The Lumine News

Category: Opinion

  • The Continued Folly Of Cross River’s Men Of Power… BY AGBA JALINGO 

    The Continued Folly Of Cross River’s Men Of Power… BY AGBA JALINGO 

     

    The stupidity about arresting people for talking is that, it is a total waste of time. But those who are intoxicated with power are so naive to realize it until power leaves them.

    First, everything under section 24 of the Cyber Crime Act, which is being used to harass people for questioning their government is bailable. Be you Governor, Senator, Minister, Security Chief, even a court judge or any other thing that you may consider powerful, no one possesses the power to lock anyone up ad infinitum.

    Every accused person must be brought before a judge where they will be granted bail. But it is so pitiable how those who hold power temporarily fail to realize this simple reality. If you sincerely think a commentator has defamed you, seek justice by going to the courts to sue. Stop using the Police to harass citizens for talking. The sickening desire to see people in handcuffs and the stinking ego arising from this primitive behavior amounts to nothing other than feeling, “I have dealt with that person.” But matter-of-factly, you haven’t dealt with anyone. You only made that person more popular and more powerful and elevated the person to a force to reckon with. I am a typical example of that.

    They came to bundle me from Lagos several times to Calabar. They bundled Ifere Paul and Joseph Odok from Abuja to Calabar. What did any of that amount to? Absolutely nothing! It was all ego trips that actually back fired and turned the people against the government.

    Why do people in government fail to learn this lesson? Do they think they will be in government forever? Where are those who wielded power from Peregrino House yesterday? Are citizens not detesting them today with passion?

    I have reached out to those who I think are responsible for the arrest of Denis Odama and I fervently hope that he will be let off the hook without delay, because that is the right thing to do. I am also in touch with Denis himself and have urged him to remain strong and not be shaken. Nothing will happen to him. I have been through that path. They have just succeeded in matriculating him into the hall of fame.

    But one more thing for the power maniacs. Stop wasting your time and resources thinking you can stop people from talking. The earlier you stop ignoring your critics and begin to address the issues they raise, the better for you. No government, no man, no authority was ever able to stop those they lead from complaining. In fact, the arrest of Odama has instigated more younger persons to talk and watch it, more will raise their voices and the second term of this administration will witness more bitterness and opprobrium from the people. Denis will be released, either by the courts or by those who arrested him and the people in power will be hated for arresting him. It is that simple!

    #ReleaseDenisOdamaNow!

    Yours sincerely,
    Citizen Agba Jalingo.

  • Will State Electricity Regulators Have The Courage To Hold DisCos Accountable? BY INYALI PETER

    Will State Electricity Regulators Have The Courage To Hold DisCos Accountable? BY INYALI PETER

     

    In a recent article, I attempted to clarify how subsidy works in the Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry (NESI). However, reactions from readers across different channels opened a door I didn’t anticipate. If government is still investing heavily in subsidies and other support mechanisms, they argued, why does the quality of service from those providing electricity, especially the Distribution Companies (DisCos), still so epileptic?

    The simple truth is that Nigeria’s electricity sector has rules governing how electricity flows through our homes and businesses, performance contracts with clear penalties for failures, and a regulator in the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission. What has been lacking is the will to enforce these rules firmly and fairly to ensure improved power supply. This is why the Electricity Act 2023, which decentralized power and created State Electricity Regulatory Commissions, should be a genuine game-changer if allowed to function as intended.

    In our homes when we pay for electricity, we expect lights, refrigeration, our children ability to study at night. When the power fails repeatedly, our water system collapses. Small businesses lose income, hospital wouldn’t be able to save a life. These aren’t abstract frustrations but survival. And they’re happening because of failures at multiple levels. For this article, the focus is on the DisCos and how SERC can address a system where accountability has become optional.

    The sector is governed by a network of performance contracts that few Nigerians know exist. The Service Level Agreement (SLA) sets clear performance standards and fault accountability. The Grid and Supply SLA define exactly how much power each DisCo must accept and when load rejections are permitted. The Service-Based Tariffs (SBT) promise customers in different bands a minimum number of electricity supply hours daily. Band A should get twenty hours or more. Those guarantees are written. Customers pay for them because they’re binding. But they’re hardly kept by the DisCos.

    The Transmission Company of Nigeria operates under the Transmission Loss Factor guidelines which caps allowable losses at 7% with tighter regional caps at 6.5%. Miss these targets and TCN faces immediate financial penalties. But when DisCos breach their own SLAs by rejecting allocated power without proper advance constraint declarations, little or nothing happens.

