The Lumine News

Author: The Lumine News

  • Egbara Hails Ayade For Inaugurating ACPM In Cross River State

    Egbara Hails Ayade For Inaugurating ACPM In Cross River State

    By Elijah Ugani – Calabar

    The Commissioner for Humanity and Social Welfare, Mrs. Blessing Egbara, has commended the state Governor, Senator Professor Ben Ayade for the inauguration of  the Cross River State  Advisory Council on Prerogative Of Mercy ACPM, at the Ministry of Justice, Calabar the Cross River State Capital.

    Egbara, who is also a member of the Council stated that “the inauguration of the body by the State Governor is a clear indication that Ayade is a great humanitarian who is committed to changing and touching the lives of his people at all levels”

    The Commisioner also disclosed that “the role of the Council is basically to look into the cases of those qualified to be granted mercy in our Correctional Centers and ensure that they get the mercy of His Excellency, who as a  father believes in giving people a second Chance, it is also a way of decongesting our correctional centers in the state”

    She used the occasion to assured His Excellency, the Governor that her ministry will do all it can to ensure the realization of his Vision towards a better deal for Cross Riverians and to positively touch many lives.

    The Council consist of Barrister Emmanuel Enamhe, as Chairman, Mr Elias Ayeshung Secretary; Very Rev. Fr. Malachy Ephraim  Dr Yosef Effiom, Compol Lawrence Eko Alobi. Rtd., Hon. Blessing Egbara, Mr Emmanuel Bekeh Udama and Adjah Enun Adjah, are to serve as Members.

    End.

  • Remembering Okang Peter And Governor Ayade’s Endless Tears

    Remembering Okang Peter And Governor Ayade’s Endless Tears

    By Anthony Bisong Attah

    On the 23rd of March, 2020, I got a call from Okan Peter to speak on CRBC TV. I declined the invitation because it was on a national issue I didn’t consider too interesting. We both laughed when I assured him that I was going to be available to discuss on critical issues affecting the State. Hitherto, I have been his guest on Sparkling FM and we’ve met at different occasions at FAD FM, Calabar.

    The news of his demise on the 31st of March, 2020 rented the State media space for a long time. This was due largely because of his visibility as a rising media guru. I knew Okan first on the 16th of September, 2017 when he covered the launching of my party, the Young Progressives Party YPP in the State at the Transcorp Hotel, Calabar. He demonstrated unaccustomed passion and dedication to his job as he straddled the Pearl Ball hall with his camera to ensure every detail of the MISS YPP COMPETITION was properly captured.

    I’m not good at writing or even commenting on the dead because of the emotions it evokes especially to the family and their loved ones. However, each time I recall events before the demise of my friend, two things readily strikes my mind; one, he spent many years as a volunteer staff of CRBC and just when he was absorbed into the system as a full staff he became a victim of the 2500 Civil Servants who’s names were delisted from the State payroll since September last year. He was set to attend the screening interview that was postponed on the 24th of March before he died one week later. Secondly, he was still being owed by the State Government for the role he played during last year Carnival Festival themed ‘Humanity’.

    I was shock as I watched our Governor, His Excellency, Sir Benedict Ayade weeping profusely in the now viral video during the inauguration of the State Anti Tax Committee. For the avoidance of doubt, the terms of reference given to the committee chaired by Bishop Emmah Isong are not new to Cross Riverians at all. We are already used to the empty rhetorics and the theatrical distraction of weeping by the Governor. Maybe he would have been a better ‘undertaker’ than an Executive Governor, knowing that weeping alone without action has never solved any problem. A Governor that cannot weep for owing Civil Servants a whopping nine months salary arrears and 5 months unpaid stipends and Honorarium to those who toiled day and night including personal Financial commitment to see to the success of the State sponsored Carnival should not weep at all. A Governor that withholds over five years gratuity of retired Civil Servants in the State should not think that shedding ‘Iguana tears’ is a safety valve to negotiate public sympathy and gain citizen’s confidence.

    We are tired of seeing our Governor admit his failures openly with tears as smokescreen to cover for his negligence and incompetence. We prefer to see our Governor braze up to the challenge of governance by minimising cost and deploying lean state resources to areas that directly affect the citizens.

