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  • Text Of Press Conference By The University Of Calabar Vice Chancellor, Prof Florence Obi, On UNICAL At 50 & The 37th Convocation Ceremony Of The University Of Calabar

    Gentlemen of the Press,

    It gives me great pleasure and joy to have you here again in the University of Calabar. I am profoundly grateful to you for bringing the wielding influence of the Fourth Estate of the Realm to the promotion and advancement of Project Unical. Right from the time that I was ushered into office as Vice Chancellor, you have stood firmly by me and never hesitated to take Unical to the world through your various modes of communication. On this particular occasion, I use this opportunity to appreciate your partnership, understanding, goodwill, concern and availability as veritable stakeholders and partners in progress. I would like this synergy to be sustained till my last day in office, and even beyond. I treasure your valued cooperation and welcome you specially.

    Today’s Press Conference is summoned to draw the attention of our various stakeholders and by extension the larger society to the oncoming historical, epochal, and unifying event which we have tagged “ Unical @ 50 and the 37th Convocation Ceremony”, a fusion of two large events for celebration within one week. The event is scheduled to begin from Monday, 17th March, 2025 and will run till Sunday, 23nd March, 2025.

    May I remind us that prior to this oncoming ceremony, we held a press conference as a university to intimate the larger society and the world that Unical is 50 years old. The event took place in the Council Chamber of the University on Tuesday, November 19th,2024. The Press Conference was followed with a Colloquium held at the Unical International Conference on February 12, 2025. The theme of the Colloquium was “University of Calabar and Its Contributions to National Development”. The discussants at the memorable event were notably members of the Unical Alumni who took out time to showcase the impact of the University on them, the host communities, the nation and the world. Suffice it to say, that the NUJ Chairman, Comrade Archibong Bassey, who is here today, moderated the event and many of you participated in it.

    After those pre- anniversary activities, the University proceeded to organise a Meritorious Service Award Ceremony for Staff of the institution on March 13, 2025 for those who have served the University creditably over the years and have been part of the institution’s success story and legacy. The awards ceremony was unique as the present generation of staff were excited to see the 6th Vice Chancellor, Prof. Kevin Ogon Eta, and the first Dean of Science, Prof. Ulo Kponuko Enyenihi, among the golden awardees.

    On March 14, 2025, the University Community gathered again. This time, the convergence was at the Senate Chamber of the institution. The Alumni of the University gathered for a Round Table Interactive Session to discuss a given theme: “Repositioning the University of Calabar for Greater Output: 2025–2075”. The National President of Unical Alumni, Barr Paul Eshiemomoh; the immediate past Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic, Prof Angela Oyo-Ita; and the erstwhile Registrar of the institution, Ambassador Gabriel Egbe, were the Lead Speakers.

    As we gather today, it is my responsibility as the current head of this 50- year old institution to provide essential information as to how the week-long event would run or be held.

    Immediately after this Press Conference, we shall be proceeding to the Main Gate of our prestigious university to commence the much awaited “Victory Walk”. As the Vice Chancellor favoured by God to be on the saddle at this time of the celebration, I will lead the way. My Staff, Students and Alumni will be part of the all-embracing exercise round the campus. It is labelled “Victory Walk” because the word ‘victory’ encapsulates our overall successes over the years, triumphs in our academic endeavours and the study arena, repeated multiple triumphs in the local, national and international space as well as the winning mentality which we have cultivated as an institution. That walk is a unifying initiative symbolic of our togetherness, strength and resilience over the years.

    On Tuesday, March 18, 2025, an Inter-Denominational Service would be held at the Unical International Conference Centre at 10am prompt. It has been our tradition over the years to collectively place God first in all our endeavours. A Servant of God, Rev Fr. Dr. Evaristus Bassey would be sharing insights from God’s Word with us on the topic “Our Hope Does Not Disappoint” (Rom 5:5). We are giving an open invitation to all who intend to share with us God’s abundant blessings. Come, let’s collectively seek the face of God for guidance and success.

