The Nigerian Labour congress and Trade Union Congress (TUC) have suspended the indefinite nationwide strike which commenced yesterday.
This decision was made after meeting with the national security adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.
Author: News
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Rev Eyoanwan Otu Donates Back-to-School Materials To FGGC, @50
The Wife of the Cross River State Governor, Rev. Eyoawan Otu, has donated back-to-school items and learning materials to students of the Federal Government Girls’ College (FGGC), Calabar, as they celebrate their 50th anniversary.
The donation, which was made earlier today, included textbooks, exercise books, writing materials, school bags and other essential items.
In her remarks, Rev. Otu, who was represented by the Special Adviser, Programs, Projects and Events, Dr Inyang Asibong, urged the students to emulate their alumni community, who are constantly raising the bar in alma mater activities. She said that the alumni’s success is a testament to the quality education that FGGC provides.
The school was established in 1973 with the goal of providing quality education to girls across the state and promoting inclusivity. Over the years, FGGC has produced a number of successful alumni, including doctors, lawyers, engineers, top government functionaries, and entrepreneurs.
The donation from Rev Otu is part of the 5000 – unit back to school kits distributed to Basic Education schools across the State and is a welcome boost to the school, as it will help to ensure that students continue to receive the best possible education.
Her Excellency’s commitment to FGGC is an example of her dedication to improving the lives of women and girls in Cross River State. Her support will help to ensure that FGGC continues to be a beacon of hope and an opportunity for generations to come.
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Despite The Hardship And Tinubu’s Inability To Fix The Economy, APC Allegedly Commence Permutation For 2027 General Elections
Culled From Nesweekng
Controversy is said to be brewing in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) over the high cost of contesting elections on the party’s platform due to the increase of the expression of interest and nomination forms since its formation in 2014.
The cost of APC presidential and governorship forms in 2014, ahead of the 2015 general elections, was ₦27.5 million and ₦5 million, respectively.
In 2019, it increased to ₦45 million and ₦22.5 million. It, however, climbed to ₦100 million and ₦50 million in 2023, respectively.A party stalwart have urged the leadership of the ruling APC to make the 2027 contest less expenssive, alleging that despite raking in billions of Naira from the sale of expression of interest and nomination forms before the 2023 elections, the party has failed to give an account of how the money was spent.
In a statement on Tuesday, the former national vice chairman (North West) of the APC, Salihu Mohammed Lukman, lamented the increasing cost of contesting elections in the party.
He expressed fears that by 2027, the APC might charge ₦250 million for expression of interest and nomination forms for the presidency and ₦125 million for the governorship.
According to him, the APC is “progressively losing the little democratic credentials,” which encouraged Nigerians to expect the possibility of a progressive party emerging out of it in 2015.
Reacting to the development, the APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, said, “The issue of cost of forms for next elections is all speculations.”
On his part, a Professor of Political Sociology at the University of Abuja, Kari, however, told reporters that placing high fees has continued in the APC because it is the ruling party.
He also attributed it to the systematic monetization of Nigerian politics and the activities of a select few influential individuals who have hijacked the party.
“The fee for APC has been the highest because it is the ruling party. The underlying assumption is that anybody who gets APC ticket will likely get elected. It is an assumption that may be true. It may not be true,” he said.
Kari stated that if the party leadership can put obstacles on the way to political participation through this constant hiking of the fee for nomination, “you have blocked the very essence of democracy, and that is exactly what is happening. So the regime of high fees is a huge stumbling block on democracy because it stops those who cannot pay from participating.”
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Do You Know That Chris Brown Has Sold Over 217 Million Records, Making Him One Of The World’s Best-selling Music Artist
Christopher Maurice Brown (born May 5, 1989) is an American singer, songwriter, rapper, dancer, and actor. One of the most successful R&B singers of all time, he has often been referred to by contemporaries as the “King of R&B”.
His musical style has been defined as polyhedric, with his R&B being characterized by several influences from other genres, mainly pop music and hip hop. His lyrics develop predominantly over themes of romance, sex, fast life, desire, lovesickness, regret, emotional conflict and loneliness. Brown has had wide comparisons to Michael Jackson for his talent and stage presence.
