The Lumine News

Category: 2023 General Election

  • The People Of Cross River North Are Suffering Indirectly Because Of The Distraction From Ayade – Jarigbe

    The People Of Cross River North Are Suffering Indirectly Because Of The Distraction From Ayade – Jarigbe

    Politics of Primitive Acquisition : A Man cannot have 4 years in the Senate and 8 years as Governor, without meaningful achievements and be rewarded with a Senatorial Seat or a Ministerial Position.

    I hear, about fifty (50) of my Constituents from Cross River North have been ferried to Calabar, to appear as Witnesses for Ayade, in the Petition filed by Ayade against me, over the last Cross River North Senatorial Election. I also hear there is a failed attempt at conscripting Inec to give evidence against me. I trust Inec on this and they will never act arbitrarily. The problem with people like my Opponent is that, they believe it is possible to get everything in this World if you have acquired some money. Let us not forget that when money is made, at the expense of service delivery to the common Man, it haunts you for a life time. That is the baggage my Opponent has.

    We can all see that Ayade is up against his supposed Mentee, for the Ministerial Position coming to Cross River State. His supposed Mentee is even miles ahead of him, in consideration for that Position. He is also at the Tribunal to compromise an election, I defeated him in, with about twenty thousand votes. This is a Man that I was in the forefront of making Governor in 2015, when Gov Imoke practically spoon fed him to becoming a Governor.

    Everyone knows Ayade was rejected by our People. His rejection affected even the House of Assembly Elections, where his Party only clinched one Seat out of 6 HoA Seats in Cross River North. My Party (PDP) won 4 Seats. Is this not enough evidence to show that
    he was rejected?. He came on TV to shamelessly tell lies against the Police and Military, because they refused to bully the electorates and rig the elections for him.

    The clandestine attempts at compromising Justice and the Mandate of our People will not succeed. The only issue is that, I am being distracted by AYADE’s futile attempts and I cannot concentrate to deliver on the Mandate given by our People.

    The People of Cross River North are suffering indirectly, because of the distractions from Ayade. Resources that should go to our People are being spent to secure the Mandate given to me, by our People. He doesn’t want us to attract Infrastructural Development to our deprived communities.

    Someone should advise him to apologize to our People, rather than inflict more pain. Where is the Ukelle Road he promised to do before the Elections? Why was he chasing the Contractors we sent there away? Wickedness personified. Only the Will of God prevails.

  • Ayade vs Jarigbe – What Is The Governor Looking For In The Tribunal? BY AGBA JALINGO

    Ayade vs Jarigbe – What Is The Governor Looking For In The Tribunal? BY AGBA JALINGO

     

    In 2011, you ran for Cross River North Senatorial seat and got it on a plater of gold against more popular candidates.

    Both from your PDP primaries against more popular Paul Adah (now late), and Musa Adede, who was incumbent, as well as the opposition APP and ACN then, there were accusations of rampant rigging in your favor, yet no one took you to the tribunal.

    In 2015, the governorship ticket of your party then, PDP was taken in broad day light from Jedy Agba and handed to you in an arrangee primaries at the U.J Esuene stadium in Calabar. You didn’t even print a single billboard but you became governor. Both Jedy Agba and Odey Ochicha of the APC, said they won’t go to the tribunal since the governorship had gone to northern Cross River. Infact, Odey Ochicha was even denied several appointments by his party at the center because he refused to take you to the tribunal.

    In 2019, you ran for second term as Governor and after the election, Senator Owan Enoh, your challenger in APC went to the tribunal and later withdrew the petition and committed to supporting your government to enable you concentrate.

    In 2023, your greed wouldn’t allow you retire in peace. You sought to return to the Senate a second time as retirement. Having failed as Governor for eight years, your people rejected you abysmally in an election that has been adjudged by the people as the most peaceful, transparent and violence free, in Cross River North since 1999, and you are up and about talking about going to the tribunal with Senator Jarigbe?

    Do you really think the salt is tasty only in one side of the mouth? What do you really think you did specially do deserve all the benefits of doubt that people have been giving you? Do you really think if everyone that has a grouse with you decide to sue you after you lose your immunity in 34 days, you will have even a minute sleep in a day or even the resources to pay your lawyers?

    Even if that election is conducted ten times, Senator Jarigbe will still win you. He will also beat you in court like he did to you and your stooge, caretaker Senator. My only worry is that, the tribunal will distract his attention and make him waste money he would have used to continue penetrating our villages with projects, on paying lawyers.

    If at any point you used to be heavyweight, it was before. You are now light weight and you need to see that on time, make a retreat before you face more embarrassing moments.

