The Lumine News

Author: News

  • The Vineyard BY Fr PETER OBELE ABUE

     

    Steward is an old English word for Servant. Stewardship signifies the duties of servants to their Masters. God is our Master, the Landowner who has entrusted responsibilities to us his servants. He has made adequate provisions for us in his VINEYARD and with confidence travelled out of town, reposing total trust in us human beings to turn out the results to him in due season. The question therefore is: what is the result of our stewardship in God’s VINEYARD?

    Every era has had its historical way of responding to God’s call to work in his VINEYARD. For the people in ancient Israel, the men of Judah, the very people he first chose as his own: “he expected justice but found bloodshed, integrity, but only a cry of distress” (Isaiah 5: 7). To the people in Jesus time, it was a sheer bridge of contact. Rather than work in the vineyard and produce results, “the stewards took the messengers and beat one, killed another and stone another. Even when he sent his own son expecting they will respect him”, the scriptures say “But when they saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘this is the heir, come let us kill him and have his inheritance’ and they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and killed him” (Matt 21: 38ff).

    This is the story of our lives. This is the history of our relationship with God who has been so good to us, the God who has been so loving and providential to us, who has been so patient with us, refusing to judge us according to our deeds. Him we have totally treated with reckless abandon as we say in popular language. How is our own age responding to God’s call to work in his VINEYARD? How has our stewardship been? We are talking about the sense responsibility here, the recognition that every privilege we enjoy comes with a price tag. How can we continue to act to God and to our fellow human beings like those farm managers in the gospel story of Matt 21: 33-43?

    We enjoy the benefit that accrue to us but withdraw the benefits that accrue to the land owner. We cheat, we ignore, we loot and we kill and life goes on. No! this cannot be right! Listen to the advice of Paul to the Philippians 4: 8-9: Finally brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things …and the God of peace will be with you.”

  • The Rise Of House-Husbands In Nigeria BY DOMINIC KIDZU

    THE RISE OF HOUSE-HUSBANDS IN NIGERIA

    BY DOMINIC KIDZU

    Interestingly, more husbands in Nigeria are now at home, while their wives are either at work or in the shop. No thanks to the voodoo economy that has put them out of work and denied the avatar his conceit. My son taught me how to bake chicken pie in the oven yesterday, and I was excited to accomplish the task myself. But sour grapes came upon me as I munched the stuff because I realized that I was actually eating humble pie in the hot afternoon..

    Daddy wasn’t the man to be found at home during the day because he was always either at work or on a business trip and everyone came to him for their needs like chicken go home to roost at sunset. Now he is almost always at home with the TV remote control in his hand flipping from one news channel to sports and back again. While the children try very hard to be of good behavior while he is home, even though the very act annoys them quite a bit.

    He no longer goes out in the evenings regularly, and could be heard murmuring to himself from time to time. Something about the price of fuel, garri, or beer, or indeed all of them. He now complains about the volume of music from the children’s room and the number of unwashed plates in the kitchen. His unhappiness is spreading all over the floor like spilled kerosene. “Honey, please help me iron my blouses if light comes in the afternoon” madam cooed, giggling. He grunted as she departs for work.

    The rise of House Husbands is really not a sweet story to tell, because the very telling of it dries saliva in the mouth and leaves the furrowed brow drenched in sweat. About two decades ago, I and my cousin, Prof. John Small went to visit our now late uncle, J. B. C. Atteh Abang in Kuje one hot afternoon. He had just retired as a Director of Forestry. We met him ironing his wife’s clothes, madam was of course at work. He told us that there had been a role reversal in his home, since he had no where to go to, he was now quite happy to do the house chores.

