The Lumine News

Author: The Lumine News

  • We Shall Resettle The Ebijakara People, But We Must Love Ourselves; Give Us Peace To Run The Government – Sandy Onor

    We Shall Resettle The Ebijakara People, But We Must Love Ourselves; Give Us Peace To Run The Government – Sandy Onor

    By Elijah Ugani 

    Sen Sandy Onor, the Governorship candidate of the PDP, has promised to resetle the Ebijakara community in Abi Local that was wiped from her settlement during a communal clash if elected governor.

    Sen Onor made the promise while responding to the call from the elders to resetle the Ebijakara community, and assured him that peace have returned.

    Responding, Sen Onor assures that ” We shall resettle the Ebijakara people. But we must love ourselves; give us peace and tranquillity we need to run the government.

    “We will continue with the reconciliatory moves. We would reconstruct the Bahumono ring road based on the peace that would be flourishing in Bahumono community. We must desist form war confrontations.

    “Communal clashes should be banished. I am happy that peace is beginning to return to Bahumono”.

    Responding to the call to address the plight of retirees, Onor noted that “We will give our best to retirees. People give the best to their state and you abandon them without paying them. It is criminal not to pay retirees their entitlements after many years. We shall pay attention to that”.

    Earlier, stakeholders took turns to address Sen Onor as they make their demands;

    Freedom Ejom- Bahumono Clan noted that “We need the rural road from Ebijakara-Ebom-igonigoni, to the tourism at Ebom Lake.

    “We want the people of Ebijakara to come home because we have made peace. We need skill acquisition centres.

    “Bahumono is PDP and locusts have taken over our land so if you assure us of this, we would vote for you”.

    Engr Eleng Richard from Imabana stated that “Looking at this team, I saw a tram that value this state in the past. With this team there is hope for Abi and the state.

    “We need water. We are suffering because our streams are dried up. No hospital in Imabana. We don’t have any reasonable appointment, when you win remember us”.

    Elder Emmanuel Ibanga from Agbo community, held that “We need access road from Ekureku to Annon. We need water to curb outbreak of cholera.

    “We request the completion of the hostel at the Itigidi College of Nursing. We need the rehabilitation of the Songhai farms to boost agricultural productivity.

    “We need a standard police station because of the communal clashes between Adadama and Ebonyi state.

    “We need a boundary demarcation at Adadama to curb this communal clahes between them and Ikwo in Ebonyi state.
    Abi is behind you and would vote massively for Sandy Onor”.

    On her part, Pastor Mrs Eno Oqua, who spoke on behalf of the women and the Elders, posited that “Please empower the women so that they can do farming all year round.

    “The elders are easily forgotten after election. So remember them once you are elected, by giving them little stipends and honorarium. The present government see elders as useless and have no economic value. Please don’t abandone us like Ayade did. Please look into pension and gratuities for senior citizens.

    Speaking on behalf of the youths, Esame Elemi maintained that the youths are very skillful, but that Gov Ayade gave appointments to unskillful people, “We are skilful. Ayade gave appointments to unskillful people. Our lifting will come from you. Remember to give us opportunites if elected”.

  • I Promise Bahumono People That If We Win, We Would Construct This Road And Reactivate The Songai Farms – Sandy Onor

    I Promise Bahumono People That If We Win, We Would Construct This Road And Reactivate The Songai Farms – Sandy Onor

    By Elijah Ugani 

    The Governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party PDP, Sen Sandy Onor has promised to reactivate the Songai Farms, construct the Bahumono and other ring roads as well as provide water for the people of Abi if elected governor.

    Sandy made the promise during an interactive session with traditional rulers at Usumutung, Abi local government area, as part of activities for the statewide campaign of the PDP.

    In his words “I promise Bahumono people that if We win, we would construct this road. We would reactivate the Songai farms, rural water, hospitals and roads. Please vote for PDP with character and integrity so we can move the state forward.

    “As custodians of our tradition, the onus lies on you to tell the truth. Any chief that is incapable of telling the truth would have a divided community. So I want Chiefs to know me for truth. I am not that type of politician that tell lies. We respect our people and fear God. We would make promises we can redeem. It would not profit us anything to tell lies because we want power.

