The Lumine News

Category: Opinion

  • Advocate, The Problem Is That We Sometimes Doubt These Words Of Jesus. We Ask Ourselves ‘What About Victims Of Mass Massacre, … BY FR PETER OBELE ABUE

    Advocate, The Problem Is That We Sometimes Doubt These Words Of Jesus. We Ask Ourselves ‘What About Victims Of Mass Massacre, … BY FR PETER OBELE ABUE

    ADVOCATE

    Advocate means one who stands beside the accused or somebody who is in difficulty. In the time of Jesus, if one is accused of a crime and is under judgment, it might happen that a well-to-do person would come forward and without saying a word, stand beside the accused. If that happens the prosecution would dare not go on with the case. This kind of person was called “Paraclete” in old English and “Advocate” in common parlance. To get the full gist think of a hit man or bouncer or something like that. In John 14:15ff, this name is given to the Spirit, the third person of the trinity to remind us that as Christians, only God is our advocate or defender, our protector when in difficulty.

    At times, we Christians forget this and allow ourselves to be intimidated or feel defenseless, insecure and unprotected especially when in unpredictable conditions. Presently, most people in Nigeria feel that way because they do not trust even the Justice System to defend them and give them a fair hearing in tribunal cases. People who live under extreme conditions like enduring hurricanes, earthquakes or blizzards especially those who cannot do anything about it, feel that way too. People who suffer under the sledgehammer of authority or political power of their fellow human beings who make life difficult for them feel that way. Jesus says: Do not be afraid…rather wait and “I will ask the father and he will give you an Advocate or Paraclete, the spirit of truth to be with you always” (John 14: 15).

    The problem is that we sometimes doubt these words of Jesus. We ask ourselves ‘what about victims of mass massacre, terrorism, kidnappings that end in murder, police brutality etc? My answer is ‘what about Jesus who was God’s beloved son but still suffered persecution in the hands of evil people even when he was innocent? You see, sometimes God allows evil to happen, not because he is powerless but to remind us that although he created the world, he still gives freedom to human beings to have full control of it. In the midst of all these, we must keep our hope alive. Even in the face of persecution, Peter exhorts Christians in his days not to give up hope because of the persecution which just started and was to last for about 250 years (read 1 Peter 3; 15-18)

    In truth, as Jesus’ disciples we are sometimes threatened by persecutions or even our own sins or human frailty (Read Romans 8: 35-39). Those who believe in Jesus’ promise of the Paraclete know that they will not be defeated by any difficulty, however great it may be. Believe, wait and pray this week for the Paraclete, the promise of ages who comes to defend you, to teach you the truth even about that most unpredictable situation you are facing in your life right now. The Holy Spirit comes to fill your heart with courage, to enkindle in you the fire of his love. Stand ready! .

  • A Crown Of Thorns For The Next Governor Of Cross River State BY DOMINIC KIDZU

    A Crown Of Thorns For The Next Governor Of Cross River State BY DOMINIC KIDZU

     

    “Timeo Danaos et dona ferentes”,
    This is a Latin quote rendered by Aeneid in the epic poem of the same name written by Virgil which translated into English means “I fear the Greeks even when bearing gifts”, The phrase is spoken by Trojan priest Laocoön referring to the Trojan Horse used by the Greeks during the Trojan War in which the Trojans were defeated after the Greeks left behind a large wooden horse and pretended to sail for home. Unbeknown to the Trojans, the wooden horse was filled with Greek. warriors who spilled out and conquered the city of Troy.

    The next Governor of Cross River State will be sworn-in at an expectedly impressive ceremony by the Chief Justice of the state after which a crown of thorns shall be placed upon his head, while the people hoot, dance and make elaborate merriment to celebrate the dawn of a new era. The crown of thorns will no doubt be heavy, having been constructed with lead spikes upon wrought iron, strung together with barbed wires that prick the scalp all the time.

    In a symbolic sense he will be the Christ, who will be expected to take away the sins of the past and make the state a new dwelling place for all who live here and those who shall come to it. To make omelettes without breaking eggs and roll a bunch of palm fruits in cocoyam leaves without piercing them. He shall be the miracle maker expected to turn water into wine, an exalted king presiding over the ruins of an ancient empire brought to its knees by the rapacious reign of the king of locusts.

