The Lumine News

Author: The Lumine News

  • Civil Societies, NGOs Fumes As Governor Otu Snubs Again In Recent Appointment Galore

    Civil Societies, NGOs Fumes As Governor Otu Snubs Again In Recent Appointment Galore

    Culled From CrossRiverWatch 

    Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Cross River State, are fumed over Governor Bassey Otu’s continuous snub in his recent appointment galore.

    The CSOs voiced their dissatisfaction in a press statement signed and issued by Civil Society/NGO leader in the State, Leader Ben Usang, questioning why the governor failed to appoint at least a Special Adviser despite the State having the Department of Civil Society/NGOs, created during the administration of former Governor Imoke.

    Governor Otu on Monday, July 8, 2024, rolled out at least 212 appointees into his government, raising an eyebrow if he has towed the path of his predecessor Ben Ayade.

    Leader Ben who doubles as Development Facilitator, Human Dignity Advocate, Social Justice activist, and Public Affairs Commentator opines that it “obviously indicates no interest or priority by government” to engage effectively with Civil Society/ NGOs contrary to the requirements of many Development Partners that support the State in its budgetary provisions.

    He said his administration can better harness the needs, expectations, and opinions of ordinary citizens, CSOs, and NGOs for the success of his administration and an upward trajectory in the development of the State.

    The statement reads: “Just recently, the Governor of Cross River State, Senator(Prince) Bassey Edet Otu, made another set of appointments into key positions of the State Government. Obviously, the appointments were made to fill existing vacancies and perhaps to strengthen the machinery of Governance in the state.

    “While it remains my personal view that it has become very imperative for all strata of government in our nation to deliberately cut the cost of governance, at this point of economic challenges, through minimizing the number of political appointees and instead according priority to filling up vacancies in the civil/public service of the state, I will, however, differ to the Wisdom and love for the state the Governor is reputed to have by his decision to further expand the size of his government by this latest tranche of the appointment he just made. I now look forward to the appointments translating to a HIGHER QUALITY OF GOVERNANCE centered on the primary interest of the people of the State.

    “Having stated the above, I must highlight here that the Governor in this latest appointment once again failed to appoint a Special Adviser, Civil Society/NGOs, a development I presume could be simply an unintentional oversight on the part of the Governor or as a result of the Governor’s attention not being drawn to the existence of a Department for Civil Society/NGOs in the state.

    “The Department of Civil Society/NGOs was created during the Administration of Former Governor Imoke. It has since had several Special Advisers, beginning with Mrs. Margaret Ebokpo, a seasoned NGO practitioner with a background in Women’s Rights and Political participation.

    “From the onset, the Department of Civil Society/NGOs became a critical agency of Government in coordinating the activities of Civil Society/NGOs in the State especially as it has to do with engagements with government and in Multistakeholder forums organized by the Government and other partners of Government including international development partners seeking to consult Non-State Actors or to fund their activities in the State. The department was also vital in registering Civil Society Organisations and Self Help Groups, facilitating capacity building for them amongst other vital services to the third sector. In that period, discussions and the way forward started on having a One Stop registration for Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in the state, taxation as pertains to CSOs, Civil Society Commission, increasing women’s political participation, electoral reforms, and many other policy issues that were of interest to many of the CSOs working or operating in the state.

    “Under Former Governor Ayade, the Department’s activities and relevance were sustained. The then-governor appointed A Special Adviser for the Department as his predecessor did and even went ahead to appoint Special Assistants to work with the Advisers. Among the many achievements of the department at this time included the Joint organizing and holding of the International NGO Day with some Civil Society Organisations and the participation of representatives of CSOs in major State functions, donor engagements, and public policy development through the department’s facilitation.

    “Despite the foregoing, more than one year after, the current administration led by Prince Bassey Edet Otu, there is no appointment of a Political Head for the Department which obviously indicates no interest or priority by government to engage effectively with Civil Society/ NGOs contrary to the requirements of many Development Partners that support the State in its budgetary provisions. The scenario has led to a huge void creating room for a lack of policy and program coordination of the Voluntary Sector at government level using a sustainable framework that leads to positive outcomes.

    “At this point, it is instructive to state that though some actors in the Civil Society of the State, including yours truly, have now adopted a recommendation for the Establishment of a Legislation backed Commission for Civil Society/NGOs, which will transform the department to a Commission and thereby headed by a Commission Chairman assisted by Commission members, we however still believe that there is need, for now, for a Special Adviser to be appointed for the Department as it currently exists subject to when a Commission will come to replace the Department upon assent by the Governor of the enabling legislation. To actualize our goal for a commission, the Special Adviser will be critical in functioning as a liaison between CSOs and Government so we arrive at provisions in the legislation that is acceptable to all stakeholders within a meaningful and realistic timeframe.