    Like my late friend, Okan Peter, several other Cross Riverians have died without being paid for several months and others have gone without enjoying their Honorarium after several months of labouring to make the 2019 Carnival a success story. A lot of retirees have died and others consigned to inhuman conditions after giving 35 years of meritorious Service to the State. These are the things that should make a good Governor to weep.

    My friend Okan is gone already but he left a family behind. I pray the Governor pays his Honorarium to his family and get a member of his family to replace him in his place of employment or elsewhere. That’s the best way to immortalize a young man who died on an empty stomach while serving the State.

    Comrade Anthony Bissong Attah
    State Chairman (Chief Servant)
    Young Progressives Party, YPP, CRS

     

     

    NB. Opinions Expressed Here Are Strictly That Of Anthony And Does Not Represent The Lumine News.

  • Mediatrix Doles Out 20 Marriage Anniversary Cheers To Her Board Secretary, Fred Abua

    Mediatrix Doles Out 20 Marriage Anniversary Cheers To Her Board Secretary, Fred Abua

    By Elijah Ugani – Calabar

    The President/Founder, Board Members, Management and staff of Mediatrix Development Foundation MFD, felicitates with the workaholic Board Secretary, Mr. Fred Abua as he marks 20 years of his marriage anniversary.

    A release made available to THE LUMINE NEWS and signed by the Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Jeffrey Adamade indicates that MDF identifies with the family of Mr. & Mrs. Fred Abau on this auspicious occasion of their 20th marriage anniversary.

    The release reads in part “your commitment as Board Secretary to Mediatrix Development Foundation is a reflection of the peace enjoyed in your home and the support of your spouse, which translates to your building MDF together with other board members.

    “On behalf of the President/Founder, Board Members, Management and staff of MDF, I write to commemorates with you on this auspicious day of yours. The love, joy, trust, togetherness, and loyalty you have enjoyed 20 years ago which nourishes you and makes you look younger should continue to bind your home as well as strengthen you for effective service delivery to MDF in Particular and the society at large. Once again, Congratulations”

  • Mediatrix Donates Relief Materials To UNHCR

    Mediatrix Donates Relief Materials To UNHCR

    By Elijah Ugani – Calabar

    A pet project of the wife of the Cross River State Governor, Dr. Linda Ayade, Mediatrix Development Foundation MDF, has taken a bold step to donate hand sanitizers to help contain the spread of corona virus and sanitary pads meant to aid the Cameroonian adolescent refugees maintain personal hygiene.

    Speaking during the presentation of the items at the Ogoja sub office, the Chief Operating Officer of MDF, Mr. Jeffrey Adamade, noted Mediatrix is committed to the welfare of the the people especially the vulnerable, and the reason the organization has decided to reach the refugees through the UN refugees agency, UNHCR.

    The COO stated that “This gesture is a deliberate effort of the President/Founder of MDF, Dr. Linda Ayade to mitigate the spread of corona virus among the Cameroonian refugees.

    “Let me also extend Her Excellency’s goodwill to UNHCR for the coordination of the refugees in Cross River State”

    Adamade who was represented by the Human Resource Officer, Doris Etta, use the opportunity to call on the refugees to maintain personal hygiene and social distancing, regular washing of hands, use of hand sanitizer and face mask as well as the stay at home policy.

    Responding on behalf of UNHCR, the Senior Health Associate, Dr. Ernest Ochang commended the gesture of Mediatrix to donate the items to support the fight against the virus.

    Ochang noted that “On behalf of UNHCR, Ogoja Field Office, I receive these items and will communicate same. May God continue to enrich you so that you will continue to do more especially for those that are in dare need of this benevolence”

    Items presented include 328 pieces of hand sanitizer and 627 pieces of sanitary pads.

    Mediatrix Development Foundation is the UNHCR implementing partner for Peaceful Coexistence of Refugees with host Communities/ Distribution of Core Relief Materials for 2020.

    In 2018 – 2019, Mediatrix was the Livelihood implementing partner and trained over 1500 Cameroonian Refugees and a few host community members on different skills aimed at making them self reliant, including adolescents who were trained on peer mentorship.