    By the whimsical rush-hour enactments of the departing potentate the civil service will have 5,000 new staff, 5,000 more will be promoted, 5,000 more will join the pensions pay cheque while an army of at least 5,000 former appointees will be waiting to return to government waving their polling unit results in his face as their banner of true faith and fidelity. The Trojan horse for His Excellency has fully arrived with stuffed turtles, a coterie of wasps and a thousand regents to the throne of entititlement embedded in it.

    Despite the elaborate afterthought appointment of a commissioner for government property, all the good cars will disappear while office furniture will suddenly develop legs. The posh automobiles in His Excellency’s fleet will also go with him in a blaze of glory. He loved convoys of cars before he became Governor, he should love them more now. The new Governor is sure to receive visits from bank officials bearing large files of loans, debts and overdrafts left unpaid and unpaid contractors who have already paid weired percentages of kickbacks upfront.

    Young people from his senatorial zone, who have hardly come out of the gates of the University of Calabar shall demand for good appointments and good offices, so that they too can build swank houses with swimming pools, drive posh cars and live the good life. After all, what is good for the goose is also good for the gander. Water Board lands and LEMNA estates where not created for people from one senatorial zone in the state alone. And the beat goes on and on and on. Welcome to Perigrino Lodge, His Excellency, the Governor of Cross River State.

    Through all these, the heavy crown remains on the Governor’s head, heavy, pricky and excruciating. No one notices his pain and discomfort. In a few days they will find new catch-names for him, ala Digital et al. Facebook and WhatsApp groups will be awash with the new prefixes and appellations. Didn’t the departing Governor once tell his Advisers that psychophancy was a legitimate tool in politics? And now that it has come to stay, I too will join the race. I am even now looking for three or four people to collaborate with me to set up a music band to praise the Governor. So that once he steps out of his car, the orchestra and the chant will go up and we shall tell him what we are sure he is not in the hope that we too can build fine houses and drive beautiful cars.

    Yet there is one way out. Just like in the 1989 mercenary film starring Miles O’Keefe, ‘The Hard Way The Only Way’, will be the only way. The incoming Governor will have to put away recent precedence and do things his own way bearing in mind that he doesn’t need to be popular or loved in the first couple of years. What he needs immediately is respect, love can return later. He must reduce public expenditure, plug revenue leakages, keep family out of government and lead by example and not by laudatory declarations at the public gallery.

    There has been too much casual drama and comedy recently, too many caricatures and mediocres in public office. The proper laid down forms, culture, conventions and proprieties of officialdom must quickly replace the childlike razzmatazz that has been the regular fair in the once beautiful city of Calabar. The Sesame Street must urgently seize to define our general corpus, because we are a people of excellent education, high class and decent standards. Written with the most excellent intentions and best wishes to the next Governor of our dear state.

     

    DISCLAMER: The opinion reflected in this article does not reflect THELUMINENEWS or it agent, it credited to author, Dominic Kidzu 

  • May Prince Otu, Weather The Herculean Start… BY AGBA JALINGO

    May Prince Otu, Weather The Herculean Start… BY AGBA JALINGO

    May Prince Otu, Weather The Herculean Start…

    The spotlight has shifted to the Cross River State Governor-Elect already. Expectedly, Prince Otu’s residence is the new mill for those who earn a living only from government house. With only 50 days to go, the incumbent governor is spent and fizzled out and the newest hood is buzzing. That is nothing unusual afterall. It’s a political culture.

    First was the group of hawks I refer to as “entitlers.” They were quick to appear around him. Like the panting of a dehydrated Deer after water, these folks looked weary and desparate to have a dip in the incoming pot. They have spent their years in power or close to power but they can’t have enough and must always be around every government in power, so they can perpetually remain in power or near power.

    They feel entitled. They claim they have “suffered” so much for our State over the years, therefore, they must be allowed to continue to be the Praetorian Guards of power for us. They are still hanging around; not with ideas to move our State forward, but with pockets waiting to be filled and names pressing to get appointments.

    Then there is the very nauseous group of those who are lurking around for appointments and the only reason they say they deserve the appointment is that they won their polling units for Otu. Some say because they have “crowd” in their constituencies and can mobilize for Otu. Some say because they have “suffered” for their party for years and it’s their turn to enjoy. Some say because their community has never gotten any government appointment since 1700. Some say because Prince Otu has been their friend and man Friday since 1823. Some say because even when people didn’t believe in Prince Otu’s aspiration to be Governor, they were the ones who carried him and sold him like garri to the voters and some say because it’s their turn in the zoning formula etc.