    NERC 139 (2015), titled “Order on the Imbalance Application Mechanism during the Transitional Electricity Market,” imposed financial penalties on DisCos for load rejection. But when TCN complained in 2017, NERC convened a stakeholder meeting and issued threats instead of sanctions. During a 2020 tariff hearing, the then TCN’s Managing Director, Mr. Usman Mohammed challenged NERC to enforce the order. Rather than enforcement, the Commission, in 2021, six years later issued new guidelines on the matter.

    When DisCos fail to meet their ninety-five percent energy offtake targets over evaluation periods, penalties remain theoretical rather than enforced. Similarly, when they fail to deliver the minimum supply hours that customers are already paying for, they face little or no meaningful consequences. This regulatory pampering stands in contrast to the swift penalties imposed on TCN and or participants.

    The Power Evacuation Agreements between TCN and power generation companies establish accountability for both players. These and other contracts were designed by people who understood that electricity is an integrated system where unfairness at one point destroys efficiency everywhere. Accountability for DisCos is always treated as an option. They have learned they can nominate loads, receive power, then arbitrarily reject it without meaningful consequences. The records are documented. NERC reviews them. Life goes on.

    Meanwhile, in your neighborhourhood, when a transformer fails, the DisCo tells you and your neighbours to buy the replacement parts and do the repair work. When you finally scrape together money to reconnect after paying arrears, they demand you purchase new wires because the old ones belong to them. You’re essentially financing the business infrastructure these companies use to charge you for services. All these are against the rules and contracts imposed by the regulator. But DisCos ignore them and continue to behave as if they exist beyond the law they agreed to.

    The most unfortunate aspect is the complaint system itself. When you escalate some of these issues to NERC, they send you back to the very DisCo you’re complaining about and tell you to give them a chance to resolve it before escalating further. Most customers have already begged, negotiated, documented, and failed before reaching the regulator. The system doesn’t protect consumers. It protects the companies by delaying justice until exhausted citizens give up.

    Perhaps NERC is overwhelmed trying to regulate the entire sector from Abuja. Perhaps the political will to enforce rules against powerful utility companies like DisCos that basically fund them simply doesn’t exist. This is why every state must take setting up and empowering SERC to function properly very seriously. SERC brings oversight closer to reality and the people. Local regulators can domesticate and enforce contracts in the same areas as the companies they oversee and licence competing distributors that introduces the competition that drives improved service delivery

    Similarly, SERC represents both a revolutionary and exciting opportunity. It is the most consequential reform that should bring needed accountability to the sector. Nigerians need to understand the rules that govern the sector so they recognize when their rights are violated or when they are violating the sector laws that may contribute to poor power supply. With local regulators, this education can happen seamlessly.

    However, while we fault the DisCos for lack of accountability, some consumers bear equal or greater responsibility. Many Nigerians steal electricity through illegal connections. Many others disconnect themselves to avoid payment, then demand reconnection without settling bills. Poor collection rates cripple DisCos ability to invest in infrastructure and reduce technical losses. Consumer responsibility and corporate accountability cannot exist in opposition. Both must rise together. You cannot excuse poor service, but neither can you excuse theft. Both destroy the system.

    For NERC’s current leadership, I acknowledge what they’ve done recently. Forcing DisCos to issue unit token refunds to prepaid customers affected by improper billings and past Metre Asset Provider charges was enforcement with teeth. I got about 10k unit last month and will get more later. That’s what accountability looks like. It proves the regulator can act decisively when it chooses. This is the standard we need to apply consistently across all market participants.

    Clearly, the TLF mechanism and the unit refund order prove the rules work. The real question is whether SERC would have the courage to domesticate and enforce them when political actors and electricity stakeholders who have made enforcement uneven still wield influence. Ultimately, we have the performance contracts and the Electricity Act 2023 has give state permission to operate. What Nigerians may still be waiting for however, is for the will to act, decisively and fairly across the value chain.

    -Inyali Peter, Ph.D.

    Disclaimer: The opinion expressed in this article is strictly that of the author, Inyali Peter and dose not represent Theluminenews its agent or the organisation the author works for/with.

  • Developmental Projects Should Emanate from the People, Not from Those in Power — Amb. Kennedy Njar-Nsan

    Developmental Projects Should Emanate from the People, Not from Those in Power — Amb. Kennedy Njar-Nsan

     

    Ahead of the 2027 general elections, Ambassador Kennedy Njar-Nsan, an academic and human rights advocate, has declared his intention to contest for the Cross River State House of Assembly seat for Ikom I State Constituency on the platform of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC). In this interview, he speaks on his ambition, the challenges facing Ikom, governance, youth participation in politics and his vision for the constituency.

    Can you introduce yourself to our readers?

