The Lumine News

Category: Opinion

  • Advice to Upcoming Aides BY SAM AMADI 

    Advice to Upcoming Aides BY SAM AMADI 

     

    When you work for principals, maintain respect, responsibility and trust when you leave them for whatever reasons.

    I can advise because I have worked with many principals I have course to disagree on many issues, from Gani Fawehinmi, Olisa Agbakoba, Ken Nnamani, Ojo Maduekwe, President Jonathan, etc.

    Never once did I say anything wrong about them when I left. I kept the trust and the respect, and the reciprocated. They continue to love and respect me till date or death.

    Gani wrote me a reference to Harvard and described me as the smartest and most honest person he has met, despite that I left his office in some controversy. Until his death, Gani continued to give me complimentary copies of his Nigerian weekly law report. When I wanted to join Ken Nnamani as Special Adviser, I went to Gani to seek counsel and he encouraged me. He said, “Sam, do not let anyone rubbish your reputation. Act like your former Dean. If they do not accept your advice resign”. I continue to love Gani.

    I cannot talk less about my relationship with my former boss, Olisa Agbakoba. We had small disagreement when I left to US for graduate student. But we made up. I returned back to his law firm. Last week we had a great conversation on Nigerian politics. No matter how we disagree in the future I cannot imagine myself hitting at Olisa. Never. He is my oga for life.

    Ojo Maduekwe continued to consult me for official work (even taking me along for President Yaradua’s state visit to the US as official adviser) despite that I resigned as SA on ground of disagreement. I never speak ill of him. When I left him, I went back with 5 pastors to apologise for leaving him and assure him I would continue to look out for his best interest. I told him it was my fault we could not work well together. Until his death we remained good friends and he would always seek my opinion on any issue with the salutation: ‘great Sam’.

    Till date, I am Ken Nnamani’s PA even as I disagreeded with his membership of APC. As NERC chairman, I was still writing speeches for my oga. Oga is Oga, whether I leave his service or not. Loyalty and trust should count for something.

    I cannot talk about GEJ. He is oga for life. He continues to like and respect me. And I never speak ill of him, even as I can hold critical views of his governance. When I left NERC and people were attacking him for whatever fail of the power sector, I issued a statement to say, “hold me responsible for any failure, not President Jonathan”.

    If you quarrel with your principals and you cannot restrain from abusing them, do not praise yourself, rather mourn for yourself and pray for healing.n

    You are not smart or courageous. You are plain foolish. And you can change. Take this as a friendly advice.

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

  • Remembering God After Harvest: Being a sermon by Rev Fr Sylverus Ulem During Bakor New Yam Festival

    Remembering God After Harvest: Being a sermon by Rev Fr Sylverus Ulem During Bakor New Yam Festival

     

    Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
    Today, we gather as a people of God to celebrate New Yam. But the question we must ask ourselves is: What exactly are we celebrating?

    At Christmas, we celebrate the birth of Christ. At Easter, we celebrate our redemption through His death and resurrection. But when we celebrate New Yam, what are we celebrating?

    We are celebrating God’s faithfulness, God’s providence, and the mystery of God’s blessing in our lives. You plant half a yam, and at harvest, you discover that it has produced many more yams. Who made that possible?

    Since you were born, has anyone ever told you that your ancestors turned one yam into many? No! It is God who gives the increase.

    Some people plant their yams, and others steal them, yet somehow the yam continues to grow. Some even cultivate land that does not belong to them, yet God allows the crops to grow. This reminds us that the harvest is ultimately God’s gift. Therefore, when we celebrate New Yam, we must not celebrate only the yam. We must celebrate the God who gives the harvest.

    In the first reading from the Book of Deuteronomy, God reminds His people that when they enter the land and enjoy its abundance, they must not forget Him.

    The message is simple: when God blesses you, remember God. And one of the best ways of remembering God is by remembering the people around us.

    The Scripture tells us to give to those who have nothing. We are all created in the image and likeness of God. Therefore, when we share with one another, we honour the God whose image we bear. There are widows among us. There are orphans among us. There are families who have little or nothing to celebrate today.

    So, as we celebrate the harvest, let us look around us. Who needs something from my harvest? Who needs my help. Who needs my food. Who needs my kindness? If we truly remember God, we cannot forget our brothers and sisters.

    The second reading reminds us of an important truth: one person may plant, another may water, but God gives the increase.

    Therefore, we must not become proud because of what we have achieved. You planted, but God gave the growth. You worked, but God gave you strength. You struggled, but God opened the way. You harvested, but God made the harvest possible.

    That is why St Paul encourages us to share generously. We should not give only when it is convenient. We should also remember those who have nothing. The true meaning of harvest is not simply “I have enough.” The true meaning of harvest is: “God has given me enough to share.”

    Finally, Jesus gives us the parable of the rich fool. The man had a great harvest. His land produced abundantly. But instead of asking, “Who can I help?”, he asked, “What shall I do?”

    Then he said: “I will pull down my barns and build larger ones. There I will store all my grain and my goods.” Notice something very important about this man. Throughout the passage, there is hardly any “we.”

