representing Cross River State Central Senatorial District, Sen. Prof. Sandy Ojang Onor has called for peace and love among his constituents, the state and nation at large to reflect the true essence of Christmas.

    In a goodwill message to his constituents, the performing senator and Orator of the 9th Senate poured out his heart in appreciation to his constituents for always standing by him and with him, while admonishing them to continue to show love and care to one another, which is the core essence of the yuletide season.

    In his philanthropic disposition, the performing senator showered his constituents with cash, rice and other gift items for a fun-filled celebration while describing Christmas

    as a time to cherish peace, show love, goodwill and to be plenteous in generosity. He went further to say that peace, love, charity, and brotherliness can only come to stay when we live Christmas in our everyday lives.

  • Ayade Chief of Staff, Hon. Martin Orim Celebrates Christmas With UTUKALU, Extols Alege/Urban Traditional Rulers

    By Elijah Ugani

    The Chief of Staff to the Cross River State Governor, Hon. Martin Orim has hosted his people, UTUKALU nation for the Christmas celebration.

    The reception was held at the resident of the political leader of UTUKALU, Ukani PJ Ekunke at Nkirira, Utugwang Central ward, Obudu local government area on the 24th of December, 2020.

    The astute political scientist, Ukani PJ Ekunke welcomed the people to the meeting and admonished everyone present to see the opportunity created by the circumstance of the meeting as call to the unity of UTUKALU.

    Hon. Martin Orim was represented by the Special Adviser to the Governor, Political Affairs, Chief of Staff Office, Hon. Peter Okaba, craved the people’s indulgence to excuse the Chief of Staff absence from the meeting as he desire to be present in the meeting was scuttled by official exigencies.

    Orim held that “it is my desire that this meeting holds at intervals of four months to enable us consolidate the gains of our identity. We must realize the fact that political parties are fulcrums to achieving powers and we must not allow our political differences to truncate the development of our ideals”

    The people expressed satisfaction with the convener of the meeting and wished him the best in his endeavor.

    Earlier, the Chief of Staff had hosted the Alege/Ubang Traditional Rulers Council in his home town, Ukweriseng – Ubang for the Christmas celebration.

    Hon. Orim was represented by his wife, called on the traditional rulers to see the opportunity given to them to serve their subjects as a call to selfless service.

    He commended the role played the traditional rulers in maintaining peace and other in their various communities and charged them to continue to do more, for the reward of hard is more work.

    The council expressed gratitude to the Chief of staff for the show of love.

    The Chief of Staff had provided solar light for all the communities in Alege/Ubang and Ukpe wards including compounds of traditional rulers.

    The council used the opportunity to extend the felicitation of their various communities to the Governor Ayade Chief of Staff and prayed God to continue to sustain and enlarge his coast to enable him do more.

  • GFO Orim Foundation Hands Over Renovated Building To Widow At Bekwarra

    By Elijah Ugani

    The Chairman of GFO Orim Foundation, and the Chief of Staff to the Cross River State Governor, Hon. Martins Orim has handed over the renovated building to Mrs. Angelina …, mother of four kids.

    Dedicating the house, the Assistant Parish Priest of St. Benedict Cathedral, Rev. Fr. Peter Ibu, admonished the widow to take good care of the children as well as take the grinding business serious to enable her bring up the children.

    He commanded the founder of GFO Orim Foundation for the gesture of renovating the widow’s house and maintained that the gesture is very commendable.

    He prayed God to grant the Chairman good health of mind and body to enable reach out to those who are in dare need of his magnanimity.

    Speaking after the dedication, the Special Adviser to the Governor on International Donor and Development Commission, Hon. Sylvester Agabi maintained that this renovation project is one among various interventions designed by GFO Orim Foundation to reach out to the less privilege.

    Speaking to theluminenews, the Mrs. Angelina Afo thanked the management of GFO Orim Foundation for coming to her rescue.
    She maintained that “when my husband died, I had no place to stay, no light, no toilet, no bathroom, no source of livelihood. But today, this man ( referring to the Chairman of GFO Orim Foundation) came and renovated my house, provided doors, windows, ceiling, toilet. Please help me thank him. May God continue to bless him”

    The Leader of Bekwarra of Bekwarra Legislative Council, Hon. Thomas Emonshe Enyi thanked the Chairman of GFO Orim Foundation for extending the magnanimity to Bekwarra Local Government Area, he prayed God to continue to bless him.

    GFO Orim Foundation renovated the building, provided solar light, provided toilet and bathroom, provided a grinding engine, a bag of rice for Christmas, cash donation and promised continuous support for the upkeep of the children.

    Reacting to the development, the councillor representing Ibiaragidi ward, Hon. ….. noted that “I’m particularly grateful to God because, what GFO Orim Foundation has done, is to my advantage because two of this widow’s children are on my scholarship scheme, and I have been thinking of what to do because I’m from this community. I will ensure that she makes good use of this assistance to better her life and that of her children”

    The Clan Head of Anyikang thanked the Chief of Staff to the Governor for the kindness shown to one of his subjects, and prayed God Almighty to grant him (Hon. Martin Orim) his heart desire.