    Amb. Kennedy Njar-Nsan: My name is Ambassador Kennedy Njar-Nsan from Akparabong in Ikom Local Government Area. I am a university lecturer and an academic with degrees in History, International Relations and Political Science. I have taught at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, and the University of Calabar. My passion has always been leadership, public service and developing people, and that passion has inspired my decision to seek elective office.

    Why are you contesting for the Cross River State House of Assembly?

    I want to represent the interests of the people of Ikom, not the interests of those in power. Despite being the commercial nerve centre of Cross River State, Ikom has suffered years of neglect. Our roads are bad, electricity is non-existent, public schools are underfunded and many communities lack basic infrastructure. I believe effective representation should focus on improving people’s lives through advocacy, legislation and proper oversight.

    What are the major challenges facing Ikom I Constituency?

    Poor infrastructure, unemployment, lack of electricity, poor road networks, lack of pipe-borne water and weak public education are among the biggest challenges. While many of these are executive responsibilities, a committed legislator can influence development through effective representation, oversight and engagement with the government.

    Have you held any public office before?

    I have not held an elective political office, but I have served in several leadership positions throughout my academic and professional career. Leadership has always been part of my life, and I believe those experiences have prepared me for public service.

    How do you assess the current representation of your constituency?

    The people will judge that. However, when you look at the level of development in Ikom today, it is obvious that much more could have been achieved. Our constituency deserves stronger representation and more effective engagement with the government.

    What would you do differently if elected?

    I will put the people first. I intend to hold regular town hall meetings so that development priorities come directly from the people. The government should respond to the needs of communities, not impose projects that do not address their challenges. Representation should be driven by the voices of the people.

    Do you think your party will be a limitation?

    Not at all. The NDC stands for policies that address poverty through investments in education, healthcare, infrastructure and support for small businesses. We believe governance should focus on solving collective goods problems rather than distributing temporary handouts during elections.

    As a young politician, what challenges have you faced?

    Funding remains the biggest challenge because politics is expensive. Another challenge is changing the culture of vote-buying, where some voters expect money or gifts before offering support. Politics should be about development, not transactions.

    How do you assess the representation of Ikom/Boki Federal Constituency?

    That decision belongs to the people of Ikom and Boki. They should evaluate whether their representative has delivered meaningful development and use their votes accordingly.

    How would you rate Governor Bassey Otu’s administration?

    The people of Cross River State will ultimately decide. I acknowledge that the administration has made progress in security, but there are other areas where citizens expect more. Democracy gives the people the opportunity to evaluate every government based on performance.

    What message do you have for young Nigerians?

    Politics affects every aspect of our lives, from education and healthcare to roads and employment. Young people must participate actively in politics and reject vote-selling. We must elect leaders based on competence, integrity and performance.

    What are your chances in the 2027 election?

    I am optimistic because I believe the people are looking for credible alternatives. If elected, I will remain accountable to the people of Ikom. I will not become a puppet or defend the government at the expense of my constituents. My commitment is to serve the people with integrity and courage.

    Finally, what is your message to the people of Ikom I ahead of 2027?

    I urge our people to vote for competence, character and vision. Hold leaders accountable and never reward poor performance. If entrusted with your mandate, I will work tirelessly to justify your confidence and ensure that the interests of Ikom I State Constituency remain my highest priority.

  • Nigeria Is Not a Poor Country. We Must Change Our Mindset BY MIKE UDAM 

    Nigeria Is Not a Poor Country. We Must Change Our Mindset BY MIKE UDAM 

     

    Nigeria is a blessed nation. God is not owing Nigeria anything. He has already blessed this country beyond measure.

    Few nations in the world possess the combination of natural and human resources that Nigeria has. We are richly endowed with crude oil, natural gas, gold, lithium, uranium, tin, columbite, iron ore, bauxite, limestone, and vast deposits of clay suitable for ceramics and manufacturing.

    Our agricultural potential is equally remarkable. We have millions of hectares of fertile land capable of producing enough maize to feed much of Africa. We have extensive rice-growing areas, abundant cassava, yam, cocoa, palm produce, and one of the largest sugarcane plantations on the African continent. The land is not our problem.

    Neither are our people.

    In virtually every profession, Nigerians continue to distinguish themselves. Our accountants, doctors, engineers, scientists, lawyers, academics, and technology experts compete with the very best in the world. Nigerians occupy important positions in leading universities, multinational companies, research institutions, and hospitals across the globe. Wherever excellence is demanded, Nigerians are often found delivering it.

    Nigeria is not a poor country.

    Our greatest challenge is not a lack of resources or talent. Our challenge is leadership and the systems that have allowed a small group of people to concentrate enormous wealth and influence in their hands. They continue to succeed because many of us have failed to understand the game being played.