    It is all about “I.” My harvest. My barns. My goods. My grain. My wealth. My future. He forgot his family. He forgot his neighbours. He forgot the poor. He forgot God. His problem was not that he had a good harvest. His problem was that he had a good harvest but a bad heart. His harvest became an opportunity for selfishness instead of an opportunity for generosity.

    He thought that because he had accumulated enough, his life was secure. But God said to him: “You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you.” Then comes the great question: All the things you have prepared, for whom will they be?

    The rich man committed what we might call the sin of “I.” He lived as though everything revolved around him. “I will build.” “I will store.” “I will keep.” “I will enjoy it.” But where was “we”?

    This is the danger of prosperity. Sometimes, when God blesses us, we forget that we are blessed for a purpose. God does not give us abundance simply so that we can build bigger barns. He gives us abundance so that others can experience His goodness through us. Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, as we celebrate New Yam today, let us not become like the rich fool.

    After the harvest, may we not forget God. After the harvest, may we not forget our parents. After the harvest, may we not forget our brothers and sisters. After the harvest, may we not forget the widows. After the harvest, may we not forget the orphans. After the harvest, may we not forget the poor. After the harvest, may we not forget those who helped us along the way.

    And above all, may we never forget the God who gave the increase. May our harvest become a blessing to others. May our homes have enough to share. May our communities become stronger because of our generosity. And when God looks at our lives, may He never find us foolish because of our selfishness.

    May God bless our harvest. May God bless our families. May God bless those who have little or nothing. And may God give us generous hearts that never forget Him after the harvest.

    Amen.

  • God’s Own Calculator: Being a Sermon by Rev Fr Sylverus Ulem

    God’s Own Calculator: Being a Sermon by Rev Fr Sylverus Ulem

     

    Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
    One thing that is clear, obvious and certain is that God does not share in our calculation. God’s calculator is always different from our calculator.

    Sometimes, we are too quick to conclude. We have already arrived at the answer and are ready to put the total, but God is still calculating. We conclude that something is finished, while God is still working. We conclude that a person has failed, while God is still writing the person’s story. We conclude that God has forgotten us, while God is still calculating.

    Dear people of God, this is one of the reasons why we sometimes go against God or fail to recognise Him when we need Him most: God does not calculate the way we calculate.

    One of the funniest things about human beings is that we like to calculate everything. Even those who failed mathematics calculate everything. We calculate how to survive. We say, “I have this amount of money. I will use this much for this, manage this much for that, and hopefully I will still have something left to cook.”

    Sometimes, we even calculate God’s goodness. We see someone and say, “God has really blessed this person.”
    We see another person and say, “God does not seem to bless this one.” But who gave us the calculator with which we measure God’s blessings?

    The first reading today has settled the matter: “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the Lord.” When you begin to place God according to the limits of your thoughts and standards, God often surprises you because He is not using your calculator.

    Sometimes we calculate who has suffered more, who arrived first, who has served God longer, who has prayed more, and who therefore deserves to be rewarded more. We even look at people’s outward religious practices and begin to calculate their relationship with God.

    Someone carries a rosary, a crucifix and a prayer book, and we say, “This person must be very prayerful.” You enter somebody’s room and see an altar beautifully arranged with Mary, angels, candles and other religious objects, and immediately you conclude, “This person must really be close to God.”

    That is human calculation. Sometimes, even our prayers become like an application submitted to the Human Resources Department. We pray and say, “Lord, I have been doing this for three months. By the end of these three months, I must receive this particular thing.” We begin to calculate our prayers, our sacrifices and our service to God as though we are negotiating a contract with Him.

    But the readings of today invite us to confront one divine truth: The operational system of God is different from our own. That is the painful truth that all of us must realise today. The prophet Isaiah tells us: “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways.”

    This statement challenges our entire understanding of God. We want God to behave according to our understanding of fairness. We think justice means giving everyone exactly what we think they deserve. But God’s justice and judgement are rooted in His own ways.

    Look at the forgiveness of God. We forgive, but sometimes we keep the incident in our mental archive. We say, “I have forgiven you,” but we remember the date, the time, the place and everything that happened! But when God forgives, He does not continue calculating the offence against us. That is the greatness of God’s mercy.

    The readings of today are also very important for us in Nigeria. Human beings can easily write people off.

    A person fails examinations and comes from a poor background, and we immediately begin to calculate the person’s future. We say, “This one will not amount to anything.” But God does not calculate that way.

    There are people who did not succeed academically, people who did not pass their examinations, yet they followed a politician who appointed them as councillors. Before you know it, they became chairmen. And you who succeeded academically are still struggling.

    Some of the people you go to visit on Christmas Day may not have certificates, yet they are the ones feeding you. You are praying with your certificates, while you are still looking for a job. When you were growing up, you had already calculated how your life would be. You thought you would become this, achieve that and arrive before somebody else. But life has a way of reminding us that God is the one holding the calculator.

    The person you thought would never succeed may surprise you. The person you thought would never survive may still be standing. The person you thought had no future may become a source of blessing to others.

