National assembly election Petition tribunal sitting in calabar, has sacked and ordered INEC to retrieve certificate of return from APC house of representatives member representing Akamkpa/Biase federal constituency, Dr. Emil Lemke Inyang. And conduct a fresh rerun election in affected polling units.
Congratulations to my principal and boss Hon. Austine Aidam
By Ukongikwen Adie
The Cross River State Governor Senator (Prince) Bassey Otu today the 7th September, 2023, received in audience the General Officer Commanding, 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Hassan T. Dada and his entourage in a courtesy call.
Speaking during the call, Major General Dada who recently assumed office as GOC, 82 Division, said it was customary to carry out familiarization tour of the states under an officer’s command, and he has therefore come to pay homage to the Governor of Cross River State as the Chief Security Officer of Cross River, one of the 6 states under the division. Major Dada added that it is both nostalgic and gratifying to be in the state having been here years ago as a Commanding Officer, 146 Battalion and also being a Malabite.
The GOC solicited the co-operation of the state government and other sister agencies to tackle the challenges of kidnapping, piracy, cultism and communal clashes that have plagued the state in recent times. He assured the government that with their cooperation, even though the task ahead is Herculean, the command has the capacity and expertise to deliver.
The Cross River State Governor, ably represented by his Deputy, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey welcomed Major General Dada who was also accompanied by the Commander of the 13th Brigade, Nigerian Army, Brigadier Gen. E. I. Okoro and other high ranking officers. Rt. Hon. Odey thanked them particularly for being proactive in the lkang axis of the State by curbing the menace of kidnapping and also still manning the Yala/Benue State border to ensure that enduring peace and security returns to the state, while assuring them of government’s commitment to ensuring that Cross Riverians have the freedom to go about their businesses unhindered.
Also present during the courtesy call were the Senator representing Cross River State Central Senatorial district, Send. Eteng Jones Williams, Commissioners for Information and Justice, the Chief of Staff to the Governor, the Head of Service, State Security Adviser and other Political Appointees.
PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY (PDP) CROSS RIVER STATE.
CONGRATULATES SENATOR JARIGBE OVER TRIBUNAL VICTORY.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Cross River State congratulates Distinguished Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe on his victory at the National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal yesterday 9th. September 2023.
The Tribunal sitting in Calabar, Cross River state upheld the victory of Sen Jarigbe in the Feb 25th, 2023 polls as Senator representing Cross River North senatorial District, which was challenged by Senator Prof Ben Ayade.
PDP hails the Tribunal for delivering substantial justice in the petition based on the facts and evidence tendered before it in line with the extant electoral laws, guidelines and regulations, thereby boosting public confidence in the judiciary.
The party rejoices over the victory particularly as it re-established confidence of the electorates in his representation at the upper chamber of the National Assembly.
Furthermore, the party is confident that Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe will deploy his wealth of experience and proven pedigree in political representation to bear on the 10th Senate.
Congratulations once again and accept our assurances of the highest esteem.
Signed.
Prince Mike Ojisi
State Publicity Secretary.
CROSS RIVER COALITION FOR GOOD GOVERNANCE
PRESS STATEMENT
Sunday, September 10, 2023
A PLEA FOR COURT OF APPEAL TO LOOK INTO SOME TRIBUNAL JUDGMENTS IN CROSS RIVER
In the last few days, the Tribunals across the country have been delivering their judgments on State and National Assembly Elections Petitions with some mixed feelings.
Cross River State National Assembly Elections Petition Tribunal have become a case study based on some judgments they have delivered so far.
The Panel headed by Justice O. A. Adeniyi is the case in point. Justice Adeniyi presidered over the petition with Suit No. EPT/CR/SEN/01/2023 between Mr. Bassey Eko Ewah of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Hon. William Jonas Eteng of All Progressives Congress (APC).
Ewa had sought a declaration that the Ist respondent (Eteng Williams) did not score majority of lawful votes and thus not duly elected and returned.
Delivering judgment on Friday, September 8,2023, the Honourable Justice Adeniyi, upheld the election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial candidate, Senator Eteng Jonas Williams.
The tribunal headed by Justice O. A. Adeniyi said Senator Eteng won the February 25, 2023 general elections after recomputing the scores of the elections.
Bassey Ewa through his counsel, Mba Ukweni, SAN in suit number EPT/CR/SEN/01/2023 sought a declaration that the Ist respondent (Eteng Williams) did not score majority of lawful votes and thus not duly elected and returned.