    Every election season, familiar strategies are employed. Ethnicity is brought to the forefront. Religion is weaponized. Historical grievances are revived. Suspicion is stirred among ordinary citizens. While we argue among ourselves, those who benefit from our division quietly consolidate their power.

    The real tragedy is that those who suffer the most are often divided against one another. Instead of speaking with one voice for justice, accountability, and good governance, we allow ourselves to be separated by tribe, religion, and political sentiment.

    The late Chinua Achebe wisely observed that when two brothers fight over a piece of land, a stranger harvests the crop. That lesson remains painfully relevant today. While Nigerians quarrel among themselves, others continue to enjoy the benefits of our disunity.

    Let me say this clearly, and let it be on record:

    The day those beneath the table decide to stand up, those feasting at the table will realize that their comfort depended on the people underneath.

    Those who manipulate the system understand exactly how to divide us. The question is whether we will continue to allow ourselves to be divided.

    Permit me to end with a simple illustration.

    Imagine you are travelling through a lonely forest, and your car suddenly breaks down. You desperately need a mechanic. At that moment, you do not ask the mechanic which tribe he belongs to. You do not ask his religion. You ask one question:

    Can this person fix my car?

    What matters is competence. What matters is integrity. What matters is the ability to solve the problem before you.

    Nigeria is that broken car.

    At this critical moment in our history, our primary concern should not be where the person comes from. Our concern should be whether that person has the character, competence, vision, and courage to repair this nation.

    If we continue to choose leaders merely because they come from our village, our ethnic group, or our religious background, we may remain stranded on the same road for many more years.

    Nigeria has everything it needs to become one of the greatest nations on earth.

    The question is no longer whether God has blessed Nigeria.

    The question is whether Nigerians are prepared to rise above division, choose competence over sentiment, and build the nation we all deserve.

    Dr. Michael Udam serves the church of Christ meeting at Ukpagada Ogoja Nigeria.

     

    Disclaimer: The opinion expressed in this article is strictly that of the author, Mike Udam and does not represent Theluminenews, its agent or the organisation the author works for/with.

  • For Your Information, Cross Riverians…. BY AGBA JALINGO

    For Your Information, Cross Riverians…. BY AGBA JALINGO

     

    When CrossRiverWatch started publishing under Governor Imoke’s second tenure, it was a very trying period for us. It was novel to use the social media to hold government accountable in a very conservative State like Cross River where almost everyone, including those who call themselves comrades, did not have a contrary voice to whatever government dishes out. We were still publishing under all kinds of pseudo names to protect our sources.

    We were very hard on Governor Imoke’s government and that sent some shock waves around the State. We didn’t spare him a bit. The climax was when the Governor took ill and was taken abroad for treatment and that became a major editorial common place for our operators at the time, until it dawned on me that, what we were supposed to dwell more on, was the activities of Government and not on the fine details of the personal health challenges of the Governor, because anyone can become ill.

    Hon. Alex Egbuna, who is now in the House of Representatives representing Abi/Yakurr Federal Constituency, was Chief of Staff to Governor Imoke and Christian Ita, was the Chief Press Secretary. Mr. Emmanuel Unah, who was the Vanguard Newspaper Correspondent in the State at the time and now the Chief Press Secretary to the Yala LGA Chairman, was the Editor of CrossRiverWatch. Emmanuel signed a fourteen page retainership agreement with the Imoke government to pay our organization 500k monthly to promote the activities of the government on our budding platform.

    The government paid the 500k for three months, and I think the soft pedal they anticipated from our organization was not forthcoming. Suddenly I got a call from the office of the Chief of Staff to the Governor that they were going to terminate the retainership because our platform was not relenting on holding the government to account. I reminded the caller that there was no paragraph in the 14 page retainership agreement that required our platform to stop holding the government to account. What was signed was to publicize government activities and nothing more. I told them to go to hell and that led to the abrupt end of that contract and we continued our work in good faith.

    When Governor Ayade took over in 2015, he came with theoretically bold and gigantic ideas that sounded fabulous on paper and we decided to give him breathing space to see how he was going to run the State. During his first term, we were one of his greatest allies. Some people referred to me as his de-facto Chief Press Secretary. There is no evidence of me criticizing him in his first term. It was deliberate. I personally reined in on our editorial team to reduce the pressure on his government and let us see where he was headed with his highfalutin ideas. The first term drew to an end without anything eventful.

    But something happened. The critics turned their nozzles on us. I was accused of collecting bribes from Governor Ayade to keep mute. It was said that we were not pressing Ayade’s neck the way we did to Imoke, because Governor Ayade was my kinsman from Obudu LGA where I hail from. All other forms of allegations were thrown into the arena. But till date, even after challenging everyone in that administration and outside the government, not a single person could provide any evidence of bribery or any money that was given to us by the Ayade administration and I can bet that no one can prove it till date, because nothing was actually given to us. They were all baseless allegations and beer parlor talks. Again, we were doing our work measuredly in the interest of our State.

