The Lumine News

Author: The Lumine News

Citizens Solution Message on Father’s Day, and theTest of Fatherhood.

By Admin

As a nation, we can disagree about virtually everything. But if there is one thing, we all can unanimously agree on, is the fact that as a country we are plagued with several problems. And these problems stare us all in our eye daily.

But below is what we at Citizens Solution Network think:

The challenges we face are real and surmountable, yet none of us will be able to fix the plethora of problems we faces without leading new advocacy and building new economic skill engagement centres across the state.

If people are hungry they will do everything to survive including betraying their conscience and family for meal ticket. Several fathers out there are doing their best, others are simply ruining all known effort at making this country a sane one.

But raising awareness is not enough, we must all take it from highlighting youth weakness and complaining about how kids are raised by fathers, to drafting new solution plan and encouraging development of skill centres across the nation.

The staggering statistics of unemployment and attendant social vices level within the country unequivocally suggest that, university education isn’t sufficient to address those problems, and if cares ain’t taken, our current matrix of universities may be a breeding conduit for a list of some dangerous problems we all face:

from cultism to sorting to sexual predatorism to top-management position bias against women ascension, just to mention a few.

Hence this should propel all right thinking persons with a fresh call to rethink everything by taking new protocol into contextual and conceptual national development frame work.

If youths can earn via skill and business acumen they acquire during realtime training at various economic skill centres, they will become independent from government zombie plan.

Secondly, we have to encourage more youths to join various civil society organisations to build their ideology and heighten their patriotism level to stand up against all forms of injustice and state excesses.

Let’s get to work, if anyone here is ready to lead change with selfless dedication.

We think, we should move from just talking about the problem to acting and working with new imagination while reviewing familiar possibilities.

As we mark happy Father’s Day, we all need to appreciate the fact that, a father without grounded ideology is a threat to national security and emancipatory development.

As we wish every father out there happy father’s day, there is need to call for new approach to tackling problem at family, community and national level.

You will agree that, the true test of fatherhood is the quality of youths any given society could boast of.

The time has come to ask ourselves, “What is the quality of youths our society today can boast of?”

Let the pondering be yours for the taking

Thanks

Richard F Inoyo
Country Director,
Citizens Solution Network

For: Civilian Panel and Population Council.

N/B. The views expressed here are strictly that of Richard Iyono and does not represent TheLumineNews or its staff

June 24, 2020
Traders Associations In Calabar Closed Shops For Two Days Over Incessant Kidnappings Of Its Members

Culled from Negroid Heaven

Traders in Cross River under the auspices of Calabar Traders Union have shut markets as well shops in the state capital to protest the spate of kidnapping in the state.

The traders lamented that over 18 of their members have been kidnapped in the last 10 months adding that it is an ugly development that has become very disturbing following the kidnap of one of their patron, Chief Jude Odinka who has been in captive for eight weeks.

Speaking with Journalists at Bedwell, the biggest spare parts hub in Calabar, Vice President, Electrical dealers & Allied product, Akparawa David Esien said the issue of insecurity was strange and allien to Calabar.

Essien bemoaned that they have been become a veritable target as many of their members have either been kidnapped or attacked or died in their captors den.

“We are closing our shops, shades and markets including timber markets, spare parts market/shops, electrical stores amongst others for two days to protest the incessant kidnap of our members.

“Just recently, it has degenerated to kidnap of ordinary traders and not the moguls, that’s how bad it is now. We laud their effort in demolishing houses of Kidnappers but the state government must rise up and take the bull by its horn.

“We can no longer keep quiet because our members are suffering, some of these traders use loans, while some get goods from importers on credit and pay back after sales.

“But due to ransom they pay to these criminals they have become perpetual debtors because it seems they now work for the kidnappers because booty capital and profit are paid to the hoodlums after they kidnap our members, some have paid as high as 7million naira.

“We are appealing to Gov Ayade, the police to come to our aid, the two day closure is just a warning to drive home our grievances.

“We are not happy,we do business in fear, the level of insecurity in Calabar is already out of hands and the state at large, there is an anti kidnapping law, it should be enforced seriously and to the latter, they should beef up security, equip security agencies,” he said.

On his part, Bro Festus Mbanu, Chairman building materials Traders Association Calabar, called on government to come to their rescue as they are afraid to do business as they used to for fear of being attacked, kidnapped or killed.

His words:” This is our way of letting the authorities know that we are now doing business as traders in fear, most of us no longer go to our shops or business places, because you don’t know if you are next. We are kidnapped daily.

