The Lumine News

Category: 2023 General Election

  • 2023: Come Up WITH Revolutionary Ideas To Change Cause Of things In C’ River, Sen Onor Charges Youths

    2023: Come Up WITH Revolutionary Ideas To Change Cause Of things In C’ River, Sen Onor Charges Youths

     

    By Judex Okoro, Calabar

    Cross River governorship candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Sen. Sandy Onor, has called on the youths to come up with revolutionary ideas to change the cause of things in the ahead of 2023 in the state.

    Speaking at PDP Town Hall meeting of major youth stakeholders and leaders of support groups organized by WANBONEH group and held in Calabar on Friday, Onor, representing Cross River senatorial district, said the youths, with a lot of energy, have a say in the state and that is why he made a forty-one year-old lady as his deputy governor.

    He disclosed that those who have ruled the state in the past were in their youthful age and urged them not to be allow selfish politicians to manipulate their youthful energy, adding that life is full of vicissitudes but with purpose and determination they can conquer.

    He said: “I have worked with youths and believe in youthful energy because as a youth I was a party chairman. But look at my age and so things must change. I am not going to lead Cross Riverians astray. I would tell you the truth and be practical with ourselves by returning to our land and harvest the nature’s gift.

    “It is high time youths stopped being manipulated by those who don’t have their interest at heart and should neither listen to people who manipulate their energy to achieve a purpose and later dump them, promising to empower them in practical terms once he is elected in 2023 and not on the food-on-the-table agenda.”

    On the issue of back-to-south zoning arrangement, he said: “The issue of zoning was too emotional thereby undermining the mission of our struggle. Besides, the party primaries were too competitive and everybody who came was a quality material to be toyed with. So, let us try and put beyond the acrimonies of yesterday. I love back-to-back to south movement because it has its own energy. I have worked for the south before those clamouring now.

    “I was the chairman of the defunct Democratic Party of Nigeria (DPN) as a youth and I supported southern candidates. So, we should shun ethnic politics to move the state forward because we are in a mess. When I win, I would be blind to ethnicity. I believe in quality as long as you can add value to the government.

    “In the history of the state, nobody has dominated one another neither any group has. So, why are people trying to divide us because we have commonalities? For now, we should look at competing fiercely and favourably with whosoever APC brings. And now is the time for PDP youths to rise to the occasion. Therefore, I caution the youths against engaging in anti-party because it does not help anyone and it is a smack of hypocrisy and witchcraftcy.”

    Earlier in his welcome address, the National Leader of WANBONEH, Comrade Asu Abang, said the stakeholders’ meeting was organized as part of healing processes among the youths and see how they can come together to deliver the PDP candidates across board.

    Abang said: “We wanted to seat together and discuss some issues that arose from the primaries across the state. As stakeholders, the youths have significant roles to play ahead of 2023. We know some youths are angry over the non-realisation of back-to-south arrangement in terms of the governorship.

    “However, now that we have chosen who leads us at all levels, it is imperative all the youths speak in unison and move into the field and mobilise the electorate for PDP because when we win, all us would be better for it. This is not the time for blame-game as we must come out with zeal and determination to reclaim the state from APC.”

     

  • Wike Dissociates From Suit Challenging Atiku’s Candidacy

    Wike Dissociates From Suit Challenging Atiku’s Candidacy

    Rivers State Governor, Mr Nyesom Wike few moments ago (Friday) distanced himself from a purported suit said to have been filed by him seeking the removal of Atiku Abubakar as presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in next year’s general election.

    This comes few hours after some media outfits had reported that Wike had ordered the removal of PDP flags in Rivers State government house, which also turned out to be false.

    In an exclusive chat with THISDAY, the Governor denied knowing anything whatsoever about the purported suit or even knowing the lawyers who filed the suit in the first instance. “I don’t know anything about the so called suit. I did not ask anyone to file any suit for me”

    The media was on Friday morning awash with reports that Governor Wike and one Chieftain of the PDP, Mr Newgent Ekamon, had dragged the PDP to court seeking the removal of Atiku as Candidate of the PDP in next year’s presidential polls.

    According to the purported suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/782/2022, the plaintiffs were said to have hinged their claims on the grounds that the PDP primary conferred undue advantage on Atiku which aided his emergence as candidate of the PDP in the May 28 and 29 primary.

    Reacting to the publication, Wike flatly denied the suit said to have been filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja. He described the suit as the handiwork of mischief makers who merely want to use him to score cheap political goals.