    The big issue with contemporary Nigerian house husbands is that they are neither retired nor tired. Young and energetic men are being confined in their homesteads by unemployment. The ones who are politically exposed are the worse for it. They believe they have worked for the now “elected”, (whatever that means) and should justly be appointed. But the appointment has failed to arrive, keeping them still at home in the afternoon and ultimately adding hermlock to their temperament. Say a little prayer for husbands. They are going through a lot

  • Richard Inoyo Writes Cross River Governor, Prince Bassey Otu, Seeks Personal Intervention

    A PERSONAL APPEAL TO CROSS RIVER STATE GOVERNOR, PRINCE BASSEY OTU

    By Richard Inoyo

    It has been more than 48hours since my gold color Toyota Camry car with the following details: (Chassis Number 4T1BG22K2V0774308
    Engine Number: 357696264
    Registration Number: HA 107 ABC) was stolen in Calabar and the car as I speak is still at large. It is easy to look the other way when you ain’t the victim suffering this great pain arising from this insecurity that has reached a personal level affecting me directly and the civil organization I work for, Citizens’ Solution Network that serves the underprivileged, and where without mobility we can’t get to interior communities to meet the needs of victims suffering from rights abuse and other social problems that need our intervention.

    I wish to remind the Governor of Cross River State, Senator Prince Bassey Otu who remains the Chief Security Officer of the State in whom my trust lies and my vote in the last election went to, what the theft of my car has had and the level of devastating pain this incidence is still having on me and the negative disruption of my workflow which is vital to underserved communities in the State and the country at scale. I understand that not many will understand and some may probably think it is fine to just keep mute.

    But keeping mute becomes impossible when the pain is rising and the situation hasn’t changed. Please dear Governor, kindly use your good office to intervene, and let my pains go away. Every right and honest thinking person knows you can, and this is the only thing I ask for. Pls I await your goodwill and the extension of your people’s first mantra to me.

    Putting up some over N2million Naira suddenly to secure another car that we were not even supposed to buy at this point only due to this sudden car theft from our civic institution, makes our organisation feels unease.

    Everyone of us at Citizens’ Solution Network would love to appeal and won’t mind if a car from the State Government is donated to our organisation to enable us attend to the mobility vacuum and needs this car theft has created against our organisational workflow.

    Thanks

    Signed

    Richard Inoyo,
    Country Director,
    Citizens’ Solution Network

  • You Own Nothing, You Lose Nothing BY AGBA JALINGO 

     

    If you buy land or buy a house, you have only paid rent for the remaining years you have on Earth. None of them belong to you.

    If you buy a car, you have only paid for your transport for the period the car will last or for the period you will last. It doesn’t belong to you.

    If you marry a spouse, you have only got company until circumstances or death do you part. No one owns the other.

    If you have children, you have only fulfilled the demand of continuity of life until death comes. You don’t own them. That’s why the State still dictates how you bring them up.

    If you have money, you have only amassed value to purchase what you want, for your remaining number of years on Earth. The notes belong to the Central Bank.

    If you work and retire, your pension is only for life. After your life, it stops.

    Even if you eat and get filled, the food in your belly isn’t yours. You must defecate it back to Earth.

    The body itself which you cherish so highly, doesn’t belong to you. The Earth will certainly reclaim its bits, when the loan is due.

    Even the life we live is borrowed, and surely will be returned.

    So let us not be afraid of losing anything in this life, because we do not own anything here. Two things will surely happen; we will either be taken away from everything we think we own or everything we think we own will be taken away from us someday. It is that day that none of us know.

    We boast about our body, our houses, our lands, our money, our wives, our husbands, our children, our parents, our everything. But that’s where it ends. Boasting! Ruminate intensely and it won’t be difficult to find out that, we do not own any of those things. We are only availed of them to mitigate the necessary constraints of our sojourn here.

    So never lose your head or your cool or your temper or your values or your vibrancy, whenever you think you have lost something because nothing was ever really yours. Not even….

    Yours sincerely,
    Citizen Agba Jalingo.

  • Betta Edu Meets Rescued Federal University Gusau Students, Assures Them Of FG’s Immediate Humanitarian Assistance

     

    Emotions ran high Thursday when the Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu met with the rescued students of the Federal University Gusau and assured them of improved security and immediate humanitarian response to support their recovery process.

    Dare-devil bandits had recently struck at the University and kidnapped twenty five (25) female students in their hostels. However, sixteen of them have been rescued by security forces.

