The Lumine News

Author: The Lumine News

  • University Of Calabar Advertises For The Position Of Vice Chancellor

    University Of Calabar Advertises For The Position Of Vice Chancellor

     

    By Elijah Ugani – Calabar

    The Governing Council of the University of Calabar has declared vacant the position of the Vice Chancellor in the University with effect from 1st December, 2020.

    The declaration followed the expiration of the tenure of the current Vice Chancellor, Prof. Zana Akpagu whose tenure in office is to elapsed on the 30th of November, 2020.

    Prof. Zana Akpagu is the 10th Vice Chancellor of the institution and the first alumunus to head the institution.

    A release sighted by theluminenews and signed by the Registrar of the institution, Amb. Gabriel O. Egbe indicates that interested academics shall submit 30 copies of their applications with detailed curriculum vitae, duly signed and dated by the candidates with the most recent passports size photograph attached to each.

    The release reads in part “The Governing Council of the University of Calabar has declared a vacancy for the position of Vice Chancellor in the University with effect from 1st December 2020.

    “In accordance with the provisions of the university (miscellaneous) Decree No 11 of 1993 (as amended), the council has commenced the process of filling the vacancy.

    “The University of Calabar came into being on the strength of Decree No 93 of 1979, starting academic work in 1975, the university has the object of encouraging the advancement of learning and holding out to all persons without distinction to race, creed, sex, political or religious affiliation.

    “The candidates for the post of Vice Chancellor is expected to; 1. be an acclaimed scholar who is a professor of very high repute and must have published in academic journals that are both national and international reputes. 2. Wide range of academic experience. 3. be on the rank of professor for at least 9 years by 1st Dec, 2020. 4. must not be more than 63 years of age by 1st Dec, 2020”

    The release also indicated that the successful candidate is hold office for a period of 5 years.

  • C’River State Local Government Election And My Dilemma – YPP Chairman

    C’River State Local Government Election And My Dilemma – YPP Chairman

    By Elijah Ugani – Calabar

    The Chairman of the Young Progressive Party YPP, Cross River State chapter, Comr. Anthony Bisong has stated that he is in a state of dilemma in view of the Cross River State local government election slated for 30th May, 2020.

    In a release made available to THE LUMINE NEWS, and signed by himself indicates that he desire has been to have a functional local government system to boost grass root representation.

    Full text of the release “In the past 48 hours, I’ve been inundated with calls from different quarters to state my position on the newly published time table for the long awaited Local Government Election. I’ve maintained a studied silence until now due to the complex nature of the issues on ground.

    “Recall that my party, the Young Progressives Party, YPP has had the most rancorous and turbulent outings against the CROSIEC Chairman, Dr. Mike Ushie as a result of what we considered as inconsistencies in the process of filing candidates. Our reservation in that case has not changed. Moreover, we also express our reservation about the cacophony that has followed the new date for the election.

    “It is also important to recall that on the 18th of July last year, I led a protest under the aegis of Coalition of CRS Civil Society Organizations to demand for the conduct of Local Government Election in the State. My desire has been to have a functional Local Government system to boost grassroots representation. I didn’t protest because I wanted to contest the election myself, neither did I protest because I felt my party must win election at all cost. My agitation for grassroots representation has been very altruistic.

    “For the first time in a long time I’ve found myself in a serious dilemma. I’m clearly standing between the devil and the deep blue sea. However, as an advocate of grassroots administration, it’s contradictory to boycott an election that will usher in legitimate functionaries for the Local Government. This is even more important given the preponderance of condemnation that greeted the approval of about #5.4 billion naira by the CRS House of Assembly, a responsibility that is exclusively meant for the Local Government Executives.

    “General speaking, I hold a firm opinion that it would be easier to demand for accountability from elected Representatives. Every political party seeks to win elections but we also have the duty of demanding for accountability from those in power. Therefore, whoever wins in the forthcoming election will definitely come under our scrutiny as we’ll monitor the day to day running of our Local Government Councils.

