The Lumine News

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  • Obono-Obla Donates Books to Apostolic Secondary Grammar School Ugep

     

    By Odey Xavier Ojeka

    A Renowned author, scholar and Former President Muhammadu Buhari Aide, Chief Barrister Okoi Obono-Obla, has donated a collection of books to the Apostolic Secondary Grammar School Ugep Management. The donation aims to enrich the school library and encourage students to develop love for reading and learning.

    During the presentation, Chief Obono-Obla emphasized the importance of reading and knowledge, stating that “knowledge is power.” He highlighted the significance of the donated books, particularly “Grammar of Lokaa” by Onun Ewa Ubi, which he provides insight into the Bantus and a brief history and explanation of the Lokaa language .

    The donated books include:

    – “Grammar of Lokaa” by Onun Ewa Ubi
    – “No More Secrets” written by Chief Barrister Okoi Obono-Obla
    – “Nigeria, My Country” also written by Chief Barrister Okoi Obono-Obla
    – “Civics for Nigeria Schools” by Patrick Ubi Mni

    Mr. Sampson Eno, a literature tutor, expressed gratitude on behalf of the school, thanking Chief Obono-Obla for his generous donation and commitment to empowering students through education.

    Chief Barrister Okoi Obono-Obla is a seasoned communicator, historian, activist, and erudite scholar who holds an LLM in International Business Law.

    His donation demonstrates his dedication to fostering a
    love for reading and learning among young minds.

  • Omang Calls On CRS Govt To Intervene In Ugboro -Abuochiche – Gakem Federal Highway

     

    The Minority Whip of the Cross River State House of Assembly and Member representing Bekwarra State Constituency, Congressman Omang Charles Omang Esq , on Tuesday 11th of September 2024, moved a motion under matters of urgent public importance calling on the Cross River State Government to immediately commence intervention works on the Ugboro -Abuochiche -Gakem axis of the Ogoja -Katsina Ala Highway.

    The lawmaker noted that the Ugboro -Abuochiche -Gakem axis of the Ogoja -Katsina Ala federal highway which is the only road linking the northern part of the country has become impassible for the past three months, and has forced commuters to divert through the already dilapidated internal road in Ugboro village, which has caused more hardship to the villagers.

    Omang stated that the situation has led to several clash between the frustrated commuters who are stuck in traffic and villagers in the area.

    In his prayers, Barr Omang, noted that

    1.  They were informed that the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) has awarded the contract and thanked them for awarding the contract for the reconstruction of the Ugboro -Abuochiche -Gakem axis of the Ogoja -Katsina Ala federal highway.

    2. Urge the contractor to quickly move to site and start the reconstruction of the road.
    3. Called on the Cross River State Government through the ministry of works and infrastructure to immediately begin an intervention and palliative works on the road to ameliorate the sufferings of the people, while awaiting the reconstruction of the road.

  • Sen Jarigbe Inspects Ongoing School Projects In Obanliku LGA

     

    As part of measures to ensure quality and value for resources spent on projects, the Senator representing Cross River North Senatorial District, Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, has undertaken inspection of some ongoing school building constructions in parts of Obanliku Local Government Area.

    Senator Jarigbe Agom, facilitated the construction of six classroom blocks with staff rooms and modern toilets in five (5) Primary Schools in Obanliku Local Government Area of Cross River State.

    The Constituency Officer, Mr. Egar Mgbantul, who represented the Senator said the inspection visit was meant to assess progress of work and ensure adherence to best standards as agreed in the contractual agreements.

    Mr. Egar stated that the school projects, which include Government Primary School; Bukumaya-Bisu Ward, Blukonu Migrant School Bebi, St. Peter’s Primary School; Begitiatsu-Bendigie, Bendi 1 Ward, Governnment Primary School; Belinge-Becheve Ward and Government Primary School; Bishiri North, were facilitated by the Distinguished Senator, as part of the fulfillment of his campaign promises to the benefitting communities.

    “These are projects that have direct impact on the lives of our people and as such, we have to make sure that they are executed according to specification“ he added.

    Egar while inspecting the school project in Bebi Ward also, expressed satisfaction with the progress of work. He commended the contractor handling the project for a job well done and further directed that efforts be redoubled and work be completed before the commencement of the new academic session in mid-September.

    He was accompanied in the inspection tour by Mr. Isaac Okpokpo, Atiteh John, Julius Ellah and Manus Ogboji.

  • Sandy Onor Calls For Peace As Crisis Rocks PDP Cross State Chapter

    By Elijah Ugani 

    A former governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party PDP, in Cross River State for 2023 general election, Sen Sandy Ojang Onor, has had called for peace among party faithfuls.

    TheLumineNews can authoritatively state that some aggrieved members of the party have sought the resignation of the State Chairman, Venatius Ikem Esq.