    After the Service, focus will shift to the Open Pavilion, opposite the Medical Centre where the 2025 Convocation Research Fair and Exhibition would be flagged off by 11am. The Research Fair has been an integral part of our convocations, intended to showcase the rich academic and creative potentials of our University. Our various Faculties, Departments and Directorates will be on parade. At 50, we have so much to showcase. Investors, captains of industries, business moguls, bank executives and entrepreneurs would be there to see what we have and what will be of immense concern to them.

    Wednesday, March 19, 2025 is a day largely and essentially devoted to the promotion of Alumni activities. The meeting of Convocation (Alumni) will kick-start the day’s activities. It is a meeting strictly for every alumnus of the University of Calabar. The National President of Unical Alumni, Barr Paul Eshiemomoh is expected to preside over affairs. This meeting begins by 9am.

    At 11am, Alumni Reunion Activities (Unical @ 50) would take the centre stage at the students’ domain which has been named “Malabor Republic” over the years. We expect massive influx of Unical Alumni, Malabites and Malabresses into their most primary constituency, Malabor. They would be expected to engage the students and interact extensively with them. It is indeed a reunion, a time of seeing old colleagues and re-igniting the old and wonderful times when they were here as students. This event is undoubtedly one of the key highlights in the Unical @ 50 celebration. We are calling on all our alumni at home and abroad to take this seriously by being part of this momentous renewal and reaffirmation of the Malabitic Spirit.

    By 4pm, the curtain for the Research Fair and Exhibition would be drawn with the presentation of prizes at its closing ceremony.

    Thursday, March 20, 2025 offers us a day loaded with pivotal activities.
    The first event for the day is the 50th Anniversary and Convocation Lecture. This lecture would be delivered by one of our chosen University Ambassadors, the current Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu. He would be speaking on the topic, “Our Gown in Town and in Cyberspace: Sustainable and Human Centred Education, the Mandate of our University, 2025-2075”.

    The lecture would commence from 11am prompt. The venue for the event is the Calabar International Convention Centre (CICC), Summit Hills, Calabar.

    The event would be chaired by the former Vice Chancellor of Federal University, Lafia, and Cross River University of Technology (CRUTECH), and also the immediate past and first female President of the Nigeria Academy Of Science, Professor Ekanem Ikpi Braide.

    Still at the same venue, another pivotal ceremony would commence at 2pm prompt. It is: “Awards and Fund Raising”.
    This administration under my leadership has in the course of the last four years in every convocation given awards to deserving Staff of the University of Calabar to appreciate their service to the institution.

    An added dimension to the award category this year would be the presentation of awards to some notable alumni of the University of Calabar and a few outside the University who have distinguished themselves in their service to mankind.

    We also intend to use the occasion to raise funds to improve and respond to the infrastructural demands of our institution, coming on the heels of demographic and curricular expansion. We need to get ready for NUGA 2026. The institution needs a better and sophisticated Medical Centre. The University is developing very fast with a steep increase in student population. More classrooms, teaching and learning facilities and hostels are needed; and the sprawling University Library Building is need of structural rehabilitation.

    A Command Performance at 6pm would round-off the events for the day.

    Friday, March 21, 2025 is the day set aside for the Award of Masters, First Degrees & Diplomas/Induction into Unical Alumni.

    The event is slated for 11am at the Abraham Ordia Stadium, University of Calabar.
    A total of 13,610 students are expected to be part of this convocation ceremony. A breakdown shows that the Diplomas students are 181 in number, First Degrees 11,725, Masters Degrees 876, PhD 572, PGD 249 and Postdoctoral Diploma in Education 7. Further breakdown shows 66 First Class, 3,054 Second Class Upper Division, 7,450 Second Class Lower Division, 925 Third Class and 7 Pass.
    As expected, we shall be awarding degrees to those who have been found worthy in character and learning. The event would be marked by formal induction into the Unical Alumni.

    Prior to this event, would be the Commissioning of Projects.
    Some projects would be commissioned by 9am. The projects billed for commissioning are:
    i. Unical Hall of Fame and Multipurpose Auditorium
    ii. The College of Education Complex
    iii. Fire Service Station/Fire-Fighting Truck
    iv. Pharmaceutical and Medical Pharmacy Building and
    v. Faculty of Pharmacy Administrative Building

    The last event for the day is the Graduate School Dinner for Ph.D. Graduands with their Supervisors.