    You didn’t come from heaven with a seat in government. Everyone leaves when it is time and your time is now. I am talking to my Governor, Senator Ben Ayade. A word is enough for the wise. I don’t know if you are still wise sir.

    Yours sincerely,
    Citizen Agba Jalingo.

  • Fake Audio Conversation With Oyedepo, Product Of APC’s Forgeries – Obi

    Fake Audio Conversation With Oyedepo, Product Of APC’s Forgeries – Obi

    Culled From Vanguard 

    The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 Elections, Peter Obi, has distanced himself from a purported audio recording of a telephone conversation between him and the Presiding Bishop, Living Faith Church, Bishop David Oyedepo.

    According to Obi, the audio recording is a product of the endless forgeries peculiar to the All Progressives Congress.

    In the trending audio recording, there is an alleged conversation between Obi and the influential Christian cleric in which the LP candidate was purported to have asked the cleric to mobilize support for him ahead of the disputed election.

    Speaking through the Head, Obi Datti Media Office, Diran Onifade, in Abuja, on Sunday, Obi said APC’s desperate bid to grab and retain power using subterfuge must stop.

    Related News
    Those calling for arrest of Obi must stop – Labour Party youths
    Obi, Oyedepo’s alleged leaked phone conversation throws LP’s media team into confusion
    I’m not against Igbo people voting for Obi – Umahi
    He said, “It appears the All Progressives Congress’ desperation to grab and retain power by foul means has refused to go away more than a month after they have grabbed the election as they planned.

    “While we are toeing the constitutional path to retrieve our mandate, those who have truncated the wishes of the majority of Nigerians have recoursed to mischief and endless subterfuge to continue to hold on to what they know does not belong to them.

    “From the show of shame in Portharcourt to the drama in the Ibom Air aircraft, both of which they contrived, they have now moved to the circulation of a deep fake audio file aimed at promoting religious tension in the country.

    “All these are meant to serve no other purpose than egregious mischief aimed at demarketing Peter Obi. If the goal is to create a credibility problem, the ploy has failed woefully.

    “Peter Obi has long been on record as the only presidential candidate who has urged the Nigerians electorate not to vote for him on the basis of religion or tribe.

    “We will therefore like to advise our beloved Nigerian people to remain focused on the task to take back the mandate we know was freely given to Peter Obi and Datti Baba-Ahmed through legitimate means.

    “That is more important than to expect those who ran election on forged credentials and even fake Bishops to stop faking. They cannot stop being fraudulent because that is who they are.”

  • Cross River: Ayade, Onor, Others Files 13 Petitions At The Election Tribunal

    Cross River: Ayade, Onor, Others Files 13 Petitions At The Election Tribunal

     

    In Cross River State, the Secretary of the three-man Election Petition Tribunal sitting over the February 25 National Assembly elections in the state, A.D Bambur, acknowledged that they had received 13 petitions from the different political parties.

    Of the 13 petitions, three candidates challenged those INEC declared as winners in the three senatorial districts of the state, just as 10 others queried the conduct of the House of Representatives poll.

    Bambur said the tribunal had commenced sitting, and already granted leave to parties to inspect materials used for the elections, following their respective applications. He added that the parties were currently serving summons and petitions to each other.

    A passing look at the cases shows that Governor Ben Ayade, who lost his bid to return to the Senate to the incumbent senator, Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, filed petition number EPT/CRS/Sen/2/2023 against Jarigbe.

    Ayade vied for the Cross River Northern Senatorial District seat on the platform of APC.

    The PDP candidate in Cross River Central, Hon Bassey Eko Ewa, filed a petition listed as EPT/CRS/SEN/1/2023 against Rt. Hon Eteng Williams of the APC, who is the Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly.

    Cross River Southern Senatorial District petition is from Rt. Hon. Daniel Asuquo of the Labour Party, and others versus Mr. Asuquo Ekpenyong Jnr of the APC in suit number EPT/CRS/SEN/03/2023.

    Former House of Representatives member, Hon. Atta Ochinke, also filed a petition against APC’s Hon Victor Abang in Ikom/Boki Federal Constituency.

    The APC candidates for Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency and Obudu/Bekwarra/Obanliku Federal Constituency, Hon. Jude Ngaji and  Rt.Hon. Legor Idagbo, are said to be at the Tribunals but their summons haven’t gotten to their opponents.

    The PDP governorship candidate, Senator Sandy Onor, has also vowed to challenge the process that made INEC to declare Sen. Bassey Otu as the winner.

    Onor alleged that the exercise was characterized by irregularities, including over-voting, and vote-buying amongst others.