    Senator Sandy, appealed to party members called on the aggrieved faction to sheath their sword and embrace peace.

    Onor stated that the internal strife will not do the party any good, rather, putting the party on the line against oppositions in the state. Onor averred that division cost the party at the national and in the state in the previous elections.

    The letter reads: “In the last two weeks, I have observed on the Cross River State PDP platform, a resurgence of calls for the resignation of the State Chairman, Barr. VenatiusI kem.

    “I have had the opportunity in the past of meeting with the protagonists of these calls and I have maintained the position that it would be totally injurious to our party at this critical time in our political history, to remove our State Chairman. My position on this matter has not changed and is not likely to change at all.

    “I appeal for constructive compromise between the Chairman and those who seek his ouster. As stakeholders of a political party, we must disagree from time to time but we have no liberty for disagreeableness. It is wanton disagreement more than anything else. that destroyed our party in the last elections for the National to the State levels and we cannot afford to accommodate the same vicious virus, moving forward.

    “Let the falcon hear the falconer. Let all the stakeholders sheath their swords and resolve their differences, or at worse, tolerate themselves since we only have one year left of the tenure of the present state executive committee. Let us all prepare to engineer the changes we want to see in the next state congress which is not far from now.

    “I would continue to pray for God’s favor, wisdom, humility and grace upon all of us. I remain yours truly.”

  • Governor Otu Commends President Tinubu, Assures NELFUND Management Team of Cross River’s Support

     

    The Governor of Cross River State, Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu, has praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his decisive leadership in establishing the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) and ensuring its successful launch.

    Governor Otu made this commendation on Tuesday, when the Managing Director and CEO of NELFUND, alongside other top officials of the fund, paid him a courtesy call in Government House, Calabar.

    Represented by his deputy, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey, Governor Otu stated that his administration views NELFUND as a critical platform created by the Federal Government to provide financial support for students of Cross River State in tertiary institutions nationwide, helping them pursue their education with ease.

    He emphasized that education remains a priority for his administration, reaffirming its unwavering support for the NELFUND management team in fulfilling their mandate, which aims to benefit many students across the state and the nation at large.

    In his remarks, the Managing Director and CEO of NELFUND, Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr, highlighted that the fund was established as part of President Tinubu’s commitment to alleviating the financial challenges faced by students and enhancing their educational experience.

    He commended Governor Otu for implementing policies that contribute to the intellectual and social development of the country.

    Mr. Sawyerr also informed that the disbursement process has begun and encouraged students to take advantage of the federal government’s initiative to ease the financial difficulties they face.

    In attendance at the visit were the Special Adviser to the Governor on General Duties, Barr. Ekpenyong Akiba, Special Assistant to the Governor on Students Affairs, Comr. Kelvin Eyam, President and the Senate President of the National Association of Nigerian Students, among others.

    ©Deputy Governor’s Press Unit, Calabar
    10/09/2024

  • Capt Hart Modey Announces 2024 Bakor Cultural Dance Competition

    By Elijah Ugani 

    The President & Founder of Captain Hart Modey Foundation, Chief Captain Hart Modey is set to hold the annual Bakor Cultural Dance Competition, tagged Nkim-Bakor Cultural Dance Competition 2024.

    The event which is scheduled to hold on the 13th September, 2024, at the Ishibori Playground, Ogoja Local Government Area of Cross River State, has Ntol Ama Ngbeje III as the royal father of the day.

    A release made available to TheLumineNews indicates that sons and daughters of Nkim kingdom, Ishiborr, are special guests of honor.

    The release further requests interested participants to obtain forms from Capt Hart Modey Foundation’s main office, opposite Chief Murphy’s Estate, along Catholic Church road, Ishiborr, Ogoja, Cross River State.

    Prices to be won include:
    Winer N100k
    Ist Runner up.   N70k
    2nd Runner up N50k
    3rd Runner up N30k

    For more information and inquiries, please contact:

    08037996562
    09074219208

    The Cultural Dance Competition is an annual event initiated by Chief Capt Hart Modey as part of activities to mark the Bakor New Yam festival.

    The general public is invited to be part of the 2024 dance competition.

  • Boki Councilors Forum Says Next Boki Chairmanship Position Is For Abo Ward

    PRESS RELEASE
    FROM BOKI COUNCILLORS FORUM

    THE NEXT BOKI LOCAL GOVERNMENT CHAIRMANSHIP IS FOR ABO WARD AND CLAN

    It has become necessary that we, the Boki Councillors forum( BCF) speak to the issue of the next Boki local government chairmanship position.

    Boki Councillors forum is a forum that comprises over 120 former councilors who have served in Boki LG council, irrespective of current party affiliation.