He also sought relief among others from the court cancelling votes of all the parties in about 96 polling units spread across the central senatorial district where there was clear evidence of over voting as well as re-computation of votes in the ventral senatorial district and declaration of the first petitioner as winner of the election.
However, in a three hour judgment, Justice O. A. Adeniyi said the petitioner was able to establish cases of over-voting in only 49 polling units in the central senatorial district out of the 96 it claimed.
In all the 49 affected polling units, the APC lost 3, 969 votes while the PDP lost 2, 066 votes.
The recomputed results showed that the APC retained its victory by garnering 53, 375 votes while the PDP retained it’s runner’s up position with 51, 387 votes, thereby declaring Eteng winner.
But we are alarmed at the way and manner the Panel chairman handled the case, wondering why a matter that judgment was reserved a month ago should be read from the Palm top instead of it being typed, printed out in clean copy and signed by the panel members.
We wish to state that we followed the Tribunal proceedings untill August 3, 2023 when the final written addresses by the both parties to the suit were adopted. And the Justice decided to keep the judgement for almost a month before delivering judgment.
We also alarmed at manner Justice Adeniyi singled handed selected 49 polling units out of the 96 and those selected for re-computing are polling units where PDP had majority of votes, leaving out polling units APC had an advantage in terms of over-voting to give a semblance of balance.
We express shock that the Tribunal chairman read the judgement from his palm top and is yet to make a available a signed copy of the judgement three days after delivering the judgment even as we have it on grape vine that the other members of the panel had dissociated themselves from the said-judgment.
We also gathered that the outcome of the judgement was already made available to Eteng’s as they were in jubilation mood before the final reading of the judgement, an indication that money had allegedly exchanged hands.
We wish to also disclose that the same Adeniyi was here in Cross River in the 2019 Election Petitions Tribunal and he was again sent to the same Cross River State in 2023 Tribunal. In other words, Justice Adeniyi is on a familiar terrain and may have been brought here to do a hatchet job for his pay masters in Calabar.
We, therefore would want to ask: Is Adeniyi the only Justice that should always be sent to Calabar at every Election Tribunal period? Why is his cases always controversial? Why has he refused to make available the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgement almost four days after even when he promised to make it available the following day, Saturday, September 9, 2023?
Based on these issues raised above, we call on the President of Court of Appeal to look into the matter and the Tribunal cases being handled by Justice Adeniyi and ensure that justice is done and seem to have been done in this case.
The above case between Hon. Bassey Eko Ewah and Hon. Williams Jonas Eteng should be properly looked and enjoin the Lordship to adopt the same criterion used in cancelling the other 49 polling units to do same with the other 50 polling units he largely ignored.
Thank You
Comrade Ikpi E. Ikpi
Coordinator
Comrade John Agbor
Secretary
By Awade Friday
The Member Representing Obanliku, Bekwarra and Obudu Federal Constituency, celebrates the Obudu New Yam festival with members of different union at the park in Obudu, Local Government.
The Representatives of the Different Union from Drivers, Cyclist, Hunters, The Collabo Association, Hair Dressers, Phone Repairers, Technicians, Tailors, Mechanics etc who came out in their Numbers to receive Hon. Peter Akpanke expressed gratitude over his show of Support and interest towards the Celebration of Obudu New Yam.
In his address, Hon Akpanke thanked the different Union for their support during the Elections and reassured them of his Continuous availability and show of interest towards their Growth and Development as his constituents.
Hon Akpanke’s continuous participation in the Obudu New Yam festival over the years, Demonstrates his love and respect for the cultural heritage of his people. His willingness to celebrate with the people and support their cultural activities is a clear indication of his leadership style, which is grounded in empathy, humility, and service to the people.
A soldier identified as Musa Adamu has been dismissed by the Nigerian army authorities for preaching about Jesus Christ while in service uniform on social media.
It would be recalled that in July, 2023, Adamu, a Lance Corporal with service number 13NA/70/6100 and attached to Amphibious Training School Personnel (ATSCalabar) unit in Calabar, Cross River State, was locked up for preaching while in the uniform.
In some videos seen on his page, the soldier with the Facebook name “Aaron Abraham” is heard telling his followers to repent and turn from their evil ways as he prayed for them. It is reported that he was born a Muslim and recently converted to Christianity.
The Benue state-born soldier is said to have been in detention for over 45 days while his salary was stopped over 6 months ago.
However, in a video released by Adamu in August 2023, he revealed he had been dismissed from the army.
By Elijah Ugani
A non governmental organization GFO Orim Foundation in partnership with Industrial Training Fund ITF has empowered 60 persons drawn from the 54 political wards of Northern Senatorial District of Cross River State.
