The Lumine News

Category: Opinion

  • To Be Holy, We Must Do Away With Mindsets That Pitch Us Against Our Fellow Human Beings Or Make Us Put Ourselves First In Every Situation In Life BY FR PETER OBELE ABUE

    To Be Holy, We Must Do Away With Mindsets That Pitch Us Against Our Fellow Human Beings Or Make Us Put Ourselves First In Every Situation In Life BY FR PETER OBELE ABUE

    BE HOLY

    Before the time of Jesus, to be holy meant to be “withdrawn” from others. The Jews were not allowed to enter the houses of non-Jews, eat with them or even shake hands with them. They would call others, “dogs” and treat them as such. Come to think of it, the only reason they behaved this way was to keep the laws and traditions of their ancestors, which set them apart as a privileged and higher class set of people.

    It seems that some people still have that mentality of holiness today, thinking of themselves as different or better or even more religious than others, simply because they keep the rules or belong to a particular group. The truth is that only God can determine who is holy. Now, put that alongside what Jesus himself says about holiness and realise that we human beings still have a hard time understanding what it means to be ‘holy’

    Jesus takes holiness a step further by coating it with both personal and social responsibilities. No more “eye for eye” or ‘tooth for tooth” treatments towards those who attempt to hurt us. Instead, he admonishes that we, “turn the other cheek.” No more simply “love your neighbour” but “love your enemy…” (read Mt. 5:38-48). Jesus does not mean we should take it literally and go turning ourselves into those who attack us or calling a feast for those who literally regard themselves as our mortal enemies. That’s not possible, humanly speaking.

    What Jesus means is that, to be Holy we must instead:
    1. Do away with mindsets that pitch us against our fellow human beings or make us put ourselves first in every situation in life.
    2. Avoid writing people off, simply because they do not fit into the mould we have created for them.
    3. Take advantage of any ugly situation and create good out of it. For example in this cashless economic situation in Nigeria, what are you doing to make life liveable to those around you by sharing your cash, food, drink or just anything that will make your neighbor feel relieved.

    Above all, Jesus says we must make more effort at upgrading ourselves before paying attention to others. Our personal sanctification prepares us towards loving other people more than we do ourselves and that is the first step of holiness.
    If we learn to respect our bodies, which is the temple of the Holy Spirit, by avoiding abusive acts with our bodies, we are by that same token, training ourselves to respect other human beings in all ramifications (1 Cor. 3:16-23). Respecting our bodies entail curtailing or avoiding especially sexual acts that for the most part defile us and weaken our spiritual relationship with God. If we do not respect our bodies, we cannot appreciate others and totally commit ourselves to them in a mature, selfless and sacrificial manner.

  • PRO-CHOICE: Today, Even The Basic Choice Of A Credible Presidential Candidate To Change The Course Of Our Dark Past Has Been Subjected To Illogical Arguments About What Party, Tribe Or Religion You Belong To BY FR PETER OBELE ABUE

    PRO-CHOICE: Today, Even The Basic Choice Of A Credible Presidential Candidate To Change The Course Of Our Dark Past Has Been Subjected To Illogical Arguments About What Party, Tribe Or Religion You Belong To BY FR PETER OBELE ABUE

     

    In Europe and America today, there is this great divide between those who say they are “Pro-life” and others who refer to themselves as “Pro-choice.” This divide gets hotter each year in the month of January as both parties fight over the famous ‘Roe vs Wade’ controversy; the original judicial ruling that gave birth to this controversy. The Pro-choicers argue that they have the freedom to choose to do whatever they wish with their bodies, while Pro-lifers say the opposite. They say that no one, not even God, the Church, or their culture can impose judgment on what they choose to do with their bodies.

    They argue that human beings are free to do whatever they like; free to abort a foetus, free to make love to someone of the same sex, even free to marry their dog or break into anyone’s house and steal their property, because might is right. The question is: does this kind of freedom make your action(s) right? You may ask me, who determines what is right or wrong? Well, the answer is ‘God does.’ Ok, you don’t believe in God, what about common sense or the dominant culture?