    The God revealed to us in Scripture is constantly calling people back to Himself. Mary was not chosen because she had achieved everything according to human standards. The apostles were not selected because they had perfect CVs. God has a habit of surprising people. Why? Because His ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are not our thoughts.

    Some of us have looked at people in the hospital and, from what we saw, concluded that they might not survive. But God surprised us. They are alive and are even worshipping with us today. Some of us see the mistakes of others and begin to behave as though those people are no longer human beings. But remember, “My ways are not your ways. My thoughts are not your thoughts.”

    St Paul, in the second reading, teaches us something very important about living for Christ. Our lives must ultimately be directed towards Christ, not towards comparison with other people.

    Then Jesus gives us the parable of the workers in the vineyard. Some workers came in the morning, while others came later in the day.

    Imagine, as a priest, I go to the junction in the morning and hire workers. Then I return in the evening and hire another group. At the end of the day, I pay everybody the same amount. If I pass that same junction the next day, they will call me many names!

    But Jesus is showing us something deeper. This parable exposes a lot about us. Sometimes we feel that our reward from God should depend on how long we have been serving Him. Some people believe that because they have spent many years in the Church, they should have a special chair in the Church. We calculate our years of service. We calculate our sacrifices. We calculate our prayers. We calculate our contributions. And then we begin to calculate what God owes us.

    But something very important happens at the end of the parable. Jesus asks. “What is wrong with me giving the last person the same amount I gave you? Do I not have the right to use what belongs to me?” That is the question God is asking us today. Why are you angry because I have blessed someone else? Why are you disturbed because another person received what you were expecting? Why do you think another person’s blessing reduces your own?

    My dear brothers and sisters, Jesus exposes something important in us. We are interested in comparative advantage. We are happy when something good happens to us. But when the same good thing happens to somebody else, we become jealous. We compare the blessings of God. We compare our marriages. We compare our children. We compare our jobs. We compare our houses. We compare our achievements. We compare our progress. And sometimes, without saying a word, we can even pray for somebody’s downfall.

    That is why the Gospel reading invites us to stop measuring our lives against the lives of other people. Stop comparing yourself with other people. Whatever God has given you, manage it well. Be grateful for it.

    Many people are suffering today because they began with the life that was theirs, but later they started measuring their lives against somebody else’s life. They saw another person’s house. Another person’s car. Another person’s marriage. Another person’s children. Another person’s success. And suddenly, their own blessing no longer looked like a blessing.

    Dear brothers and sisters, nobody can collect what belongs to you. What God has destined for you does not become yours by comparing yourself with another person. So stop distracting yourself with the blessings of others. Celebrate when another person succeeds. Celebrate the joy of others without interpreting their joy as your own loss. If God blesses somebody today, it does not mean that God has forgotten you. If someone arrives before you, it does not mean that your journey has ended. If somebody receives something before you, it does not mean that God has cancelled your own portion. Remember, God is still calculating.

    Let us therefore seek the Lord while He may be found. Let us trust His ways. Let us surrender our calculations to Him. Let us learn to celebrate the joy of others without seeing it as our own loss. Let us stop comparing ourselves with one another. And let us remember that the calculator of God is not the calculator of man.

    May God help us to become what He truly wants us to be. May He give us the grace to trust His timing, accept His ways, rejoice in the blessings of others, and never depart from His path.

    Amen.

    Compiled By Elijah Ugani

  • God Is Love: Understanding His Mercy, Forgiveness and Generosity BY PETER OBELE ABUE

    God Is Love: Understanding His Mercy, Forgiveness and Generosity BY PETER OBELE ABUE

     

    Some people are not comfortable with the G.O.D. of love. They prefer the god of revenge and punishment for their enemies etc. Because they work hard and keep the law scrupulously, they believe every good deed is put down as a merit for them in heaven. They belive other people who are not as good as them should receive nothing good from God. This is not about taking God for granted or encouraging tolerance for evil,. This is about belief in a God that is free to love or forgive whom He wants especially those who turn around and repent. That’s why he is the God of love. Even Jesus himself addresses this in the gospels when he said to the workers in the vineyard who complained about his generosity: “My friend, I am not cheating you… take what is yours and go… Am I not free to do as I wish with my own money? Are you envious because I am generous?” (Mt 20:1-16)

    The Babylonians in exile had this kind of false image of God as a punisher of evil and Isaiah told them in very plain language that they were wrong and needed a conversion of heart. This time it was not a conversion from sin and corruption, but a radical change from their myopic way of looking at God. “Let the wicked forsake his ways and the unrighteous man his thoughts. I will abundantly pardon you, for my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are my ways your ways, says the Lord.” Abraham our father in faith was called while he was still a pagan. David was forgiven while he was at his worst sin of adultery and murder. Moses, who murdered an Egyptian while defending his people, was still called to lead his people.

    It’s time we realized that our God is a generous God, even as we still believe he does not tolerate sin. He is not our business partner; he is not an accountant who is there to record our deeds in order to pay us according to our merits. A dog is the only creature you can train to obey you and work in accordance to your dictates; not God. Seriously, we merit nothing from God; we can only receive forgiveness, generosity, love, and indeed salvation from him. It’s time we begin to change our mentality of the God we serve and treat him like a G-O-D not a D-O-G.