In 2004, Brown signed with Jive Records and released his eponymous debut studio album the following year, which was later certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). With his debut single “Run It!” (featuring Juelz Santana) peaking atop the Billboard Hot 100, Brown became the first male artist since 1995 to have his debut single top the chart. His second album, Exclusive (2007), was met with further commercial success worldwide, and spawned his second Billboard Hot 100 number one “Kiss Kiss” (featuring T-Pain).
In 2009, Brown pled guilty to felony assault of his then-girlfriend, singer Rihanna. This foresaw the release of his third album, Graffiti which was considered to be a commercial failure compared to his previous works.
Following Graffiti, Brown released his fourth album F.A.M.E. (2011), which became his first album to top the Billboard 200. The album contained the commercially successful singles: “Yeah 3x”, “Look at Me Now” (featuring Lil Wayne and Busta Rhymes) and “Beautiful People” (featuring Benny Benassi), and earned him the Grammy Award for Best R&B Album.
His fifth album, Fortune, released in 2012, also topped the Billboard 200.Following the releases of X (2014) and Royalty (2015), his eighth album, Heartbreak on a Full Moon, a double-disc LP consisting of 45 tracks, was certified gold by the RIAA for combined sales and album-equivalent units of over 500,000 after one week, and was later certified double platinum. Brown’s ninth studio album, Indigo (2019) found similar success, debuting atop the Billboard 200.
It included the single “No Guidance” (featuring Drake) which broke the record for the longest-running number one on Billboard’s R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart. Its chart success was outdone with the single “Go Crazy” (with Young Thug) released the following year, which broke Brown’s own record for the longest-running number one on Billboard’s R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart set previously by “No Guidance”.In 2022, his Indigo album spawned a sleeper hit with its song “Under the Influence”, which was re-released as a single.
Brown has sold over 217 million records worldwide, making him one of the world’s best-selling music artists. He is also one of the highest-grossing African American touring artists of all time. Brown has the most Billboard Hot 100 entries of any male singer in history;[ the most top 40 hits of any R&B singer in history; the most RIAA gold certified singles of any male singer in history; and the most RIAA multi-platinum of any male singer in history.[43] Brown was also ranked third on Billboard’s top R&B/Hip-Hop artists of the 2010s decade chart, behind Drake and Rihanna in first and second, respectively.
Moreover, Brown has won a total of 199 awards from 506 nominations over the course of his career. Brown has also pursued an acting career. In 2007, he made his on-screen feature film debut in Stomp the Yard, and appeared as a guest on the television series The O.C. Other films Brown has appeared in include This Christmas (2007), Takers (2010), Think Like a Man (2012), Battle of the Year (2013) and She Ball (2020).
Source: Wikipedia
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Governor Otu, It’s 170 Days Already.. BY AGBA JALINGO
It’s 170 days already in office and remaining 1,290 days to the end of the first tenure of Governor Prince Otu. For me, I will always say my own. I can make mistakes sometimes like I always do, but I honestly will not go out of my way to just bad mouth anyone. One thing I am sure of is that, I love Cross River State and Nigeria, and it is my utmost desire to see them develop and I am prepared to sacrifice for this process.
I was perhaps, one of the loudest voices in the tenure of Governor Ben Ayade, my cousin from Abonkib. My sole and only intention was to dog after his heels to consistently remind him of his promises to Cross Riverians. I have an idea of what bootlicking political followers, beneficiaries, appointees, can do. They never tell the leader the truth. In our environment, they are timid and frightful. So I took it upon myself that, come rain, come shine, whether in private or public, I will not fail to tell my brother the truth about how I perceived his actions in government.
It is 170 days since he left. It is obvious that regardless of the hue and cry, most of the things we bantered about are still in the cookie jar. We are still not clear where Governor Otu’s policy direction is headed or I am too dumb headed to see the obvious.
The communication machine of our current government is still very very haphazard. For clarity; twice, Governor Ayade had to warn his appointees to desist from flinging releases to the public unless his CPS or Commissioner for Information does. Two statements were sent to the Press in that regard. These directives were disregarded on both occasions by his numerous appointees. The result was disastrous.