    “On the strength of the aforesaid, I here state categorically that Young Progressives Party, YPP, Cross River State Chapter support the conduct of Local Government Election in Cross River State come 30th May, 2020. Let it also be on record that we are not in coalition with any party contesting the coming election. Our decision is solely in the interest of Cross River State. Having waited for elections for over four years, we feel compelled to support the new date so that our State can join the league of States with functional grassroots Representatives which we believe would help alleviate our local economy as well as support the fight against COVID 19 at the grassroots.

    “The major concern of our great party is the forthcoming Bye election in Cross River Northern Senatorial District. We are hopeful that the good people of CR North having learnt their lessons in the past will support us to elect a Senator they can call their own. All our energies and resources are therefore going to be channeled towards winning CR Northern Senatorial District Bye-Election”

    Comrade Anthony Bissong Attah

    State Chairman (Chief Servant)
    Young Progressives Party, YPP, CRS

  • Breaking: Court Sentences RCCG Pastor To Death By Hanging

    Breaking: Court Sentences RCCG Pastor To Death By Hanging

    PM News

     

    A youth pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Akolade Arowolo, has been sentenced to die by hanging for the murder of his banker wife, Titilayo.

    Pastor Arowolo could not hold back his pains after the court ruling, he burst into a fit of prayer. Titilayo worked with Skye bank, whilst her husband was employed. Prosecutors were able to present compelling evidence that led to the conviction of Mr Arowolo and his sentencing by Justice Lateefat Okunu of the Ikeja High Court, he was handed a death sentence. Justice Okunu held in her over three hours judgment that evidence before the court proved that Arowolo actually murdered his wife in their matrimonial home.

    Testimony in the form of a forensic report from Prof. John Oladapo Obafunwa, a pathologist, was what the court used to determine that there was no way the deceased could have stabbed herself to death. Immediately after the judgment, Arowolo fell down in the dock and started shouting “Jesus have mercy.” PM News reports that Prof Obafunwa testified that his autopsy report revealed that Titilayo was killed through 76 knife stab wounds.

    There were claims by Pastor Arowolo, suggesting that his wife was possessed and inflicted injuries on herself. He noted that the knife wounds affected Titilayo’s left eye, right eye, upper chest area, right chest and collar bone. Prof. Obafunwa pointed out in his testimony that the deceased could not have inflicted such wounds on herself. To further prove its case, prosecution invited some of Titilayo’s family members who testified that Arowolo and Titilayo had always had a troubled marriage.

    The family members included Titilayo’s father, George Oyakhire; sister, Ijeh and mother-in-law, Mrs Adetoun Yeside Oyakhire. The three witnesses testified that the couple lived a cat and mouse life. They claimed that the family had at several times, settled serious fights between the couple. None of the witnesses however saw what actually happened on the day Titilayo died

    Arowolo’s co-tenant, Adewale Adeyemi also gave evidence in the case. Arowolo’s parents testified that their son was incapable of murder.

  • Citizens Solution Network Calls On Government To Wade Into The OKu Killings In Boki LGA Of CRS

    Citizens Solution Network Calls On Government To Wade Into The OKu Killings In Boki LGA Of CRS

    By Elijah Ugani – Calabar

    Citizens Solution Network, a non governmental organization has called on the government of Cross River State and the Nigerian Police to ensure that the perpetrators of the killings in Oku community in Boki local government area on the frivolous allegations of witches and wizards should be prosecuted in line with the necessary laws to avert further reoccurrence.

    In a release signed by the Country Director of Citizens Solution Network, Comr. Richard Ifono and made available to THE LUMINE NEWS, indicates that other elderly citizens are still living in fears and coma that they may also be attacked.