“Many of our members both male and female, no one is spared, once you are perceived to be able to pay, you will be picked up and you are forced to pay the ransom for your release a lot of shops and businesses have packed up already because of this ugly trend ” he said.

Spare parts dealers Association Chairman Calabar, Obi Ajuluchukwu also urged the government to help security agencies carry out their duty adding that within the last six months about 7 of his members have been abducted.

“Some of my members have been kidnapped more than once, other traders too have been picked up many times, even a pregnant woman (Mrs Peter Okon ) is still in their den, Mrs Etim B Okon and many others, we can no longer bear the pain.

“Over 25 of my members are now in Akwa Ibom state some no longer bring goods to their shops in Calabar instead to go to Uyo, Calabar is no longer safe as it used to be. Government should take a critical look into the matter. The two day shut down is a warning strike.

“The government should declare a state of emergency on security, because a lot of people especially business men and women are no longer at ease, and it is not acceptable, security of lives and property is the primary responsibility of government.

“We know we have our role to play, which is part of what we are doing, by letting the authorities know, that we are no longer safe in the metropolis and beyond, kidnapping is really strange in Calabar,” he said.

June 24, 2020
UNICAL Vice-Chancellorship Race: Pof. Joseph Ele Asor – An Ode To The Man Who perfectly Fits The Bill.

By Admin

University of Calabar (fondly called Unical) was first established as the Calabar campus of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN). It was in 1975 that the Federal Military Government announced Unical as a full-fledged academic institution. On that note, the university started operating as an autonomous institution without affiliation to UNN. Unical is ranked among second generation universities in Nigeria and over the years, the university has maintained a prime position among its peers.

With the 10th substantive Vice Chancellor, Professor Zana I. Akpagu serving in the twilight of his administration, the headhunting has already begun to get another intellectual egghead to fill the impending vacancy. It is instructive to note that the future of any ivory tower depends on its leadership capacity to meet the intricate needs of the students, academic and non-academic staff alike.

Unical has evolved overtime and in this age of specialization and career-based education, the institution would need a man with a Renaissance mindset to reposition it to fit for purpose as the fourth industrial revolution beckons. It would need an inspiring leader who has the ability to connect with – and command the respect – of diverse people across the institution and beyond.

In that wise, Professor Joseph Ele Asor has emerged as one of the most incredible minds, embodying and epitomizing the high standard of intellectual skills, moral discipline and ethical grounding. Joseph Asor is a groundbreaking zoologist and a dominant intellect in the parasitological revolution. He is a scientist of scientists, a man whose career is dazzling in content, oozing in fulfillment and littered with a huge catalogue of heroic achievements.

Professor Asor exemplifies one of the very best in the intellectual community in Nigeria today having started his public service career from the low rung of the ladder as a secondary school teacher between 1986 and 1990 in Agbo Comprehensive Secondary School, Egboronyi in Abi Local Government Area of Cross River State. The erudite professor built his career from bottom-up with an appreciable progression to the zenith.

Born on 19th June, 1963 under the cascading ambience of the ancient Ekureku Clan in his homestead of Abi Local Government Area of Cross River State, Professor Joseph Asor had shown very early that he was on an upward trajectory in life. As a precocious child, he blazed through his primary education with flying colours when he obtained his First School Leaving Certificate (FSLC) from Primary School Ekurekube, Ekureku in Abi Local Government Area in 1975.

Joseph Asor grew up with a brilliant and receptive mind which saw him sparkled like a flawless effervescent diamond at the famous Mary Knoll College, Okuku, Ogoja where he obtained his West African School Certificate in 1980. Between 1980 and 1984, he was an undergraduate student at the University of Port Harcourt where he exhibited unparalleled quality and excellence in character and learning. Within the aforesaid period, Professor Asor studied and obtained a B.Sc (Hons) Degree in Zoology.

He had one year stint as a lecturer at the Department of Biological Sciences, College of Education, Ikere Ekiti, Ekiti State during his National Youth Service Program between 1984 and 1985. The young Joseph Ele Asor (as he then was) acted timeously on the wisdom of Toni Payne who said, “Knowledge is the new rich, arm yourself with it.” To that end, he returned to the University of Port Harcourt in 1987 where he transcended records and expectations at the Department of Zoology and obtained M.Sc in Zoology specializing in Parasitology in 1989.

Not done yet, Joseph Asor took his academic career up a notch when he scaled the Ph.D in Zoology huddle maintaining his research interest in Parasitology at the University of Port Harcourt in 1995 with regal ease. Indeed he is a man who envisioned a career in the academia, by dint of hard work, avowed commitment and matchless assuidity he stayed the course and the world is better for it. He had been propelled by an undying vision for intellectualism and he gave his all and best to achieve it. Professor Joseph E. Asor is a true inspiration to academics everywhere.