  • UN Agency Alerts Nigeria On Impending Terrorist’s Attack

    UN Agency Alerts Nigeria On Impending Terrorist’s Attack

     

    By Kelvin Obanbom

    The United Nations Department for Safety and Security (UNDSS) has alerted Nigeria on the looming complex and coordinated attacks on the nation’s critical infrastructure, calling for urgent review and implementation of anti-terrorism measures.

    According to the UNDSS Nigeria, information received indicated an increased likelihood of terrorists activity, including the use of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and complex attacks against critical national infrastructure and High-Value Targets (HVTs) in Nigeria.

    The UN agency, in its latest Security Threat Information (STI) and Advisory report on Nigeria said based on the information at its disposal, Boko Haram was likely planning to exploit the momentum of the host government’s strain due to COVID-19 spread to conduct a series of coordinated simultaneous attacks and so weaken the government’s efforts, to disturb and distract military activities in the North-east and to gain greater local and regional attention and acceptance.

    A copy of the report released on Wednesday by the Chief Security Adviser (CSA) and UNDSS Representative to Nigeria, Mr. Robert Marinovic, said: “It is assessed that we are at the beginning of the security crisis characterised by a wide spectrum of interconnected crisis (civil unrests, crime and the increasing threat of terrorism), that were fuming for quite some time and now released by COVID-19 impact on the government and population.

    “In this context, the critical infrastructure are considered any of economic or security entities and their premises (petrol industry installations, banks, governmental facilities, shopping malls, hotels, etc), at any location in the country, especially state capitals, including Lagos and Abuja.

    “Though the UN in Nigeria is not the primary target for the terrorist activity, it is assessed that the UN can be impacted as collaterally (while visiting governmental installations, banks, shopping malls, e.t.c.), but also as the target of opportunity, if seen to be less protected (‘soft target’).”

    The UNDSS added that it had already assessed the likelihood of such terrorist activity and included it in all respective areas of UN Security Management Systems’ (UNSMS) Security Risk Management (SRMs) in Nigeria, stressing therefore that, the strict implementation of and compliance with standing security measures are of paramount importance.

    However, the UNDSS recommended among others that Nigeria should ensure that all SRM measures, especially those against terrorism threats, are urgently reviewed and fully implemented.

    It directed its Security Focal Points (SFPs) to alert security guards and host government security in and around UN compounds, on the above-described threat so to be vigilant against possible hostile surveillance (that usually precedes terrorist attack).

    It said UN personnel should patronise only neighborhood markets and Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), rather than big shopping malls or banks, to avoid unnecessary risk.

    It also advised that emergency phone numbers (emergency contact card distributed by UNDSS SWA) should be kept handy at all times; while respective Security Operations Centres (SOC) should be informed of all suspicious movements/observations.

    It also urged SFPs to circulate and disseminate the message to their respective personnel.

    Source: ThisDay

  • Gov Ben Ayade Lifts Ban On Religious Worship

    Gov Ben Ayade Lifts Ban On Religious Worship

    By Elijah Ugani – Calabar

    The Cross River State Governor, Sen. Ben Ayade has lifted the ban on religious worship in the state with effect from Sunday 24th May, 2020.

    In a release sighted by theluminenews and signed by the Special Assistant to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr. Christian Ita indicates that all religious leaders must adhere to all the rules binding citizens during this period as the enforcement team will go round to check compliance.

    Recall that the Governor had through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Christian Ita directed all religious worship be suspended in line with the measures to contain the ravaging pandemic, codenamed Covid 19.

    The release reads in parts “His Excellency, Sir Ben Ayade KSJI, the Governor of Cross River State, is very grateful to the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Archbishops, Bishops, Priests, Pastors, Christians of various denominations, and the entire Muslim community for their support and cooperation during the period of suspension of public worship in our state in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

    “His Excellency acknowledges that the understanding and cooperation of religious leaders contributed immensely in keeping our State Coronavirus Free thus far.

    “However, conscious of the Spiritual Economy, and in response to appeals by religious leaders in our state, His Excellency has issued the following executive orders:

    “1. The order suspending public worship in the state, is hereby lifted with effect from Sunday May 24th. 2020.