    Full text of the release “A very disturbing information has got to us here at Citizens’ Solution Network’s Office, Calabar Secretariat that several women have been burnt to death in Oku Community in Boki Local Government Area in Cross River State on the unacceptable allegation that these women_ our elderly citizens, mothers and sisters are witches and wizards. Also Chief Bernard Kekong was among the number of persons that were killed by the arsonists that carried out these reprehensible killings.

    As we speak John Otu and Edward Kekong have sustained severe injuries, and are struggling to survive as a result of these killings targeted at them and others that were accused of witchcraft.

    Also information reaching us here shows that many elderly citizens are scared of being attacked and are on the run for their lives over such useless and senseless accusation of being tagged witches.

    Let it be in public registry that we condemn in the strongest terms the killings of Chief Kekong Bernard and several women that were burnt to death in Oku Community in Boki, Cross River State on the outrageous claims that they were witches and wizards.

    We call on the Nigerian Police Force to speed into action to safeguard Oku Community to prevent more senseless killings of our elderly citizens, and to ensure that all those who are responsible for these heinous crimes of murder are brought to justice.

    This is a terrible precedence that must not be allowed to stand. The idea that a miscreant would accused a fellow citizen of witchcraft and get such human burnt to death should be strongly rejected and condemned unanimously by all. All extra judicial killings must be investigated and the perpetrated prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law to discourage such killings in future.

    The Nigerian Police Force and the Ayade-led Government must ensure that all those responsible are arrested, prosecuted and given the heaviest of sentences for these multiple homicides. No level of excuses from the Oku killing gang should be accepted.

    Signed

    Richard F. Inoyo
    Country Director, Citizens Solution Network.

    For: Civilian Population and Council.

  • Ayade Inaugurates CSDA Board Charges Them To Improve Human Development Index

    Ayade Inaugurates CSDA Board Charges Them To Improve Human Development Index

    By Admin

    His Excellency, Sen. (Prof.) Ben Ayade, the Executive Governor of Cross River State, today inaugurated a 17-member committee of the Community and Social Development Agency (CSDA) Board to further improve on the Human Development Index and Gross Domestic Product of the State.

    The Commissioner for International Development Cooperation, Dr. Inyang Asibong, who inaugurated the committee on behalf of His Excellency goaded the members to carry on with the mandate of this administration in ensuring a trickle down of development across the State.

    “The World Bank has commended the Cross River State Government led by His Excellency, Sen. (Prof.) Ben Ayade, for the CSDA initiative as it is the best way to bring development across the State, especially in the hinterlands.

    “So far we’ve carried out well over 30 (Thirty) micro-projects across the State this year ranging from potable water supply, to solar-powered LED street lights, lavatories to cub open defecation, renovation of classroom blocks and employment of youths and vulnerable people within our communities”

    The board is Chaired by Chief Toni Joe Ikpeme, with the Secretary being the Acting GM of the Agency, Mr Fidel Udie, thanked the State Government for the opportunity to serve and promised to give their best in the discharge of their duties collectively.

    The board also has four non- statutory members, the Permanent Secretaries from the ministries of Finance, Works, Women Affairs, Local Government Affairs, Social Welfare and Humanity, International Development Cooperation, and the State Planning Commission, and four representatives from Civil Society Organizations.

  • Ben Akak Foundation: Touching Lives With Sympathy And Relief

    Ben Akak Foundation: Touching Lives With Sympathy And Relief

    By Ogar Emmanuel Oko

    The Cross River State government under the guide of His Excellency, Sir Benedict Ayade has been lauded by Nigeria Centre of Disease Control (NCDC) for its emulative and forehanded preventive measures put in place to curtail the spread of covid-19 pandemic. Accolades have been trailing this achievement and the governor likes it. We all like it too because, it has placed our beloved state on global map for positive reason and the world sees us with their prism as beacon of hope regarding any eventuality of combating pestilential disease. This is the fruit of proactiveness.