His calling is to teach, his profession is to research, his passion is to inspire people out of the valley of despair and despondency, and his vocation is to fan the embers of knowledge with blazing light. For Professor Joseph Asor, professionalism and patriotism must work hand in gloves like Siamese twins in order to engender an egalitarian society. He has admirably, consistently and conscientiously demonstrated integrity as the fulsome content of his character which he believes must be the immutable nucleus of intellectual orchestrations.

Professor Asor had an ample time of 6years between 1990 and 1996 as a lecturer in the Department of Biological Sciences, The Polytechnic Calabar (now Cross River University of Technology – CRUTECH). He joined the services of the University of Calabar in 1996 as Lecturer II and has since risen through the ranks to the peak as a Professor in the Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology.

His scholarly depth is unassailable and his managerial capacity is phenomenal. Truly, Asor personifies the statutory requirements to lead a pacesetting institution like the University of Calabar at this auspicious time in history. The highly cerebral Professor conjugates an uncommon dimension of intellectual erudition and a rare administrative prowess.

As a thoroughbred researcher, Professor Asor has numerous publications to his credit in major local and international scholarly refereed journals. He has authored and co-authored 5 books in his area of expertise. The very brilliant Professor has attended several conferences, workshops and seminars where he is also a regular speaker at some of those events.

Professor Joseph Asor comes with a good dose of experience in tertiary education administration to provide inspiring leadership and effective management to the University of Calabar. Between 1999 and 2002, Joseph Asor was on leave of absence from the University of Calabar to Ibrahim Babangida College of Agriculture (now Cross River University of Technology, Obubra Campus) as the Rector.

From 2001 to 2003, Professor Asor was Member, Governing Council, Cross River University of Technology, Calabar and subsequently served as Member, Governing Council, Cross River State College of Education, Akamkpa from 2010 to 2014. From 1999 to 2003, he was Member, Accreditation Team of National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) for the Accreditation of National Diploma and Higher National Diploma Programs offered in Polytechnics and Colleges of Education in Nigeria.

Asor has been deeply involved in various administrative and managerial functions in the University of Calabar and at every given opportunity; the distinguished Professor has proven his leadership mettle. He served as Head, Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology between 2013 and 2014. At various times, he served as Dean: Student Affairs Division (2006 – 2011), Faculty of Science (2014-2016) and Faculty of Biological Sciences (2016-2018). Professor Joseph Asor is loyal to constituted authority, diligent to duties and faithful to friendship.

He has also served in various capacities including chairman or member of several committees in the University of Calabar. Professor Joseph Asor has been a Member of the Senate of the University of Calabar since 2006 to date.

Professor Joseph Asor has become an indispensable resource person at the National Universities Commission (NUC) having served on many occasions as either chairman or member of the Accreditation Panel of the commission to different universities in the country. The commission has found Joseph Asor’s contributions to its activities invaluable in promoting quality education in Nigeria.

Besides being accessible and accommodating, Professor Joseph Asor takes his students’ queries seriously. No wonder, many students have asserted that he has made significant difference to their lives. His graduate students, well-trained under his nurturing and rigorous tutelage, have gone on to become productive scholars. Professor Asor has supervised many post-graduate students at both M.Sc and Ph.D levels.

In his more than 28years long career, Professor Joseph Asor has made outstanding contributions to teaching, research and community service. He has severally been an external examiner and professorial assessor to many Nigerian universities.

Given his broad disposition to entrepreneurship, creativity, resourcefulness and philanthropic spirit, Professor Asor has made commendable strides in using his network and goodwill to attract grants/funds to the University of Calabar at different times.

With laurels, awards, appreciations and commendations adorning his treasure chest, including a letter of commendation from the then Governor of Cross River State, Mr Donald Duke for contributing to the Educational Development of the State; particularly towards the establishment of CRUTECH, Professor Asor is unarguably a symbol of patriotism.

Joseph Asor is a member of some professional associations, including Parasitology and Public Health Society of Nigeria, Nigerian Environmental Society, Zoological Society of Nigeria, among others.

Professor Asor is naturally endowed with commendable interpersonal relationship skills. He is affable, reliable and dependable. His humility, adroitness and sagacity obviously betray his humane perspective to life which is exceptional and legendary. The Professor values strategic communications and intellectual engagements which he has deployed successfully in his personal and official life.

He is happily married to his heartthrob, Dr (Mrs) Love Joseph Asor and they are blessed with 3 children – two daughters and a son in the mix.