Presenting the started kits to the beneficiaries, the Chairman/Founder of GFO Orim Foundation, Chief Hon Martin Orim, who was the Chief of Staff to the immediate past governor of Cross River State, congratulated the beneficiaries for their their patient through out the period of the training.
In his words “Let me congratulate those of you who were painstakingly selected by your leaders for this training. You were taken out of your comfort to go to Calabar for this training where I provided accommodation and feeding for all of you for the period you stayed in Calabar. It was not easy that you left the comfort of your homes, some of you left your spouses just to attend this training.
“This is the second batch of beneficiaries that we are partnering with ITF, the first batch was provided with starter kits here in the local government secretariat and the third batch is currently undergoing training.
“Initially, we used to do our trainings and provide starter kits for the trainees until, a friend mentioned to me that I can partner with ITF that will train and provide starter kits for the trainees on payment of a counterpart fund.
“I was shocked when I heard that some beneficiaries in the first batch sold the items they collected. I’m not doing this because I don’t know what to use the money for. To me, my philosophy about wealth is that you use the money you have to better the lives of those around you and not the amount in your bank account. For me, my wealth is all of you sitting here.
“I want to appeal to all of you to please make good use of these items. We are making efforts to get grants from Bank of Industry for those who are serious about their business.
“When I started this empowerment under the GFO Orim Foundation, many people said I was doing politics, I don’t know if we are still doing campaign. I want to say that I’m qualified to run any election. When I want to contest election, I will call politicians together and declare my intention to contest. You were all aware that I contested the senate primaries under the APC and won the ticket, and after a wider consultation, I withdrew for my boss. Prior to the primaries, I had said that I was not going to the senate to do motorcycle or Keke empowerment.
“For me, these empowerment is a legacy for my family, I have told my son that he will take over from me and continue with it in memory of my late father”
Speaking earlier, the Chairman of the occasion, Chief Spokesman Agogo stated that the program is all encompassing. The originator of this initiative is a humanity, as he congratulated the beneficiaries and held that the empowerment is qualitative.
On his part, the Area Manager of Industrial Training Fund ITF, Mr Nwigboji Nwafagu, said that ITF is happy to be here. This collaboration started about three years ago. Last year we were here and today we are here are again
We insisted that this must be done even though people fought against it. If you insist on the right thing, God has a way of lifting you.
Nwafagu noted that the beneficiaries were trained in Calabar for three months and are ready to start their businesses.
In his words “Some of these persons were transported from here to Calabar, lodge them in a hotel for three months. They have been trained, they have graduated and they are ready to start business. We are ready to continue this partnership”
He charged the trainees not to sell the starter kits, and to make efforts to train others.
In the same light, Mr Odey Adamade Esq, lauded the efforts of the Chairman/Founder of GFO Orim Foundation, Hon Martin Orim for the initiative and stressed the need for the beneficiaries to make good use of the items.
In his goodwill message, the Chairman, National Youth Council of Nigeria NYCN, Obudu chapter, Mr Linus Abuokwen, thanked the Chairman/Founder of GFO Orim Foundation, Hon Martin Orim, for always thinking about the youths in his intervention. He charged the beneficiaries to make good use of the skills acquired and the items to better their lives.
One of the beneficiaries Miss Vera Abue, from Mbube in Ogoja Local Government Area, who spoke on behalf of other beneficiaries, thanked Chief Hon Martin Orim for finding them worthy of the gesture and prayed God to grant his heart desire and continue to bless him to enable him reach out to others.
The event which was held today, September 1st 2023, at Obudu Local Government secretariat had dignitaries at the occasion to include; Deputy Speaker, Cross River State House of Assembly, Hon Sylvester Agabi, Mr Edu Peter, Dan Urumulam Esq, Engr Tomas Aruku, Mr Thomas Odama, Mr Alpha Ublibli, Mr Noel Ugbong, Mr Eric Akpo among others.
Highlights of the occasion was presentation of starter kits to beneficiaries and group photographs.
By Fred Abua
The Deputy Governor of Cross River State, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey, took center stage on the second day of the International Cooperation & Investment Summit (ICIS) held at the prestigious Calabar International Conference Centre from August 30th to 31st, 2023. In his address, Rt. Hon. Odey echoed the state’s unwavering commitment to fostering a business-friendly environment by removing obstacles hindering seamless operations for investors in Cross River State.