    “It is imperative to note that during the just concluded South South Regional Conference on Improving Regulatory Environment for CSO operations in Nigeria held on the 27th of June, 2024 in Calabar, calls were made by Civil Society actors to have an Executive legislative mechanism for the State that will improve the regulatory and developmental environment for CSO operations at the state level in line with constitutional provisions and precedence that exist in other states in the country especially Benue State that has a law for the Voluntary Sector activities which was upheld as valid in a Court of Appeal Judgement.

    “On this note, I am calling on the State Governor who is pro-people in his mantra to immediately appoint a Special Adviser for Civil Society/NGOs so his administration can better harness the needs, expectations and opinions of ordinary citizens and Civil Society Organisations including Non Governmental Organisations( NGOs) for the success of the administration and an upward trajectory in the development of the State and which gives the State a positive image among international development community.”

  • Special Adviser, Local Content To Gov Otu, Organizes Essay Competition For Secondary Schools

    Special Adviser, Local Content To Gov Otu, Organizes Essay Competition For Secondary Schools

    By Elijah Ugani 

    The Special Adviser on Local Content to Gov Bassey Otu, Mr Awatt Caleb, has released a schedule for a state wide essay competition for senior secondary schools across the state.

    In a release signed by the Special Adviser, Mr Awatt Caleb, and made available to TheLumineNews, Southern Senatorial District is scheduled to hold on the 29th of June, 2024, while central and northern senatorial districts will hold a later date to be announced.

    The release further indicates that “Star Price, second runner up and third runner up will be presented to deserving students”.

    Participants were assured by the release that “winners will be officially awarded at the grand finale and published in our journal of footprint”.

    Mr Awatt in the release further stated that the essay competition will also lead to the award of scholarship to deserving students to promote advocacy for local content and reward hard work and excellence amongst students. “Award of scholarship to senior secondary school students to depen local content advocacy, promote academic excellence and reward hard work among students”.

    Mr Awatt on a telephone call with TheLumineNews, revealed that this is the fifth edition of the essay competition in honor of Sen Prince Bassey Otu.

    He disclosed that the competition has been on while  Sen Otu was in the Senate.

  • C’River State Govt Suspends Collection Of Illegal Levies At College Of Health Technology, Calabar

    C’River State Govt Suspends Collection Of Illegal Levies At College Of Health Technology, Calabar

    By Kingsley Agim

    Consistent with its avowed resolve to ensuring compliance with standards at all levels, as well as making social services affordable for all and sundry, the Cross River State Government has suspended collection of all unauthorised levies at the College of Health Technology, Mary Slessor Avenue, Calabar.

    A statement, dated June 21 and signed by the Director of Administration, Mr Agba William, on behalf of the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Egbe Ayuk, government lamented the increasing allegations of unapproved charges/levies at the Cross River State Collinge of Health Technology, Calabar, ranging from 15,000 for admission form, 5,000 for JAMB entrants, and additional 3,000 for both groups of students, as well as 1,200 to cover charges and verification.

    Other allegations of extortion leveled against the school authority, the Ministry’s highlighted to include, sales of past question papers to new entrants, payment of Students Union Government levy alongside school fee, and payment for portal maintenance and internet access.

    “While efforts are ongoing to resolve these anomalies and the seeming lack of adherence to standards, parents, guardians, students and the general public should take notice that all payments regarding the aforementioned charges/levies and any other unauthorised taxation at the College of Health Technology are hereby suspended with immediate effect pending the outcome of the investigation on the matter,” the release further stated.

    The release also enjoined parents, guardians, and students to report similar illegalities and other untoward practices across all health institutions in the state to the Ministry of Health, restating the present administration’s zero tolerance to practices that are inimical to the effective teaching and learning in the state’s colleges of higher education.

  • Ogoja State Creation: Stakeholder Commends Senator Agom

    Ogoja State Creation: Stakeholder Commends Senator Agom

     

    The Convener of Cross River North Development Forum, Mr Ajiwhen MC Olugah has thrown his weight behind the move by Senator Jarigbe Agom supporting the creation of Ogoja State; saying it is urgent and compelling.

    Ajiwen said the position by Senator Agom on the Ogoja State addresses the longstanding imbalance in the geopolitical distribution of states in Nigeria; especially Ogoja as the oldest province in the country without the status of a state.