    While all these considerations can rightly be aggregated for compensation, it is more necessary for Prince Otu, to look for a coterie of patriots who are going to assist him clean the mess he will meet on ground and grab a lot of quick wins, lest he loses the Herculean start. Not many of these sort of performers are keen about going to homes of those who win elections to genuflect. Yes, not many of them!

    Prince Otu, has to deliberately look beyond the throng of buzzards in his abode and search for them as a primary role to help him provide overall political direction and take the necessary decisions to ensure a coherent and coordinated take off. From day one, there should be a marked departure from where we are exiting; where appointment into government office has been reduced to a laughable spectacle and a nefarious conduit. That take off speed is very crucial to determine the outlook of the journey.

    Happy Easter Celebration.

    Yours sincerely,
    Citizen Agba Jalingo.

  • It’s HAPPY EASTER Because The Empty Tomb Has Become The Sign That Points To A New Direction; The Empty Tomb Has Become The Place Where Our Faith In The Resurrection Of The Lord Jesus Is Born BY FR PETER OBELE ABUE

    It’s HAPPY EASTER Because The Empty Tomb Has Become The Sign That Points To A New Direction; The Empty Tomb Has Become The Place Where Our Faith In The Resurrection Of The Lord Jesus Is Born BY FR PETER OBELE ABUE

    HAPPY EASTER!

    Easter is the festival and holiday celebrated by millions of Christians around the world in honour of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from death three days after his crucifixion at Calvary. We say HAPPY EASTER because modern day Christians have attached HAPPY meaning to the Easter celebration, making it a commemoration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the death and the rebirth of those born again with Him by the waters of baptism (cf. Romans 6:3-11). Today, Easter has become a movable feast, yearly fixed to correspond with the first Sunday following the full moon after the March equinox and occurs on different dates around the world since western churches use the Gregorian calendar.

    Whearas most biblical scholars agree that Easter was originally a pagan festival, the early Church successfully moved to change this practice through the Emperor Constantine, one of the early Christian leading converts whose main aim was to exterminate the pagan practice, thus making Easter a HAPPY celebration. Easter has become a HAPPY time for families to enjoy the coming of spring with most western civilizations celebrating with egg decorations and Easter bunnies; and still retaining the same spirit of rebirth and renewal, as it has been for thousands of years.

    On Easter night, we gather and sing triumphantly: “Oh HAPPY fault, Oh necessary sin of Adam,” HAPPY fault, because if Adam had not sinned, we would not have had this victory. HAPPY fault, because for the first time, we refer to sin as a victory, thanks to Christ who paid the price in full through his death and resurrection. “What good would life have been to us, had Christ not come as our Redeemer?” He has transformed us, making us a new creation, giving us new life in the Holy Spirit and we celebrate with intense pride and great jubilation.

    Its HAPPY EASTER because the empty tomb has beco

    HAPPY EASTER!

    Easter is the festival and holiday celebrated by millions of Christians around the world in honour of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from death three days after his crucifixion at Calvary. We say HAPPY EASTER because modern day Christians have attached HAPPY meaning to the Easter celebration, making it a commemoration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the death and the rebirth of those born again with Him by the waters of baptism (cf. Romans 6:3-11). Today, Easter has become a movable feast, yearly fixed to correspond with the first Sunday following the full moon after the March equinox and occurs on different dates around the world since western churches use the Gregorian calendar.

    Whearas most biblical scholars agree that Easter was originally a pagan festival, the early Church successfully moved to change this practice through the Emperor Constantine, one of the early Christian leading converts whose main aim was to exterminate the pagan practice, thus making Easter a HAPPY celebration. Easter has become a HAPPY time for families to enjoy the coming of spring with most western civilizations celebrating with egg decorations and Easter bunnies; and still retaining the same spirit of rebirth and renewal, as it has been for thousands of years.