    Hon. Thomas Aruku of the APC, who contested the Ogoja State Constituency seat, is also going to the tribunal to challenge the victory of Hon Rita Ayim of the PDP.

    Sunday Vanguard reports that there was still time for the submission of more petitions, as many of those who participated in the House of Assembly polls were putting finishing touch to their petitions before submission.

  • Cross River Guber Polls: Sandy Onor To Seek Legal Redress

    Cross River Guber Polls: Sandy Onor To Seek Legal Redress

  • Sandy Onor Remains The Candidate Of PDP In Tomorrow’s Election

    Sandy Onor Remains The Candidate Of PDP In Tomorrow’s Election

     

    Senator Sandy Onor remains the proud and worthy candidate of the People’s Democratic Party in Cross River State for tomorrow’s Governorship election.

    The public is advised to take every information coming from the APC with circumspection especially in these desperate days for the party.

    A party and government that began with high powered lies is determined to finish strong on lies and should be robustly rebuffed by our long suffering compatriots.

    The PDP and his teeming supporters across the state remain proud of his sterling qualities and pedigree and are rearing to go for tomorrow’s polls.

    We have observed that from the day Mr Peter Obi and the Obedient Movement decided to work with the PDP to democratically elect Senator Onor as Governor, the APC has been unable to find sleep at night and have returned to their well known track record of telling lies as state and party policy.

    Caterpillar Media

  • Begiaba Community Association Endorses Sen Sandy Onor

    Begiaba Community Association Endorses Sen Sandy Onor

     

    Begiaba Community Association, Abuja branch, has endorsed Prof Sen Sandy Ojang Onor as governor of cross river state in the forth coming elections scheduled for Saturday, March 18, 2023.

    The Group, which rose from its Extra Ordinary General Meeting on Sunday, noted that it has followed closely the campaigns of the various political parties and their candidates and has come to the conclusion that the best option for the state at this moment is Sen Sandy Onor.

    It noted that over the last eight years, cross river state has witnessed a decline in all major development indices due to poor governance and misplaced priorities. The state therefore need a governor with the right pedigree, a proper grasp of the challenges facing the state and the boldness to take tough decisions.

    In a statement signed by its Chairman, Mr Godfrey Ashaka, the Association noted that from all available evidence, Sen Sandy Onor has the requisite experience, knowledge and capacity to lead the state and return it to its glorious days.

    They called on all chapters across the country to align with its position and advice their members to return home ahead of the election to work and mobilize support for the PDP candidate, Sen Sandy Onor, who enjoys wide acceptance across the state due to his good record in public office at various levels.

    The Association appealed to security agencies, especially the Nigeria Police Force, to ensure a free and fair election come Saturday so that the peoples votes will count.

    Signed:

    ASHAKA Godfrey
    Chairman

    Udie Michael
    Gen Secretary

  • Is This How Governor Ayade Will Leave Us? BY AGBA JALINGO

    Is This How Governor Ayade Will Leave Us? BY AGBA JALINGO

    IS THIS HOW GOVERNOR AYADE WILL LEAVE US?

    In 79 days time from now, Governor Ayade will share the grace from office. He will stop being our governor. In case you don’t understand; he will hand over to a new governor and become former governor. But the actual grace sharing begins after the primaries of the political parties which must hold and be completed within the next five months. Even before and after then, politicking takes over everything. Governance grinds to a total halt.

    But I have been thinking and picking my teeth and wondering that, like play, like play, is this how Governor Ayade will just leave us?

    1. Without a superhighway, an evacuation corridor where we will drive from Calabar to Obudu with a glass of water on the trunk of the car and the glass will not shake?

    2. Without turning Bakassi to Lugano?

    3. Without resettling the Bakassi IDPs?

    4. Without, a deep sea port in Bakassi?

    5. Without Ikom Chocolates in the stores?

    6. Without poles, piles and pylons in even Bedwell market in Calabar?

    7. Without even a face towel from garment factory in any shop on Marian road in Calabar?

    8. Without a rice city churning out highly improved “Calas 77” seeds to the rest of Nigeria to generate N70billion annually for Cross River and decouple the State from federal allocation?