    What is even more ridiculous about this pro-choicers is that those who perpetuate it claim they believe in God. Well if you do, read the scriptures. What does God say about choice? Sirach 15:15-20, especially verses 17-20 says: “before man are life and death, whichever he chooses shall be given him. Immense is the wisdom of the Lord; he is mighty in power and all-seeing. The eyes of God see all he has made; he understands man’s every deed. No man does he command to sin, to none does he give strength for lies”. What is clearer than this? The same God commanded us in the scriptures, “You shall not kill, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not divorce your legally married partner, etc.”

    Today, man circumvents the commandments with the excuse of freedom to choose, so as to create caveats that will permit him to do “whatever he/she likes.” Today, even the basic choice of a credible presidential candidate to change the course of our dark past has been subjected to illogical arguments about what party, tribe or religion you belong to. No one makes use of common sense or the goal of building our common patrimony anymore. The truth remains that we cannot choose to do wrong and call it freedom of choice. The arguments will continue but the truth will always prevail and the Truth needs no defence.

     

    Rev Fr Dr Peter Obele Abue is the Vicar General of the Catholic Diocese of Ogoja and the Parish Priest of Holy Family Parish, Ikom Town, Ikom Local Government Area. 

  • This Orgy Of Bloodshed And Destruction In Cross River Must Stop BY DOMINIC KIDZU

    This Orgy Of Bloodshed And Destruction In Cross River Must Stop BY DOMINIC KIDZU

     

    No one would have thought that the once peaceful local governments in Cross River State would so easily be turned into theatres of war and destruction a few days to the general elections by thugs allegedly hired by the All Progressive Congress against their opponents of the People’s Democratic Party. From Obanliku in the far North to Akpabuyo in the deep South, the orgy of bloodshed and destruction of property belonging to members of the PDP have continued unabated under a decadent administration that seems pleased with the carnage.

    Governor Ben Ayade who is constitutionally the chief security officer of the state has looked away with mirth, like Emperor Nero of Rome, while Cross River burns. He has neither taken an official position nor condemned the brigandage. Surely there must be a place where leadership overules politics and where great leaders stand up to be counted. Unfortunately, the chief security officer of Cross River appears only prepared to secure the lives and property of members of the APC , his political party, and not those of dissenting Cross Riverians who gave him the mandate in the first place.

    There is no doubt that the Police high command in Nigeria habitually works for the cash and who maintains the supply, in Cross River, the police themselves have entered the arena of conflict, and one couldn’t tell the difference between APC officials and the police high command. The police are organizing sting operations against opponents of the APC and looking the other way while APC thugs maim members of the PDP and destroy their property. There are usually not a single arrest after the mayhem, only bland and meaningless statements that are offered tongue in cheek.

    Even the APC apparatchik understand that the Nigerian people are tired of the crass performance of the party at the federal and state levels and the people cannot wait to show them the way out. APC awaits a tragic date at the polls as a fitting recompense for their misgovernance and no level of intimidation will spare them the harsh judgement of history. Stealing and telling lies to the people have been their tragic flaws and they will surely be served the bitter breakfast of hubris, like Icarus in Greek drama who ignored the advice of his father and flew too close to the sun.

    Peter Akpanke, the PDP candidate for the House of Representatives in Obanliku/Obudu/Bekwarra federal constituency is not the murderer he is being framed up to be. Peter Akpanke is the King’s horseman, the Elesin Oba that must clean the land from the adultery and socerry of the ruling giants. He is merely a human representation of the rejection of the regime by the people themselves. Like Cervante’s Don Quixote, the APC may continue tilting at the windmills in the vain search for its own redemption in the house of Peter.

    Just as there were invasions of the homes of PDP members in Akpabuyo, while the police grops in the dark. The APC must stop the carnage and orgy of bloodshed in our dear state and the intimidation of its citizens. They are the government in power with the patrimony of the people at their disposal. Why then do they fear and fret. Why do they panic and are sorely troubled. Violence is the weapon of those who have lost the argument, those who are weak in mental faculty and failures in their own enterprise. For no matter what they contrive to wreck upon the people, the verdict is already out on the streets that enough is now finally enough. The PDP is determined to take over in Cross River and is moving on to its appointed destiny oblivious of the dogs barking on the walkways.