    Speaking when she took the message of Renewed Hope to the Management and Students of the Federal University of Gusau, in company of the Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, the Minister said President Ahmed Bola Tinubu was concerned by the unfortunate incident adding that he would ensure the safe return of the remaining students.

    Edu who personally interacted with some of the rescued students one after the other, said both Federal and State government are working together to improve Security in Zamfara State in particular and Northwest in general.

    According to her, “I bring you the assurance of the President, that those remaining students will be back. The President has put in place a security architecture in collaboration with Zamfara State government that will safeguards lives and property.

    She said one of the eight-point agenda of President Tinubu and indeed the primary agenda of government is Security and the welfare of its people.

    “I want to assure you that our children, our students will come back home and get back to school to continue their education.”

    “The President has assured us of improved security across the country to reduce humanitarian crises and eradicate multi-dimensional poverty, we hope that very soon, the remaining nine students in captivity will soon be released.

    “For the students, do not be deterred by the incident and continue to pursue your education, where necessary, we will ensure their full rehabilitation and reintegration to enable them continue their studies. Our President believes in Education, he has made provision for Student Loans and Scholarships to assist the education of young people.

    On his part, Governor Lawal commended Dr. Edu for taking the pains “to visit us over the ugly incident that happened 10 days ago.”

    The Governor assured that the State Government will continue in its efforts to work with the Federal Government to create a conducive learning environment and will also do its best to protect the lives and properties of the people which is the primary function of government.

    Lawal who said Zamfara Needs help from the federal government, said the coming of the Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Minister was an indication of a better collaboration from the federal government led by President Tinubu.

    The Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Gusau, Professor Muazu Abubakar Gusau, said the management of the university was delighted to receive the Minister at this trying time.

    Professor Gusau, recounted the ordeals the institution has encountered in the hands of bandits in times past even before this administration and called for increased security for the institution.

    The VC appealed to Dr. Edu to factor in the University in her Ministry’s several intervention schemes.

    The institution Student Union Representatives led by Comrade Bello Aliyu, Commended the Minister for visiting them in their trying period, asking that the students should be accommodated in the National Social Investment Programmes of the Federal government. The victims of the incident also met with the Minister who is supporting them directly and will provide for some psychosocial therapy to help with quick recovery and reintegration.

    Rasheed Olanrewaju Zubair (ANIPR), Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Honourable Minister, MHAPA.
    06/10/2023

  • Gov Otu Assures Of His Administration’s Commitment To Support Any Engagement Targeted At Building The Youths

    The Governor of Cross River State, Sen. Prince Bassey Edet Otu, has assured the youths of Cross River State of this administration’s commitment to support any engagement targeted at building the youths in the state.

    Senator Otu, who was ably represented by his Deputy Rt. Hon. Peter Odey, made this known at the Hit FM Calabar Entertainment Conference held today at the cultural center complex, Calabar. He commended the CEO of Hit FM Calabar, Mr. Patrick Ugbe and Crew for putting and sustaining the event over the past seven years, noting that entertainment contributes to the socio-economic development of any state especially as it has to do with building the youths of Cross River State.

    According to Rt. Hon Odey, “Anything to do with the people of Cross River State, count us first, because we want the vaccine people of Cross River State to be first”

    While acknowledging the entertainment stars of Cross River State origin present at the event, he started that he is very confident that this conference will birth more stars in the music and movies industry. Therefore the state government will partner with Hit FM for next year’s event because it is evident that Entertainment is an avenue to invest in young people and take them off the streets as well as off criminal activities and engaging them where they will be productive and contribute to the society.

    Welcoming the guest, sponsors, panelists and artists to this year’s event, the Chief executive Officer of Hit FM Calabar, Mr Patrick Ugbe said this is the first time since the event started that there is a formal presence of government. He said it goes to show the commitment and love this administration has towards youth development and indeed, the season of sweetness is upon us.

    The calabar entertainment conference (CEC) is an annual youth engagement event which was undertaken with the believe that the creative industry is the fastest way to get young people out of poverty and crime into gainful engagement. It also aims at growing and developing the entertainment sector in the south -south, thereby making it viable and sustainable for the practitioners.