    This commendable initiative of Management and the College of Postgraduate Studies began at the 36th Convocation in 2024, where it was first observed. It is a platform for appreciation of mentorship, interaction and renewal as well as merriment. It is billed for 6pm at the Cross River Community Hall in the University of Calabar.

    Saturday, March 22, 2025 is the last day of the Convocation. It is the day billed for the award of Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Degrees, Honorary Doctorate Degrees (Honoris Causa), Investiture of Emeritus Professors and Induction into Unical Alumni

    ….… number of students drawn from various departments and disciplines are expected to convoke at the event. As an institution, we will continue to produce sound and globally competitive Ph.D. graduands, with the fervent hope that the knowledge, wisdom and confidence they have gained will positively impact and transform society.

    This memorable event, which is the last under my administration as the 11th Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, will also feature the investiture of Emeritus Professor on 3 highly acclaimed professors of the University of Calabar, whose intellectual contributions to their disciplines and the institution are widely acknowledged. The decision to accord them this special recognition has been endorsed by the Senate of the institution. The recipients of the award are: Prof Ekanem Ikpi Braide of the Faculty of Biological Sciences, Prof Eme Effiom Osim of the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences and Prof Chris Nwamuo of the Faculty of Arts.

    Aside the Emeritus Professorship, Honorary Awards would also be conferred on 6 deserving Nigerians who have made landmark contributions, shaped the landscape and impacted lives in service to their motherland.

    The list include the following:

    Mrs Ekaette Unoma Godswill Akpabio (D.Educ Mgt)
    H.E. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike (D. Pol.Sc)
    H.E. Sen. Prince Bassey Edet Otu (D. Pol Sc)
    Maj. Gen. (rtd.) Moses Bisong Obi (D. Peace & Conflict Studies)
    Hon. Justice Emmanuel Akomaye Agim, JSC (D. Laws.)
    Prince Arthur I. Eze (D. Bus Mgt)

    The Convocation event would commence from 11am prompt at the Unical International Conference Centre.

    Sunday, March 23, 2025

    The 50th Anniversary/Convocation would come to a close with a Thanksgiving Service at St Paul’s Parish, University of Calabar on Sunday, March 23, 2025 at 9am prompt.

    We would be going back to church to render our gratitude to God for seeing us through the entire events.

    I thank you all for your presence and precious time which mean your willingness to give this event the wider publicity that it deserves.
    God bless you all.

    Prof. Florence Banku Obi
    11th and Golden Jubilee Vice Chancellor
    University of Calabar

    17th March, 2025.

  • The Furor in Northern Cross River BY SYLVANUS USHIE

    In the last 2 weeks, the political barometer in Northern Cross River has been on the rise!

    There has been agitations and permutations all linked to 2027 politics. The salvo started with the formation or rebirth of NORTHCO! A group which claims to represent the North. Practically all its members have been in office more or less continuously since 1999, yet the North of Cross River has nothing to show for their countless years in power! Yet, they have resurfaced with a claim to loving the north! Can a vulture turn into a dove?

    All their years in power, they didn’t remember the North. Is it now, for the first time that a Senator is working for the north, that these forces are trying to realign. Is it now that members of the HOR from the North are meritoriously serving the people of their various constituencies that these expired fellows want to come and spoil the flow of development in the North!

    In all their years in office, most of these prodigal politicians never went near home. They operated in Calabar. Their politics was in calabar. Even when the government of Liyel sent them home with goodies for the people, they never went home. They took rooms in hotels in Calabar where they lavished the people’s money! Those of them that were in Abuja returned only to Calabar where they stayed until they went back to Abuja. They never cared for the north then!

    These same folks were part and parcel of the rapacious Ayade Administration. An Administration that left the North worse than it met it. It is during Ayade that the ranch collapsed. It is during Ayade that the Obudu international marathon was scrapped. It is during Ayade that many roads that the people were managing were scrapped but never repaired. Yet billions were siphoned off in the name of the North!

    These men ganging up now were mostly part and parcel of that regime that destroyed the North. That very regine that set the North back. They didn’t rise then. Instead they feasted on the carcasses of their own people.

    Today that Jarigbe and co are beginning to make our people have a taste of government amenities and facilities, they are now rising so that they can once again set the North back.