    He stated emphatically, “I don’t know the lawyers”. Continuing, he said, “am I a kid to be filing a suit at this time. I had 14 days after the primary within which to have filed any suit. I didn’t do that then, is it two months after primary I will file a suit?

    He also recalled that, “just yesterday they came up with the claim that I ordered my Chief Security Officer to pull down PDP flag in Government House. This is all false, it’s all propaganda. Some people are trying to use me to win the election. Please disregard all these lies”.

    ThisDay

  • Dear Prince Otu, Don’t Start From Where We Are Leaving BY AGBA JALINGO

    Dear Prince Otu, Don’t Start From Where We Are Leaving BY AGBA JALINGO

     

    We are leaving somewhere. Like, departing from a place of discomfort to another destination. That should happen in exactly 291 days. It is important for all of us to make sure we remind whoever will take over the reins of power from Governor Ayade, whether it is the ruling or the opposition party, that we are reading their lips and preparing their marking scheme.

    Prince Otu, the APC guber candidate was on a thank-you tour of Cross River North recently. I think they had a good time going round without any major incident of violence or chaos. That is very commendable. Two things however have been sticking out like the sore toes of an elephantiasis infected feet. Among the events that took place in the North, Otu’s supporters have been particular about two. The spraying of money from an open roof car in Bekwarra for people to pick from the ground and Otu’s promise to revamp Okuku Market in Yala LGA, if he becomes our next governor.

    While Otu supporters called what happened in Abuochiche junction the triumphal arrival of Prince Otu, to a tumultuous welcome, what I saw was people throwing Naira notes from the open roof of a speeding vehicle and luring poor villagers to scramble for a pick among bikes that could have hit anyone. Let me be very clear that in Nigerian politics and during campaign seasons, it is not only Prince Otu or his supporters that will be caught in this. Having said that, that cannot be a standard we will accept or tolerate in our State.

    First, Prince Otu was a member of the National Assembly that passed the CBN Act which criminalizes the denigration of Naira notes in the manner we saw in Bekwarra. In a place where laws work, all those caught on video spraying or trampling on those notes should be facing a magistrate by now. Secondly, it smacks of taking our people for granted because of their poverty, anytime someone who says they want to go and lead us and alleviate our poverty, come around and begin to throw Naira notes to the ground for peoples’ fathers, mothers, aunties and youths to trample on themselves and pick and fight over after the convoys are far gone.

    The toe, knee and elbow injuries they sustain in the running and falling, the risk of being knocked down by a rushing vehicle, are all part of the wickedness infested by such despicable show of shame. These are not sights that should be celebrated. Our people are not dogs and food should not be thrown to them on the ground. Dogs too don’t eat from the ground any longer. Even Ayade is putting the food on the table. He is not throwing it on the ground.

    Prince Otu was also quoted as saying: “I spent most of my school days in the North, and during that time, people come from all over the country to buy at the Okuku market. I will revive that market and make sure that happens again in my time.” Now, this is where I want to caution that we cannot continue from where we are leaving. Stop the bogus promises and stop them now please. We are tired of these bogus gargantuan and olympotic promises. Do what the laws says.

    We need to tell Prince Otu early enough that, if by any chance he becomes our governor, rather than bother about fixing Okuku market, he should promise Cross Riverians that, he will not touch or pilfer LGA funds like all his predecessors have been doing and will allow the LGAs to work and function as enshrined in our Constitution. If he does that, Okuku market will function as he desires without his intervention. Historically, markets have always been out of the purview of governors even from colonial administration. Communities and local chiefs have always had a way to manage their market places peacefully until big government began to unfairly interfere.

    Let us also remind Prince Otu again that, sub(e) of the Fourth Schedule of the 1999 Constitution, clearly vests the establishment, maintenance and regulation of slaughter houses, slaughter slabs, *markets* , motor parks and public conveniences on LGAs and not on Governors. It is the refusal of the governors to do what the law says that is killing markets like the one in Okuku and several others across the State. I am very sure that even that time Otu spent in the North like he said, the Okuku market he says was doing well and bringing people from across the country was developed and run by the LGA not the State government.

    We shall continue to standby and gather together what those who want to lead us are promising us on their way to power and keep the promises as their marking scheme. This will serve as a good reminder and a wealthy library for the social contract.

    Yours sincerely,
    Citizen Agba Jalingo.