In the same vein, we are still seeing every Tom, Dick and Harry, that has been christened with any official title, designing all manner of letterheads and sending out press releases indiscriminately as if they are in competition with themselves over who to speak the mind of the government. It looks like most of the appointees have no other tasks on their tables other than sending out press releases.
Ironically, the two persons who are supposed to do this work, the CPS and the Information Commissioner, are the most silent in this milieu. Even as large as our federal government is, it is Ajuri Ngilari that is still speaking to us on behalf of the FG. Most people don’t even know the name of the Minister of Information. But in Cross River, everyone with a title including adhoc committees of two weeks, is a government spokesperson.
The list of appointments is already appearing like it is some form of food on the table again, instead of call to service. Every week, the names keep coming. But there is not much depth in the lists. It’s only that the names are not yet as many as the previous tenure. By mid-term, clandestine second term campaign committees will start mushrooming. Distraction will begin in government and all attention will be focused on re-election and that’s how failure begins.
After renovating the 11/11 roundabout, Destination Calabar Roundabout and the State Library are also under renovation. Cleaning of the capital is going on but very slowly. Kidnapping is back in the headlines in the State. Gangsters are still controlling critical sections of the government. In case, you don’t know yet, those eager to see Governor Otu succeed plus those missing on the appointment list, are already calling the Governor, “Solemn Assembly” Governor. And, Your Excellency, my own is just to do amebo for you without pay.
Yours sincerely,
Citizen Agba Jalingo. -
Yes I Am A Man, And So? BY OGRI ANNE ENDURANCE
Who made the rules that I shouldn’t cry when my wall is falling apart?
Where was it written that , i am supposed to be the sacrificial lamb of my family without getting my flowers?
I am strong no doubt, but sometimes I need a shoulder to lean on. Let me rest my heavy heart when it is necessary please.
So because, I am a man, I do not deserve to be appreciated? Even the sand get watered in order to produce good and quality food.
I am left to suffer in silence because God made me a man? No, I deserve to be heard and provided solutions to my problem.
As a man, I can be a victim of sexual harassment, but just because I am a man, the society has shut me up and left me in pieces , to suffer my ordeal in silence.
I work day and night , like an animal in order to keep my family together and I get no appreciation in return, just because I am a man.
I get no Justice despite the many crimes committed against me in the society just because I am a man . What is my offense?
How come the society sees me as a working tool but don’t value my existence? Am I not contributing enough?
How come I am constantly reminded that I need to be rich in a certain age but still , they don’t want me to exist
I could be in my most worst moment and the only thing I hear is *man up*?
Sorry to ask dear society, is there a certain pill to ease life stress for the boy child known as man up? I deserve to know please.How come I am left alone to deal with life issues alone , without being considered as human with emotions?
I am still yet to understand why they call me a man , God’s perfect creation , but I am treated like the one God dislike the most, neglected in the most uncomfortable way.
I am yet to understand why I am supposed to live under pressure , instead of peace.
I am still yet to understand why I am expected to do the most, but get the least compliment .
I am still yet to understand why I am treated as if I do not exist, but they won’t let me exit in their life.
I am still yet to understand why I am treated with zero empathy but they still want me to show the world empathy.
I am still yet to understand why life isn’t always fair to me .
Yes I am a man, my ordeal matters.
Written by Ogri Anne Endurance🌹
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Jarigbe Agom Receives The Leadership of Abuja Chamber Of Commerce & Industry
The Senator representing Cross River North Senatorial District, Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, DSSRS, has received the leadership of Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), led by the Chairman of Energy Trade Group, Mr. Chinedu Maduakoh, at the National Assembly.
The purpose of the visit was to formally appreciate the lawmaker for creating time to attend her event as well as to formally present the communique of the just concluded “Domestic Gas and Gas Infrastructure Summit” which held in Abuja.
“We are grateful for your continued support to the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry and look forward to greater cooperation and synergy from the 10th Nigerian Senate”, Maduakoh added.