    Anyway, there is nothing to worry about. We know them, they are ganging up to see how they can deceive Prince Otu so they can engage in another round of choppings. They can go ahead, but we the people, we know them.

    They cannot win anything politically. They think that the people have forgotten! The people are waiting for them. We will advice Otu to look well. If these are the people who wants to use to win elections in the North, then he has a hard road in front of him.

    We, the people of the North, we are wiser than this. And we will send them back to sender when the time comes!

    Sylvanus Ushie
    Writes from Calabar!

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

  • Jarigbe Agom Pays Tribute to Late Chief Stephen Odom, Supports Church Project With 5M

     

    The senator representing Cross River Northern Senatorial District, Sen Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, attended the funeral mass of His Royal Highness, Late Chief Ubiet Stephen Odom, in Ntrigom Clan, South Ukelle, Yala Local Government Area of Cross River State.

    The lawmaker led a delegation of PDP leaders, including Hon. Godwin Offiono, Hon. Vena Ikem, Chief Austin Edibe, Dr. Mike Aniah, Chief Igbe Aruku, Hon. Rita Agbo Ayim, Barr. Paul Ishabor, Barr. Paul Ebiala, Jimmy Aninege, Royjones Akpak and Boniface Ishamali who offered condolences to the bereaved family.

    At the ceremony, Senator Jarigbe eulogized Chief Odom as a pillar of strength, wisdom, and leadership, whose legacy will inspire those who knew him, particularly in Cross River North Senatorial District. He acknowledged Chief Odom’s significant contributions to the district’s development and wellbeing, saying they will never be forgotten.

    In his message of condolence, Senator Jarigbe said, “May you find comfort in the cherished memories and positive impacts of his life. You are in my thoughts and prayers as you navigate this challenging period.”

    Additionally, Senator Jarigbe supported St. Jude’s Catholic Church Ipollo, South Ukelle where the funeral mass was held with a N5 million donation to support the church project, demonstrating his commitment to the community’s development and wellbeing.

    May the soul of Chief Ubiet Stephen Odom rest in peace.

    TEAM JARI MEDIA

  • Sen Jarigbe Agom Leads Condolence Visit to Ogoja PDP Chapter Chairman

     

    The Senator representing Cross River North Senatorial District, Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, has led a delegation of PDP leaders to condole with Hon. Emmanuel Odidi, Chapter Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogoja Local Government Area, over the passing of his mother, Mrs. Cecilia Efuenke Odidi.

    At the funeral rites in Oboso Mbube East Ward 2, Ogoja, Senator Jarigbe praised Mrs. Cecilia as a matriarch who impacted lives and served as a model to follow. He consoled Hon. Odidi and the people of Oboso, acknowledging the significant role she played in the community.

    Senator Jarigbe described Mrs. Odidi’s passing as a loss to the entire Ogoja Local Government Area, saying, “We will miss mama, but we will continue to uphold the ideals she stood for in life.”

    Hon. Godwin Offiono, Chief Austin Edibe, Chief Igbe Aruku, Dr. Francis Bullem, and other leaders also paid their condolences to Hon. Odidi and prayed for Mrs. Cecilia’s soul.

    May her soul rest in peace.

    TEAM JARI MEDIA

  • UNICAL Pledges Support for Fight Against Drug Abuse

    The University of Calabar( Unical) has pledged it’s unwavering support and commitment to combating drug abuse, recognizing its devastating impact on students and the broader community.

    This pledge was made by the Dean of Students Affairs, Prof. Patrick Egaga, when officials from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) paid a courtesy call on him in his office

    Prof. Egaga assured the NDLEA of the school management’s support and promised a smooth execution of their proposed events aimed at combating drug abuse.

    He emphasized the importance of addressing drug abuse, a long-standing issue affecting the school.

    While assuring the NDLEA of the institution’s full collaboration and partnership he advised them to make a proposal to the school management on their proposed event for drug sensitization.

    Prof. Egaga thanked the NDLEA for choosing to sensitize the students and staff of the University on the dangers of drug abuse.

    He said the institution’s commitment to supporting the NDLEA’s efforts align with the agency’s mission to combat drug abuse and promote a safer, healthier environment for Nigerian youths.