    On Easter night, we gather and sing triumphantly: “Oh HAPPY fault, Oh necessary sin of Adam,” HAPPY fault, because if Adam had not sinned, we would not have had this victory. HAPPY fault, because for the first time, we refer to sin as a victory, thanks to Christ who paid the price in full through his death and resurrection. “What good would life have been to us, had Christ not come as our Redeemer?” He has transformed us, making us a new creation, giving us new life in the Holy Spirit and we celebrate with intense pride and great jubilation.

    Its HAPPY EASTER because the empty tomb has become the sign that points to a new direction; The empty tomb has become the place where our faith in the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus is born, The empty tomb represents the fact that Christ is capable and has indeed taken our sorrows, our problems, and our worries away. As Christians on Easter day, we are reminded, “Why do you seek the living one among the dead? He is not here, but he has been raised!” (Lk. 24:5-6). With that resurrection came the death of all our fears. We no longer have cause to be moody or sad for Christ’s resurrection assures us that victory is ours forever. The Lord has teuly risen! HAPPY EASTER indeed!

    me the sign that points to a new direction; The empty tomb has become the place where our faith in the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus is born, The empty tomb represents the fact that Christ is capable and has indeed taken our sorrows, our problems, and our worries away. As Christians on Easter day, we are reminded, “Why do you seek the living one among the dead? He is not here, but he has been raised!” (Lk. 24:5-6). With that resurrection came the death of all our fears. We no longer have cause to be moody or sad for Christ’s resurrection assures us that victory is ours forever. The Lord has teuly risen! HAPPY EASTER indeed!

  • If We Can Live Like Jesus Only For This Week Alone, He Will Exalt Us To A Position Of Promise As We Prepare To Celebrate His Resurrection BY PETER OBELE ABUE

    If We Can Live Like Jesus Only For This Week Alone, He Will Exalt Us To A Position Of Promise As We Prepare To Celebrate His Resurrection BY PETER OBELE ABUE

    WELCOME TO HOLY WEEK
    JESUS IS OUR GREAT EXAMPLE

    Welcome to the week that challenges us to live up to the expectations of our faith. Welcome to the week where Jesus is the focus and the rest of us are called to follow and imitate. This is what Jesus did for us

    1. He was humble: Jesus already existed in his divine nature before he became man. Yet, he accepted to become the most despised of men, a slave whom the Romans put to shame and condemned to a humiliating death on a Cross (Phil 2:6-11). The apostle Paul was advising the Philippians. not to be empty boasters but to “do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory; rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves, each looking out not for his own interests, but (also) everyone for those off others” (3-4). What is your attitude when people despise or insult you even when you don’t deserve it?

    2. He accepted suffering: Jesus was well aware that he would not be allowed to carry out his mission in peace; that he will meet with strong opposition, insults and even physical violence. They will spit on his face, beat him up, torture and scourge him. Yet, he still wanted to carry out his mission because it was not to man that he owed allegiance but to God Almighty. What is your attitude in the face of your sufferings or sickness or death of a loved one?

    3. He shunned violence: Matthew tells us what Jesus said to Peter when he tried to defend him with his sword. “Put your sword back into its sheath, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword” (Matt. 26:52). Many people today experience violence by inciting others to mob action or by provoking them through acts of terrorism, kidnapping, murder, election voilence, etc. What is your attitude when you are provoked into such a fight or to start a quarrel with someone?

    If we can live like Jesus only for this week alone, He will exalt us to a position of promise as we prepare to celebrate his resurrection.

    Welcome to Holy Week!

  • Bakassi: The Fairy-tale Of A Homeless Tribe… BY AGBA JALINGO

    Bakassi: The Fairy-tale Of A Homeless Tribe… BY AGBA JALINGO

    Bakassi: The Fairy-tale Of A Homeless Tribe…

    After Nigeria unjustly used a portion of our State, Bakassi to play father-christmas on the alter of international politics and nefariously ceded it to Cameroon over a cup of tea in foreign land, the human beings living in what is now called Bakassi LGA in Cross River State, are still treated like SHIT! Yes, that’s the word…SHIT! Even the Etinyin of Bakassi, His Royal Majesty Etiyin Etim Okon Edet, who doubles as the Chairman of the Cross River State Traditional Rulers Council, does not have a palace any longer; after his palace was ceded along with their lands to Cameroon. He lives in his personal house in Calabar Municipal.