    Fr. Peter Abue

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

  • Wike, Rainbow Coalition and the Politics of 2027 BY ELIJAH UGANI 

    Wike, Rainbow Coalition and the Politics of 2027 BY ELIJAH UGANI 

     

    Wike is becoming a problem for APC governors. If they are truly in charge of their states, perhaps it is time for them to get to work.

    The emerging Rainbow Coalition is revealing another dimension of Nigeria’s 2027 political calculations. Rather than seeing the coalition simply as another opposition arrangement, it is important to examine its strategy and the political lesson it appears to have drawn from the 2023 general elections.

    The Rainbow Coalition is, by definition, a political alliance capable of bringing together diverse groups and interests around a common objective. In this case, the common objective appears to include supporting the return of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2027, while simultaneously providing a platform for politicians who feel politically marginalised, aggrieved or excluded within their respective parties. That is where the political strategy becomes interesting.

    In 2023, many politicians who were dissatisfied with the established political structures found an alternative vehicle in the Labour Party and the wider Obedient Movement. Whatever one’s interpretation of that movement, its impact on Nigeria’s political history is difficult to ignore. Politicians and political actors who might otherwise have remained on the margins were able to ride on a larger movement and make significant electoral and political gains.

    The emerging coalition appears determined not to allow a repeat of that dynamic in 2027.
    Rather than leaving aggrieved politicians without a political home, the Rainbow Coalition provides a platform through which their grievances can be channelled toward a common political objective.
    Jibril Isah and the Kogi example
    Consider Senator Jibril Isah of Kogi East Senatorial District.

    Following his inability to secure an APC return ticket, he reportedly attributed his political setback to Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo’s political camp. Whether that allegation is ultimately established or not, the important political point is that unresolved internal grievances can create alternative political structures.

    Isah’s reported support for President Tinubu while simultaneously mobilising through the Rainbow Coalition against interests associated with Governor Ododo illustrates the complexity of the emerging arrangement.

    It is no longer necessarily a simple question of APC versus opposition. It can also become a question of Tinubu versus individual political interests within the ruling political structure.

    Nyesom Wike may be regarded by many as a controversial politician, but his current political posture can also be interpreted as an attempt to create an internal competitive framework around the 2027 objective.

    Some may judge Wike’s political methods through the lens of morality, loyalty or political consistency. Others may view them purely through the prism of political strategy. But politics is ultimately about structures, interests, mobilisation and electoral results.
    Wike’s confrontation with governors therefore raises a fundamental question, If a governor claims to have complete political control of his state and publicly supports President Tinubu’s return in 2027, can that governor demonstrate that control through actual political results?

    The famous political declaration, “On your mandate we shall stand,” is easy to make. The harder question is: what structures are standing, and what results can they produce?

    That is where the governors are being challenged. The 2023 election remains an important reference point. Where a governor or state political structure performed poorly for the presidential candidate of the ruling party, the obvious question for 2027 is: What has changed? Is the strategy different? Are the grassroots structures stronger? Has the political base expanded? Have previously aggrieved politicians been reconciled? Has the state studied what happened in 2023 and developed a strategy to prevent a repeat?

    Simply controlling the machinery of a ruling party does not automatically translate into electoral success. The 2023 election demonstrated that established political structures could face significant challenges from movements operating outside the traditional political establishment. That experience should not be dismissed.

    Cross River State provides another interesting perspective. In the 2023 presidential election, different parts of the state recorded varying levels of support for the presidential candidates. Cross River North, in particular, became an area of significant political competition.

    The lesson from such electoral results is straightforward: political leaders and parties must study where they succeeded, where they failed and what changed between elections.

    If President Tinubu’s political camp is serious about 2027, then electoral performance cannot simply be reduced to slogans. The relevant question becomes: Who can deliver? And if a political actor could not deliver the expected result previously, what has changed sufficiently to justify confidence in 2027?

    That is the question Wike’s politics is forcing into the conversation. The governors are being put under pressure. Wike’s confrontation with governors can therefore be interpreted as political pressure rather than merely personal antagonism. The pressure is simple: If you control your state politically, demonstrate it. If you support the President, demonstrate that support through political organisation. If you claim your political structure is strong, demonstrate its strength. If you say “On your mandate we shall stand,” then show that the mandate has a structure capable of standing when the election arrives.

    This is where the Rainbow Coalition becomes strategically relevant. The coalition can simultaneously support President Tinubu at the national level while challenging the political interests of governors within their respective states.

    That creates an unusual political equation. The governors may find themselves supporting the same presidential candidate as the coalition while competing against elements of that coalition for influence within their own states.

    The emerging dynamic also places President Tinubu in an interesting position. A governor who goes to the President complaining about political pressure from a coalition may ultimately face a simple question: Can you deliver the President in 2027? If the answer is yes, then the next question is: How?

    The President’s interest, from a purely electoral perspective, is ultimately tied to the number of votes and the political structures capable of producing them. That is why the records of 2023 remain relevant.