    Earlier, the Deputy Commander of Narcotics, Drug Demand Reduction Unit, NDLEA, Cross River State Command,Nandi Roseline Ada highlighted the alarming rate of drug abuse among young people, aged 14-65.

    She stressed that drug abuse and academic success are mutually exclusive, and offered support for students struggling with substance abuse through rehabilitation facilities.

    The Deputy Commander also suggested implementing a Drug Integrity Test to deter students from using drugs and proposed sensitizing students during the school orientation.

    Public Relations Unlt
    University of Calabar

  • NORTHCCO, A Utopian Dream That Will Soon Blow Away BY AGBA JALINGO

     

    Ordinarily, who will not like the coming together of his people to initiate ideas that will bring good to his or her place? That person must be a retard. And retards are despicable. But how do you claim to lead people in the dark?

    The coterie of friends, strange bed fellows, acolytes, apparachiks, former this and former that, and even recent failures, who are now coalescing under the name of CROSS RIVER NORTHERN Coalition NORTHCCO, have not disclosed what their real goal is. But I can tell you for free that, it is all about politics and how to grab power, without telling us yet, what they intend to do with the power, which most of them have held at one time or the other, and left Cross River North in the bad shape it is today.

    Manifestos come before elections. Plans come before programs and implementation. Questions come before answers are given. The vision must be written down before it can be executed. Horses go in front of the carts. What is the driving force of NORTHCCO beyond politics and power grab? Someone should dare to answer that question and allow us to interrogate their answers.

    In case you don’t get me right, politics involves the processes and activities, and decisions that are made to organize and distribute power and resources in society. Politics involves interactions and competitions among individuals, groups, and institutions in order to amicably distribute power. Politics is mostly focused on the acquisition and distribution of power. Here, the elites control the levers and their intentions may not necessarily be good or pro people.

    Governance on the other hand refers to the methods, processes, and mechanisms through which decisions and policies are implemented. Governance includes managing resources, monitoring the implementation of programs and laws, and ensuring justice and efficiency in the management of public affairs. Governance focuses more on how to manage and implement decisions and policies in society and includes managerial, administrative, and supervisory processes. Unlike politics, governance deals more with expertise and measures progress not by how many polling units are won but by how society is progressing, regardless of who wins.

    Both concepts are however related because they both dwell on decision-making in society. Nevertheless, the real qualms, is the continued preference of our elites for politics far and above governance. The insatiable desire of people who have held several political positions and failed to help Cross River North progress, continuing to scramble for power, merely to oil their financial sinews.

    Why are we avoiding the governance conversation? Why do we get bored, agitated and angry once the issue of how to govern our space comes up? Why do we flare up anytime well meaning people demand a governance agenda that is clear, achievable and time bound? I repeat that, most of those parading themselves in NORTHCCO as those who want to rescue Northern Cross River, have all held important political positions in the distant or recent past, yet Northern Cross River remains the least developed in the State. Their only projects were their beautiful mansions in their villages and their SUVs. People we should be holding responsible for our underdevelopment are gathering to deceive us that they want to salvage us, yet they don’t have a salvation program that we can see.

    My joy is that there are more strange bed fellows in the NORTHCCO I saw in pictures that day in Ogoja than there are people who mean well for Northern Cross River. Many of them are only still looking for where to anchor and get some bucks. When the seeming privileges are finally shared and dusted, and they fail to get the pecuniary pecks they were anticipating, their true colors will be revealed. When infiltrators throw kites in their midst, they will poach quite a handful and set their fragile accord into turmoil. When the diverse 2027 political interests begin to tumble in, their stomachs will drive the vision of most of them who gathered there and the winds will blow the utopia away, and that will be in no time.

    Yours sincerely,
    Citizen Agba Jalingo.

  • Know Your Constituency Projects In The 2025 Budget (4), Ikom/Boki Federal Constituency BY AGBA JALINGO

     

    Find below, the projects budgeted for in the 2025 appropriation law for Ikom/Boki Federal Constituency, ably represented by Honorable Victor Abang aka (Mature).

    Kindly note that these projects do not include the ones budgeted separately in the SDGs and NDDC appropriations; and those that may come up in the supplementary budget.