    “2. Consequently, starting from Sunday, May 24, 2020, church services are permitted but should be limited to the sitting capacity of the Church. Same applies to the Mosques.

    “3. Use of nose mask is compulsory for all worshipers.

    “4. Churches and Mosques should provide buckets for hand washing, or sanitizers.

    “5. Churches and Mosques are advised to strickly keep to the above instructions. The enforcement team will still go around to check compliance”

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    By: Damaris Onyendi – Calabar

    The Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has described Cross River State as deserving of its coronavirus free status.

    NCDC stated this on Monday during a verification visit to the state.

    The leader of the NCDC team, Dr Omobolanle Olowu, lauded the state governor, Sir Ben Ayade for his strong leadership in the battle against the pandemic, successfully keeping it away from the state.

    “The Federal Government strongly Commends the Action Governor of Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade, and his energetic team who started response in January when others still lived in denial. They (Cross River) deserve to still be without a case of COVID-19.

    “The governor was proactive in shutting down borders, screening visitors and suspected cases and initiating the no mask no movement campaign in Nigeria,” she said.

    She also expressed delight at the level of compliance with the no mask no movement policy of the government.

    Expressing disbelief, she said: “I cannot believe I did not see one person without a face mask from the airport to this office. I guess this explains the results in Cross River State. I commend the state for the great work done. We never knew all these in Abuja. We will tell Mr President all what we have seen.

    “From all I have seen, this is a great response in Nigeria. Cross River has honestly done well. There is a lot to learn from Cross River as best practice for Nigeria. Nigeria should give Cross River State accolades for producing face masks, Face Shield, PPEs in its Garment Factory.”

    She said the NCDC was also satisfied with the contact tracing, Surveillance and testing done so far by the state even as she encouraged the state to do more in that regard.

    “We are happy that the state has a great working relationship with the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital. This is Commendable.

    “Governor Ben Ayade woke up even before the rest of the country. He shut his borders and has been working from the front line. Your Governor is a man with foresight who believes in his people and wants to save his people.”

    Highlight of the teams visit included the official opening of the 100-bed isolation center in Adiabo.

  • Egbara Takes Covid 19 Palliatives/Relief Materials To Governor Ayade’s Home Town

    Egbara Takes Covid 19 Palliatives/Relief Materials To Governor Ayade’s Home Town

    By Elijah Ugani – Calabar

    In furtherance to Governor Ben Ayade’s deliberate efforts to cushion the effects of social hardship faced by the vulnerable occasioned by the global pandemic, COVID-19, the Commissioner for Humanity and Social Welfare, Mrs. Blessing Egbara has extended the distribution of palliative and humanitarian services to the people of Obudu, Governor Ben Ayade’s home town.

    Egbara, while distributing the items to patients at the Sacred Heart Hospital Obududu held that “Prof. Ben Ayade’s administration is committed to making life bearable to the patients and other citizens during this hard period.

    “These relief materials are meant to assist you meet some of your daily basic needs. As your leader, the governor is sensitive to the plights of his people and will always do all within his power to ameliorate your sufferings”

    Egbara interact led with some of the patients as she encouraged them to trust God for their healing. She used the opportunity to enlighten the patients about the COVID-19 and the efforts,  His Excellency Prof Benedict Ayade is putting to ensure Cross River state remains Covid-19 free.

    The relief materials distributed to the patients includes; food items, Nose masks and hand Sanitizers.

    At  Angiaba/Begiaka communities of Obudu, Egbara also handed over Nose Masks, Hand Sanitizers and relief materials to the people.

    The Commissioner disclosed that the desire and vision of His Excellency the governor is to reach out to as many Communities in all the local Government Areas of the state as possible and that her Job is to ensure the items gets to these communities. Bedia is one of the communities in the state that the Commissioner visited and distributed the items.

    Responding on behalf of the Angiaba/Begiaka communities, His Royal Highness (HRH) Utsu Felix Ukwudare, commended the governor for his hard work and development of the state in general and the effort he has put to make Cross River State COVID-19 free.

    The royal father thanked the governor for the donation of the relief materials, nose masks and hand sanitizers to their communities and for educating the people about the global pandemic and how to live during this period.