    Wike and other political actors can point to those results and ask: You did not deliver then. What is different now? That is not necessarily a matter of noise. It is a question of electoral evidence.

    The most significant development may therefore be the apparent shift in political attention. The conversation is no longer exclusively about Peter Obi, the Labour Party or the opposition political formations associated with the 2023 election.

    Increasingly, attention is turning towards the internal contest for political influence among those who support President Tinubu’s return.

    The Rainbow Coalition can therefore become a different kind of political force: one that supports the President nationally while challenging established political structures locally. That strategy has one obvious consequence.
    Governors cannot simply assume that support for the President automatically translates into control of their own political environment. They must demonstrate it.

    With more resources available to state governments, the period ahead provides governors with an opportunity to demonstrate performance, strengthen their political structures and consolidate their constituencies. But resources alone do not guarantee electoral success. Political organisation matters. Reconciliation matters. Grassroots mobilisation matters. Understanding voter behaviour matters. And, perhaps most importantly, learning from the mistakes and surprises of 2023 matters.

    The lesson of 2023 should be that political establishments can never afford to underestimate emerging movements. The Rainbow Coalition appears to understand that lesson. Its strategy seems to be to bring aggrieved politicians into a broad alliance, prevent their grievances from becoming a completely independent political movement, and channel their energy toward a common national objective.
    Wike’s role within that equation may therefore be less about becoming a political god and more about creating pressure within the existing political structure.

    Whether that strategy ultimately produces the intended electoral outcome remains to be seen. But one thing is already clear, the governors are being challenged to prove that their political structures are real, functional and capable of delivering results.

    This is no longer simply about whether anyone likes or dislikes Wike. It is about a political organisation. It is about electoral mathematics. It is about the lessons of 2023. And, ultimately, it is about who can demonstrate that they have done the work before Nigerians are asked to vote again in 2027. It is time for politics, not hatred of Wike.

    If you have the structure, show it. If you have the mandate, defend it. And if you promise to deliver, let the results speak.

    Let the APC governors get to work and stop the blackmail.

    Elijah Ugani
    Public Affairs Analyst and Commentator
    Community Mobilzer and Social Change Agent
    He writes from the Hills of Ukwortung

    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.

  • Tribute To Papa DC Enamhe At 60 – A Diamond Jubilee BY OKOI OBONO-OBLA

    Tribute To Papa DC Enamhe At 60 – A Diamond Jubilee BY OKOI OBONO-OBLA

     

    Today is the birthday anniversary of a classmate; a conservative radical and revolutionary; an activist; a progressive politician; a lawyer; an academic; a sociologist; a Doctor of Philosophy; a fighter of worthy causes; and a man who is an enigma in every ramification.

    I know him so well because our paths crossed almost fifty years ago, when we were starry-eyed boys entering secondary school, swept by innocence and totally oblivious of what the future held for us.

    Even though we grew up in a country just emerging from a bloody and tragic civil war — a war that disrupted the lives of our parents in particular and the country in general — we triumphed. Notwithstanding the stumbles and setbacks we suffered here and there, we rose like the phoenix, shook off the lethargy of our environment, and made a success of our lives.

    Papa DC Enamhe, congratulations on attaining 60 — your Diamond Jubilee and your entry into the club of sexagenarians — in an environment where the average life span is less than 45 and where hundreds of our contemporaries have since gone to the great beyond to enjoy the perpetual eternal rest that awaits us all whenever it pleases our Creator.

    We are hard fellows, men of justice, who fight for everyone around us to our own detriment, unmindful of the dire consequences of fighting for others in a society brimming with crass opportunists.

    I remember how, as boys in Mary Knoll College, Okuku, we conspired like legendary conspirators to fight what we believed was an act of consistent and persistent oppression by those bigger than us. Our audacity and courage would never allow us to see something we believed was wrong and walk away, close our eyes, and leave it unchallenged.

    This rebelliousness and revulsion against the establishment, against oppression, and this quest for social justice is genetically ingrained in the veins of Papa DC. It manifested as early as when we were in Class One in 1977, when students of Mary Knoll College, enraged and peeved by the incompetence and maladministration of its Principal, Mr. E. E. Okon, revolted in the famous “Okon Must Go” protest march. That act ruffled feathers in a school established by the Catholic Church to train and prime its students to be pro-establishment and not to rock the boat.

    That same rebellion against acts of oppression by senior students later led to a serious crisis between the students of Mary Knoll College and the students of the School of Basic Studies, which Mary Knoll College was then temporarily hosting, and ultimately led to the decision by the Government of the old Cross River State to relocate the School of Basic Studies from Mary Knoll to Akamkpa.

    Leaders are naturally born. God bestows leadership at the point of conception in their mother’s womb and instils charismatic traits of the kind the German sociologist Max Weber wrote about — charismatic authority as a distinct form of legitimate rule, alongside traditional and legal-rational authority. Papa DC is one such leader. To that extent, in 1981, when both of us conspired to lead the rebellion that resulted in the clash against SBS students, he was the one nominated by the Mary Knoll students to speak at the Divisional Police Station in Ogoja, where the police had rounded up both combatants to resolve the matter.