    Mr. Ugbe noted that the impact has been huge, with an upsurge of entertainment events in Calabar, Cross River State and neighbouring states. He thanked all the sponsors and partners such as the United States consulate General Office in Lagos, Multichoice, Leven Energy, Black house media and a host of others.

  • Feminism Or Westernism BY AGBA JALINGO 

     

    Is Feminism just about advocacy for the assimilation of western female taste or advocacy for women’s rights per culture?

    Whether it is “genderized” or not, as far as the issues of rampant abuse and lack of equal opportunity for women and the girl child is concerned, it is clearly a human right issue. No human being, whether male or female, should be abused or denied any opportunity based on gender or culture. That is encompassing enough for me and should be in the front pew.

    But the flagrant disregard for cultural variations and even personal taste of a section of women, in the pursuit of the broad feminism agenda is plaguing the movement. It appears that the Western feminist band, who also bank roll the advocacy, are more bent on assimilating their own feminist ethos on their playing field, to the isolation of the culturalist women who also desire feminist rights without losing their culture.

    The persistence with which the western feminists present the taste of the western women as the preferred standard for every woman or what should be the ideal standard for every woman, is menacing. This particular hoard of feminists I am addressing are not mindful of the fact that, there are Yoruba women in Nigeria for instance, who want and fight for all the women’s rights but want to preserve their cultural value of women taking a knee to greet elders and men. That there are Igbo women in Nigeria who want and fight for all the women’s rights but still want to teach their female children that it is a wife that should cook for her husband. That there are Hausa women who want and fight all the women’s right but still want to be inside “Kule” and be pampered by their husbands.

    That there are Banyankole women in Uganda who want and fight for all the women’s rights but still want to respect their age long cultural rights to have their aunties taste the sexual agility of their husbands on their marriage eve. That there are Zulu women in Southern Africa, who want and fight for all the women’s rights, but will want to preserve their cultural pride of chasity to flaunt their breasts bare and carry a rid. That there are Muslim women who want and fight for all the women’s rights but still admire and welcome their husbands into marrying four wives as their religion allows. That there are matrilineal Meghalaya women in India, who are in control of their communities and they love and want that system to remain the way it is. That there are tribal feminists around the world who still find it romantic to get their aging husbands a new maiden as their customs allow.

    The insensitivity of the Western feminists to these cultural nuances and their straight line prescription of Western standards as an across-the-counter pill for global women’s rights is something that must be challenged. Why should these hoard try to make it look like, if western styled models are not embraced, it is not feminism? Are they fighting only for women who want to become like women from the Western world or they are fighting for women who want their rights within their cultural freedom? Are they perpetrating foreign culture on other people or they are suffering to liberate women from forces limiting their progress?

    Everyone who believes in humanity and love will not tolerate abuse or injustice, whether it is perpetrated against a male, female, stranger, acquaintance, family member or even a pet. The abuse and denial of women’s right is a crime and all people of goodwill must seek redress wherever it is happening. But the substitute is certainly not an imposition and assimilation of western feminist taste. That is the lie that is now shoved down our throats and methinks it is pertinent to raise these concerns openly to safeguard the mental health of many young women who are being misguided into this venture in ignorance by bitter renegades who are on vengeance missions.

    Yours sincerely,
    Citizen Agba Jalingo.

  • No Emotion Or Sentiment Would Be Considered In My Efforts To Do The Right Thing In FCT – Wike

    The Minister of FCT Nyesom Wike, has said that no sentiment or emotion would be considered in his efforts to do the right thing in FCT.

    This was made known by Wike in Abuja while reacting to a trending video on social media showing the staff of Abuja Urban Mass Transport Company (AUMTCO), protesting and crying over the sack of the company’s managing director.

    The MD and Chief Executive Officer of the company, Najeeb Abdulsalam, was among the 21 heads of parastatals, agencies, and companies of the FCT Administration that were sacked by the minister a few days ago.