    Utstu Ukwudare Praised His Excellency for the gesture and held that God truly sent Professor Ben Ayade to protect Cross Riverians and pledged his support and loyalty to the Governor and bless him as he pilot the affairs of the state.

  • Ekpenyong Declares Open A Three Day Virtual Training For Health Workers Open In Calabar

    Ekpenyong Declares Open A Three Day Virtual Training For Health Workers Open In Calabar

    By Simon Ushie – Calabar

    The Director General, Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Janet Ekpenyong has flagged off a 3-day virtual training for health workers in the primary Healthcare Development Agency on how to manage the Covid-19 pandemic in the state.

    The DG in her opening remarks, thanked the Executive Director of National Primary Health Care Development Agency Dr Faisal Shuaib and other staff of the agency for the timely support of training health workers who are the frontliners in the fight against Covid-19.She urged the health workers to prioritize the training and develope their capacity for efficient service delivery.
    She urged them to be mindful of
    their healths by observing simple precautionary measures while attending to patients in their various facilities.

    Dr Ekpenyong said the state cannot afford to slow down in its approach in preventing the spread of the pandemic after getting nods up from the federal government (Federal Ministry of Health, National Centre for Disease Control, National Primary Healthcare Development Agency) for best practices in Covid-19 and other infectious diseases.

    She further commended the workers for their dogged nature in ensuring that all communities irrespective of barriers are reached through practical demonstrations of various preventive measures like hand wash, use of personal protective equipment and other forms of preventive measures.

    In his remarks, representative of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Oteri praised the coordination of the Director General and her team whose responses proved valuable and a confirmation of a Zero incidence case on Covid19.

    “These Cross River people are doing very well, they have eluded my expectations, all of your responses have shown that the Director General, Dr Janet Ekpenyong has done a very good job for the agency and for Cross Riverians as well.

    The virtual interactive training section had over 150 participants who will serve as trainers and coaches including heads of various units, Disease Surveillance and notification officers, Local Immunization Officers, infectious Disease officers across the 18 Local Government Areas of the state which lasted for 9 hours.

  • I Don’t Want To Join Issues With All These Unnecessary Accusations And Attacks – Odey

    I Don’t Want To Join Issues With All These Unnecessary Accusations And Attacks – Odey

    By Elijah Ugani – Calabar

    The Chairman of the Cross River State Universal Basic Education Board, Dr. Stephen Odey has stated that he does not want to join issues with all the unnecessary accusations and attack on his person since he indicated interest to replace the late Sen. Rose Oko at the Red Chambers.

    Odey made this known to THELUMINENEWS on a telephone call when contacted to clear the air on the document in circulation by the leadership of Northern Cross River State Students World Wide, alleging that Dr. Odey invited them and World Wide Presidents of the five LGAs that made up the Northern Senatorial District, through the Special Assistant to the Governor on Student Affairs, Comr. Abang Ogon but later abandoned them as some were said to have traveled from Jos to Calabar.

    Odey who is a front line contender in the People’s Democratic Party PDP, to replace the late Sen. Rose Oko, if given the party ticket will need these students leaders to mobilize support for him is however perturbed that he did not invite any person or group of persons to meet with him when he is aware that INEC has not made any pronouncement about the bye election.

    His words “My brother, I don’t want to join issues with all these unnecessary accusations and attacks. That me I invited students to Calabar and I will abandon them, from where?.

    ” Everybody is just trying to come and extort money because they hear I’m running election. I came back yesterday from my inauguration without any notice, and somebody said there is one SA that is in my office who wants to see me and I told him that I’m not yet ready for any campaign, nothing has been said INEC has not even brought out timetable, he said the SA came with one or two or three persons, and I said call the person who came with those persons, even without my notice and again, I told him I’m not ready for any campaign.

    “You people should leave me and I gave him #15,000:00 for launch in my office yesterday. How can you just go and mobilize people and bring to me by force.

    “Call the SA and confirm what I’m telling you, whether I have ever told him to bring anybody to me anywhere. There is nobody that can get me in whatever plan they are trying to do, nobody.