    That trait which you incubated in those heady, innocent days has guided, influenced, and shaped your entire life to this Diamond moment.

    Many happy returns to a worthy sexagenarian.

    @ Okoi Obono-Obla

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

  • Infrastructural Decay Of Ikom Metropolis BY EBAYE AKONJOM

    Infrastructural Decay Of Ikom Metropolis BY EBAYE AKONJOM

     

    Ikom, the premier commercial hub of Cross River State is similar in status to Aba in Abia State, Warri in Delta State and Onitsha in Anambra State, the difference in respect of lkom being the fact that the IGR yielding international border town, that is well located on the center of the state has been grossly neglected for more than a decade.

    This bustling commercial nerve-centre of the state lacks roads as all the streets are in very deplorable state. The town has also been without electricity for almost 2 decades.

    Apart from during Duke and Imoke regimes, Ikom has not been given its pride of place in the comity of major towns inspite of its additional status as the headquarters of the Central Senatorial District. Even at the apogee of her glory, Ikom has never had up to 15km of streets or network of roads.

    Whilst under the same APC led administration, Ogoja has within the same two year period, been provided with well paved 30kms asphalted roads, with another 20kms being constructed to major communities of Mbube.

    Ugep town has more than 35kms of asphalted streets, not to mention the tarred streets of Ekori, Mkpani,
    Nko, Idomi, Agoi Ekpo and Agoi Ibami, etc.

    The amiable deputy governor of Cross River State recently flagged off a 28km ring road from Obubra – Ofumbongha – Yala to Ochon and work is ongoing at almost jet speed. Ikom, how far na?

    As for power or electricity, its absence has been sadly accepted by the residents of lkom as the new normal since the town has been without electricity for upwards of 20 years.

    The siting of the zonal PHED office in lkom, which has tuned into a museum like monument and the appointment of a very celebral son of lkom as the Commissioner for Power did not better the power situation in lkom.

    Ikom residents and indigenous population are wise enough not to put the blame on the Commissioner and other government appointees for the absence of roads, power and other infrastructures in Ikom but squarely on senior lkom leaders who have the ears of the governor, minister and legislators but chose to prioritize their personal political and economic gains instead of pursuing infrastructure that would benefit the greater majority of lkom people.

    If the APC and government of the day continues to neglect lkom as it is doing, it should also not expect lkom to be nice to them during the elections since just like Jos, Lagos and Kano, lkom has a political mind of her own and does not follow parties or government in power but only patronizes parties and governments that patronizes lkom by attending to her needs.

    I advise the government to fix lkom streets/roads, provide power/ electricity which are crucial infrastructures for her people.

    Our inflential political leaders, who the governor, ministers and leaders of the national assembly respect should use their good offices to lobby the government to urgently take infrastructure to lkom.

    Thank you.

    Ebaye Akonjom.
    Former Chairman, Ikom LGA.

     

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

  • The Crisis Between Boje, Nsadop And Isobendeghe Goes Beyond Land Disputes: A Call For Urgent Action Against Criminality BY JOE OBI BISONG

    The Crisis Between Boje, Nsadop And Isobendeghe Goes Beyond Land Disputes: A Call For Urgent Action Against Criminality BY JOE OBI BISONG

     

    The long-standing challenges involving Boje, Nsadop, and Isobendeghe have often been viewed through the lens of land disputes. However, recent developments clearly indicate that the situation has gone beyond ordinary communal disagreements.

    What we are witnessing today are acts that border on banditry, armed robbery, stealing, cultism, and organized criminal activities.

    Criminal elements appear to have infiltrated these communities, creating fear and insecurity, while allegedly recruiting and influencing young people with the dangerous intention of building a culture of violence and terror similar to the dark experiences associated with the General Iron era.

    This is no longer a matter affecting only the communities involved. It is a serious threat to peace, security, and the future of the entire Boki Local Government Area.

    On 5th August 2026, two sons of Osokom travelling from Eastern Boki to Bansan Osokom reportedly went missing in transit between Boje, Nsadop, and Isobendeghe. This unfortunate incident further underscores the urgent need for all stakeholders to rise to the occasion and work closely with security agencies to ensure that those responsible for criminal activities are identified and brought to justice.

    I therefore call on all Boki leaders — traditional rulers, political leaders, community leaders, youth leaders, and all well-meaning sons and daughters of Boki — to rise above partisanship, personal interests, and community sentiments.

    We must confront this hydra-headed challenge with courage, unity, and determination. The protection of lives and property must come before politics or sectional interests.

    The time has come for a coordinated and decisive response involving traditional institutions, security agencies, government authorities, and community stakeholders.

    For too long, we have remained silent and overly tolerant. This docility must end. Boki must not become a breeding ground for organized criminality.

    I humbly appeal to all leaders and stakeholders: let us act now before the situation gets beyond our collective control.

    Chief Joe Obi Ability Bisong
    Chairman,
    Conflict Reconciliation and Peace Resolution Committee
    Ochibe Bokyi

    Dated today 31st August 2026

     

    Disclaimer: The opinion expressed in this article is strictly that of the author, Chief Joe Obi Bisong and does not represent Theluminenews, it agent, the organisation the author works for/with.