    At the start of Ayade’s second term, I called the Governor on the phone and expressed my displeasure with his first term and informed him that I wasn’t going to lose my voice because of him. He wasn’t happy. We increased the heat on his government in the second term. The tension kept growing and climaxed with my arrest and incarceration and the rest is history. Yes, the Governor felt I was his brother and expected me to close my eyes to certain things and I did not bulge. It is not in my nature to keep a blind eye to corruption. Not then, not even now!

    Now Governor Otu is in the saddle. His first term is drawing to a close. Just like under Ayade’s first term, I am being accused of collecting bribes from Otu and refusing to talk. Both the high and mighty and the ordinary people are wallowing in their hallucinations and waiting for my opinion on almost every topical issue in the State. So many things have been said in beer parlors and government offices about how so much money has been given to me not to talk. And when I manage to stumble on some of them, I laugh out loud.

    I laugh because, even after spending over a decade opening up the media space in our State and teaching our people how to use the new media to hold leaders accountable, the lazy and laid back attitude of our people is refusing to dissipate. They feel so entitled to my opinion that they must wait for me to comment or escalate every issue in the State as if they are paying me a salary to do so. Imagine that I dropped dead before now, won’t there be anyone else or any voice to continue from where I stopped? Are there no younger persons in the State who have learnt from me in the past fifteen years? In my sabbatical, can’t no one else step into the void and take the shine? These are the questions that continue to torment the carapace of my mind as I watch from the sidelines.

    For your information and without any form of perturbation, I CANNOT BE BRIBED. Not by Governor Otu or by anyone. If you have any evidence where I have been bribed to stop talking, bring it out NOW. Bribes are not in my DNA. Secondly, I cannot also be pushed around by people, both loved ones and those who don’t love me, by fans, supporters or non supporters, to speak when I do not want to. I speak only when I want to speak. I am not a ball that can be pushed around. If a people who are oppressed cannot raise a voice against their oppressors but continue to queue behind them and wait for others to always talk for them, society will remain in bondage.

    Unlike some of my critics, social media did not make me an activist. I became an activist as a young teenager out of secondary school, during the Abacha regime under the tutelage of Dr. Beko Ransome Kuti. There was no social media. There was no internet in Nigeria. Newspapers were still published in stencils. That is what informed my long standing relationship with progressives like Femi Falana Omoyele Sowore, late Gani Fawehinmi, Wole Soyinka, DrJoe Okei Odumakin , Richard Akinnola II, Seun Anikulapo Kuti, Lanre Arogundade, Sylvester Odion Akhaine, Edafe Oghenebrume and many others in the South West. Our activism is leaning on ideology not on click bets and clout hunting and bribes.

    But in all these, there is a glimmer of hope. I have seen a few younger persons who are standing up to be counted. Those who are growing daily in courage and audacity and that tickles my imagination. Their voices are gaining momentum in the State against all attempts to intimidate them. I am in touch with some of them and you know yourselves. My word to you is, remain rugged. No one will do you anything. Grow in strength and knowledge. Fight with a pure heart. If they come after you, we will come for you. I will still talk when I am moved to talk, not when cowards who can’t even fight for themselves, want me to talk. If this statement hurts you, start talking. Your mouth no the pain you.

    Finally for the government people who think our people cannot criticize your boss, YOU LIE! More and more voices will rise. They will be critical and vociferous. They will peruse every move of the government and hold an opinion no matter how that detest you and the worst mistake you will make is to come after them. Prepare answers not hostilities. You are paid with our money to explain to us and not to abuse us when we ask questions. Know this and know peace!

    Yours sincerely,
    Citizen Agba Jalingo.

     

    Disclaimer: The opinion expressed in this article is strictly that of the author, Agba Jalingo and does not represent Theluminenews, its agent or the organisation the author works for/with.

  • From the former Austrian President, Thomas Klestil… BY AGBA JALINGO

    From the former Austrian President, Thomas Klestil… BY AGBA JALINGO

     

    I have lived for forty years in an apartment in Vienna’s Fourth District. My wife and I had a close relationship with all our neighbors in the building. We exchanged visits and greetings whenever we met in the elevator or the building entrance, and we talked about the children, politics, social conditions, and the news of the hour. Just as neighbors do.

    After I became President of Austria, I noticed a change in my neighbors’ relationship with me.

    The relationship became lukewarm. If one of them tossed a greeting, they did so without looking at you. And if I tossed the greeting, I could almost hear their reply as a whisper.