    “I thank and congratulate you our dear Senator for once again showing us that you are a Senator with a deep passion for satisfying every request and cries of your people. It is a mark of respect for the desires of his people and it also shows that Senator Jarigbe Agom is a General that leads his soldiers from the front. Jari na man ooh.”

    Ajiwen said the people of Cross River North are very proud of Senator Agom’s support for the creation of Ogoja state because he has demonstrated his enormous potentials to lead us from the front.

    We commend your populist tendencies to listen to your people at all times. May God continue to bless you abundantly above your enemies, he said.

    Recall, the Senator representing Cross River North in Nigeria’s Senate, Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, recently said he is fully involved and has endorsed the idea of creating Ogoja State, out of present day Cross River State.

    The Senator also came clear that his insistence that Ogoja State be created out of Cross River State, is not an endorsement that seeks to dismember CRS, but a well intentioned endorsement that will take development to one of Nigeria’s oldest province, still largely underdeveloped and marginalised in the scheme of things.

  • Christ Not A Christian BY INYALI PETER 

    Christ Not A Christian BY INYALI PETER 

    Yesterday, I watched a thought-provoking YouTube video shared by my friend, Dr. Aruku Kalita, featuring Prof. Patrick Lumumba addressing theologians in Kenya. Prof. Lumumba boldly stated that Christ is not a Christian, a view I wholeheartedly agree with.

    As I’ve always believed, Christianity is a human construct that emerged many years after Christ’s time. It is not ‘Jesus’ religion as most people want the world to believe but it can well fit into the description as religion about Jesus Christ. But to understand this perspective, let’s delve into brief history.

    Jesus Christ was born approximately 2,000 years ago, and his ministry spanned about three years before his crucifixion. The Bible accounts for his life, death, and resurrection, but there’s a significant gap between his departure and the establishment of Christianity as a religion.

    The early Christian Church began to take shape around 50-100 AD, with the writings of the apostles and the spread of their teachings. However, it wasn’t until the 4th century that Christianity became a dominant force in the Roman Empire under Constantine’s rule. This means that there’s a substantial gap of several centuries between Christ’s life and the formation of the Christian religion.

    Given this historical context, it’s logical to conclude that Christ couldn’t have been a Christian, as the religion didn’t exist during his lifetime. This disparity highlights the human construct aspect of Christianity, which developed over time through interpretations and cultural influences.

    It’s essential to acknowledge that Christianity wasn’t the first religion; many others predated it. For instance, ancient religions like Judaism, Hinduism, and Buddhism had existed before Christianity. This emphasizes that faith is a personal choice, often influenced by upbringing and cultural background.

    Personally, I was born into a Christian family, making me a Christian by default. If my parents belonged to a different religion, I would have likely followed suit. This realization reminds me that faith is a matter of perspective and presumption, lacking scientific proof. It’s crucial to respect and celebrate diverse beliefs without feeling superior or inferior.

    Prof. Lumumba’s statement resonates with me, and I believe it’s essential to understand the historical context and human construct aspect of religion. This can help us foster greater tolerance, acceptance, and coexistence among people of different faiths, recognizing the shared human values that unite us all.

    Thank you Dr. Aruku for the video!

    Inyali Peter, Ph.D

    Disclaimer: The opinion expressed in this article is strictly that of the author, Inyali Peter, and does not represent TheLumineNews, its agent or the organization the author works for.

  • I Am Fully Involved, I Have Endorsed The Idea Of Ogoja State – Jarigbe Agom

    I Am Fully Involved, I Have Endorsed The Idea Of Ogoja State – Jarigbe Agom

    Culled from Caliton 

    The Senator representing Cross River North in Nigeria’s Senate, Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, says he is fully involved and has endorsed the idea of creating Ogoja State, out of present day Cross River State.

    Jarigbe also came clear that his insistence that Ogoja State be created out of Cross River State, is not an endorsement that seeks to
    dismember CRS, but a well intentioned endorsement that will take development to one of Nigeria’s oldest province, still largely underdeveloped and marginalised in the scheme of things.

    The senator who bared his mind early Saturday morning, June 22, 2024, when he appeared as guest on “The Public View”, HIT 95.9 FM, Calabar’s flagship news and current affairs programme, was particular that, “Ebonyi is what it is today because it was carved out of Enugu and made a state. It has brought development to that part of Nigeria
    and there’s the added advantage of bringing governance close to the people. As I speak, Ogoja is the only old provincial headquarters in Nigeria that has not been made a state capital and this is sad, I must say.”

    On attempts to classify and position Ogoja as belonging to Nigeria’s middle belt, Jarigbe insisted that, “Ogoja belongs to the South-South of Nigeria, we do not belong to the Middle belt because our people are in the South-South, our culture, our tradition; and we cannot be classified as belonging to the Middle because we are not.”