  • Take Up Your Cross And Follow Me Being A Sermon By Rev Fr Felix Ovai Ekpe

    Take Up Your Cross And Follow Me Being A Sermon By Rev Fr Felix Ovai Ekpe

    Compiled By Elijah Ugani 

    “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” Matthew 16:24

    The Christian journey is a journey of self-denial, sacrifice, and following Christ. Jesus says, “Take up your cross and follow me.” Whoever wants to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Christ will find it.

    When we speak of losing our lives, it is not necessarily about physical death. Sometimes, it means losing our time, our resources, our comfort, and the things we hold dear for the sake of God and others. Whatever we willingly surrender for God, He is able to restore. But whatever we try desperately to preserve at the expense of our faith and purpose, we may eventually lose.

    Following Christ Requires Perseverance. Following Christ is not always easy.

    In the first reading, Jeremiah experienced rejection because he remained faithful to God’s word. He became a laughingstock among the people. Whenever he spoke, he faced opposition and ridicule.

    There are times when you sincerely want to do the right thing, yet people will reject you. There are times when your efforts to serve God will be misunderstood. The Christian journey involves opposition, difficulties, and tribulations.

    Yet Jeremiah spoke of a burning fire within him. That burning fire must remain alive in every Christian.

    When someone constantly complains about serving God, it may be a sign that the fire within is growing weak. When you feel like giving up because of tribulation, rejection, or disappointment, keep moving. Do not abandon God simply because following Him has become difficult.

    There must be a fire within you that keeps you going. Do Not Think Only According to Human Standards

    We must not think only according to human standards. We must allow God to renew our minds and transform the way we see life. This is why Jesus rebuked Peter and said: “Get behind me, Satan.”

    Peter loved Jesus, but his love was not yet aligned with God’s purpose. He wanted to prevent Jesus from passing through the cross. Sometimes, even those who love us can prevent us from fulfilling our purpose and destiny.

    Never allow anyone to love you to the point where you can no longer fulfil your God-given purpose. Allow Your Children to Experience Their Own Crosses

    Peter’s love for Jesus made him want to protect Jesus from suffering. In the same way, parents sometimes want to protect their children from every difficulty. Sometimes we prevent our children from passing through their own crosses.

    For example, Junior wakes up in the morning and refuses to greet an elder. Someone calls your attention to it, and you say, “Leave him; he is still a child.” That is not necessarily love.

    Children must be taught discipline, responsibility, respect, sacrifice, and perseverance. We must allow them to experience appropriate challenges that will help them grow. For you to move forward in life, you must stretch yourself.

    Many of us remember when we used to trek long distances to school. After school, we would return home and still follow our parents to the farm.

    Today, some parents carry their children to school, prepare their meals, put them in lunch bags, and make life as comfortable as possible for them.

    Comfort is good, but excessive comfort can prevent growth. Sometimes, the cross is what makes us stronger. Every Community and Family Has Its Cross

    What does God want from us? God wants us to worship Him in spirit and truth and to trust Him.

    Every community has its crosses. Every family has its crosses. Unemployment may be a cross. Poverty may be a cross. Misunderstanding within a family may be a cross. The presence of a cross does not mean that God has abandoned you.

    Rather, the way we carry our crosses can become an expression of our faith. Sacrifice Is Part of Christian Discipleship. Sacrifice is part of our Christian discipleship.

    Christianity is more than attending Mass. Christianity means giving ourselves in service to God and to humanity. A neighbour who forgives is offering a sacrifice. A Christian who chooses to love when it is difficult is offering a sacrifice.

    Someone who gives his time, resources, patience, and strength for the good of others is making himself a living sacrifice. Therefore, in whatever you do, be a living sacrifice.

    St. Paul tells us in the second reading to renew our minds. We must not conform ourselves to the things of the world. Instead, we must allow God to transform our minds so that we can understand and live according to His will.

    Even the Sabbath belongs to the Lord. It is not entirely ours. The next Sabbath is not even guaranteed to us; therefore, our time itself belongs to God.

    Let us therefore conform our minds not to the things of the world, but to the things of God. Let us choose what glorifies God. Let us remain faithful even when the journey becomes difficult. Let us carry our crosses with faith, knowing that Christ has gone before us.

    I pray for you that as you make sacrifices for God and for mankind, may God never forget you.

    I pray for you that as you set your minds on the things that glorify God, may God not forget you.

    I pray for you that as you struggle daily to follow Christ, may He never forget you.

    May He give you the grace to deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Him faithfully.

    Through Christ our Lord.

    Amen.

     

    Disclaimer: The opinion expressed in this sermon are strictly that of the homilist, Rev Fr Felix Ovai Ekpe, and does not represent Theluminenews, agents or the organisation the homilist works for/with.

  • Who Is Jesus to You? A Sermon by Rev. Fr. Felix Ovai Ekpe

    Who Is Jesus to You? A Sermon by Rev. Fr. Felix Ovai Ekpe

     

    There are many questions and answers in today’s Gospel, but two questions stand out. The first is: “Who do people say that I am?” The disciples responded, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; still others say Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

    Jesus did not stop there. He asked them a more personal and important question: “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Peter was not a man without faults. He was the same Peter who would later deny Jesus three times. Yet, despite his weaknesses, Peter had a personal encounter with Jesus. He had reflected on who Jesus was, and his answer came from that personal conviction.