    “PDP had produced great leaders till Ayade came on board who was an outsider and does not understand the political culture of our state.

    “We take our mandate very seriously. Bahumono had hard times in brutal communal wars. We brutalize ourselves and make no progress at all.
    One of the consequences of such communal wars is that it breeds criminal bands.

    “I am doing this because I heard you have been making peace between Ediba and Usumutong. I don’t believe land is so important thay we should begin to kill ourselves.

    I urge the Chiefs to also pray for peace and love in our communities. When we come to government, we would constantly interact with you people to bring lasting peace.

    “PDP is your first husband, please return to us, we shall not disappoint you”.

    On his part, a governor and Chairman of the PDP Campaign Council, Mr Donald Duke averred that he cannot rest because our state is on fire “We cannot rest because our house (state) is on fire. We came out because the state of our state is deplorable.

    “In our time, only two communities were left without light. Abi was the only local government that had electricity in every community. Infrastructures were built here including Pa Imoke bridge.

    “You can do your big projects, but do the small things to increase productivity, healthcare was better but when the undertaker came, paradise was lost. But we have the man who knows the road and would restore the paradise first.

    “We have to restore our state before we talk of how to move forward. We have a lot of work to do and PDP would do it. We should entrust our destiny into their care.

    “So go out and vote because if you don’ t vote, you lose the right to complain. Traditional Rulers should make it a toboo for anyone who is 18 and has no voter’s card or has and refuse to come out and vote. Such people should be ostracized. Don’t allow anybody to intimidate you.

    “We would look into the traditional rulers welfare. When we come in, we would review the stipends to reflect the inflation in our time.

    Responding on behalf of the Traditional Rulers Council, HRM Ovai Solomon Edward, affirmed that “All Sandy has said has element of truth and we are here to let you know that, as far as Abi is concerned, we maintain a very good relationship with all political parties.

    “I know that the society is indeed yearning for good leadership that touches and affect the people.

    “I believe that this time around, God would bring surprises to the leadership”.

     

  • NCF Launch Forest Conservation Program In Cross River State, Sue For Robust Partnership

    NCF Launch Forest Conservation Program In Cross River State, Sue For Robust Partnership

    Culled From CrossRiverWatch 

    The Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) has flagged off its three-year forest conservation program in eight communities in Akamkpa Local Government Area of Southern Cross River State.

    The program which is all about securing important forest resources for nature conservation, eco-tourism, sustainable natural forest resource management as well as maximizing forest potential and capacity for present and future generations was launched during a town hall meeting held at Iko Esai.

    Village and Clan Heads of Iko Ekperem, Ifumkpa, Agoi Ibami, Agoi Ekpo, Old Ekuri, New Ekuri, and Owai communities were present.

    Intimating the communities about the project, the Director-General of NCF, Dr. Joseph Onoja said it is pertinent to secure what is left and inherited from forefathers and have something to pass on to the coming generations.

    He thanked the communities for the protection of the forest reserves which he said has become a reference point of Community Management in Nigeria and Africa.

    Dr. Joseph represented by the Acting Director of Technical Programs, Mr. Adedayo Mamudu further noted that the program is geared towards enhancing the livelihood of the eight communities and supporting their quest to protect the rich forests.

    He prays to the benefiting communities for their cooperation, and support for the more than 1095 days the program will last.

    “The forest type we want to do the project to protect in the next three years is important because it’s one of the remaining important forest ecosystems in Cross River State and an important biodiversity hotspot in Nigeria as it bothers the Cross River National Park.

    “Through the project, we want to have an endearing forest governance structure in place to help enhance the sustainability of the project through which there are other components that seek to address sustainable agricultural practice because it is a critical environment. Also, we want to see what we can do on livelihood enhancement and creating value chain and market linkages for optimum forest products that abound in the forests and also to see how we can network for more mutually beneficial interventions to safeguard the future of the forest and the people within the communities.”

    He reiterated that they came to support the communities effort in protecting their forests.

    The Clan Head of Iko Esai, HRH Ital Obol Awai, expressed gratitude to the foundation saying it is a welcome development provided NCF has come to assist them to preserve their treasured forests and create employment opportunities which have been one amongst numerous challenges plaguing the eight communities.