    The situation continued like this for two months, and from all the residents—my neighbors without exception—I was gripped by bewilderment. I asked my wife: Is there something that calls for this neglect? Have we done something to anger our neighbors? She couldn’t find an answer to my question, so I decided to take the initiative. I knocked on my neighbor’s door, and he gave me no reply.

    I knocked on the second one’s door—same answer. And I was perplexed: What’s wrong with people? Why have their attitudes toward me changed?

    I returned to my apartment in bewilderment.

    On the third day, someone knocked on my door: the building superintendent, inviting me to a meeting for all the residents, for an important matter. I saw the invitation as a chance to open the subject with everyone: Why are they treating me with such coldness?

    And then my widowed neighbor said: I’ll tell you frankly.

    Before you became president, we lived in peace—no cars, no guards, no sounds of security vehicles, no inspections, no street closures. Our lives were easy. And now we live with you in misery. That’s what makes us not want to deal with you, because you’ve caused us hassles. And today, we’ve decided to file a lawsuit against you for eviction from the building unless you restore our lives to how they were before.

    The former president says in his television interview: I left feeling full of regret and apologized to them for my lack of attention to my neighbors, and I promised them that I would be worthy of their trust in being a neighbor to them.

    Immediately, I called the head of my security detail and told him to clear the street of guards, and that only my car and one guard should accompany me, without lights or sirens, and to pull the guard stationed at the building entrance. I pledged to him that I would take personal responsibility for my safety if anything unfortunate happened.

    The president continues and says: After two days of this, the smiles returned to my neighbors.

    And with them, the affection returned.

     

    Disclaimer: The opinion expressed in this article is strictly that of the author, Agba Jalingo and does not represent Theluminenews, its agent or the organisation the author works for/with.

  • ASP Sunday Eitokpah Marks Six Months of Transformative Police Public Relations in Cross River

    ASP Sunday Eitokpah Marks Six Months of Transformative Police Public Relations in Cross River

    By Elijah Ugani 

    It has been six months since ASP Sunday Eitokpah Akata assumed office as the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Cross River State Police Command, and his tenure has been marked by a deliberate transformation in the Command’s communication strategy, with a strong emphasis on transparency, professionalism, and community engagement.

    An indigene of Edo State, ASP Akata was commissioned into the Nigeria Police Force as an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) in 2022 after completing a rigorous five-year training programme at the Nigeria Police Academy, where he earned a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree in Biochemistry.

    His professional development includes specialized training in combat operations and counter-terrorism, forensic crime scene management, detective investigations, citizenship and leadership, as well as the Advanced Detective Course at the Police Staff College, Jos. He is also a certified Advanced Facilitator for the Nigeria Police Reform Programme and a member of the National Institute of Social Media Analysts (NISMA), Abuja.

    He is an associate of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR).

    Before his appointment as PPRO, ASP Akata served as Divisional Traffic Officer at A Division, Calabar, and later as Officer-in-Charge of the Cross River State Police Complaint Response Unit (CRU), where he demonstrated professionalism and dedication to public service.

    Since taking over as the spokesman of the Cross River State Police Command, ASP Akata has championed a strategic shift in police communication by making it more proactive, transparent, timely, and community-focused. Under his stewardship, the Command has maintained a consistent flow of accurate and verified information to the public, helping to strengthen public confidence and improve the image of the Nigeria Police Force in the state.

    Within the past six months, he has significantly expanded public engagement through regular press briefings, radio and television appearances, digital media campaigns, prompt clarification of misinformation, and sustained public safety awareness initiatives. His communication approach has ensured that residents receive timely updates on security matters while promoting greater public understanding of police operations.

    Beyond information dissemination, ASP Akata has focused on building stronger trust between the Police and the communities they serve. Through open communication, accountability, and citizen engagement, he has encouraged greater public participation in crime prevention and security awareness, while ensuring that the activities of the Cross River State Police Command are communicated accurately, professionally, and without delay.

    His first six months in office reflect a commitment to modern policing through effective public relations, reinforcing the role of strategic communication as a vital tool in strengthening police-community relations and enhancing public confidence in law enforcement.

     

    Disclaimer: The opinion expressed in this article is strictly that of the author, Elijah Ugani and does not represent Theluminenews,its agent or the organisation the author works for/with.