Drawing inspiration from the opening remarks made by the Governor, Sen. Prince Bassey Otu, on the inaugural day, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey reaffirmed the Cross River State Government’s dedication to ensuring the safety and security of investments within the region. He highlighted the tangible demonstration of this commitment through the remarkable presence of high-ranking officials, including the Governor, Deputy Governor, Speaker of the House of Assembly, Secretary to the State Government, all commissioners, and all permanent secretaries, who collectively participated in the summit.
Rt. Hon. Odey stated emphatically that the government’s pledge to safeguard investor interests was unequivocal and extends beyond mere rhetoric. Hon. Odey said: “This is not a political statement. We will ensure that whatever business you bring to Cross River State will have our protection.”
The Deputy Governor further underscored the state’s determination to facilitate investor activities by providing security and land with Certificates of Occupancy for the investors. He proudly shared that Cross River State is the proprietor of 50% of Nigeria’s Carbon Credit reserves, boasting abundant forests, arable lands, valuable mineral resources, and an array of prospects spanning various sectors.
Recalling his instrumental role in the enactment of the Cross River State Enterprise (Privatization) Law during the previous administration, Rt. Hon Peter Odey said this piece of legislation led to the establishment of the Privatization Council which sealed government’s departure from direct involvement in business operations. Odey cited instances of government-owned enterprises that have thrived after privatization, such as Lafarge Africa (formerly CALCEMCO), Flour Mills, and Transcorp Hotels (formerly Metropolitan Hotel). He said these ventures which now generate substantial profits for their owners are contributing taxes to the state, and providing employment opportunities for Cross Riverians, while surpassing their performance under government management.
Distinguished speakers and luminaries from around the globe participated in the event, engaging in enlightening panel discussions, business-focused sessions, and pivotal business agreements with prospective investors on the sidelines. Notable figures present at the event included His Excellency, Cui Jianchun, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Nigeria; His Excellency, Kim Young Chae, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Nigeria; Dr. Walter Kazadi Mulombo, Country Representative of WHO; Dr. Iorwa Apera, Country Director of FHI360; Chief Diana Chen Emba, Vice Chairman of the China-Africa Investment Forum; Dr. Herbert Wigwe, Group CEO of Access Holding Plc; Mr. Lamin G. Barrow, Director-General of the African Development Bank, Nigeria Country Department; Dr. O. M. O. Ashimolowo, Vice President of Operations at ECOWAS Bank for Investment & Development; and Mr. Suren Abeywickkrema, Vice President of ARISE Industrial Integrated Platforms, among several other esteemed guests.
The event was brought to a conclusion with an entertaining dinner and award night attended by the Deputy Governor, international investors, members of the State Executive Council and many other people.
In Old English, “Wicce” means “witch.” The word, “Wicce” further has its roots in the old German word, “Wicken.” While the word, cræft, is equally an Old English word originally meaning “power or physical strength.” Cræft could also be interpreted to signify possession of inexplicable knowledge, wisdom, and resourcefulness. The term is as well derived from the Old High German word, “kraft.”
So “Wicce-Cræft”, or witchcraft is not Africanized. It is not an African word. It did not originate from Africa. Rather, it has generic meaning not just to the Anglo-Germans, but the entire Europe and in fact, all civilizations. It is a cultural phenomena with evidential history cutting across all civilizations and epochs. All civilizations have their pre-religous ethos and practices. Europe has a pre-Christian era. The Arabs have a pre-Islam era. China has a pre-Bhuddist era. India has a pre-Hindu era. Every culture on Earth contains some aspect of symbolic gestures or ritualized behavior performed either by an entire group or by a select few individuals, before adopting their current religions.
In Europe for instance, the practice of witchcraft was the dominant culture until it was overtaken by global consensus on the belief in One God, as well as the burgeoning influence of the Catholic Church, which led to a craze fuelled wave of witch hunting and trials across the continent during the middle ages. For two millennia, European folklore and ritual have been imbued with the belief in witchcraft and till date, witchcraft continues to play a role in European societies and imaginations.
It was the Malleus Maleficarum, (Hammer of Witches), a 1486 treatise written by Austrian priest, Heinrich Kramer and German priest Jakob Sprenger, at the request of Pope Innocent VIII, which reigned as the second-best-selling book in Europe for more than two centuries, that united the Church and the State, in providing a framework for identifying, capturing, prosecuting, and punishing witches.
But since the 1940s, new witchcraft movements have emerged in Europe, seeking to revive and reinterpret the continents’ pre-Christian practices in a search for spiritual authenticity in a rapidly changing world. Wicca, an English neo witchcraft group, pioneered by Gerald Gardner, stands out as one of the most influential of those movements. Stregheria is an Italian sect that celebrates early Italian witchcraft. Its adherents say that their tradition has pre-Christian roots, and refer to it as La Vecchia Religione, the Old Religion.