    9. Without a trademark roofing sheet or tile from Yala roofing tile factory, in the market?

    10. Without Bekwara groundnut oil in the market?

    11. Without Obubra cassava processing factory starch in the stores?

    12. Without thousands of Cross Riverians on the Ayadecare insurance scheme?

    13. Without a functional passenger and cargo airport in Obudu?

    14. Without registering an airline or getting an AOC?

    15. With a chicken processing factory that functions only during the Yuletide?

    16. Without a cotton farm in Yala to feed the garment factory?

    17. With brown roofs in Calabar without changing every roof to blue roof?

    18. Without a spaghetti fly over?

    19. With a depleted green forest and murderous wood barons?

    20. Without a bag of Ogoja rice in the market from a bubbling rice mill in Ogoja?

    21. With a nearly decapitated civil service?

    22. With children driven away from primary schools for illegal levies?

    23. Without Ayadecare Specialist Hospitals in the three senatorial districts?

    24. Without Centricot, Northicot and Calas Vegas?

    25. Without a petrocross vessel to rake in revenue for our State?

    26. Without a vessel to ship merchandize from Cross River to the world?

    27. Without a revolutionary robotic and artificial intelligence innovation?

    28. Without flying essential drugs to remote areas in Cross River with drones?

    29. Without a functional 23 megawatts electricity generating plant in Calabar or 26 megawatts in Tinapa?

    30. Without building two megawatts electricity generating plants in each of the 18 Local Government Areas of the State, through Industrial Project Services (IPS) from South Africa?

    31. Without a single drug manufactured from CalaPharm?

    32. Without a functional toothpick factory in Ekori?

    33. Without a functional Cross River microfinance bank?

    34. Without a banana processing farm in Odukpani?

    These were just some of our governor’s promises amongst others. Once the cameras roll in front of him, the promises begin to cascade like the springs of Obudu Ranch. He promised a bag full and has achieved little. Scattered all over our State today are monuments of infantile passion about industrialization without direction, that will serve as mementos of the trappings of a governor who knew how to talk but could not do.

    Governor Ayade remains a shining and fantastic example of how passion alone and ideas do not translate to delivery. He is an epitome of a plan-less leader and a reflection of what a disaster plan-lessness and impulse leadership can wreck.

    If you rely on optics and oratory, Ayade will win Nigeria’s best governor any day. But the reality on the ground is not far from me. It is within my grasp, because I am involved.

    Yours sincerely,
    Citizen Agba Jalingo.

  • Sandy’s Rainbow Vision

    Sandy’s Rainbow Vision

    SANDY’S RAINBOW VISION

    Beneath Onor’s blue passion,
    Brilliant crystal ornaments
    Glow like celestial pearls,
    Desiring to serve CRS.

    His golden brain explores daily,
    Full of unadulterated love,
    His heart burns with truth,
    Replete with optimism for CRS.

    In his eyes are seas of tears,
    Lamenting our aged sorrows,
    His caterpillar muscles
    Are ready to toil and serve us.

    Offer Sandy your hearts now,
    Offer him passionate prayers,
    CRS, sleep no more,
    CHANGE knocks your doors.

    Wash your faces clean,
    From the stains of APCism,
    From the darkness of DECEIT,
    From these seasoned demons,
    Then HOPE shall surely kiss you.

    By Anthony Abuo.

  • Back To South Is Back To Ayade – Donald Duke

    Back To South Is Back To Ayade – Donald Duke

    By Dominic Kidzu 

    Former Governor of Cross River State, Mr Donald Duke has described the Back to South Ideology of the APC as actually Back to the Ayades.

    “Let nobody deceive you. He who pays the Piper dictates the tune. And I believe that it will be unfair to allow our state to continue like this. I know that what I am doing is not popular amongst our people, but I also know that good leaders don’t always do what is popular, they do what is right .”

    Duke who addressed a cross section of wards and polling unit coordinators of the Labour Party in Calaabar South and Municipality at his home in Calabar yesterday admonished them to repeat the work they did for Peter Obi two weeks ago by working for Senator Sandy Onor.

    “I spoke with Peter Obi, whose victory has been temporarily suppressed by the ruling APC, and he asked me to tell you to work for Sandy. If you have ever believed in me, if you have ever trusted me, or loved me then go out on Saturday and work for Sandy”.

    “Peter has been investigating, he didn’t know Sandy before, but he has found out and believes he is the right man for the job. He needs a formidable platform to work when he eventually becomes president. He needs people of intellect, of integrity, people like Sandy ”

    “I’m very involved because things have become too bad. Otu said he wants to continue the legacy of Ayade, the industries, and so on and he means it. He even defended it on television yesterday. He doesn’t even know who actually owns those industries “.

    The former Governor said that what Ayade has cost Cross River in eight years will need an experienced hand to reverse. ” When I was Governor, couples used to wed in Uyo and hold their reception party in Calabar before proceeding to the ranch for honeymoon. Now nobody comes to Calabar again. Ayade has been so bad that even his own people have rejected him and that same person want to give you a Governor “.

    One after the other, the coordinators decried the present state of affairs in the state and pledged to work for the candidate of the PDP in Saturday’s election.