  • For Cross River Central, It Is Time To Unite The People And Rebuild The Party BY DOMINIC KIDZU

    For Cross River Central, It Is Time To Unite The People And Rebuild The Party BY DOMINIC KIDZU

     

    The story is the same, all great men passed through affliction. There were sunny days and there were wet days, and sometimes it looked as if all the stars in the firmament ranged in opposition against them. The truth is that it was not always so, it was just a learning curve, an opportunity to internalize and recalibrate. For even the brightest moon sometimes hides its luminosity behind a wanton cloud. Such down moments also provide an opportunity for self-examination of the choices one made. As Shakespeare would say “the abuse of greatness is when it disjoins remorse from power. ”

    No truly great man is beyond self reproach, least wise regret. Napoleon Bonaparte, Hannibal, Hitler, Churchill, Lincoln, Kennedy, Julius Caesar, Alexander the great, Nelson Mandela, Mahatma Ghandi, Martin Luther King, even Christ Jesus regretted at some point upon careful rumination of the journey of their lives. Tickets come, tickets go. Sometimes we are favoured and sometimes we are not. We must therefore accept our wins and our losses with philosophical equanimity, knowing that when we were favoured, once upon a time, other people had to go home and knash their teeth in pain, but in silence. Because it is important that we thank God for the opportunity to be selected once, or twice or thrice.

    I cannot point out the reason why some of those who were in the legislature were left out, because I didn’t see much wrong that they did, since like Mahatma Ghandi, “I look only to the good qualities of men. Not being faultless myself, I won’t presume to probe into the faults of others “. What is crystal clear to me is that they were in the legislature in the first place because they got lucky and are now out because they ran out of luck and some people else got lucky, like musical chairs. See? Maybe the ones going in now might be worse than the ones being shown the way out, we don’t know. Didn’t Abraham Lincoln quip that “nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power”. We wait to see, only then can we judge.

    Our politics mimics the Russian roulette game. There is usually only one bullet in the entire revolver chamber, when they hit bull’s eye you die, when they hit an empty chamber you triumph and prosper, but someone is always going to go down. The mafia morale will tell you, it’s not personal, ‘it was only business’. Sadly, this is the business we have chosen for ourselves. It is what it is. Shouldn’t we be prepared for the consequences of our choice, by keeping an everlasting broad mind about our career trajectory?

    There is really no excruciating loss at the end when one looses a political position because, by Jove, they are also healed of the pressure we put on them, insane pressure that could leave one with a permanent migraine that can only be healed by regaining one’s individuality. “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself, nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance” These timeless words uttered by Roosevelt define the need to press on, in spite of perceived defeat because in the real world everyone is a failure and a success at the same time.

    The Central Senatorial Zone stands tall today as it has always stood, in the comity of senatorial zones – thanks to the great peace making effort of the Deputy Governor, His Excellency, Peter Odey, who I must salute with a curt bow. We are a great people, disparate though we may be. Bonded by our pursuit of excellence, incredible hard work and generosity of spirit. It is in historical circumstances such as this that Churchill chuckled that “Success is not final, failure is not fatal, it is the courage to continue that counts “.

    To the victorious I must advise them to embrace all who come to them, it is not a great political quality to always remember the hurt, let the past go with the struggle. What they need the most at this time, as Obol Nnana Arikpo once told me, “is Integrity, empathy, accountability, clear communication and strategic vision”. And now, let the Central heal, and in healing match forward as one, into a brighter future that holds forth the great promise of Cross River and the looming responsibility that is ultimately ours to bear, and then to savour.

    @KIDZU writes from Bunyia Irruan.

    Disclaimer: The opinion expressed in this article is strictly that of the author, Dominic Kidzu, and does not represent Theluminenews, its agent or the organisation the author works for/with

     

  • He Who Has Ears, Let Him Hear: The Patience of God. Being a Sermon by Fr Felix Ovai Ekpe 

    He Who Has Ears, Let Him Hear: The Patience of God. Being a Sermon by Fr Felix Ovai Ekpe 

     

    Patience is the ability to remain calm and thoughtful instead of reacting hastily to situations. A patient person does not respond to circumstances exactly as they appear but takes time to reflect before acting. Patience involves the grace of letting go, trusting God, and responding with wisdom rather than anger.

    God Himself is presented to us as patient and kind. In His great love, He has also given us the Holy Spirit to assist us and intercede for us in our weakness.

    In today’s First Reading from the Book of Wisdom, we are reminded that God’s wisdom guides us on our Christian journey. Although God is all-powerful and the just Judge of all, He governs us with mercy and gentleness. He possesses the power to do whatever He wills, yet He chooses to be patient with us.

    God teaches us that a righteous person must also be kind. Kindness means loving others, allowing them to coexist peacefully with us, and recognizing that not every issue needs to be escalated or turned into conflict.

    The Gospel beautifully illustrates God’s patience through the parable of the wheat and the weeds. A man sowed good seed in his field, but during the night an enemy sowed weeds among the wheat. When the servants suggested uprooting the weeds immediately, the master replied, “Let both grow together until the harvest.”