    “This program and what we have expressed today is what we have been praying for all these while; to help us conserve and manage our forests sustainably. We have been managing our forests but the program of NCF will definitely assist to educate, help and manage the forest in the form of protecting the already natural forest and the animals therein.

    “It is a very welcome development, if the Foundation is ready to assist the communities, what stops us from accepting the NCF; they are well received.”

    He called for synergy between the foundation, the government, and the people.

    The town hall meeting was highly interactive and heart pouring.

    The Youth Leader of Agoi Ebami, Thompson Francis said if there is no sustainable employment for the youths, it will be difficult to stop forest encroachment inferring that government policies have destroyed the forests.

    In a vote of thanks, Ms. Folake Salawu of Green Recovery Nigeria and NCF Coordinator thanked the communities for the opportunity to work with them and looking forward to having a robust relationship.

    The program is funded by Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union (NABU), Germany

     

  • C’River Health Commissioner, Charges Medical Supritendents To Focus On Delivering Effective Heath Care

    C’River Health Commissioner, Charges Medical Supritendents To Focus On Delivering Effective Heath Care

    By Ukongikwen Adie

    The Cross River State Commissioner for Health, Dr Janet David Ekpenyong, has charged Medical Supritendents In the state owned hospitals to focus on delivering effective health care to the citizenry despite the challenges of shortage of manpower in the health sector.

    Dr Ekpenyong gave the charge during a review meeting and progress report on their performance for the year 2021/2022 with all Medical Supritendents of general and cottage hospitals in the state, held in Calabar, the Cross River State capital.

    In her words, “I want to acknowledge your efforts in your various hospitals despite the many challenges you are faced with.

    “Despite these seemingly challenges, I charge you to do everything humanly possible to improve and focus on giving your clients quality health care from the moment they walk into the hospital.

    “While waiting for government interventions, you have to make judicious use of your imprest to enhance facilities in your various hospitals”.

    Ekpenyong further emphasized the need for the hospital administrators to improve on their revenue generation especially for hospitals that are primary health care facilities.

    She assured of further interface with the Medical Supritendents to proffer solutions to their challenges.

    Ekpenyong added that “With His Excellency, Sen Ben Ayade’s approval, more hands would be brought in at all levels to ensure quality health care delivery in the state”.

    Earlier, the Medical Supritendents in the state owned hospitals, took turns to presented their reports, in the following order; Medical Superintendents of General Hospital Calabar, Lawrence Henshaw Memorial Hospital Calabar South, Eja Memorial Hospital Itigidi, General Hospitals Ogoja, Obubra, Akampka and Okpoma, Cottage hospital Akpet Central and the Eyecare Programme in School of Health Technology, Calabar.

    Principal among the complains brought by the Medical Superintendents were: acute shortage of manpower, inadequate facilities, encroachment on hospital land, security and inadequate power supply amongst others as some of the challenges affecting their effective delivery.

    They called on the government to employ more hands as they are currently grossly understaffed and as a result, health care delivery services are affected.

  • Unical VC Visits Student Involved In Auto Crash, Offers Financial Assistance

    Unical VC Visits Student Involved In Auto Crash, Offers Financial Assistance

     

    The Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof. Florence Banku Obi, has visited a year-one student of the institution, Likita Desmond, who was involved in an auto crash along Ikom-Calabar highway on January 8, 2023.

    Desmond left Makurdi to Calabar for school resumption before the unfortunate incident occurred.

    The VC, who visited the student at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, offered financial assistance to him for his medication.

    Prof. Obi, thereafter, directed the Director of UNICAL Medical Centre to liaise with the management of UCTH for his treatment.

    While wishing Desmond a quick recovery, the VC urged students of the institution to take advantage of the T-Ship programme for their medical needs.

    She stressed that the university under her administration places premium on the health of students, hence the need for them to visit the institution’s medical center for their medication and other health issues.

    Desmond’s mother, who responded on behalf of her son, thanked the VC for the show of motherly love for his son and for coming to the hospital to visit them.