Religio Romana, is a modern reconstructionist religion based upon the ancient faith of pre-Christian Rome. The Asatru tradition is also a reconstructionist path that focuses on pre-Christian Norse spirituality. The movement began in the 1970s as part of a revival of Germanic witchcraft culture. Many Asatruar say their practices are very similar in its modern form to those that existed hundreds of years before the Christianization of the Norse cultures. Hellenic Polytheism, rooted in the traditions and philosophies of the ancient Greeks, is another path that has begun a resurgence following the Greek pantheon, and often adopting the religious practices of their ancestors.
It is in the light of this global resurgence in the search for cultural authenticity, and its imminence in Africa, that I will like to end by quoting, theologian, Dr. Mary Nyangweso Wangila, a J. Woolard and Helen Peel Distinguished Professor in Religious Studies at East Carolina University, from her book: “Witches” of the Twenty-First Century: Invoking the Relevance and Resilient Character of African Spirituality in Changing Times”, where she argues that, “the resurgence of practitioners of African spirituality in Africa and the African diaspora, commonly known to some as “witches” in the twenty-first century, as demonstrated in practices and lyrics of the millennials such as Beyonce, Banks and Nokia is not only illustrative of the ability of African spirituality to evolve and adapt, it speaks to the centrality of African identity in the African experience.
“Drawing from experiences of Africans in the sub-Saharan region and those in the African diaspora, I argue that the general assumption that relegating African religious beliefs and practices as “savage,” “primitive” and “uncivilized” and therefore destined to decline is disproven by resilient manifestations of African spirituality in modern society.”
She further concludes by acknowledging the, “disadvantage that these religions experience due to their lack of the proselytizing instinct that their monotheistic peer religions like Christianity and Islam possess, their persistence not only speaks to an Afrocentric character that is central to Africans everywhere, it is also an illustration of the basic fact that all social phenomena is bound to evolve and adapt. Resilient vestiges of African spirituality are indicative of how irreplaceable and un-erasable core African values are and how they speak to an identity that cannot be traded for another.”
Yours sincerely,
Citizen Agba Jalingo.
By Awade Friday
The Member representing Obanliku/Bekwarra/Obudu Federal Constituency, Chief Hon Peter Akpanke, has drawn the attention of both the federal government and other companies involved to the deplorable state of the Ikom-Obudu highway.
Hon Akpanke made the call during a thanksgiving Ceremony in his honor held at his hometown, Keting, Obanliku Local Government Area, on Sunday, 27th August, 2023.
The member of Parliament stressed the importance of the road being the only link between the central and northern part of the state which connects the Obudu Cattle Ranch, that serves as the most attractive tourist destination of Cross River State.
Akpanke noted that Leophina Construction Limited, a company that belongs to former Gov Ben Ayade, was awarded the contract for the rehabilitation of the road and wondered why the company should abandon the road project considering the importance of the road to the economic development of his constituents.
Hon. Akpanke averred that “It has become imperative for Leophina Works Limited and other companies that were awarded contracts for the rehabilitation of the road to return to site and work in compliance with the contracts that were awarded to them.
“The Ikom-Obudu road is a crucial transportation and communication link between the north and south of Nigeria. It plays an important part in the prosperity of commerce, tourism, and social interactions among diverse ethnic and political groups in the Benue-Cross River region of Nigeria”.
Speaking further, the lawmaker noted that the road has become impassable for motorists which makes commuters traveling from Calabar to Obudu and Obanliku to use Ikom-Ogoja-Obudu-Obanliku road.
Akpanke noted that traveling through Ogoja to Obudu and back to Obanliku has had very negative effect on his constituents considering the cost of transportation in view of the subsidy removal.
“Unfortunately, the road has deteriorated to the extent that it has become a death trap to motorists and pedestrians who are constrained by the lack of an alternative route to still use the road. Most often, commuters traveling from Calabar to Obudu and Obanliku, has to use the Ikom-Ogoja-Obudu-Obanliku road which makes them pay almost twice the transport fare they initially were supposed to have paid”. He added.
Hon. Akpanke assured his constituents that he will leave no stone unturned to ensure that the contractors execute the contract to specification. “If this is the only thing I will do to ensure that we get the contractors back to site and fix the road, I wouldn’t mind. We will continue to call government attention to this project and ensure that the contractors return to site and execute the project to specification”.