    Bakassi has 10 political Wards on paper. The 10 Wards are currently delineated into 70 polling units PUs. The February 18, 2023 Presidential and NASS Elections, held in only 20 out of the 70 polling units in Bakassi LGA. Elections did not hold in 50 polling units due to insecurity, according to INEC.

    Let it be on record that voters that INEC registered, and made to queue under the Sun for weeks to collect their voters’ cards all came out in those 50 polling units eager to vote. These voters include former Presidential Aide, Senator Ita Giwa, and a former LG Chair of Bakassi, Hon. Bassey Ita Edet, They waited from morning till the election time was over only for INEC officials not to show up.

    INEC asked them to come back the next day, Sunday February 19 to vote. They still turned up as directed, very eager to vote. They waited until INEC informed them late in the evening that the BVAS machines were configured for only Saturday and that the Commission was unable to reconfigure them for Sunday, so the rescheduled election still did not hold. Even Ita Giwa, did not vote.

    But INEC still went ahead and announced winners. So let us see the numbers.

    The total number of registered voters in Bakassi is 15,642. INEC accredited a total of 1,165 voters on election day. Less 14,477 of those INEC registered.

    Out of 1,165 accredited voters on election day, a total of 1,147 cast their ballots in the Presidential election.

    Valid votes were..…1,076
    Rejected votes were… 71

    APC got……… 306

    LP got……… 487

    PDP got……… 266

    Others got:…..17

    The margin of victory from these numbers is not more than 200 votes. But the total number of voters that INEC disallowed from voting is over 14,000. How on God’s Earth can such an election be described as a valid election? Does the person laying claim to such dubious victory not feel like a criminal? Such insensitivity and widespread denial of the people of Bakassi from voting, should be tested against our electoral laws in court.

    The implication of this precarious precedence is also that in next Saturday’s State House of Assembly Election, INEC will declare someone with less than 500 votes, as winner to go and represent Bakassi in the Cross River State House of Assembly. That’s actually a fraud and disservice to a people who have been so badly pummeled by the vagaries of international conspiracy and internal greed.

    Let me also remind you that the Supreme Court in February 2018, ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to delineate wards in Bakassi LGA so as to give the people a sense of belonging. Delivering judgment on an appeal brought by the INEC against representatives of Bakassi Council, who were displaced from Cameroon, the apex court in a lead judgment delivered by His Lordship, Justice Inyang Okoro, held that the people of Bakassi have suffered enough and as such, there was the need for INEC to assuage their plight by delineating constituencies in the council. This order hasn’t been executed.

    It is annoying and frustrating how these very important issues are overlooked and allowed to pace away as if they are inconsequential. Just imagine that the children of these parents who are treated like garbage rise tomorrow and take up arms to begin another flank of insurgency against Nigeria? Is this total negligence and denial from participation in a country they think they belong to, not enough reason for rebellion? What actually did the people of Bakassi do to Nigeria to deserve this kind of treatment? Is it because they haven’t resorted to the language Nigeria understands? I am just thinking aloud.

    The other issue troubling me this morning is simple. It’s 74 days to go. It started from 2,922 days. 2,848 days have been spent. Will it truly be on record that, Governor Ayade came and spent 8 solid years in government and does not have a single FUNCTIONAL project in Cross River? With all the grammar laden trillion budgets?

    Even the 52, two bedroom flats Ayade built for the Bakassi returnees were destroyed and now occupied by miscreants.

    Tufiakwa!!!

    Yours sincerely,
    Citizen Agba Jalingo.

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

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

    IS THIS HOW GOVERNOR AYADE WILL LEAVE US?

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

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

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

    2. Without turning Bakassi to Lugano?

    3. Without resettling the Bakassi IDPs?

    4. Without, a deep sea port in Bakassi?

    5. Without Ikom Chocolates in the stores?

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

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

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

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

    10. Without Bekwara groundnut oil in the market?

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

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

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

    14. Without registering an airline or getting an AOC?

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

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

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

    18. Without a spaghetti fly over?

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

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

    21. With a nearly decapitated civil service?

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

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

    24. Without Centricot, Northicot and Calas Vegas?

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

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

    27. Without a revolutionary robotic and artificial intelligence innovation?

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

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

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

    31. Without a single drug manufactured from CalaPharm?

    32. Without a functional toothpick factory in Ekori?

    33. Without a functional Cross River microfinance bank?

    34. Without a banana processing farm in Odukpani?

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

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

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

    Yours sincerely,
    Citizen Agba Jalingo.