     

     

  • We Must All Condemn In The Strongest Terms Possible, An Age Of Unleashing Political Militias In Cross River North BY AUGUSTINE ABOH

    We Must All Condemn In The Strongest Terms Possible, An Age Of Unleashing Political Militias In Cross River North BY AUGUSTINE ABOH

    We Must All Condemn In The Strongest Terms Possible, An Age Of Unleashing Political Militias In Cross River North.

    Unfortunately the perilous days are now with us.
    The picture below shows Peter Akpanke in campaign rally just less than 24 hours before the ridiculous invasion of his residence by Political Militias, order under surreptitious antics of the Government that is obviously SINKING like a Ship that runs into a crystallized glacier.

    Akpanke Peter is a public figure, a party candidate in constant public domain. If he was by any chance legally needed for any allegations, he would have been invited properly, and not this Mafia-like operation of unscrupulous state security forces that have turned themselves to political Militias available to be used for even alleged assassination attempts as seen in the case.

    One thing is clear, Peter and Jarigbe Agom have become unstoppable and their victory assured by the people whose commonwealth and destinies have been bastardized by a government that now fight like a suffocated opposition. Willing to go to extreme levels of attempted assassination on opponents and indiscriminate arrest of supporters.

    The message is clear, if you’ve been given a mandate and have grossly abuse that privilege even the gods of the land will rise against you.

    This violent intimidation must stop 🛑 and we should be reminded that the ambitions of no one, no matter how highly placed is worth the life of anyone, aspirants or electorate in Cross River North.

    Posterity will hold all accountable for sowing disunity and turmoil in our peaceful OBO Federal Constituency.

    Just stop it! Win or Lose without the blood of your brothers in your hands.
    No emperor or kingdom last forever except God the Most High.

  • A Religious Person Who Fuels Trouble In The Family, Congregation Or Community; Who Knocks Heads Together, Causing Anxiety Among People Is A Version Of One Who Lives In Darkness BY FR OBELE

    A Religious Person Who Fuels Trouble In The Family, Congregation Or Community; Who Knocks Heads Together, Causing Anxiety Among People Is A Version Of One Who Lives In Darkness BY FR OBELE

    LIGHT

    The people of Israel thought they were a light in the world, because of their grand solemn ceremonies in the Temple, but they failed to understand that God is not just interested in external acts of piety, but also with works of mercy and love. That was the light he wanted to see shining on his chosen people.

    A religious person who fuels trouble in the family, congregation or community; who knocks heads together, causing anxiety among people is a true version of one who lives in darkness. Don’t heighten peoples problems by your half-educated principles and inflicting pain on innocent people. Dont do all these and afterwards take on long prayer programmes, with hours of fasting, to please God?. You are hiding your light in a bushel.

    This is what the Prophet Isaiah commands? Share your bread with the hungry, bring the homeless poor into your house, cloth the naked, be your own brother’s keeper? Stop pointing accusing fingers at others and speaking wickedness, increasing the yoke of pain and suffering for others (read Isaiah 58:7-10). Christianity is not just a religion that marks people present when they go to church or attend ceremonies. It’s a religion that brings Light to a world full of darkness through positive actions practiced by its adherents..

    Worship is not just showing up in church on sunday with clean cloths, it is actually going there to encounter God spiritually and following up with concrete acts of charity. If your worship is not followed up by kind acts, then you are like a clashing cymbal. A churchgoer (and that’s okay), who doubles as a troubleshooter; cares less about the needs of the less privileged, quarrels with friends and neighbours at will is more or less hiding his light under a bushel.

    Do not confuse people with half educated principles, oratoric skills, privileged position or the fact that you live an urbane life; leveraging on all these to take advantage of others. St. Paul simply calls this, the “Wisdom of men” (read 1 Cor. 2:1-5). Instead you are the salt of the earth… the light of the world, and a city set on a hill cannot be hidden (Matt 5:13-16).

  • Strange Choices In Nigerian Politics: The Northern Senatorial District Of Cross River State In Perspective BY DAVE IMBUA

    Strange Choices In Nigerian Politics: The Northern Senatorial District Of Cross River State In Perspective BY DAVE IMBUA

     

    Strange things continue to happen at the Nigerian political scene on daily basis, which help any thinking person to understand why development, especially the provision of social amenities, continues to elude us. Year in, year out, we behave like cursed people by putting forward for elections men and women who have demonstrated gross incompetence in leadership and then position the real competent and capable people who have demonstrated astute leadership to help them win elections. And after the elections, the ordinary person continues to suffer in an endless cycle.