Joseph Ele Asor is unarguably a Professor with bountiful curriculum vitae and he is deserving of the Office of the Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar. He is indeed fit and proper to provide the desired leadership to the University of Calabar for the next 5years.

Oyama is a Social Commentator. He writes from Abuja. [email protected], MissangOyama05.

N/B. The views expressed here are strictly that of Missang Oyama and did not represent theluminenews or its staff.

June 24, 2020
First Baba Isa Petitions NBA President, Paul Usoro, Says He Didn’t Know That To Get A Favorable Judgment For Client Is Now An Offense

By Elijah Ugani – Calabar

A right lawyer, Mr. First Baba Isa has petitioned the President of the Nigerian Bar Association NBA, Mr. Paul Usoro requesting the association to urgently protect the rights of lawyers who are currently being harassed, intimidated and detained for performing the constitutional rights.

In the pettitio addressed to Mr. Paul Usoro SAN, Mr. Isa averred that “I don’t know that to get a favorable judgement for my client is now an offense. Sir as our president, you didn’t send us any circular to this effect. If you had told me, I wouldn’t have done it. I wouldn’t have gotten a favorable judgment for my client. Now my accounts are frozen, I can’t fend for my family, I can’t go to court to defend my clients and they are threatening to arrest and detain me just ad they have arrested and detained our learned friends”

Read full text of the petition.

“Sir, a few hours ago I told my story: a story of how I got a valid court judgement in favour of my client. A story of how this judgment apparently went against the plans and dreams of ICPC. A story of how because of this ICPC is hunting me down like a wanted terrorist.

“Please, Sir, I crave your indulgence to read the full story, with all documentary attachments by clicking on this link https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10160002509834408&id=725834407.

“Learned Silk, Sir, attached is a certified true copy of both the record of proceedings and the judgment order. You will see that the ICPC, as 2nd and 3rd Respondents, were fully represented in court on the day we adopted our terms of settlement with GTB, the 1st Respondent.

“ICPC took this judgment to their office and sat on appeal on it. In their illegal appellate jurisdiction, they ruled that the judgement was obtained by fraud and they rearrested my client and freeze all our accounts… Learned Silk, the shocker is that they also arrested the GTB lawyer in this suit.

“Sir, as I write this, a lawyer, Nsikak Udoh, Esq., who only represented his client in court is in ICPC custody. He has been in detention for over 8 days.

“ICPC did not appeal the judgement. ICPC did not approach the court to set the judgement aside if indeed there have any evidence it was obtained by fraud, they just started arresting lawyers on the case. Sir, our Learned Friend is in detention and I’m being hunted because we are lawyers, because we did our job.

“I didn’t know that to get a favourable judgement for my client is now an offence. Sir, as our president, you didn’t send us any circular to this effect. If you had told me I wouldn’t have done it: I wouldn’t have gotten a favourable judgement for my client. Now, my accounts are frozen, I can’t fend for my family, I cant go to court to represent my clients and they are threatening to arrest and detain me just as they have arrested and detained our learned friend.

“I know many things are wrong in this country, but I never imagined a day will come when lawyers will be arrested, detained and harassed because they got a valid court judgement that offended security agencies”

Sir, oh Sir…

F. Baba Isa, Esq.,
Principal Partner,
FBI LEGAL, Abuja.
07037162029 (WhatsApp only);
[email protected]

June 24, 2020
ICPC Has Invited Me And Is Threatening To Arrest Me, Against Their Own Law, To Compel Me To Break Attorney-Client Privilege – Isa

By Elijah Ugani – Calabar

A human right and constitutional lawyer, Mr. First Baba Isa Esq… has raised alarm over the continues threat by the Independent and Corrupt Practices Commission ICPC, to arrest, detain or declare him wanted, to compel him to bridge the attorney-client privilege.

Mr. Isa took to his verified Facebook account @First Baba Isa to disclose this maintained that he rather die defending the attorney-client privilege than to live and be pointed at as that lawyer who broke the attorney-client privilege without due process of the law.

Hear him “Yesterday, I told my story: a story of how I got a valid court judgement in favour of my client. A story of how this judgment apparently went against the plans and dreams of ICPC. A story of how because of this ICPC is hunting me down like a wanted terrorist. You can read the full story, with all documentary attachments by clicking on this link https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10160002509834408&id=725834407.

“There is another horrendous angle to this. An angle so patently and gruesomely illegal; the thought that ICPC can even contemplate this makes me shiver.

“On the 19th of June, 2020 and after going to my office and home to arrest me unsuccessfully, ICPC went to my home and office to paste a letter on my door inviting me for questioning concerning a case I am handling as a legal practitioner. Find the letter attached.