     

  • Is Giving Good? BY AGBA JALINGO

    Is Giving Good? BY AGBA JALINGO

    Is Giving Good?

    Yes it is! When I go to the club, I pay an entrance fee. Some even have club membership fees, if you want to be a member.

    When I go to my village meeting, I pay money for dues and donations.

    In my age grade meeting, we contribute money.

    In school, we pay school fees and other levies.

    In our alumni associations, I gladly pay money.

    In my professional associations, I pay money.

    When I go to the lodge, I contribute money.

    When I go to the temple, I contribute money.

    When I go to the shrine, I contribute money.

    When I attend trainings, seminars, workshops and masterclasses, I pay.

    There are two mosques, and one Islamic children school on my street, and four churches on the same street. They do events periodically and send me envelopes and I still contribute to all of them till today, and will continue to do so.

    Anytime they are holding men’s week in my wife’s church or any other activity that is pro-people, I make contributions to the church. These are just a few examples. I love giving. But there is a reason I bored you with that information.

    There are none of these places where I will refrain from asking questions if it is clear that the contributions are now channeled to purposes for which they were not meant. It is like telling me not to ask questions even when I notice that the taxman is using my tax to finance his lavish lifestyle. Individuals should not be allowed to set up these places and milk people of their hard earned resources and use same to take care of only their personal lives and all we continue to say is ‘leave it to God’? That’s how society deteriorates. That’s how the cookie crumbles.

    The obvious thing today about churches in particular is that, apart from the semblance of accountability demonstrated by the old orthodox and protestant Churches, most of which are owned by foreign nations/states, there is flagrant profligacy and bare-faced extortion of the people by the later days legion of scammers claiming to have been called to preach. These organizations have transformed into very powerful enclaves, emotionally blackmailing and hoodwinking people of untaxed billions and giving back tokens for validation. Some have even turned to money laundering conduits for politicians, leading opulent lives that even Christ will detest if he were still here.

    Yet, they have been bred with so much haughtiness that they feel unquestionable. They have assumed the Messianic high throne that once you question any of their actions, they and their followers quickly accused you of questioning God. Which God? At what point were these human beings elevated to God? Because there is a clergy prefix attached to their names? So they are no longer servants of God but now God, whom you cannot question?

    In a nutshell, giving is good. Very very good. It is a sure path to so many good things. But don’t give foolishly. Don’t give to finance people’s personal lavish lifestyles, regardless of what is attached to their names. Give to the poor who are genuinely in need in these very hard times. Above all, always ask questions about how your giving is utilized, unless you know God’s account number where you send the money to. But so long as you pay it into someone else’s account in a bank here on Earth, always ask questions. If you remove the tithes and the collections, many of these people will abandon the so called “calling” and return to their jobs.

    This opinion is strictly mine!

    Yours sincerely,
    Citizen Agba Jalingo.

    Disclaimer: The opinion expressed in this article is strictly that of the author, Agba Jalingo, and does not represent TheLumineNews, its agent or the organization the author works for.

  • Eid-el-Kabir: Sen Jarigbe Agom Felicitates With Muslims in Cross River North

    Eid-el-Kabir: Sen Jarigbe Agom Felicitates With Muslims in Cross River North

     

    …doles out cash and six cows for celebration.

    The Senator representing Cross River North Senatorial District, Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, has felicitates with the Muslim community in Cross River North Senatorial District as they mark this year’s Eid-el-Kabir celebration.

    The Senator in his Sallah message prayed that this year’s celebration will bring blessings, peace and prosperity to all Muslim faithful in the Senatorial District.

    “May the blessings of Eid-el-Kabir fill your life with joy, peace and prosperity”.

    While assuring them on the fulfillment of promises made, the lawmaker urged them to continue to give him the necessary support and cooperation to enable him continue with his infrastructural and human capital reforms in the Senatorial District.

    He presented six cows and cash for the Eid celebration across the five Local Government Areas of the Senatorial District and prayed that Allah showers His countless blessings upon all and makes this year’s Eid-el-Kabir a memorable one.

    Eid Mubarak!

  • Africa Is Monotheistic BY AGBA JALINGO 

    Africa Is Monotheistic BY AGBA JALINGO 

     

    Like many other lies that foreigners told us about Africa and we swallowed them hook, line and sinker; lies like, it was Mungo Park who discovered River Niger, we also bought into the lie that Africa is Pantheistic. Meaning African religions have multiple gods. Those who accept and romanticize that lie are doing so because they don’t want to think.