    Albeit, as an individual, I would wish to suggest that the feat be considered a collective achievement and the ultimate glory be ascribed to the Maker of the universe. While this is being considered, we must not bat an eyelid or rest on our oars as the war being waged against the virus is yet over. I so say because it is my deliberate effort to avow that this celebrated feat was achieved with less dissipation of energy as the state government stood on the shoulders of not a few giants in attaining such height. Amongst them, is the Ben Akak Foundation. Though, there are corporate organizations like Skyrun International, United Bank of Africa (UBA) and the rest.

    On the tapis for discussing first is the mentioned foundation. I don’t know when the foundation was established and I don’t care to know because it’s immaterial. All I care to know is its mission and perhaps vision too! The mission is the apparent reflection what they’ve been doing— to better the lives of people and making the world a better place to inhabit!

    When the latent heat of the pandemic started having it impacts being felt, the government having realized that the dependency on each other was necessary mostly at that early turn of the outbreak, and having knew they couldn’t have been self-sufficient in the battle of covid-19; the Health Commissioner in her many advocacies and sensitization exercises called for the assistance of all and sundry to conjoin forces with the state government. Not minding the existing strain on the Foundation’s budget, due to the number of times it has been called upon for help, Ben Akak Foundation took up the gauntlet by answering the noblest and humanistic call by making yet another round of donation.

    Moved by the spirit of gratitude over the solidarity of the Foundation, Dr. Betta Edu said the foundation has gone beyond bound to show enormous support to the state as this is a fight for humanity. Items donated was 300 sanitizers; 400 surgical gloves, thermometers, 200 face masks, bags of rice and N1 million.

    Awareness on this virus and many others appears an uphill task. Laborious! In plain language, information on covid-19 pandemic is still not sufficient for those living in the hinterlands as most of these places aren’t accessible and as such, most of them know little or nothing about the virus. It’s sequel to the aforesaid that the Ben Akak Foundation has embarked on rigorous sensitization campaign in conjunction with the 18 paramount rulers in the state and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) to bring the awareness to the dwellers. The effects of covid-19 in such places would be fatal with ripple effects due to the communal lifestyle of poor hygiene practices. Therefore, the foundation deserves gift of flowers for its door-to-door campaign.
    No doubt they’re many foundations in the state. But the foundation under consideration stands out as the only one with far reaching tentacles across the three senatorial districts.
    To the administrative team of the foundation, humanity will remain grateful to you all even beyond the vicissitudes of this moment.
    To the founder, Engr. Ben Akak, your deeds shall always speak for you far better than anything in private and in public.

     

  • Nigerian Navy Arrests 42 Cultists During An Initiation Ceremony In Apkabuyo Local Government Area

    Nigerian Navy Arrests 42 Cultists During An Initiation Ceremony In Apkabuyo Local Government Area

    By George Odok Jr. – Calabar

     

    The Nigerian Navy Ship Victory in Calabar on Sunday May 24th responded to a tip off when the group gathered in a location in Akpabuyo during an initiation.

    According to navy intelligence investigations, there were preparing for a clash between Klans and Black Axe.

    The cultists were handed over to the Anti-Cultism and kidnapping Unit of the police through the State Security Adviser South, Mr Ani Esin.

    Welldone Nigerian Navy.

    #NANDefenceCorrespondent

    [contact-form][contact-field label=”Name” type=”name” required=”true” /][contact-field label=”Email” type=”email” required=”true” /][contact-field label=”Website” type=”url” /][contact-field label=”Message” type=”textarea” /][/contact-form]

  • Ekpenyong Charges Health Workers On Surveillance, Says Nigeria Cannot Afford Another Disease Outbreak

    Ekpenyong Charges Health Workers On Surveillance, Says Nigeria Cannot Afford Another Disease Outbreak

    By Simon Ushie

    The Director General, Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Janet Ekpenyong has charged health workers in the Agency to step up surveillance and comprehensive health services as she said the state and nation can’t afford another disease outbreak.