“That same day they published a press release, so I know exactly why I was being invited. If you clicked on the link above, you must have seen the press release.

“If you read the letter of invitation attached, you will see that their invitation is premised on Section 28 of the ICPC Act.

“It will be apt to reproduce Sections 28 and 29 of the ICPC Act for fluid adumbration:

“Section 28 of the Act states that: “(1) An officer of the Commission investigating an offence under this Act may – (a) order any person to attend before him for the purpose of being examined in relation to any matter which may, in his opinion, assist in the investigation of the offence…”

“Section 39 states that: “Notwithstanding the provisions of any other written law (INCLUDING SECTION 28), a Judge of the High Court may, on application made to him in relation to an investigation into any offence under this Act or any other law prohibiting corruption, order a legal practitioner to disclose information available to him in respect of any transaction or dealing relating to any property which is liable to seizure under this Act provided that no court shall require an advocate or solicitor to disclose any privileged information or communication which came to his knowledge for the purpose of prosecuting any pending proceeding.”

“The above provisions read together is as clear as crystal. Section 39 made it abundantly clear that a Legal Practitioner can only be invited by an order of court and not a mere letter from ICPC. And an order of court can only be obtained to compel the attendance of a legal practitioner for an interview with ICPC only when the matter has to do with a property liable to seizure and when it is not related to a pending proceeding.

“In the instant case, I did not carry out a transaction for my client touching any property which was liable to seizure; at the time I carried out a transaction for my client concerning the money in her account, there was and still is a valid court judgment authorizing GTB to give my client access to her money. At the time I carried out transaction touching on that money, it was not and is still not liable to seizure. In any case, there is no court order obtained by the ICPC to invite me, assuming without conceding that I dealt with any property for that matter that is liable to seizure.

“Obtaining such an order will even be a gross illegality since there is a pending proceeding instituted by me on the instructions of my client against the ICPC. Section 39 of the ICPC Act, supra, made it abundantly clear “… that no court shall require an advocate or solicitor to disclose any privileged information or communication which came to his knowledge for the purpose of prosecuting any pending proceeding.”

“What I am being invited to come and disclose is “… privileged information or communication which came to (my) knowledge for the purpose of prosecuting (a) pending proceeding.” This cannot and should not be allowed to happen.

“It is settled law that when the word ‘shall’ is used in a statute, it is not permissive but mandatory, and the person or body to which it relates has no option but to comply with the provision of the statute. See KALIEL & ANOR V ALIERO & ORS (1999) 4 N.W.L.R (PT 597) 344@ 355.

“In Hunt v. Great Northern Railway (1891) 2 Q.B. at page 191, Lord Esther M.R. said: “A privileged occasion arises if the communication is of such a nature that it could be fairly said that those who made it had an interest in making such a communication, and those to whom it was made had a corresponding interest in having it made to them. When these two things co-exist, the occasion is a privileged one.”

“This statement of the English Court of Appeal in the case of Hunt vs. Great Northern Railway, supra, was adopted by the Nigerian Court of Appeal in the case of GIWA V AJAYI (1993) 5 NWLR (PT. 294) 423.

“The letter of invitation purportedly derived its foundation from Section 28 of the ICPC Act, supra, while the ICPC conveniently ignored Section 39 of the same Act. They cannot choose and pick which section of the Act to obey and which section to disobey. This is highly preposterous.

“On another remove, the strategy of freezing my accounts containing my legally earned fees in other to frustrate me and get me arrested so as I can be compelled to divulge privileged information is not only illegal but primitive and nebulous.

“This is why yesterday, I filed processes in a court of competent jurisdiction to strike down this demonic move with the gavel of justice.

“ICPC has threatened to declare me wanted if I don’t honour their illegal invitation. I know they can do that. I know they can even arrest me while this suit is pending in court. We are all witnessing the funeral of the rule of law. But no matter what happens to me, I will not be that lawyer who will be illegally compelled to divulge privileged information. If I do that, my career as a lawyer is finished: I will be known as that lawyer who divulges privileged information; my clients will leave me. Then the ICPC will go for other lawyers… Then, the law is doomed.

“I rather be remembered as that lawyer who died defending attorney-client privilege than to be alive and be pointed out as that lawyer who broke that privilege without due process of law.

“If I perish, I perish!”

F. Baba Isa, Esq.,
Principal Partner,
FBI LEGAL, Abuja.
07037162029 (WhatsApp only);
[email protected]

N/B. This opinion is strictly that of First Baba Isa and did not represent the views of Thelumninenews or its staff.