    Long before the Egyptian Pharaoh Akhenaten (1353-1336 BCE), who is credited with declaring the global concept of monotheism, (belief in one God), all known African tribes had a name for the ALMIGHTY GOD. There is no tribe or vernacular in Africa that did not know or had a name for, or had a form of worship to the Almighty God.

    Unim is almighty God in my Bette language. Abasi is almighty God in Efik. Chukwu is almighty God in Igbo. Eledumare is almighty God in Yoruba. Ubangiji is almighty God in Hausa. Nyame is almighty God in Twi language in Ghana. Unkulunkulu is almighty God in Zulu language in South Africa. Mungu is almighty God in Swahili. It is not foreigners or missionaries that brought these names. All these names existed before the coming of Islam and Christianity. Even before Pharaoh Akhenaten.

    So if you can stretch your thinking faculty a little bit, you will know that Africa has always been and still remains Monotheistic. African Religions believe in the existence of one God and worship only one God. The almighty God! Every other god(s) is a deity under the almighty God. A medium through which prayers are taken to the Almighty God. Like Christians pray to God through the name of Jesus.

    Christian and Muslim missionaries did not invent God for Africa. We know God. Some persons only came around to lie to us so we will worship that God through the lens of their own eyes. They didn’t bring us God. They brought us methods which they claim were superior to ours and majority of our people accepted. That does not in any way detract from the rich knowledge of God that Africans have. The same God, unless you think there are two almighty Gods.

    So when you hear an African religionist express faith in God or thanksgiving to God and you cringe, it is because you don’t know your history or probably have not thought about it. No religion owns God. God is God of the universe. Not God of any religion and the earlier you realize that, the better.

    Good morning and have a blessed weekend.

    Yours sincerely,
    Citizen Agba Jalingo.

    Disclaimer: The opinion expressed in this article is strictly that of the author, Agba Jalingo, and does not represent TheLumineNews, its agent or the organization the author works for 

  • One Year In Office: Akpanke Distributes Sewing, Grinding Machines To Constituents

    One Year In Office: Akpanke Distributes Sewing, Grinding Machines To Constituents

    By Elijah Ugani 

    As parts of activities to mark one year in office, the member representing Obudu/Bekwarra/Obanliku federal constituency, Hon Peter Akpanke, has distributed 30 sewing and grinding machines across the 30 political wards that makes up the federal constituency.

    Addressing supporters, the State Chairman of PDP, Mr Vena Ikem Esq, welcomed party to faithfuls to the event and commended them for keeping faith with the PDP, and assured that a lots of things are underway for the people.

    Mr Ikem noted that “I have decided to address you because I know that majority of you will have the feelings that you’re not captured in this phase of empowerment. I want to assure you that you will all be considered for one empowerment or the other.

    “The empowerment will be done in phases. Thank you for all you do to keep hope alive. At the moment, there is no better place to be than in PDP, for this part of the state”.

    The State Chairman of PDP, charged members to brace up for the challenge ahead as the party is prepared to get other positions from the APC in the next election and avoid the temptation of being hoodwinked into leaving the party.

    Presenting the items to beneficiaries in Obudu Local Government Area, held at the PDP State Chairman’s residence, Hon Akpanke noted that “I want to expressed gratitude for your support and goodwill to ensure that I was elected to represent you. I have come today with these items to support your businesses. For all of you who supported me during the last election, this is the beginning of many good things that are going to happen in our constituency”.

    Speaking at Bekwarra, he thanked especially the women of Bekwarra for the prayers, and maintained that “You labored to support our ambition to win election, I havr returned to appreciate and to tell you thank you for all the support.

    “For today, we have come to empower the women, from next week, it will be the turn of the men. Please be calm and exercise some patience. All of you are very dear to me. We will continue to visit and share with you what God has blessed us with.

    “I had told you during the campaign that, if you vote for me and I win the election, I will come home, stay with you and we reason together. I have kept that promise and each time I visit you, I enjoy myself because I’m with my people.

    “These items you see here is the beginning of many good things that will come. For those who support me, you will first benefit.
    As we progress, some people will drive cars, some will build houses while others will do businesses”.

    On her part, the coordinator of the Rock Ladies Bekwarra, Mrs Angela Oko, commended Hon Peter Akpanke, for considering the women to be supported and called on all the beneficiaries to become ambassadors of Hon Akpanke.

    She charged the beneficiaries to begin a house to house campaign to support Hon Akpanke for a second term having performed wonderfully well in just one year.

    Martina Omang thanked the lawmaker for the show of love and prayed God to continue to bless him to enable him give the constituency the needed representation.