  • We Are Yet To See The Referral Hospital Ayade Promised To Build In Etung – Traditional Rulers Council

    We Are Yet To See The Referral Hospital Ayade Promised To Build In Etung – Traditional Rulers Council

    We Are Yet To See The Referral Hospital Ayade Promised To Build In Etung

    By DOMINIC KIDZU Reporting from Bendeghe

    The people of Etung Local Government Area has stated that they are yet to see the referral hospital that Gov Ayade promised to build in Etung, despite being one of the local governments with the highest Internally Generated Revenue for the state.

    Speaking during a town hall meeting at Bendeghe Ekim, the Clan Head, HRH Augustine Agbor Imoh, stated that “The referral hospital Ayade Promised to build in Etung has not been built.

    “After the groundbreaking they left and now Fulani herdsmen have taken over the place. They promised to build a super highway for us but all they did was to harvest timber and sell”.

    Even members of the APC in Etung would admit that they had never seen anything like what they beheld in Benedeghe yesterday. And it was not about the extraordinary motorcade either. It was about the fever of love for a man who had led them before as Chairman and left indelible prints on the sands of time.

    When Senator Sandy Onor asked the people “what has the APC done in Bendeghe, the loud ovation was “nothing oooo”. I constructed the stretch of road leading into the community. The Town Hall we are sitting in right now, I completed and furnished it because we love our people. We say things and we mean them. Look at Governor Donald Duke, We saw a car in Southern Etung for the first time in our lives during the tenure of Donald Duke. That is what governors should do, they should create impact.

    “They got our cocoa farms, shared amongst themselves and left very little for our people. The APC is planning violence but we are stronger than the APC because we have the support of the people and we have been focused and responsible and we will win”.

    Former Governor, Donald Duke told the chiefs “I have been effusive in my endorsement of Sandy even though there is a candidate from my senatorial zone, because it is not about zones, it is about capacity, it is about genuine love for our state, it is about being prepared for the office of Governor and Sandy is prepared.”

    Speaking further, Duke said that “sixteen years after I left office, our state has been taken backwards because we made the mistake of handing over the state to an undertaker. Governor Imoke brought us a total stranger and I sympathize with him.

    “One time I told Ayade, give the people water, light and small projects that will change their lives. But he didn’t listen. All he wanted was mega this and super that. Minister of Works, Fashola once called me to speak to our Governor about the devastation of the forest because the United Nations was very concerned, and when I tried to do so he asked me what was the business of the UN in our state.

    “We had the largest forest reserve perhaps in all of West Africa, now we have nothing. Sandy has been prepared for this job. Come rain come shine I stand for Sandy and I stand with Sandy because I know what he is capable of doing. I have senior and junior brothers, Imoke has senior and junior brothers, but we didn’t flaunt them, we didn’t give them unfair advantage over others because we were Governor.

    “Government is shift work. For eight years as governor I never heard of or met a Ben Ayade that shows that he is a total stranger. I don’t hate him, in fact, I like him because he makes me laugh. He is not a bad person, he is just a confused man. Ben Ayade is a lesson to us all to take politics more seriously.

    “I will like my brother from the South to be governor but I ask myself, is he capable of the job? That is the question we should all ask ourselves. If Sandy disappoints me I will lose faith in human beings. All that we are saying about Ayade may it not be Sandy’s portion in Jesus name. It is true that Etung is one of the smallest local government areas in this state but from the smallest the greatest shall arise”.

    Donald Duke spoke with passion about the state he once led as Governor and the people responded with love and with believe in the choice of Senator Sandy Onor and the certainty of a better tomorrow with the People’s Democratic Party.

  • Sandy Is The Last Hope For Cross River, If He Fails Me, Them I Will Lose Hope In Humanity – Donald Duke

    Sandy Is The Last Hope For Cross River, If He Fails Me, Them I Will Lose Hope In Humanity – Donald Duke

    By Elijah Ugani 

    Former Gov Donald Duke and Chairman of the PDP Campaign Council, has stated that if not for Gov Ben Ayade, that Liyel Imoke brought who have taken the State back by 20 years, Cross River State would have been ahead of many states. He argued that Sandy is the last Hope for Cross River State.

    Duke made assertion during the PDP Campaign Council consultation with Etung Traditional Rulers held on January 19th 2023.

    His words “If not for the undertaker, Gov Ben Ayade, that Liyel Imoke brought who have taken the State back by 20 years, we would have been ahead of many states. So the royal fathers should be wise enough to vote for Sandy, because Sandy is the last Hope for Cross River State. And if Sandy loses, then I will be very sad.