June 24, 2020
I Am Fulfilled That Even Though My Administration Is Coming To An End, My Earlier Promises Are Fulfilled – Ejue

By Elijah Ugani

The Provost of the Federal College of Education, Prof. James Bassey Ejue has stated that he is very happy with the space of work in the college even at the verge of the end of his administration, as most his his promises when he assumed office are being fulfilled.

Ejue made this known on Monday, 22nd June, 2020 while commissioning two new acquired two brand new Toyota Hilux project vehicles for the college.

The vehicles were supplied as part of 2019 Special High impact intervention project.

His words ” the College acquired the vehicles in order to boost the College transport facilities. It is a divine providence that these vehicles are delivered coincidentally when the high impact projects are kicking off and I’m happy to inform the College Management that contractors are taking over sites in the College.

“I want to express my gratitude to God that even though my administration is coming towards the end, they are fulfilment of my earlier promises”

Ejue charged the Department of Works and Estates to put the vehicles to good use and handle them with utmost care as they step up maintenance culture.

Present at the commissioning were: Mallam Ladan Chado – Deputy Provost, Mrs. Grace Undie – Registrar, Mr Sixtus Iklaki – Bursar, Mr David Adung -Librarian, among other Management staff.
See picture below:

June 24, 2020
Covid-19: UNFPA Donates PPEs And Other Items, Assured C’River Government Of UN Support

By Elijah Ugani – Calabar

As part of the efforts and measures to combat the global pandemic, the United nation Population Fund Agency UNFPA, has donated Personal Protective Equipments PPEs including face masks, hand gloves, sanitizers and hand washing buckets with stands to the cross river state government to aid in the protection of health workers against any possible outbreak of Covid-19 in the course of performing their duties.

The presentation was made by the Head of Calabar Sub Office, Mr. Kenneth Ehouzuo who commended the proactive preventive measures taken by the state government to contend the outbreak of Covid-19 in the state, however charged the state to step up measures to ensure that lives of the citizens are more protected, safe and secure at this challenging period.

Ehouzou maintained that “UNFPA will continue to support the Cross River State with technical support in the fight against this dreaded pandemic”

Ehouzou used the opportunity to called on the citizens of the state and the world at large to always be conscious of protective measures as outlined by both government and World Health Organization, so that collectively, the pandemic will be nipped on the bud.

Receiving the equipments on behalf of the state government, the Commissioner for International Development Cooperation, Dr. Inyang Asibong, thanked UNFPA for its continuous support to the state government under the leadership of Sir Ben Ayade.

Dr. Asibong, used the opportunity to extend the readiness and disposition of the cross river state government to leverage on the technical, material and financial of UNFPA to better the state, pledged judicious use of the equipments provided to the health and wellbeing of it’s citizens.

Recall that Dr. Asibong had served as Commissioner for Health in the last administration, has had the support of UNFPA in the development and implementation of most of the health programmes under her superintendent, some of which are, the ministry of health Operational Plan, the five years multi-operational plan for the Cross River State Primary Health Care Development Agency among others.

The United Nation Population Fund Agency UNFPA, has the mandate to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every child born is safe and every young person’s potentials is fulfilled.

June 24, 2020
Cross River State Government Begins Integrated Campaign Against Vaccine Preventable Diseases

By Simon Ushie – Calabar

The Cross River State Government has urged women especially nursing mothers to keep to the 6 routine immunization appointments for their wards to avoid deaths of infants in the state as a result of vaccine preventable diseases.

The Director General of the Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Janet Ekpenyong made the call while addressing the public on the importance of strict adherence to immunization exercise and the resultant effects when missed.

Dr Ekpenyong held that globally one of the highest causes of infants mortality are illnesses which can be vaccinated against while also emphasizing that vaccines are the sourest antidotes for childhood killer diseases.

The DG admonished parents and care givers to make their wards available for vaccination especially as the state is set to kick start its routine measles and immunization exercise across the 18 Local Government Areas of Cross River State.

Her words “We all know that there are other diseases that are killing our people especially children aside Covid19, and so as a state we have chosen to start an integrated campaign against all childhood killer diseases and for a start, the measles campaign. It is worrisome to note that many women are depriving their kids from this privilege and as a state, we can’t afford to manage another pandemic after Covid19.

“I want to debunk every rumor out there that there are poisonous vaccines being imported and circulated across the country. Emphatically I must say that our vaccines in Cross River State are safe and they are potent in line with the World Health Organization’s standard and best practices. Our central cold store is working, and in our various facilities, we have solar panel refrigerators to store these vaccines.