  • PDP Is Home, Etung/Obubra Will Deliver 100% For PDP – Stakeholders

    PDP Is Home, Etung/Obubra Will Deliver 100% For PDP – Stakeholders

    By: Odenke-Odemonke Ibiang

    As the drive for reconciliation by the Efiok Cobham Led PDP reconciliation Committee continue to yield result across the state, party faithfuls, aspirants for Obubra and Etung State House of Assembly as well as the candidate for Obubra/Etung federal constituency have assured the team of their readiness to put aside all grievances and work for the success of the party in all the 21 wards of Obubra and Etung Local Government Areas.

    Party faithfuls present at the meeting took turns to trace the history of the PDP in Cross River state and Obubra, and harped on the need to stay United in other to Reclaim it’s stolen mandate from the failed government occupying leopard house in Calabar.

    They also recounted the sacrifices made by their illustrious son, late John Okpa to bring PDP and democracy to Cross River state and so were not in the hurry to betray their son by voting other parties in the forthcoming general elections in 2023.

    The stalwarts emphasized that it was their responsibility to ensure that PDP Obubra remains one indivisible body, and assured the reconciliation committee that as the federal constituency that houses the Gubernatorial candidate, they would leave no stone unturned in turning out massive votes for the PDP from their various units in the forthcoming general elections.

  • Mass Defection Hits APC As 5,000 Members Defects To PDP In Cross River North

    Mass Defection Hits APC As 5,000 Members Defects To PDP In Cross River North

     

    The battle for the soul of Cross River state has continued to gather momentum as about 5, 000 All Progressives Congress (APC) members have defected to Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the northern senatorial zone.

    The defectors include former APC wards and chapter officers, women leaders, leaders of Hausa community in Ogoja, Yala, Bekwarra, Oabnliku and Obudu as well candidate
    in the last Ogoja/Yala federal constitiency and aspirants in the làst congresses.

    Receiving the thosands of defectors at TTC field Igoli-Ogoja on Saturday, the Vice Chairman of PDP Northern Senatorial district, Chief Austine Edibe, commended them for their courage to join the party at this nick of time.

    He enjoined them to go back to their respective wards and work for the success of PDP in 2023, adding that the wards that deliver highest votes would re-warded with more dividends of democracy.

    Also welcoming the defectors,
    Sen Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, advised them to be loyal to party leadership at their various wards and be steadfast, assuring them of more empowerment programmes to accommodate them.

    According to him, “this is the time for the defectors to tie their belts and reject any form of inducements in readiness for the battle ahead.”

    Earlier, the former Deputy Governor, Efiok Cobham, said the defectors should join the “operation vote APC out”and called on them to get their PVCs ready to bring back PDP.

    Some of the defectors expressed their readiness to work for PDP, saying “we are back to our root.”

    One the defectors and a former chapter treasurer of APC Obudu, Agim Joseph Agim, said they came back to PDP because of the love for Sen Jarigbe and to be part of the succes story ahead of 2023.

    Also speaking, Ushie James Odey, former APC secretary Ukpah ward in Bekwarra, said: “We have worked for APC for seven years and i got nothing neither was I empowered. So, I decided to defect to PDP where I can be given human treatment.”

    For John Brown Ugbada from Yala, he said: “I came over with about 300 APC members. We are returning to PDP to enable us work for PDP and reposition Yala local governement area.”

    For Dominic Ebi, a former LP candidate for the last Yala/Ogoja federal constituency by-election, he said: “I have returned to PDP because it is a family that has a reward system.”

  • APC National Women Leader, Dr Betta Edu Becomes Ambassador Of APC Young Women, Donates 10M For Mobilization Of Young Women

    APC National Women Leader, Dr Betta Edu Becomes Ambassador Of APC Young Women, Donates 10M For Mobilization Of Young Women

     

    All Progressives Congress National Women Leader, Dr Betta Edu was today honoured as an ‘Ambassador’ of young women in APC by the Progressive Young Women Forum (PYWF) in Abuja.

    While delivering her address at the event, the president, Osamaye Seun Bosede said the honour was in recognition of the sterling achievements of Dr Edu and her support for the growth of APC women across the 36 States plus FCT of the federation.

    “You are our Mother and Amazon, this award is in recognition of your outstanding supports and contributions to the growth and development of millions of Progressive Young women forum in the APC and Nigeria. Your efforts at pushing women to achieve excellence is amazing and this is our own modest efforts to appreciate you” Osamaye said.

    In her response, Dr Edu expressed her gratitude to them and enjoined them to massively mobilise support for the APC in the 2023 presidential election.