    Dr Ekpenyong stated this as part of her closing remarks for the 3 days Virtual training exercise for Workers in the agency on best ways of managing the covid19 pandemic and other infectious diseases.

    Ekpenyong said the training was imperative for workers across the 18 LGAs as this will further spur them to offer world class services and make them abreast with global practices on managing infectious diseases especially Covid19 and lassa fever.

    “We can’t afford to have another pandemic after Covid19, and that is why I am so excited to have our partners organize this training for our workers, I personally have learnt a lot and am sure all of our workers across the 18 LGAs who participated in the training have gained newer insight into the management of the Covid-19 pandemic and for those in the rural areas, these messages will be passed across to them”

    On cordial relationship and quality training and supports from partners, the DG said, such relationships must continue and evolve into more result oriented measures especially as the state seeks to front line the quest to ascertain the status of Universal Health Coverage in the nearest possible time.

    “I want to thank the Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Fiasal Shuaib for this innovation to place primary Healthcare workers pal by pal with their contemporaries in both secondary and tertiary facilities through this training which is not only timely but necessary as we join our hands in fighting the Covid19 pandemic.

    “I also want to thank the facilitators in charge of Cross River State from the NPHCDA including Dr AJ Oteri, Dr Valentine Obijekwu, Dr Chinedu Okoronkwo, Ameenah, W.H.O partners including Dr Raji Rilwan, Mr Santus Ugbal, Mr Julius Idoko(State coordinator, NPHCDA) and all staff of the agency”

    In his response, one of the facilitators, Dr OJ Oteri praised the DG for coordinating a wonderful set of health workers whose contributions and inquisitive nature proved a collaborative fight for the elimination of Covid19.

    “I have not seen a wonderful set of participants like the ones we have in Cross River State, the platform was interactive all through the 3 days of training and one thing am confident about is that you all will step down these trainings to those in the rural areas, and it shows that the state is ready to fight Covid-19”.

    The three days training had about 200 participants including heads of various programmes like the immunization services, Family planning, community and family health, mobilization officers, heads of Local government’s health authority and other stakeholders who will in turn train lower cadre officers in their wards and communities.

    Participants were taught various topics ranging from Covid-19 transmission, symptoms, how to control the spread of the disease, Methods of spread and prevention, facts and rumours about the disease, roles and responsibilities of health workers in managing the disease.

  • PDP Calls For The Disbandment Of FEC Under Buhari

    PDP Calls For The Disbandment Of FEC Under Buhari

     

    May 26, 2020

    Press Statement

    Hostilities In Presidency: Buhari’s FEC Has Become Cancerous, Should be Disbanded – PDP

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Executive Council (FEC) has become cancerous, disorganized, chaotic, and incapable of driving an organized, result-oriented system and as such should be disbanded.

    The party’s position is predicated on the degenerated hostilities among officials in the Buhari Presidency, including Presidential aides, ministers and heads of agencies, which have further exposed a scandalous breakdown of the administration’s central command system.

    Our party asserts that this situation is a mark of failure by the Buhari Presidency and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to provide organized leadership for our nation.

    The PDP said a situation where officials are constantly at daggers drawn among themselves in unending clashes, backbiting, betrayals, leakage of sensitive documents and internal bickering over pecuniary and political interests, in manners not different from street skirmishes of common cult groups, is unacceptable to our nation.

    It is indeed shocking that the acrimony had sunk to a situation where the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, reportedly evicted the staff of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) from their allocated office, with guns, while the Chairman of the Commission, Hon. Abike Dabiri, was on official assignment with the President.

    Currently, the newly appointed Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, are said to be at each other’s throat, with the SGF reportedly querying the decision of the President to sack the former Director of the Transmission Company of Nigeria, Mr. Usman Mohammed. The situation had degenerated into serious confusion in the federal executive.