Responding, Senator Jarigbe, who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Gas, welcomed the team and further pledged the support and co-operation of the Nigerian Senate in a bid to promoting economic and industrial development within the FCT in particular and Nigeria in general.
Also in attendance were; the Secretary general of the Energy Trade Group and the Director General of Petroleum Arrangement Contractors (PAC).
TEAM JARI MEDIA
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Students Refutes Prof Ojua’s Release, Insists That GSS Examination Was Not Properly Organized, Poorly Administered And Tailored Towards Sorting
By TheLumineNews Admin
Controversies continued to trail the press release issued on Saturday November 11th 2023, by the University Director of General Studies (GSS), Prof Takim Ojua, after the stampede that occurred during Saturday November 11th GSS examination.
Some of the students that claimed anonymity argued that both the planning and administration was riddled with levity by the handlers of the examination, which was mischievous, mundane, anachronistic, unjust and discriminatory with the purpose of making students failed so that they can extort money from them.
Students wondered why a very sensitive issue of such magnitude could be trivialized as seen in the press release by Director of GSS, Prof Takim Ojua, instead of apologizing to the oppressed students.
Recall that on Friday 10th November, 2023, when a similar examination was supposed to be conducted at ICT center, reports had it that the SERVICOM Director of the institution, Prof Patrick Egaga, in company of the Chief Security Officer, Capt Abang (RTD), defied the heavy flood around the vicinity of the examination, and armed with directives of the Vice Chancellor, Prof Florence Obi, had advised that the said exams conducted under a porous, flooded and unsafe atmosphere should be cancelled, for a later day to be fixed for the safety of the students and integrity of the University. Curiously, our reporter discovered that the examination was stopped temporarily, obstensibly, because of their presence, but as soon as the duo left the venue of the questionable examination, which they described as “unsafe, poorly managed and improperly organized and administered”,
the “organizers” rebuffed and flouted the VC’s directives, properly conveyed and went ahead with the examination, to achieve a sinister purpose maybe.Prof Ojua’s release reads in parts, “On Saturday, the 11th of November, 2023, University of Calabar students who were scheduled to write Computer Based Test (CBT) GSS Examination, set out to write their exams without any premonition that the exercise will be marred by an unfortunate incident of Stampede casualties, leading to the indefinite suspension of the examination as a result of some medical emergency.
“Unfortunately, some people saw the incident as an avenue for making headlines and attracting traffic to their platforms and blogs. While some built on hurried publications and posts to re-create stories, others merely found new opportunities to further their negative publicity on the University of Calabar in such a critical time of the life of the University. In all of these, facts were misrepresented, skewed and disseminated, with brazen misinformation about what exactly happened. Based on the high level of misconception and misconstruction of the facts, the Directorate of the Center for General Studies (CGS) deemed it necessary to set the following records straight”.
Reacting to the release, an anonymous student maintained that the Director has acquissed that the Examination was marred by an “Unfortunate Incident” the honorable thing he will have done was to accept his incompetence and inadequacy and appeal to Administration to cancel the questionable Examination in entirety.
Another student, Paul Ebube (not real name), said that the GSS Director was in a haste to defend his shortcomings.
The student noted that, going by the release, the Director is yet to mention some of the media houses or blogs that reported death of students during the stampede, instead of crating a non-existing situation to gain public sympathy. Moreover, he questioned, “is he the spokesperson of the University?”The student insisted that poor management and greed is the major cause of the stampede as the school security that assisted in the management of GSS examination is alleged not to have been paid their remuneration for the previous examinations and as a result, the directorate of GSS resorted to using extraneous Man’O’War to assist in coordinating the examination.
Prof Ojua’s release further reads, “That the Exams of Friday, the 10th of November 2023 started successfully by 8am, until the heavy rain and storms began at about 10am, causing the stoppage of the examination until the rain and flood subsided at about 3pm, when some students returned to write the exams till about 5pm. And while it was raining, and flooding heavily, a group of students rather than move out of the rain to take refuge on nearby buildings, preferred to stand in the rain despite pleas and announcements from the staff of the Center, man O’War and security men”.