    “When Sandy stood for the primaries, I kept quiet, but when Sandy clinched the ticket I told myself this is the man who would turn things for good in our state.

    “Sometimes we pray and the prayers are not answered, sometime we pray and the prayers are answered, all these teaches us a lesson. We must learn from our past.

    Speaking further, Duke said he will lose faith in humanity if Sandy fails to deliver to cross riverians good governance “If Sandy fails me, l will lose faith in human being, but l know he will not fail. l know him and he has been tutored by past good leaders. Sandy is for the entire State, not just for Etung.” Said Duke.

    Responding on behalf of the Traditional Rulers Council, HRH Augustine Agbor Imoh, thanked the PDP Campaign Council, especially former Donald Duke, for the bold step taken to reposition the state. He stated that Sen Sandy’s performance as Etung Local Government Council Chairman remains unmatched. As senator, he has spread projects across all the local governments in the Central Senatorial District.

    The royal father used the opportunity to appeal to other traditional rulers to support Sen Sandy Onor “I appeal to my fellow chiefs to support Sandy and all other candidates of the PDP”. Said he.

    The royal blessings was performed by HRH Obase Etim Obase.

    On his part, the governorship candidate of the PDP, Sen Sandy Onor maintained that he undertook a lot of projects as Chairman of Etung and as senator of the federal republic. “I did a lot of projects as chairman of Etung local government area and as Senator of the federal Republic.

    “Come March 11th, 2023, the chiefs should go out and vote for me because when I become governor, I will make a difference for the people.

    “I am worried at the action of some people among the community whose behaviours are repugnant and negates the doctrine of live and let’s live.

    “PDP is campaigning and APC is quietly plotting how to cause violence and rig the election.

    “I enjoin you not only to give all PDP candidates your royal father’s blessings, but should talk to your subjects to go out there and collect their PVCs and do the right thing by voting the right Party -PDP”.

  • CBN To Sanction Banks Dispensing Old Naira Notes In Cross River

    CBN To Sanction Banks Dispensing Old Naira Notes In Cross River

    Culled From Leadership 

    Arrangements have been concluded by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to sanction any commercial bank, which still dispenses old Naira notes to its customers in Cross River State beginning from Thursday, January 19, 2023.

    CBN Branch Controller in the State, Mrs Glory Iniunam, disclosed this on Thursday in Calabar, while answering questions from journalists shortly after sensitizing Calabar market women on the re-designed new Naira notes.

    Mrs Iniunam, who though did not mention the kind of punishment to be meted out to any erring bank, threatened that the apex bank would from Thursday not hesitate to wield its sledge hammer on any bank, which fails to adhere to the directive of dispensing new Naira notes to customers.

    She added that the CBN would henceforth not take it lightly with any of the commercial banks that dispenses old Naira notes to its customers via Automated Teller Machine (ATM).

    “Visit the nearest bank or any Shared Agent Network Expansion Facilities SANEF agent, to deposit your old N200, N500 and N1,000 banknotes.

    “We are here to sensitize the people about the redesigned Naira notes and its acceptance. Let them know that as at January 31, 2023, old notes will cease to be legal tender.

    “As at February 1, 2023, new notes will come to bed completely. There will be no acceptance of old notes anymore.

    “Anybody who carry old notes should carry the old notes to bank.

    “From now, banks are not supposed to dispense old notes. We have given them new notes,” she maintained.

    The CBN Branch Controller added, “You can still collect the old notes from over the counter and use. But before January 31, take it back to the banks, by then, they must have received enough. We have given them new notes.”

    Iniunam further warned that it has become a sanctionable offense for any bank ATM to dispense old Naira notes given the fact that banks have been given enough new Naira notes to dispense to thier customers.

    She urged villages, towns and communities without banks to group themselves together and write to the CBN for the apex bank to make PoS machines available to them, so that they can have access to new Naira notes.

  • Under Gov Ayade, Some Of Us Were Given Clan Heads Seven Years Ago, And We Are Still Receiving Stipends As Village Heads.