  • If I Put My Candidate In Power, I Am Covered? BY AGBA JALINGO

    If I Put My Candidate In Power, I Am Covered? BY AGBA JALINGO

    If I Put My Candidate In Power, I Am Covered?

    This feeling has broken the hearts of several former governors. A litany of them who used their enormous power of incumbency to install successors in the hope that their tracks will be covered, have only had to bite their fingers down the line and face the embarrassing repudiation of such prior commitments, once there is a change of guard.

    While we have excellent examples of Deputy Governors in Nigeria who maintained their comportment and cool until the end of the tenures of their principals, we cannot say the same thing with most successors who were foisted on the people by out going governors. Like the perpetual crow of the rooster, their day of rancour is only a few miles down the road.

    Let me begin from Lagos, where Fashola was planted by Tinubu. The relationship later became so bitter that it was the generality of Lagosians that rose to Fashola’s defense and kept him in power. Though fences were later mended, what happened between the duo is a lesson in successor politics. What also later happened to Fashola’s successor, Governor Ambode, is public knowledge.

    When Orji Uzor Kalu planted his former bone man, Theordore Orji in Abia, he thought he had it all settled. It wasn’t up to six month before Theordore went for the jugular of his former boss. We know how it ended.

    The story of Ganduje and Kwankwaso also quickly comes to mind. How one was like eczema on the other’s skin. So close were they that some persons even swore they will never suffer a broken lid. The moment the guards changed, things also changed for the worse and till date, the lid between them is still broken.

    Ahmed Sani Yerima of Kebbi, worked so hard to plant Mahmuda Aliyu Shinkafi, as his successor. After taking over, his former man-friday, Shinkafi tormented Yerima so much that he worked double to ensure Shinkafi didn’t return for second term.

    Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom is having his own fair share of the successor politics lessons from Emmanuel Udom. Akpabio personally brought Udom and nursed him into Governorship. That relationship has completely soured.

    Or is it Aregbesola of Osun State? He even fought with Asiwaju, his political benefactor in order to plant Oyetola. It wasn’t up to the first hundred days in office before the war between the two began. I’m not sure it’s over yet.

    Go to Edo State and also verify from Oshiomhole what he has seen in the hands of Obaseki. If you don’t have access to Oshio, please ask Google and see Obaseki’s side of the story and you will understand.

    Ibrahim Dankwambo, of Gombe who was practically installed by Senator Danjuma Goje, fell out with his benefactor barely months after taking over power. The duo at a point couldn’t see face to face.

    A former governor of Borno State, Ali-Modu Sheriff, had a major disagreement with his anointed successor Kashim Shettima, who is now the VP-elect and at a point, the former governor couldn’t even enter the State.

    Attahiru Bafarawa of Sokoto State who also handed over to his anointed successor, Wamakko, had to drag his successor to court only a few months later after accusations of corruption between the two started flying here and there.

    Peter Obi left office confident that he did a good job by planting an anointed successor, Willie Obiano, whom Obi personally brought from the banking sector to make Governor. How did it end with the two of them?

    Between Sam Egwu of Ebonyi and his successor, Martin Elechi, the story wasn’t different, as well as between Isah Yuguda of Bauchi and his successor.

    While in Nasarawa State, former Governor, Tanko Al-Makura, had to set up a panel to probe his predecessor, Senator Abdullahi Adamu.

    Even when a father, who was former Governor planted his own son as Governor, in Kwara State, it wasn’t long before the two Sarakis fought to a finish and father frustrated the son from winning a second term.

    Back home in Cross River, we know what happened between Duke and Imoke. We also are fully aware of what is ongoing between Imoke and his anointed successor, Ayade. And with this trajectory, we can also predict with exactitude, what will happen between Ayade and whoever he will hand over to, whether that person be his anointed successor, Prince Otu or his old friend, Sandy Onor.

    Yours sincerely,
    Citizen Agba Jalingo.