    We are a non-governmental organisation registered with relevant government agencies, who seek to contribute our quota to the political and economic emancipation of our people. As senior citizens, we have a duty to speak the truth to help promote unity amongst our people.

    We are conscious of the fact that once an election cycle unfolds , several gladiators and actors will begin to rehearse and present arguments to buttress their position. In doing so the facts are often twisted to favour the side they want to patronize.

    No matter how these facts are twisted, there is always the truth. There is no lie or half-truths that can replace the full truth because truth is imament and therefore inherently indestructible. Therefore it is necessary to examine the facts as follows.

    It is not in contention that:
    1. Boki local government area has two state constituencies: BOKI ONE and BOKI TWO and six traditional clans namely Abo, Boje, Eastern Boki, Irruan, Osokom 1 and Osokom 2.
    2. That zoning of chairmanship of Boki local government area rotates among these six traditional blocks.
    3. That Once it is the turn of a bloc, the ward or wards within that clan which have not produced (are) is identified and the position given to (them) her. Electoral wards have never been used as the basis for zoning of Chairmanship, and when they are used at all, they have to agree with the clan basis, ipso facto, to prevent one clan, like Eastern Boki for instance, from taking three times before Abo or Boje with one ward will take.

    4. Boki people have NEVER used another office as a yardstick to zone the chairmanship slot. Let nobody mislead the leadership of political parties otherwise.
    Agitators for the position of chairmanship have elevated appointments of Vice-chairmen, members of House of Assembly and commissioners into the same cadre of substantive Chairmanship, just to confuse the public and further their selfish agenda.

    As leaders who have served Boki as Honourable councillors, we will not sit idly by and allow these detractors to mislead the government , political parties and innocent members of the public with regard to which zone should produce the next Chairman of Boki local government council.

    FACTS YOU CANNOT WISH AWAY
    1. The Chairmanship of Boki alternates between Boki 1 and Boki 2 and run along the old six clans( blocs).The chairmanship has just left Boki 2 and is now for Boki 1.

    2..In Boki 1. Eastern Boki clan produced Chief Bartholomew Okurishi from Alanku ward who served between 1991-1993.

    3. In Boki 1, Abo clan and ward produced Barrister A. B. Tase, as Chairman under Zero party – 1996 – 1997

    4. Boje clan and ward – produced Hon (Ambassador) Soni O. Abang between 1999 – 2002.

    5. Mrs Bessie Bankong Obi from Eastern Boki clan – 2007- 2010.

    6.Hon. Abubakar Ewa from Eastern Boki clan ( Buentsebe ward ) took the 3rd Eastern Boki slot between 2013/2016

    The position has returned to Boki 1 and it is only natural that Abo clan and ward, which last took its turn as far back as 1996 take now. Those who coral all these appointive and elective positions into the conversation aim to mislead the innocent ones. The argument is simple and straight forward. It is about the substantive chairmanship of Boki, and nothing else.

    We call on all men of good conscience to rise and defend the truth to protect equity, justice and fairness. Not forgetting that we are all brothers and sisters from the same stock and our shared destiny is bound together in peace, in progress and in love. Let us also not forget that this is not a war but a well thought out strategy used by our forebears to douse tension and promote unity among all of us as children of one family

    The Boki Councillors Forum make bold to state very clearly that the next Boki local government chairmanship belongs to Abo ward in Abo clan in fair regard to equity, justice and fairness. So help us God.

    God bless you all.

    Signed
    Hon Joe Obi Bisong
    Forum Chairman

    Hon Amos Otu
    Forum secretary

    Hon Jacob Etta Ojie
    Osokom 1 Coordinator

    Hon George Ajangson
    Osokom 2 Coordinator

    Hon Ferdinand Ncha
    Irruan Coordinator

    Hon Michael Leku Ayuk
    Abo Coordinator

    Hon Harrison Odudu
    Eastern Boki Coordinator

  • Sen Jarigbe Agom Lits Up Ogon & Sariki Audu Streets In Ogoja LGA

     

    In a remarkable display of commitment to community development, the Senator representing Cross River North Senatorial District, Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, has illuminated Ogon & Sariki Audu Streets, in Ogoja Local Government Area of Cross River State.

    This electrifying project, executed by the Senator, aims to enhance the quality of life for residents, improve security, and boost economic activities in the area.

    The lawmaker has emphasized his dedication to improving the welfare of his constituents. “As your representative, I am committed to making a positive impact in our communities. This street lighting project is just the beginning of my efforts to transform Cross River North Senatorial District”, Sen. Jarigbe reiterated.

    Community leaders and residents expressed gratitude to the Senator for his unwavering commitment to their well-being.

    “This is a dream come true for us, we can now move freely at night, and our businesses will thrive” they added.

    The initiative is a testament to Senator Jarigbe’s dedication to community development and his promise to deliver meaningful projects to his constituents.