    This encounter between Jesus and His disciples took place at Caesarea Philippi. It was a moment of retreat, reflection, and self-discovery.

    Self-discovery is very important because it gives us mastery and awareness of who we are. When you know yourself, you are less likely to be defined by what other people say about you. When someone has undergone an operation in the hospital, that person may desperately crave water. Yet, if the person drinks water at that particular moment when the doctor has instructed otherwise, it could be dangerous or even fatal. The water itself is not bad. What matters is understanding the situation and knowing what is appropriate at that moment.

    That is why self-awareness is important. When you truly know who you are, someone cannot simply come and tell you something completely different about yourself and make you accept it. You know yourself. Self-discovery helps you understand where you are coming from and where you are going.

    “Who Do People Say That I Am?” Jesus first asked, “Who do people say that I am?” It is sometimes helpful to know how people perceive us. What do people say about us?What do people think about us? Occasionally, we should take time to find out how others experience us.

    Have you ever stopped to ask yourself: What do people say and think about me? There is a saying: “An entity without an identity is a nonentity.” You must have an identity.

    No one is a complete mirror of himself. Sometimes, we need the opinions of others to help us see things about ourselves that we may not see. However, we must also understand that people’s opinions are not always our reality.

    Sometimes you have goodwill, but people misunderstand you. Sometimes you are doing your very best, yet people still criticize you. Sometimes, no matter what you do, people will sit down and condemn you.
    But remember: their opinion is not necessarily your reality.

    How Do You See Other People? Jesus’ question also challenges us to examine how we see others. What do you say about other people? Some people only see others as opportunities to satisfy their own needs. They greet you only when they need something from you. You hear, “Calvary greetings!” But once you help them, all you receive is, “Thanks, seen.” We must ask ourselves: Is this how we treat people? What do you say about others? Are your words positive? Do you recognize the good in people, or is everything you say about them negative?

    Sometimes, a parish may receive one priest and complain. Another priest is sent, and they complain again. Another one comes, and the complaints continue. So, which priest do you actually want? The problem may not always be the person. Sometimes, the problem is the way we choose to see people. Always look for the good in others. Always try to see the good in people.

    And parents, speak well about your children. Stop constantly condemning your children.. The child you have condemned today may be the very child God has chosen to use to bless your family tomorrow. Instead of constantly condemning your children, pray for them. Encourage them. Speak life into them. And do the same for others.

    “But Who Do You Say That I Am?” The question Jesus asked His disciples is also addressed to us today: “Who do you say that I am?” This is not simply a question for the disciples. It is a question for every Christian. It is a question of faith, identity, and personal relationship. Each of us must be willing to give our own answer.

    The encounter between Jesus and His disciples was like a personal retreat. Jesus wanted His disciples to move beyond what they had heard from others and come to their own personal understanding of His identity and authority.

    We see something similar in the story of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. Jesus walked with them, spoke with them, and explained the Scriptures to them, yet they did not recognize Him immediately. Sometimes, we too can be close to Jesus and still fail to recognize Him. That is why our personal encounter with Christ is so important.

    Your Answer Can Change Your Story. People said different things about Jesus. But Peter gave his own answer: “You are the Christ.” Immediately, Jesus responded by changing Peter’s identity: “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church.”

    Peter recognized Jesus, and Jesus revealed something about Peter’s own identity. This teaches us something profound: the way you recognize Jesus can transform the way you understand yourself. When you recognize Jesus Christ as the Son of God, you begin to see yourself differently. When you acknowledge Him as Lord, He can rewrite your story. When you surrender your life to Him, He can give you a new identity. The person people have called a failure may become a testimony. The person people have rejected may become an instrument of blessing. The person people have condemned may become the one God uses to lift others.

    Today, Jesus is asking each one of us the same question He asked Peter: “Who do you say that I am?” Do not answer based only on what your parents told you. Do not answer merely because you grew up in the Church. Do not answer simply because everyone around you calls Him Lord. Have you encountered Him personally?

    The way you see Jesus will influence the way you live, the way you pray, the way you treat others, and the way you understand your own life. May we come to know Christ personally. May we recognize Him not only with our lips but also with our hearts and our lives. And as we recognize Him, may He rewrite our stories, transform our identities, and lead us into the purpose He has prepared for us.

    I pray for you today that the name by which Jesus calls you will be a name that brings magnification, blessing, and glory to you and to your family. May Jesus transform every negative story concerning your life into a testimony. May He give you a new identity, a new beginning, and a renewed sense of purpose.

    May you encounter Christ personally, know Him deeply, and follow Him faithfully. And may your life become a testimony of His goodness and grace.
    Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

     

    Disclaimer: The opinion expressed in this homily is strictly that of the homilist, Rev Fr Felix Ovai Ekpe and does not represent Theluminenews its agent or the organisation the author works for/with.