  • Like Sandy Onor, Sons Of The Black Men BY SANDRA MICHAEL

    Like Sandy Onor, Sons Of The Black Men BY SANDRA MICHAEL

    Like Sandy Onor, Songs of the black men

    As bright as dawn
    as precious as Shawn

    So thick is his hair
    so lovely is his care

    So gorgeous is his skin without blisters
    he glitters without filters
    He is the black man he has evolved

    Yellow, white, or chocolate
    there is nothing nicely than a black man
    with deep black eyes
    nose so pointed and wise

    I know a black man
    who would clasp our hands when danger shows up

    Let the obidients and otudients
    sing him praises
    the mighty reclaimer is here
    the star of the ejagham kingdom
    the harmonizer ready to reclaim
    ready to reclaim our stolen mandate
    he is the people’s champion

    When you look at my face
    tell him that I’m visible when it matters
    oh ye black men
    your woman adores you
    your people acknowledge you
    let nothing in you rest
    until you reclaim the mandate

    Let the dundrun drum be displayed
    without dismay and delay
    nations are about to come to his rising!

    Yeah he’s strong
    he’s structured

    He’s resilient
    but he can’t accomplish it unaided

    I tell you
    a lot of goods come out from the ebony soul
    black is an identity

    By Sandra Micheal ✍️

     

  • Peter Obi Endorsement Of Sandy Onor And The Issuing Of Threats To Igbo Community In Cross River State By The APC BY UMEZULIKE DESMOND-CRUZ

    Peter Obi Endorsement Of Sandy Onor And The Issuing Of Threats To Igbo Community In Cross River State By The APC BY UMEZULIKE DESMOND-CRUZ

    PETER OBI ENDORSEMENT OF SANDY ONOR AND THE ISSUING OF THREAT TO THE IGBO COMMUNITY IN CROSS RIVER STATE BY THE APC

    Understandably, the endorsement of Senator Sandy Ojang Onor, the Gubernatorial candidate of the PDP in Cross River State, by Mr Peter Obi, dealt a traumatizing and deafening blow on the APC in Cross River State. While I heartily sympathize with them and in the spirit of sportsmanship, acknowledge their right to react to the issue of Obi’s endorsement of Senator Sandy Ojang, I honestly feel it is sickeningly insulting for the APC to issue threats to the Igbo Community in Cross River State, just because Mr. Peter Obi endorsed Senator Sandy Ojang Onor.

    I read with utter dismay and grave concern a publication attributed to one of the Spokesperson of the APC in Cross River State, wherein, he flagrantly accused Mr. Peter Obi and his people–the igbos– of trying to reintroduce what he referred to as “internal colonialism” and vowed that his Party will do everything to stop Mr. Peter Obi and “his people”. Firstly, let me acknowledge the fact that it is the constitutional right of Mr. Peter Obi to endorse any Gubernatorial candidate, and in this case, if there is any Political Party that has the right to react offensively to the endorsement, it should be the Labour Party in Cross River State, and not the APC. I mean, we have over 14 Political Parties in Cross River State fielding Gubernatorial Candidates, why is the APC the only party whose feathers are ruffled by this endorsement? Why are they trying so hard to incite the people of the State against the Igbo community in Cross River? Why are they making unnecessary reference to the bitter issues of Civil War and the pre-colonial era?

    More worrisome is the fact that Peter Obi’s endorsement of Senator Sandy Ojang Onor, has no ethnic coloration, as Sandy himself is an Ejagham Man from Etung Local Government and married to an Ejagham woman from same Etung Local Government Area. Sandy’s mother, who is from Akamkpa is also Ejagham and not Igbo. I am pretty sure that, if you trace the genealogy of Senator Sandy Ojang Onor, at least, to the 4th generation, you may likely not find any ancestral link with the Igbos. And same goes to his Deputy Governorship Candidate, who is proudly an Efik Princess, from a reputable Royal family. So, on what basis is the APC trying to whip up ethnocentric sentiment against the Igbos in Cross River State, due to Mr. Peter Obi endorsement of Senator Sandy?

    I am an Igbo man from Cross River State–proudly and unapologetically so– and I speak on the basis of Self–preservation and morality, not Politics. The APC in Cross River State must as a matter of utmost importance, stop the fanning of these smoldering embers of hatred against the Igbos in Cross River State. The Gubernatorial candidate of the APC must call to order, some of his overzealous media handlers, lest they set the entire state on fire. I am an Igbo man and it is my inalienable right to support whosoever I deem fit to govern our State. Enough of the threats!

    ©Umezulike Desmond-cruz