“I want to encourage all our mothers and care givers to as a matter of concern to take their children and wards to the nearest Primary Health care Facility around them and get them immunized.

“Immunization is free and if taken accurately will ensure the development of antibodies of their children”.

Also speaking, the State Immunization Officer, Mrs Joy Chabo, charged pregnant women to ensure maximum utilization of health facilities around them in order to receive vaccines which will protect them and their unborn children.

On her part, the state Mobilization officer, Mrs Nsa Ekpenyong noted that the agency have engaged the services of town criers in the rural areas, reached out to traditional, religious and group leaders to permit health workers to access their communities and facilities to administer vaccines to their kids as well as pregnant women.

The Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency has commenced state wide campaign to mobilize women for routine immunization.

Some of the diseases to be immunized include; Poliomyelitis, Tuberculosis, Hepatitis B, Diphtheria,Pneumonia, Measles,Yellow fever, Diarrhea among others.

June 24, 2020
ACROJ Chairman, Edem Darlington Petitioned The Commissioner Of Police, Demands Release Of His Late Father’s Phone.

By Elijah Ugani – Calabar

The Chairman of the Association of Cross River Online Journalists ACROJ, and Journalist with Premium Times, Comrade Edem Darlington has petitioned the state Commissioner of Police requesting for the release of his late father’s phone that was taken by Insp. Ibe Ihezuo during a criminal invasion of his late father’s residence.

In the petition sighted by TheLumineNews, Mr. Edem held that “sometimes last month, I got a distress call from my family members that men of the Anti cultism/kidnapping unit of your command has invaded our family house in Bayside community, particularly, No 11 Tete street, Calabar south and went away with my father mobile phone.

“My late father was a renowned musical icon and highlife maestros who passed on last year.

“Since the musical copyright society of Nigeria was processing the payment of his royalties, I asked that his Sim card be kept intact in the phone so that we can get bank alert.

“Owing to the communal clash in Bayside community, the said Insp. Ibe Ihezuo, led a detachment of police officers to the area, in the thick of the night, without any prior notice, invaded my late father house to carry a search, within which he was reported to have taken the phone.

“When I visited the cultural center station, he agreed picking the phone but asked I bring someone who will identify the phone. While I returned with the young boy who argued with him that night while trying to pick the phone he asked that I get my late father to identify the phone.

“When I reported the matter to his commander, he said he had returned the phone to zone 6.

“The commissioner of police must act and ensure bad elements like Insp. Ibe Ihezuo is fished out and punished accordingly to serve as deterrent to other bad elements in the police system”

Comrade Darlington used the opportunity to call on the Commissioner of police to use his good office to investigate and insure that his late father’s phone is returned to him and if found guilty, the said inspector should be adequately dealt with.

June 23, 2020
Re: Hon. Dr. Godwin Akwaji, Obudu State House of Assembly Member dies at UCTH, symptoms suspected to be COVID-19.

By Admin

The attention of the family of the late Hon. Dr. Godwin Akwaji who until his death was the member representing Obudu State Constituency in the Cross River State House of Assembly, has been drawn to the misdirecting rumor published by no fewer than four online platforms, that the late lawmaker died of suspected symptoms of Covid-19.

The following are quotes as contained in some of the online platforms that we could assess as at the time of this release.

Saharareporters.com reported that “He was said to have died at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital from illness suspected to be Corona virus.

“Reacting to his death in post on Facebook, Diana Mary Nsan said ‘My brother-in-law nursed him for the last two weeks up till yesterday, the government needs to tell us what killed him. He died at the isolation center, I supposed, so we need to know the facts. My in-law is self isolating”

CrossRiverWatch.com on the other hand reported that “Mr. Akwaji died on Thursday morning after about 10 days of illness suspected to be Covid-19 with medical sources claiming he was been treated at the isolation center at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital.

“This reporter also gathered that the medical personnel who attended to him has also gone into self isolation”

TheCable reported thus “Akwaji, who was said to be diabetic, also exhibited fatigue, fever, cough, breathlessness.

“A family source told TheCable that the deceased had been treated for malaria and pneumonia with no improvement.

“The source added that some persons who visited the lawmaker at the hospital are already showing symptoms of Covid-19”

ParadiseNews.ng reported that “unconfirmed reports have it that the lawmaker died from illness suspected to be corona virus (Covid-19)”

The story was not different from most social media handles where some persons claimed that the lawmaker died of symptoms suspected to be Covid-19.

To put the records straight, the late Hon. Dr. Godwin Akwaji did not at any time showed symptoms suspected or assumed to be related to Covid-19.