    TEAM JARI MEDIA

  • Odere Empowers 100 Bekwarra Farmers With Soft Grant, Fertilizer, Sewing Machines, Grinding Engines

    By Elijah Ugani 

    The Cross River State Commissioner for Finance, Mr Mike Odere, has provided soft grant for 100 beneseed (sesame) farmers in Bekwarra Local Government Area.

    Speaking during the presentation of the soft grant on Saturday 7th September 2024 at the ground reception of the 2024 Bekwarra New Yam festival, (Ipem Ihihe), Mr Odere, noted that “I have done this for the past eight years. Beneseed is very expensive outside of the country. Today, we support you with soft grant, fertilizer to enable you cultivate beneseed, when you harvest it, we will buy it off from you. And when you do well, we will add you more grant to enable you expand the farm.

    “We are supporting 100 beneseed farmers drawn from the 10 wards of Bekwarra Local Government Area. In few years from now, I want you to export beneseed. Please I encourage you to make good use of this little resources that we are supporting you with”.

    According to the Coordinator of the initiative, Mr Tom Alims, the 100 beneseed (sesame) farmers got a Two Million Naira only (2M) and 20 bags of fertilizer to assist them in land preparation and cultivation.

    Alims noted “We were very particular about the selection process, as only those interested in beneseed farming were identified and captured. This is so because we don’t want to write names of people that will collect the money and put into other businesses”.

    Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mrs Odey Veronica Akpana, who hail from Ukpah ward commended Mr Mike Odere for the initiative and for thinking about them. She pledged that the beneficiaries will do everything humanly possible to sustain the gains of the beneseed farming to ensure that his dreams of exporting beneseed from Bekwarra comes true.

    Similarly, Sir Augustine Agbor Odere’s Foundation distributed 10 sewing machines and 20 grinding engines to beneficiaries drawn from the Ten wards of Bekwarra.

    Sir Augustine Agbor Odere Foundation, is an initiative of Mr Mike Odere and his siblings to honor their late father.

  • Dear Minister Ojo, As You Investigate Afokang Prison…. BY AGBA JALINGO 

     

    Thank you for giving prompt attention to the situation in Afokang Prison in Calabar. As the investigation panel you have set up begins their work, I believe there are problems within the prison system that you already know.

    I do not believe that the photos that our news platform, CrossRiverWatch, obtained from Afokang prison are a shock to you or that you are not aware that inmates are going through same and even worse conditions in different prisons across the country.

    A combination of inadequate budgetary provision, corruption and low morale amongst personnel, has exposed inmates to some of the most terrible prison conditions in the whole world.

    As you investigate Sir, my own suggestions on inmates feeding will be that:

    1. Presently, inmates feeding is covered by procurement laws. Because of its nature, and the security implication it poses, inmates feeding should be done directly from the office of the CG of the Correctional Service, under Direct Contract Award, DCA. Should anything go wrong, we know who to hold accountable. This will reduce the pilfering in the present situation where top guns in the service share inmate’s feeding contracts amongst themselves and then resell, while some get kick backs before approving for a contractor.

    2. The current approved cost of inmate ration is N1,125 per inmate, per day. Divide that by three square meals and it amounts to N375 per meal. With the very high cost of food items in the market now, it is common knowledge that N375, cannot afford a good meal in Nigeria today. They has to be supplementary appropriation to capture the rise in food prices.

    3. Most of the ration contractors who supply food to the Correctional facilities are serving and/or retired top officers of the service and their cronies. They decide what to send to the officers heading various prisons who are usually called – “In-charge Stations”, to use for the purchase of inmates’ ration on a monthly basis. Having run stations as In-charges before, these ration contractors know the sharp practices involved and are aware that sometimes, public spirited individuals and organizations donate raw food items for inmates. This has to be corrected.

    4. Out of the N1,125 per meal, per inmate, appropriated, most ration contractors give In-charge stations, a paltry N280 to N300 per meal per inmate.

    5. Morale amongst the service personnel is so low due to low pay. They are poorly paid. Which is one of the reasons they continue to share inmates ration amongst themselves and facilitate trafficking of banned items into prison yards.

    6. Officers are promoted without placement for more than a year. And when they are finally placed, promotional arrears are not paid. No training or course allowances, no transfer allowance. They print their ID cards in business centers. They don’t have uniformed IDs. They buy and sew their uniforms from the open markets.

    7. The only time the service personnel see extra income is when they are made in-charge stations, and are close to retirement. And that becomes an opportunity to amass every available funds to settle themselves knowing that at retirement, their pension is nothing to write home about.

    8. As a long term measure, the Correction Service should begin thinking of putting their various farm centers into maximum use so they can produce food that would be used to feed inmates.

    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