    This is a perfect example of God’s patience. Rather than destroying everything at once, He allows both the wheat and the weeds to grow together until the proper time. There can hardly be a greater demonstration of patience than this.

    Sadly, even within the Church, we are sometimes impatient with one another. Some people, after receiving a little responsibility, begin to lord it over others. The same happens in society. In some workplaces, a person with a small amount of authority can become more intimidating than even those above them. Sometimes, a gateman behaves as though he is more powerful than the owner of the house.

    In the Church, this should never be the case. Some people believe newcomers should be placed on probation before being accepted. But the House of God is a place of love, not suspicion. There is no probation in God’s family. We are all equal before Him, and there are no strangers in the Church.

    Once a person is registered in a parish and belongs to the Catholic family, they should be welcomed wherever they go. We must learn to be patient with one another and never discriminate against anyone.

    Our church wardens are rightly called Ministers of Hospitality. Hospitality means welcoming others with love and correcting them with gentleness whenever necessary. The Church is not a barracks and should never be militarized. Correction must always be done with love, respect, and compassion. The Church is a family, and as members of that family, we must avoid passing harsh judgment on one another.

    Whenever you see a stranger in church, welcome them warmly. If you notice something that needs improvement in the parish, do not simply complain. Go to the parish office, report it respectfully, and suggest ways it can be improved. If we recognize a problem but make no effort to help solve it, then we have not fulfilled our responsibility.

    Every member of the Church is important. Be proud to belong to God’s family. If we cannot find love in the House of God, where else shall we find it? Even in a beer parlour, a lonely or troubled person may find someone willing to listen, share a drink, and offer companionship. How much more should the Church be a place where people experience genuine love, care, and acceptance?

    The hidden face of God’s love is His patience, allowing both the wheat and the weeds to grow together until the harvest. We are called to imitate this divine patience in our daily lives.

    Wives, be patient with your husbands, for they too face many challenges. Husbands, be patient with your wives, who work tirelessly to care for the home and the children. Families flourish when patience and understanding prevail.

    If God were to treat us according to our sins, none of us would stand. Yet He continues to show us mercy and patience. Therefore, if God is patient with you, you must also be patient with your neighbour.

    Finally, we should also learn to communicate with one another. If you are sick and no one informs the priest, he may not know that you are in the hospital. It is unfair to expect him to know everything when he is responsible for caring for a parish of nearly two thousand people, including children. Let us work together, communicate openly, and support one another as members of one family in Christ.

    May God bless and keep you. May His face shine upon you, be gracious to you, and bless the work of your hands. Amen.

  • Tolerance: Let Both of Them Grow Together Until Harvest BY PETER OBELE ABUE

    Tolerance: Let Both of Them Grow Together Until Harvest BY PETER OBELE ABUE

     

    “Let both of them grow together until the harvest” (Mt 13:30). These words summarize the advice of our Lord Jesus Christ to us on the above topic. Sometimes, we human beings have no patience with one another. We are so quick to judge when it comes to the evil of others. We are quick to scream ‘foul! ‘ when we are not involved. Whenever we perceive that an (evil) act is done (to us), our first reaction is always to condemn and seek vengeance? We are so quickly to take action? What is even more painful is that sometimes these judgemental attitudes are born out of a false zeal to curry favour with those in authority. You sell off your brother to gain what?

    In the biblical parable of the wheat and weeds recorded in Mathew 13:24-43, the servant even suggested to the master who knew better, that they should go and ‘pull off’ the weeds from the wheat. This is not a lesson on gardening, it is the story of our lives. Sometimes we behave as if we know better than God. We give cogent reasons why some people should not be given a second chance. The overzealous servants thought they knew better than the master. Too many Christians are like that. In their zeal to serve God, they go on a crusade against those they perceive are evil, with the false intention of cleaning up the system. Who made you a judge over others? Even the scripture says, “Remove the log in your own eye first so that you can see more clearly to remove the splinter in your brother’s eyes.”

    The greatest lesson here is that we have a God who is always patient and tolerant with us. He is a God who is sovereign in strength and yet mild in judgement (Wis 12:17). We do so many wrong things in his sight (sin) and yet, he tolerates us. Why can’t we be tolerant of our fellow human beings? Tolerance should be our preferred option for the following reasons. First, so that we may not make ourselves judges, for God is the ultimate judge. Second, because by making a quick and rash judgement, we might make a mistake and accuse the wrong person.

    Disclaimer: The opinion expressed in this article is strictly that of the author, Rev Fr Peter Obele Abue, and does not represent Theluminenews, its agent or the organisation the author works for/with.