“So why did the corrupt Director not mention anything about the GST exam of Friday Nov 10 conducted under threat of students and staff safety and inside a raging flood that ravaged the University Neigbourhood?”, a female student queried.
Another student who also claimed anonymity, berates the GSS Director for failing to provide the leadership he was appointed to give to the directorate and wondered what preventive measures were put in place (rescheduling examination for those that missed due to heavy rainfall), when the rain had disrupted the examination between 10:00am and 3:00pm scheduled for Friday 10th November, 2023 as he rightly reported.
The student insisted that what is of utmost importance in the circumstance is the alternative plans for those students who had missed the examination at the period of the stoppage due to the heavy rain, and how the students failed to comply with such directives.
The students also wondered why Prof Ojua, insisted on continuing with the examination even against the directives of the Vice Chancellor.This student averred that “examination is time bound. The Director may have collected monies from some students and he was doing everything humanly possible to administer the examination to enable him protect the interest of those he may have collected monies from.
The director’s release further reads, “That the examination of Saturday, the 11th of November 2023, started smoothly, with the 3rd set, almost concluding, before students who either missed exams, were not scheduled to write in the morning or were not even part of the examination, became unruly, uncontrollable, impatient, defiant, by wanting to break into the exam venue forcefully”.
Another anonymous student held that, “What happened at the gate is that we were scheduled to write examination at a particular time, but the directorate don’t keep to the time. Anytime you come, once you can pay #200.00 to some Man O’War, they will allow you to enter, so entering into the examination center with up to four or five faculties scheduled for a day, becomes survival of the fittest. Those that missed examination on Friday and those who were scheduled for Friday all came out and were struggling to access the examination centre.
Reacting to the issue of those who missed the examination on Friday, the student noted that, “when students missed examination the previous day on account of the rain, which wasn’t their fault with no information regarding rescheduling of the examination, what do you expect? Some of us felt that since we missed the examination on Friday, we were now supposed to have taken the examination on Saturday. This led to overcrowding of the gate and couple with the partiality shown by allowing some students into the examination centre while others are kept waiting”.
In another development, Prof Ojua stated thus, “That the Examination was scheduled in batches, with specific faculties scheduled to write on stipulated time and dates. Unfortunately, some students refused to abide by the Time Table Schedule and rather decided to gate- crash by forcing the gate to open, resulting in the avoidable, unfortunate and regrettable incident”.
Another student argued that if the Director was serious as he claimed, he should make public the planned time table for the examination showing clearly, the various faculties, considering the number of departments and students who register for the GSS examination.
He regretted the vulnerability of students who are always at the receiving end of poor planning on issues that concerns students and situations like this unforseen circumstance, instead of Prof Ojua to come clean and take responsibility for his inadequacies, he rather wants to use the students as scapegoats.Ojua in his release also stated, “That the essence of the introduction of the GSS CBT exams by the school management was to ensure fast service delivery, easy access to examination and results and to reduce the stress on students during examination periods”.
Another student wondered why the CBT that was created to reduce the stress on students during examination periods, has turned to triple the stress of students under his watch.
This student opined that the appointment of Prof Takim Ojua is a misnomal with the introduction of CTB. He alleged that Prof Ojua is not even ICT compliant, and called on the university management to restore the integrity of the university.The release further reads, “Students are therefore advised to travel as the exams has been suspended till further notice”.
A four hundred level student of the faculty of law wondered if the university is still guided by administrative laws. He expressed surprise why the GSS Director, Prof Takim Ojua still talk about suspension of the examination instead of outright cancellation in line with the VC’S directives.
Some other students have alleged that they are made to pay between 10 to 15k as sorting fee before they can pass the GSS examination and likened the shattered preparation and administration of the examination to aid the sorting process. ” No need reading for GST or attending classes. Pay direct to the Director and your grade is guaranteed ” said Emem Ekanem (not real name).
An anonymous female student alleged that the Director is “presently using part of his official office as a branch of his Church”. “He collects sorting as tithes and promises those who attend protection and good grades”. “He is even bold to tell you he makes returns to administration, he is in charge of uploading of GST results and nothing can change it as he and the VC hail from the same LGA”.