    In her words ” the coming election will be largely determined by young people, we must all be ready to mobilize more than 20million votes for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for him to win the presidential election. We have started ‘operation 1000 young women per ward’ who will be anchor for young women in that ward. we must make it happen in our various wards in all the States”

    She donated the sum of 10million naira to the youths to help state representatives of Progressive Young Women Forum to mobilize young women in their respective states for the success of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the APC presidential flag bearer in the 2023 election.

    Dr. Betta Edu is now an ambassador of millions of young women in APC.

    The APC-PYWF is an APC women mobilization group with membership of over 20million young women between the ages of 18-40.

  • Nigerian Automobile Technicians Association, Ogoja Endorse Sen Jarigbe Agom For Senate 2023

    Nigerian Automobile Technicians Association, Ogoja Endorse Sen Jarigbe Agom For Senate 2023

     

    The Ogoja LGA chapter of the Nigerian Automobile Technicians Association, have endorsed Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe for Senate ahead of the 2023 general election.

    The group which made the briefing earlier today during her PVC Sensitization Campaign and Mobilization, have called on the people of Cross River Northern Senatorial District to re-elect Senator Jarigbe for another term to enable him consolidate and continue his transformational projects and policies.

    They explained that, the refined lawmaker has done exceptionally well in critical sectors such as; law making, education, youth empowerment, health, infrastructural development and many others.

    The group further declared support for all PDP candidates in the State, ranging from the State House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Governorship, as well as the Presidency.

    TEAM JARI MEDIA

  • The Choice Before Cross River People Is A Simple One BY DOMINIC KIDZU

    The Choice Before Cross River People Is A Simple One BY DOMINIC KIDZU

     

    There is really no difficulty in making the supreme choice come 2023 for the people of Cross River State as it will be indeed for the people of Nigeria, because the issues are not complicated in the least, and the choices are etched in simple bold print. It will be the choice between crass failure, criminal negligence and pathological telling of lies to the people and a broad new canvass of opportunity to try someone new, someone vibrant and credible. It will be a choice between the impunity, the audacity and the recklessness of the current administration and the broad promise of a serious alternative that will be forthright and respect systems, conventions and propriety while working for the good of the people. It is going to be refreshing to listen to the Governor or his aides speak and to believe what one hears in a way that has been impossible for over seven years now.

    As Senator Sandy Onoh cryptically hinted in Saint Charles Catholic parish, Obudu, the day after he received the cross of Saint Gregory the great; “We are not going to tell lies to our people when we get into government. We shall be honest with our people. We shall promise what we can do and shall not promise what we cannot do. The simple reason that you are in government is not sufficient for you to become a liar to your fellow citizens who put you in office “.

    And now at last the chicken are coming home to roost because there is a whirlwind of political consciousness and rebirth that is demanding restitution for the years of plundering and a new start for the stricken Cross River State, despoiled and raped by the present leadership that does not seem to understand when enough is enough. As Mahatma Gandhi put it “Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s need, but not every man’s greed.” If only they know when to stop and think and begin to repair. We the people must rescue ourselves by taking sides with our dear state, since brinkmanship has fallen flat on its face. As accordingto Martin Luther King Jnr, “There comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but he must take it because his conscience tells him it is right.” Ala General Yakubu Gowon, to kick APC out of Cross River State is a job that must be done!

    The APC is in a glass jar and we can now all see what it contains. The indices at last have vindicated the PDP because facts and figures don’t lie. A vote for the APC in Cross River is a validation of failure as our new standard of measurement. A vote for APC is a vote for the continuation of the years of famine, for the rule of the artful dodgers and crafty contrivers.

    A vote for people who believe Oscar Wilde’s joke that ” any man who lives within his means suffers from a painful lack of imagination.” There shall be no more salaries because the banks will shut their doors against them. Already business activities have grinded to a halt. There shall be weeping and knashing of teeth and this land shall be left desolate.

    Unfortunately, Sweetprince, the party’s governorship candidate, is just a sacrificial lamb whose role will be to wash the putrefaction of his sponsors with hyssop and leave his followers holding the can. We all have a responsibility to save Sweetprince, (God bless his kind heart) from himself and the bagage
    men pulling him by the tither. Because they will make a mess of him. They will dent his image. They will destroy his reputation. They will place the rot of eight years squarely upon his head and continue to ask for more. They will make his name a byword, even amongst his kith and kin. And he shall not be able to utter one word contrariwise in his own defence.