    Nigerians can recall the bitter wrangling, wherein the National Security Adviser (NSA), Maj. Gen Babagana Monguno, earlier this year, alerted that Presidential responsibilities, including presiding over sensitive security matters, have been hijacked by late Chief of Staff, Mallam Abba Kyari, thereby frustrating the fight against insurgency and acts of violence ravaging our country.

    Furthermore, the power sector is still under the stress of squabbling between the SGF and the Minister of Power, Sale Mamman, with the SGF, reinstating some officials who were sacked by the minister in December last year.

    The nation has also not forgotten the embarrassing public fight between the First Lady, Aisha Buhari and President Muhammadu Buhari’s cousins, over rooms in the Presidential villa, which further exposed the chaotic situation in the President Buhari-led administration.

    Before then, the First Lady had alerted the nation that a cabal had hijacked the federal executive and taken over governance of our nation.

    It is sad that presidential hostilities had resulted in escalated cases of internal sabotage including the leakage of sensitive documents as exposed by the Head of Service, Dr. Folasade Yemi-Esan and recently witnessed in the embarrassing leakage of President Buhari’s draft COVID-19 speech.

    Nigerians can now see how vulnerable our nation has become and why it is extremely difficult for our country to witness any progress under the Buhari Presidency, which has also ruined all the gains achieved under the PDP.

    Indeed, no nation can achieve meaningful development under a rancorous and shambolic federal executive council as currently constituted, with the height of irredeemable division among them.

    Such a situation never obtained under the watch of the PDP in the glorious years of our nation.

    Our party therefore counsels President Buhari to re-direct the course of our Nation’s tides by disbanding his poorly assembled and dysfunctional federal executive council.

    He should foreclose the parochial posturing of his administration by engaging more competent hands to run the affairs of our nation.

    Signed:

    Kola Ologbondiyan
    National Publicity Secretary

  • CRSPHCDA Takes Quality Health Care Delivery To The Steps Of Cross Riverians

    CRSPHCDA Takes Quality Health Care Delivery To The Steps Of Cross Riverians

    BY Simon Ushie

    The Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency has devised an alternative means of meeting the health needs of Cross Riverians.

    The recent development had staff of the agency (Primary Healthcare Centre Ikot Efanga) organized  a medical outreach at Efanga Etim Settlement in Calabar municipality through the directives of the Director General,Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Janet Ekpenyong who  urged  staff to take healthcare services close to the door steps of every residents.

    The head of the team and Officer in Charge of the Primary Healthcare Facility, Ikot Efanga, Mrs Christy Iwara said the team having recognized the huge contributions made by the governor, senator Professor Ben Ayade for all Cross Riverians to get access to quality and effective healthcare and the visionary leadership style of the DG, Dr Janet Ekpenyong, decided to engage in weekly outreaches to various settlements around them.

    Mrs Iwara insisted that with various challenges faced by people in accessing healthcare, the health facility with a mandate by the DG, has identified various settlements within Efanga Etim which  is the first to benefit from the gesture.

    “I must commend the governor, Senator Professor Ben Ayade for his huge contributions towards improving the health sector in our dear state and also our Pragmatic Director General, Dr Janet Ekpenyong whose visionary leadership has led us into this community outreach, she had mandated that everyone within our facility get un compromised access to healthcare by engaging in community outreaches and taking medical Care to the door steps of those who need our services the most”.

    The outreach had over 200 people who benefited from various services including Blood pressure check, sugar level, malaria /typhoid testing, counselling, sensitization and education on the covid19 pandemic and other infectious diseases.

    The team also distributed drugs, facemasks and hand sanitizers to members of the community.

    One of the beneficiary, Mr Efanga Effiong Okon thanked the governor, Senator Ben Ayade, the DG, Dr Janet Ekpenyong, Mrs Christy Iwara and other members of the team for the gesture as he said it has come to renew hope among members of the community and pleaded that the benevolence gesture be sustained.t