    1.ERGP20258316
    MINI STADIUM KAKWAGOM, BOKI, IKOM/BOKI FED CONST, CROSS RIVER STATE

    Cost: N150,000,000

    2.ERGP20256873
    SUPPLY OF COCOA CHEMICALS SPRAYING PUMPS IN IKOM/BOKI FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY, CROSS RIVER STATE

    Cost: N100,000,000

    3.ERGP20256867
    RENOVATION OF CLASS ROOM BLOCKS IN IKOM LGA, CROSS RIVER STATE

    Cost: N250,000,000

    4.ERGP20256870
    CONSTRUCTION OF SOLAR STREETLIGTHS IN IKOM II STATE CONSTITUENCY, IKOM LGA, CROSS RIVER STATE

    Cost: N50,000,000

    5.ERGP20256869
    INSTALLATION OF SOLAR STREETLIGTHS IN IKOM 1 STATE CONSTITUENCY, IKOM LGA, CROSS RIVER STATE

    Cost: N50,000,000

    6.ERGP12204855
    CONSTRUCTION OF 5KM ROAD AGBOKIM MGBABOR IKOM, CROSS RIVER STATE

    Cost: N80,000,000

    7.ERGP20258315
    CONSTRUCTION OF GUEST HOUSE, EKPECHI NKOME, IKOM, IKOM/BOKI FED CONST, CROSS RIVER STATE

    Cost: N50,000,000

    8.ERGP20263287
    RE-CONSTRUCTION AND REHABILITATION OF OGAR SRTREET 1KM BY CALABAR ROAD, IKOM LG.A RIVER STATE

    Cost: N25,000,000

    9.ERGP20259926
    RENOVATION OF PRIMARY HEALTH CARE CENTRES IN BOLIVAR

    Cost: N30,000,000

    10.ERGP20256868
    RECONSTRUCTION OF CLASS ROOM BLOCKS IN BOKI LGA CROSS RIVER STATE

    Cost: N250,000,000

    11.ERGP20256872
    CONSTRUCTION OF SOLAR STREETLIGTHS IN BOKI II STATE CONSTITUENCY, BOKI LGA, CROSS RIVER STATE

    Cost: N50,000,000

    12.ERGP20256871
    INSTALLATION OF SOLAR STREET LIGTHS IN BOKI I STATE CONSTITUENCY, BOKI LGA, CROSS RIVER STATE

    Cost: N50,000,000

    13.ERGP10229309
    ELECTRIFICATION OF AGBA-OSOKOM COMMUNITY, BOKI LGA, CROSS RIVER

    Cost: N100,000,000

    14.ERGP20256874
    COMPLETION OF TOWN HALL IN BOKALUM BOKI LGA, CROSS RIVER STATE.

    Cost: N200,000,000

    15.ERGP28113532
    CONSTRUCTION OF BUNYIA / AKATOM IRRUAN DAM PROJECT, BOKI LGA, CRS

    Cost: N100,000,000

    This is a total of 15 projects amounting to N1,335,000,000 (One billion three hundred and fifty five million Naira.)

    Now go and hold Mature accountable.

    Yours sincerely,
    Citizen Agba Jalingo.

     

  • The King And The Weight Of The Royal Beads BY AGBA JALINGO

    There is an African proverb amongst royalty that says that, “it is the one who wants to suffer for the people that accept the heavy weight of royal beads.”

    And truly speaking, royal beads are many and very heavy. Not just heavy in terms of responsibility but physically when measured on a scale. A complete set of royal dressing includes not just the beads but also several age long metals that carry a lot of weight on the scale. Part of the idea is to constantly remind the carrier of the huge responsibility he or she bears.

    With all its envied privileges, royalty confers even greater responsibility and denial. Because to lead, is to be in a position of advantage, in the first place amongst equals. To be a pathway, a leading light and bridge for others into a new destination; holding them by the hand to find their way from ignorance; shining as an example for them to follow.

    Talking about new destinations, if I were to be a leader, I would endeavour to build on the good things my predecessors did by thinking out new and improved methods of doing those same things for the good of the people.

    Assuming that my predecessors many years ago, bought hoes and cutlasses for our people who are predominantly farmers, Me, their new King, should be able to move it further and introduce our people to modern farming tools, to boost resources utilization and yield per hectare, as well as expanding economic opportunities. If they were given fishing nets, can we now explore the chances of giving them fishing boats?