    Wike further explained that he would do the right thing in the interest of residents of the FCT and Nigerians at large.

    He said: “That is why when I watch people on video, crying that somebody has been removed and that he has been doing well, but the question is if you have been doing well, where are the buses?

    “No sentiment, no emotions will be considered when we are doing what is right. We will do the right thing in the interest of the people.

    “If you like, carry 20 people, put a video, and cry as much as you want to cry, it will not bother us. What bothered us is the reality on the ground.”

    “You are not a civil servant where you will say nobody is supposed to retire me because I am not up to the age of retirement.

    “Even as a minister, I can be relieved of my position now. You don’t need to cry; some other people will come and all we pray for is, let us get the best.”

    He advised political appointees to always prepare to leave office at any time because someone might come and want to have a total change.

  • Vulnerable Pensioners Will Receive N25,000 Grants From Next Month, Betta Edu Tells NLC.

     

    The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation will from next month start payment of twenty five thousand Naira (25,000) grants to the benefiting members of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners captured in the expanded National Social Register of the Conditional Cash Transfer, (CCT) Scheme.

    Minister For Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu, announced this Wednesday when she met with the leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC led by its President Joe Ajaero at the Labour House, Abuja.

    The Minister explained that the decision to include vulnerable pensioners in the CCT scheme was President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to labour leaders which he will deliver on.

    Edu told the NLC that “The President mentioned very clearly that vunurable pensioners should be immediately captured on the National Social Register and benefit from the Conditional Cash Transfer, as part of the National Social Safety Net expansion and this was made clear in his speech on Independence Day where he committed 25,000 Naira for 15million household for three months.”

    She appealed to the NLC to help fast-track the process of collating Data of would-be vulnerable pensioners beneficiaries so that they can start receiving CCT.

    “I want us to fast-track this. If we can get this data and information within two weeks, we are sure that you will be beneficiaries immediately and you can start earning from next month which is November, that’s the main reason why I’m here”, Dr. Edu said.

    She commended Ajaero for being a team player, saying the task of moving Nigeria forward was a collective one and urged him to continue to have faith in the federal government under President Tinubu.

    Responding, Ajaero expressed delight at the various poverty alleviation schemes rolled out by the Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Ministry and the passion and commitment the Minister has for the job.

    He was however of the view that getting to the root cause of poverty would go a long way in addressing the problem.

    “Let’s look at not only how to solve this problem, but the cause of it, if we continue to treat the effects of poverty the problem will persist. Let us look at other social welfare interventions and job creation that will go a long way to support families.

    The NLC boss urged the federal government to create more jobs by creating a productive economy where factories are functioning and employing workers.

    He thanked the Minister for being the first member of the federal executive council to visit the labour house in President Tinubu’s Administration, saying “for finding time to visit the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress, we will work with you to achieve success in this process and your impact will be felt.

    President of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Godwin Abumisi, thanked President Tinubu and the Minister for finding the retirees worthy of the federal government benefits.

    He said Pensioners will receive as low as between five and ten thousand Naira a month, saying twenty five thousand is a big money to them. He thanked the Minister for the Exceptional performance so far urging her to keep up the speed.

    Rasheed Olanrewaju Zubair, (ANIPR)
    Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Honourable Minister.
    05/10/2023.

  • Jarigbe Facilitates The Construction Of 1.5-Kilometer Road In Mbube, Ogoja LGA

     

    The Senator Representing Cross River Northern Senatorial District, Distinguished Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, DSSRS, has facilitated the construction of a 1.5-kilometer Oboso-Aragbang-Egbe Road in Mbube, Ogoja LGA of the senatorial district.

    The Senator was represented by his Constituency officer Mr. Egar Mgbantul who visited the site earlier today, to ascertain the level of work done so far by the contractor. Mr. Egar who was elated by the quality and pace of work done, commended the contractor for grading and commencement of stone base immediately.

    Elders and youths of the communities lauded the lawmaker for always thinking about his constituents, as they prayed for God’s protection upon him and his family.

    TEAM JARI MEDIA