So far, nothing has been heard from the University Management in connection with this embarrassing sham as the students wait for “Godot”.See some reactions and comments of some the students on the press release by the Director of GSS as was shared by Nsikak Ibatt on his verified Facebook page.
See link https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02fvqu1PPoG1bd2u8CTN3ZinnBU86wVarDmeDLLfSLvXfSvZVKhcN19irag1JV8i7dl&id=100004199258282&mibextid=Nif5oz
Kandy Umoh said: This man just said nonsense
Cletus Asuquo said: E go explain tire
Joe Cassy said: Blames always on d students…
De Cen Cy said: Let him go and sit down. Such a glorified writer.
This and many more are some of the consequences of being greedy. Just feeling for the victimized individuals.
For crying out loud, everyone knows that for the past three years, the school has become overly populated yet, the management keeps admitting millions of applicants to the detriment of students even when its obvious that the school doesn’t have enough resources to carter for the well-being of these ones.
Unical is among the first five most populated university in Nigeria with the poorest management yet they are less concerned about covering up her lapses.Mc Nawe ll: Thunder go f.ire am
Richard said: Anything that happens in a any higher institutions is always the fault the of the students
Meanwhile the the management are always right , even tho 95% of those plans have lapses
Isortry
🚶🚶🚶🚶Louiz Dominic said: Nah students 💯
In another development, the Chairman, Forum of Faculties Presidents University of Calabar and President, Faculty of Clinical Science, Comrade Emmanuel Oshie, has called on the University management to investigate EDC and GSS on report from students that they are mandated to buy an imposed textbook from lecturers for assessment.
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Loving One Another Indeed… BY AGBA JALINGO
Loving One Another Indeed…
“In my 65 years of living in this world, I have never seen anyone who was loved because of their money, because of their position or title in any corporation or in politics, or because of their skill. Nobody loves you for that. People may respect you, people may enjoy according to what they get out of it. And most of the time, people are envious. But when we are compassionate, when we have values, when we have learned how to love others, people love us.” -His Holiness, Radhanath Swami.
I cannot agree less with Guru Swami because, when you have money, and I am not necessarily referring to multi-millions only; when you can meet your needs and are still generous with the spare, many people around you will love you. But when people love you because you have money, when that money is not available again, they will stop loving you. Even if the money is available and you cease to dispense it or that favor they get from you, notice that they will stop greeting or visiting you. They may not turn around to hate you. But they will move on to ‘love’ the next person that has money.
Fame: Many famous people have lapsed into depression, inordinate desires and substance abuse when new stars take their shine as they thin out of the limelight. As the love of fans shift to emerging stars, the exiting stars realize it was the klieg lights that made the stars and it was what was loved, not the stars.
Position: There is no position that anyone can hold sway forever. Not even a monarchy. That too is only for a lifetime, at most. Many who have left positions of influence are replete with experiences of how even their phones are no longer ringing after they exited their influential offices. The love you currently enjoy in that office is appropriated to the title you carry. It is essentially not for you.
Skill: Regardless of the acclaimed love of your fans for your skill, none will bet on you when you are gone past your prime. Whether you are a talented and skillful footballer, athlete, writer, or artist, people will always lay claims to loving you when your skill is still sending love to their homes and helping to win their bets. They will continue to cherish your exploits till the opposite happens. Once that occurs, their acclaimed love for you will move to the current skillful person, even as they continue to remember your exploits with nostalgia.
So until we translate from the norm to deploying these leverages, namely; money, fame, position, skill, in the pursuit of empathy and compassion towards one another and the world, genuine love will remain elusive. It is the primary reason why those who possess money, fame, position and talent, always resort to charitable causes. But empathy and compassion cannot be bought. They must emanate from a genuine state of mind. A compulsive desire to empathize with humanity.
As species, we have survived by being judgmental and suspicious of and preying on other species. We have weaponized money, fame, position and talent as some form of subtle controls. But we must develop the mental capacity to step past this most primal urge to attain love. It is by shutting down that animal instinct and forcing our brain to tow a different pathway, the pathway of kindness and compassion, that we can engender genuine love in return.
Yours sincerely,
Citizen Agba Jalingo.