    Under Gov Ayade, Some Of Us Were Given Clan Heads Seven Years Ago, And We Are Still Receiving Stipends As Village Heads.

    By Elijah Ugani 

    Ikom Traditional Rulers Council has berated Gov Ben Ayade over what they described as abysmal performance, citing the filthy and stinking nature of the once beautiful streets of Calabar and his deliberate attempts to undermine the functions of the traditional institution, and stressed that some of them were given clan Heads seven years ago, but they are still receiving stipends as Village Heads.

    Speaking on behalf of the Traditional Rulers Council, as was delegated by HRM Ntolemang Dr Peter NfuKu, Paramount Ruler of Ikom Local Government Council, the Clan Head of Ekpokpo, HRH Ntun Bassey Okey, during a consultative forum by the People’s Democratic Party PDP Campaign Council, held on the 19th January 2023, at Ikom, the traditional leaders held that “Some of us were given clan heads seven years ago and we are still receiving the stipends of a village head. Village heads have not been certificate.

    “Some of the Village Heads are yet to be issued certificates which makes it very difficult for them to discharge their duties. Their subjects challenge them and tell them that they are not recognized as Village Heads”.

    Speaking further, royal father averred that the once beautiful streets of Calabar has been littered with refuse against the intentions of Gov Donald Duke. “Refuse has taken over the streets of Calabar against the intentions of Gov Donald Duke.

    “Duke did everything humanly possible to put us on global recognition. Our schools are shattered, everything is gone. Very unfortunate that under this present APC government that promised us change, we have seen the change, everything has changed from good to bad. Our children know when they go to school, but don’t know when they will graduate.

    “Nigerian has changed from good to bad. In Cross River State, we don’t have anybody who can revive us apart from what we have seen here today.

    “We would speak to our ancestors and they would listen to us and you would win and succeed with your team. Success is yours from what we have seen. Go in peace”.

  • I Commend You For Enduring The Sufferings For 7 And Half Years And You Would Be Stronger – Donald Duke To Ikom Traditional Rulers

    I Commend You For Enduring The Sufferings For 7 And Half Years And You Would Be Stronger – Donald Duke To Ikom Traditional Rulers

    By Elijah Ugani 

    The former Governor of Cross River State and Chairman, PDP Campaign Council, Mr Donald Duke has commended the Ikom Traditional Rulers Council for enduring the long sufferings mated on cross riverians by the government of Sen Ben Ayade and assured them that things are going to be better.

    Former Governor Duke made the remarks during the PDP consultation with the Traditional Rulers on January 19th 2023 at Ikom.

    In his words “I commend you for enduring the sufferings for seven and half years and you will be stronger.

    “This is the time for your all to stand up and be counted. This election would determine the next level of the state. If what has happened in the state is right, then vote for them, but if not vote wisely for the future of your children.

    “We want to groom young people. But you don’t get it by sitting down and hoping for honey. Don’t wait for monthly alert and other forms of deception”

    Speaking further, Duke called on community leaders to effect the needed change. “We call on community leaders to effect this change because our communities are decaying. We believe in you and your subjects.

    “Sandy is the arrowhead to rescue the state at this time. It has nothing to do with where you come from. We hope with him things would be different. We need restoration and if we don’t get it right this time, we are doomed”

    On his part, the Governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party PDP, Sen Sandy Onor thanked the Ikom Traditional Rulers Council for honoring his invitation and maintained that “We came to formerly let you know that I am the official candidate of PDP.

    “Chiefs are custodians of truth. The voice of the people is the voice of God. We must stand up together and repair our state.

    “We have quality people and would give you quality representation.

    “Old Ikom has never had the privilege or opportunity of producing a governor. And we have not done anything wrong.

    “We have joined hands in the past to make others governor. So they should join hands to reciprocate our gesture. We are qualified, we have the intellectual capacity and are in the right party.

    “I have been endorsed by Duke and Imoke whose years as governors were brilliant.

    “And then Gov Ayade came and put the state in reverse gear instead of going forward, we are going backward. They have turned things upside down. Govt has been reduced to wururu.

    “They recruit young men with no office and job description and then pay them higher than the chiefs that govern our land.

    “All the APC candidates would resemble Gov Ayade. Your mandate is a value and trust. It should be used responsibly”.