    The descent to infamy shall be swift. And, alas, in the end Sweetprince will become Bitterprince and things will fall apart, and the centre will nolonger hold, because he can only be a puppet on the leash of the master godfathers who cannot be satisfied or surpassed. And then ofcourse, a cow will not give birth to a goat. The old Sweetprince shall depart poste haste, leaving behind a grotesque reincarnation of gorgon medusa, a scary king in the service of his earthly gods who have chained him to the floor in advance. And this fallen house, to borrow the words of Karl Maier, shall finally crumble into nothingness.

  • Federal High Court Abakaliki Strikes Out Suit Seeking To Recognize Umahi As Senatorial Candidate For Ebonyi South.

    Federal High Court Abakaliki Strikes Out Suit Seeking To Recognize Umahi As Senatorial Candidate For Ebonyi South.

    The court affirmed Ann Agomeze as the authentic APC senatorial candidate for Ebonyi South Senatorial district.

    Gov. Umahi through his counsel and elder brother, Roy Nwaze had dragged the Independent National Electoral Commission,INEC to the FHC sitting in Abakaliki, to compel the commission to recognize Umahi as the authentic senatorial candidate for Ebonyi South.

    Nwaze argued that the governor’s name should be recognized by INEC, hence the first winner of the election which took place in Afikpo North LGA of the senatorial district.

    Also, Mudi Erhenedi, a counsel to Senator Mike Nnachi , who is representing Ebonyi South senatorial zone and candidate of the PDP had approached the same court to be joined in the suit, with the aim of stopping Umahi from being enlisted by INEC.

  • We Must Reclaim Cross River State – Barr Ekpo Ada, Gershom Bassey DG

    We Must Reclaim Cross River State – Barr Ekpo Ada, Gershom Bassey DG

     

    The Director General of the Senator Gershom Bassey Campaign Organization (Team-Gersh), Barr Ekpo Asuquo Ada has reteriated the need to reclaim and restore Cross River State.

    Barr. Ada made this known on July 21st, 2022 during a welcome rally in his honour at the Caterpillar Movement Campaign Secretariat, #143 Ndidem Usang Iso Road, Calabar Cross River State.

    Welcoming Barr Ekpo Asuquo, the DG Caterpillar Movement, Chief Joe Obi Bisong the leader of Team Gersh on behalf of his principal drew the attention of the supporters to the supremacy of the party as he said, “As party men and women we ‘re conversant with the tone that the party is supreme. The political journey is a journey that you start alone and as you grow you continue to gather more people to join you. If you’re not well behaved, those around you will continue to leave until you get to your destination alone”.

    Chief Joe Obi further explored the harmonious relationship that existed between Barr Ekpo and himself and maintain that “We started this journey for the search of the governor of our state together with my brother and bossom friend, Barr Ekpo Ada. Chief Gershom Bassey appointed him DG, while Senator Onor appointed me DG. All through the period of campaigns, we never had disagreement because we believe politics is the people and politics is interest. At the end of the primaries we made frantic efforts as brothers and friends and as colleagues which brought us to this position. We spoke extensively with Senator Gershom Bassey and his team, we had several meetings. Let me state on record that Senator Gershom Bassey gave us a deputy governor and today, the big fish has arrived”.

    He assured Barr Ekpo Ada of equal stake as DG in the quest to reclaim Cross River State. “On behalf of our principal and candidate of our great party, Dist Senator Prof Sandy Ojang Onor, I welcome you and be rest assured you have equal stake and equal stand as DG because you’re a good DG”.

    Responding, Barr Ada charged his supporters to work for the success of the PDP in order to be relevant and likened politics to the game of soccer when he said: “In this business it is like a football Match. If you’re not in the field to play constantly you would loose your form. We must take the scene. We must support Prof. Sandy Onor and Lady Emana Duke. We must reclaim Cross River State.”

    The legal luminary further outlined his expectations when he said: “All we ask from our candidate is good governance. A government that is all inclusive, a government that would not have refuse all over the streets, government that would not be full of lies, government that would not deceive our people that we have projects that are nowhere to be found. A government that won’t be geo-ethnically nepotic”.

    He concluded by saying, “I ‘ve been working very closely with the DG Caterpillar Movement. He’s my brother, he’s my friend, he’s my colleague, we were councillors together. And let me tell all of you, I had the course to sit with Senator Prof. Sandy Onor, I told him clearly that my people of the south we’re still watching to see what he would do. The fact that he has called me, as small as I am and he picked up his phone and called me and said let us have a chat and I sat with him, there’s a lot that I ‘ve seen. It’s not about your brother. Sometimes your brother can be on the street. All of us are from the south and we know what we have passed through in the south. Let’s stand up and work. PDP must win!”

    Caterpillar Movement Media