The late lawmaker had waded into the crisis that rocked the disbursement of compensation for land , for the construction of a Cargo Airport, that led to the burning of three traditional rulers houses, including the Clan Head of Igwo community in Obudu local government area of cross river state. He stepped into the matter on the 7th of March, 2020 and spent two months meeting with the affected communities, Igwo, Okambi, Ikwomikwu, Atiekpe at intervals.

The lawmaker has not traveled out of the state within this year, but rather spent greater part of his time with his constituents. It beats our imagination when he never had any contact with any person suspected to have been infected with the disease, or traveled out, yet been rumored to have died of the dreaded pandemic.

Hon. Dr. Akwaji attended his Uncle funeral that held on the 5th and 6th of June, 2020 at his family compound at Eshankpe, Ukpada – Utugwang, Obudu local government area, while there he felt some unusual and severe pains which made him left immediately for his hotel room, this took place on Saturday 6th June, 2020.

The late lawmaker attended the Obudu stakeholders meeting on Monday 8th June, 2020 at Hon. Kenn Alklah’s residence at Bebuagbong to finalize plans for the inauguration of the 6th Obudu legislative council, where he complained of ill health.

He started feeling unwell on the the 9th of June, so he traveled back to Calabar same day Tuesday, 9th June, 2020 and consulted his physician. He battled with the situation until Wednesday 17th June, 2020, when the situation had become very critical, he then instructed that he should be taken to the hospital.

At the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, the industrial action by the Association of Resident Doctors ARD, had forced UTCH into being a mirror image of itself. There was practically no doctor to attend to him.
A development that led to his been moved to the General Hospital, Calabar.

While at the General Hospital, the only doctor that was on ground claimed that he was already closing and that they should wait for the doctor on the next shift who will take over from him to attend to the lawmaker.

At this point, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Jonas Eteng Williams was contacted and he then put a call across to the Commissioner for Health and Chairman, Covid 19 Task Force Team, Dr. Betta Edu who then insisted that the only place that has doctors that can attend to the lawmaker at that moment was the isolation center. She directed the doctors at the isolation center at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital to attend to the lawmaker, irrespective of the situation.

That was how the late lawmaker was taken to the isolation center, which led to the insinuations that he died of Covid-19. He was not taken there because of symptoms suspected to be Covid-19, but because of the industrial action of ARD.

At his death, the family had waited patiently for the covid-19 test result to be release to enable this release.

We are glad to inform his constituents, cross riverians, Nigerians and the world that the late Hon. Dr. Godwin Akwaji never died of Covid-19, as widely speculated as his sample test returned negative including that of members of his immediate family and those who were with him at the time of his death.

We got the information of the test result from the pressure we mounted on the Commissioner of Health, Dr. Betta Edu, who never thought it wise to issue a statement regarding the test result of the late lawmaker.

Hon. Dr. Godwin Akwaji until his death was a functionary of the cross river state government, who gave his all to serve the state. He had served as the Special Adviser on Revenue and Account Matters to Governor Ben Ayade, between 2015 to 2019, and one wonders why, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Betta Edu had chosen to treat with levity an issue of this magnitude that portrays the death of the late lawmaker in an unpleasant manner.

We are also aware that there have been issues of suspected symptoms of Covid-19, when they were taken to the isolation center, their sample collected and sent for testing. Also the woman who died last month at the isolation center, her sample was equally collected and screened with government issuing releases to this effect. The manner at which she has handled the lawmaker’s death associated with Covid-19 leaves much to be desired of her and the government.

We are consoled that in any situation, God allowed the lawmaker to return to him the creator, but whoever intends to play politics with his death does that at his or her perils, having being convinced that we all going to give account of out stewardship to our creator, when that time comes.

At this moment of the demise of our pathfinder and breadwinner, we are indeed pained and saddened that his unfortunate death is taking a negative twit as any death within this period can be attributed to the dreaded pandemic, Covid-19.

The family has no intention whatsoever to join issues with anybody, online platforms or organization over the cause of the late Hon. Dr. Godwin Akwaji’s death.

We are however very resolute and decisive to issue this release to dispel the rumors that have been spread as well as create the enabling environment for friends, well wishers and spirited sympathizers to feel free and identify with the family at this moment of grief.

It is also our intention that all online platforms that published the misleading information publish this rejoinder to put the record straight.

Even as we mourn his death, we are confident that the sacrifices he had made for humanity while alive will pave waves for him to be with his creator, till we meet to part no more.

Elijah Ugani
Media Assistant to
The late Hon. Dr. Godwin Akwaji

June 23, 2020