    Bringing it down to political leadership, if our leaders distributed Okada to our people 20 years ago, dug boreholes for our people 20 years ago, distributed generators for our people 20 years ago, gathered our people under canopies and trees for health outreaches 20 years ago, campaigned with wrappers and rice, 20 years ago, etc, after two decades, isn’t there any new thinking to improve on, modify or do away with these methods after such a long period? Are we so bereft of innovating new initiatives to improve on executing these same programs by employing new ways of doing things? Or is there a deliberate ploy to perpetuate our state of being 20 years ago?

    The budget figures are scaling up yearly and changing rapidly, can the methods of implementing these budgets also change along? Can we intentionally decide to improve on our governance processes and discard this copy and paste model? Is our goal to develop our communities or just to share power? Can these thrones survive by keeping the people down perpetually?

    If the King must lead and enjoy the perquisites of the throne, he must not forfeit the sacrifice of appeasement, lest he falls.

    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.

  • PDP Cross River Northern Senatorial Holds Reconciliatory Meeting

     

    It was a moment of ease for members of the People’s Democratic Party PDP, as leaders of the party in Northern Senatorial District, converged at the residence of Sen Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, today Thursday 6th March 2025, to chat a way forward for the party.

    The meeting which was conveyed by the leader of the party in the state, Sen Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, to reconcile all arrived members of the party that led to the suspension of the state party chairman, Mr Venatius Ikem.

    The leader of the party, Sen Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, acknowledged the fact that the suspension of the party chairman had some leaders played pivotal role, was however reversed by the National Working Committee of the party. A decision which has been accepted by the executive committee members of the party from northern senatorial district. He enjoined party leaders to embrace peace and charged them to put the collective interest of the party above personal interest.

    He averred that no meaningful development can be achieved when the party is divided, called on stakeholders to bury whatever grievances that may have culminated into the disagreement that had ensued that led to the suspension of the state chairman.

    He used the opportunity to thank party faithfuls for the continuous support and charged them to be more united now than ever.

    The members representing Ogoja/Yala and Obudu/Bekwarra/Obanliku federal constituencies, Hon Godwin Offiono and Hon Peter Akpanke took turns to encourage party members to embrace peace as all the leaders have seen the need to summon them for the reconciliatory meeting.

    Akpanke used the opportunity to demiss insinuation of his defection to the All Progressive Party.

    He admonished party faithfuls to remain resolute in their support for the party as there nothing happening in the APC in the northern senatorial district of the state.

    Leaders from the five local government areas took turn to commend the party leadership in its wisdom to return the state party chairman and pledged their support for the betterment of the party.

    On his part, the state party chairman, Mr Venatius Ikem, thanked Sen Jarigbe Agom, for making it possible to convey the crowd for the all important meeting the reconciliation.

    He used the opportunity to apologized for whatever ills he may have done in the course of administering the party and pledged to be more committed to the party as he forged ahead.

  • The Unending Ordeal of Ntufam Maurice Omin Iso: A Case of Gross Human Rights Abuse BY OKOI OBONO-OBLA

    Those holding Ntufam Maurice Omin Iso since December 23, 2024, seem to have ulterior motives, aiming to eliminate him for advocating minority and land rights in Esuku Otu, Ikot Ansa community, Calabar Municipality. Interestingly, the Attorney General of Cross River State, Ededem Ani Esq., has denied involvement in Iso’s alleged arrest and detention, dismissing claims that Iso was arrested for obtaining judgments against the state as “fabrication”.

    Iso was arraigned on February 10, 2025, on charges of forcible entry and attempted kidnapping, and remanded until April 18, 2025. However, Chief Magistrate Agbor Achere-Achere ordered his release on March 4, 2025, after his lawyers applied for his production and release. Despite this, Iso remains in custody, with authorities citing “orders from above” for his continued detention.

    This blatant disregard for the judiciary and human rights is alarming, especially given Nigeria’s history of respecting the judiciary, even during military dictatorships.

    @ Obol Okoi Obono-Obla
    Counsel to Ntufam Maurice Omin Iso
    6 March 2025