    The event was attended by councillors from Obudu, Bekwarra, Yala and Ogoja local government areas.

  • UN, CRSG Trains Cross River Key Sector Players On Budget Monitoring And Evaluation

     

    The United Nations has urged key players involved in budget planning, Monitoring and Evaluation in Cross River State to get themselves acquainted with the global best practices in an effort to meet the Sustainable Development Goals Target by 2030.

    This was disclosed during a three day training for key sector players in Budget, Planning, Research and Statistics (PRS) as well as Monitoring and Evacuation (M&E) staff across line Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

    The programme was facilitated by the Cross River State Government through the Ministry of International Development Cooperation in collaboration with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) held at Transcorp Hotel, Calabar.

    Speaking at the opening session, the Commissioner, Ministry of International Development Cooperation (MIDC), Dr. Inyang Asibong said “the three- day meeting is to bring stakeholders involved in budgeting and the implementation of the SDGs to boost the capacity of the personnel, resources and institutional frameworks thereby strengthening and coordinating your efforts to achieve the set target”

    Asibong was accompanied by the Permanent Secretary, MIDC, Mr Felix Ekpeyong Ita and the Special Adviser to the Governor on SDGs, Barr Mark Obi, stated that the implementation and tracking of the Transformation agenda 2030 in the state is realisable.

    According to the Commissioner, the training of the line MDA staff in the state was timely due to their role in the development planning architecture across sectors including the Local Government Areas in Cross River State.

    Presenting the key note address,the representative of the UNDP, and the Senior Special Assistance to the President, President Muhammad Buhari, Dr Bala Yunusa, said that the office will focus on strategic direction and impetus to the National commitment to the SDGs.

    He emphasized that expertise and resources of all, both public and private sector, Scientific community and Donor community as well as the wider civil society are needed.

    The training session was conducted by consultants from the UNDP, office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President of Nigeria, Director of Administration, MIDC, Mrs Mbong Ausaji, CRS Statistician-General, Dr Josephat Ogar amongst other technical staff from the MIDC and State Planning Commission.

  • I will Improve On The CSR Of Unical, Says VC, Florence Banku Obi

    By George Odok Jrn

    The Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof. Florence Obi, has pledged to improve on the institution’s Cooperate Social Responsibility (CSR) towards the university’s host communities.

    Prof. Obi made the pledge when she received the executives of the Akim Youths Council from Calabar Municipality who were in her office for a courtesy visit.

    The Vice Chancellor, who said she was happy to receive them, described the Akim Youths as very organized as exemplified by their patience and candor, even as she encourages youths of other local government to emulate them.

    She informed the youths that she recognizes the role the community has played in the development of the university, hence her decision to visit the chiefs of the host communities even while she was still VC designate.

    She added that it has always been her desire to work closely with the host communities.

    The VC informed them that the university under her leadership will continue to explore other ways of empowering members of the host communities.

    “The host communities should be the first to police the university, as a matter of policy, ensure that they take ownership and protect the university from vandals and those who seek to plunder it,” she said.

    In an earlier remark, the President of the Akim Youths Council, Mr Fred Okon, while congratulating the Vice Chancellor over her success at the keenly contested Vice Chancellorship interviews, said her appointment was well deserved.

    According to Okon, the visit was a mark of solidarity and for them to associate with the new Vice Chancellor and by extension, the entire university management.

    Okon, while expressing the Youth Council’s appreciation for the opportunity and privilege, recounts the events of the unfortunate #Endsars protest hijack, and how the Akim Youths took it upon themselves to defend the university on Oct. 24.

    Describing the Vice Chancellor as a mother, the Youth President pledged that the Council will continue to support the VC, as well as protect the university at all times.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Youths presented the VC with an artist impression of her portrait as a gift.

  • Breaking: INEC Issues Jarigbe Agom Certificate Of Return

    The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC has issued Rt. Hon. Jarigbe Agom certificate of return as the authentic winner of the September PDP primary election.

    Recall that both Rt. Hon. Jarigbe Agom and Dr. Stephen Odey had laid claim to the flag of the PDP after the primary election.

    While the Rt. Hon. Jarigbe camp had the backing of the INEC national officials, Dr. Stephen Odey had the support of INEC, Cross River State.

    Jarigbe had approached the vacation court in Port Harcourt to challenge the outcome of the primaries which he claimed was in total breach of the directives of the court for the PDP to use the authentic list of ward and chapter exco members.

    The 4th of December, 2020 was memorable as two  federal high courts of equal jurisdictions, delivered opposing judgement on the authentic winner of the PDP primaries.

    While the Federal High sitting in Calabar ruled in favour of Dr. Stephen Odey, the Federal High in Abuja ruled in favour of Rt. Hon. Jarigbe Agom.

    Effort to halt the inauguration of Dr. Odey by Jarigbe failed and he was sworn in on the 15th of December, 2020 as the senator representing Cross River Senatorial District.

    Barely 24 hours after the inauguration, the Court of Appeal in Abuja presided by Justice Binta declared Rt. Hon. Jarigbe Agom as the winner of the PDP primaries and directed INEC to issue certificate of return to Rt. Hon. Jarigbe Agom.