    “He has been chatting with me that he wants to see me, I now invited him to my office and say look, campaign has not started, cool down, when it is time, I’m the one that will look for all these groups and meet with them, so right now, no decision has been taken, INEC has not even made any pronouncement.

    “That he wants to hit the ground running and I said how? What I’m doing now is just private consultation, and I put my hands in my pocket and gave him launch and he left. I didn’t see anybody. So can people come to my office without my invitation or can I invite people to my office without attaining to them?”

    When contacted, the Special Assistant on Student’s Affairs to the Governor, Comr. Abang Ogon stated that “that document is fake, I don’t know where it is coming from, it is a very very fat lie. I am doing something to that effect. That document I don’t where it is emanating from. Dr. Just called me.

    “I have asked them to drop that thing, what happened is that I had a meeting with Dr. by 2:00pm, I went there and I saw Dr. in his office yesterday, so I don’t know where this is coming from”

    When asked whether he went to see Dr. Stephen Odey with NANCRISS and the five LGAs Presidents, Abang said “they came with me, I had a meeting with them and thereafter met with Dr, when I came back I told them”

    On his part, the President of Northern Cross River State Students NANCRISS, Comr. Frank Odey stated that “Dr. didn’t ask us to come, someone told us that Dr. wants to see us. We left our various LGAs down to Calabar, you understand my pains. Some people left from far places say Dr. wants to see us. I don’t want to call his name.

    “We are trying to resolve it in the middle of where it is now. We say we should give him a listening ear as someone we liked. When we got there at 11:00am, and waited till 3:00pm, and we didn’t see Dr., we were shocked that is it not Dr. that asked us to come? Everybody was blaming me as the NANCRISS Chief that I called them for something I didn’t even understand.

    ” Though we left, Dr. sent the secretary that he don’t want to see us, we were surprised that why will Dr. send for us and turn round to say, he does not want to see us.

    “When we left, the person now sent us a text massage to thank us for coming and that Dr. said we should come back next time not knowing that the person was looking for an opportunity to see Dr. using our own subhead.

    “That is why we were angry and wrote that, I have deleted it, I will write another one to that effect, I will send Dr. Odey a text massage”

    Below is the extract of the document that was written and shared to some platforms on the alleged insult on Northern Cross River Students and Presidents of the five LGAs in Northern Senatorial District of Cross River State.

    The document reads “A group of students berated by Dr. Odey during a visit. The SUBEB Chairman, Cross River State did this during a visit called by himself to see the students leaders of the five Local Government Areas that made up the Northern senatorial district.

    “The call which was organized by the SA to the governor on Students
    Affairs was honoured by the World Wide presidents including the NANCRiSS World Wide President earlier today in his office, Calabar.

    “Today being the 20th of May 2020 a movement was organized by the SA to Governor of Cross River State on students matters for a visit to the the SUBEB chairman, Dr. Stephen Odey. The students representatives of the Northern LGA, through the office of the SA students Affairs, went there.

    “As students leaders that are committed to the growth and development of our areas ; and haven got reverence for leaders and elders, we left our various places of residence – Jos, , Ogoja, Yala etc, to honour his invitation. Only to be humiliated and abandoned right in his office.

    “One wonders what a leader that has no single courtesy for students. We left our LGAs and other places to listen to him as someone we have respect for.

    “Someone that students can look up to as mentor, but it seems he has decided not to be a role model to the students. It shows that he is not willing to be accommodative and receptive to those seeking his attention.

    “This happened to us in the company of our wonderful SA Students Affairs who has the interest of the students as his number one priority. An invitation turned out to be and insult to him and the students body.

    “This is the very first time an individual would look on students with such disregards. Inviting students from far and near and not giving them audience is an insult, it is a show of lack of capacity and receptive mind that leaders in growing democracies like ours should have.

    “We spent six hour of our time waiting for Dr Steven odey to attend to us as planned by him. Sadly, his Secretary after waiting that long came out and told everyone that : “the executive chairman said he is not ready to see any body.”

    “Dr. Stephen Odey did this to us not minding where we came from. He kept us stranded in Calabar without food, water or shelter during this period of COVID-19 . We have given respect to a leader who doesn’t even deserved it. We have left him with this words: “Put yourself in this shoe if such is done to you will you be happy?”