    For instance, since I chanced on the document containing the Cross River State All Progressive Party Local Government Campaign Coordinators for the 2023 General Elections, I’ve just been wondering why tested and trusted men like Prof. Zana Akpagu (Coordinator for Obudu) and Dr. Godwin Amanke (Coordinator for Obanliku) were not encouraged by the party to vie for the senate seat for the Northern Senatorial District of Cross River State? In Bendi II where I come from, names like Jarigbe, Akpagu and Amanke are talked about with deep respect, gratitude and reverence. Their contributions to the development of the ward speak for themselves. So, a contest between Jarigbe and Akpagu or Jarigbe and Amanke would have been a very difficult one, one that would have pitched character, competence, capability and courage in one party against same qualities in the other major parties.

    But for some strange reasons, the party gave the ticket to a candidate that will be difficult to sell in many wards of the District. In Bendi II, for instance, there is no single project standing in his honour after four years as senator and almost eight years as governor. I don’t think such a candidate should be the appropriate choice for a people so systematically neglected and in dire and urgent need of development.

    As it stands, there should be no confusion about the choices before us since we are voting for candidates and not tested and trusted campaign coordinators and directors. We need to shun tested and failed, tested and distrusted candidates who will again fail to deliver the dividends of democracy to our people in all of our denominational, gender, party and ethnic configurations.

    Dave Imbua.

    DISCLAIMER: The opinion expressed in this article is clearly that of the author, Dave Imbua and does not represent TheLumineNews or it staff.

  • Sad Story Of The Life And HAck Journalism Of Comrade Obi Ojage BY DOMINIC Kidzu

    Sad Story Of The Life And HAck Journalism Of Comrade Obi Ojage BY DOMINIC Kidzu

     

    POSTSCRIPT – I have never read any of Obi Ojage’s essays to the end.

    No one who has something to do, anything, will read Obi Ojage’s lengthy, boring regrets to the end. For all his body of work is on his regrets about what ought to be that is not and where he should be that he is not, and his imagination about how lofty his brain and art are, even when the general consensus among those who know him is that he is a well managed man who is unwell.

    Obi writes for a living and that should take you directly to the heart of the matter. For anyone who writes articles for and about people for a living must first relinquish his self respect and then disavow the truth, because doing otherwise would take away the bread or reduce it substantially. When you are not even a good writer in the first place, the penalty is worse. You become an intellectual dandy, a fop, living life entirely in your inevitable loaf of bread and the breathless substitute of yourself which you alone have created and which you alone can see.

    Such is the story of Comrade Obi Ojage, a reptile that is neither fish
    nor animal, neither APC, nor PDP, neither Ejaham nor Efik, neither Nigerian nor Camerounian. He has
    created a picture of himself as a stirling intellectual, frothing at the mouth and cannot see that all the members of the community are standing at the village square pointing at him and shaking their heads in pity. Anyone who takes Obi Ojage seriously nolonger needs to take themselves seriously heretofore.

    Comrade Obi Ojage took on Senator Sandy Onor yesterday when his blackmail was called off. Senator Onor had met him in his undergraduate days in the early eighties through his uncle and some kind of affinity developed. While Obi remained chained to the floor in his mother’s house in Big Quo Town socially and politically, Sandy became a local government chairman, a commissioner, a Senator and now a possible Governor. Many years ago he implored the Senator to come to his humble quarters and the Senator obliged him. After that visit the Senator was moved to place his uncle’s friend on a monthly stipend of N50,000 which he still collects till date.

    But recently Obi demanded for a pay rise but was reminded that he was receiving the money gratis, since he was really not capable of doing anything for the Senator. He asked for one of the buses Governor Wike graciously gave the Senator or another car for him to use. Unfortunately, he was told that his demands could not be met at this time. Obi got angry and threatened that Senator Onor was going to hear from him. Yesterday, we all heard from him.

    Last Sunday I went to buy fruits at Mobil by MCC Junction and I saw Comrade Obi Ojage trekking with a packet of biscuits in his hand which he crunched on noisily. He complained to me that “tell Sandy that he is being too arrogant and greedy “. When I reminded him that he was in APC and working for Bassey Otu, he said to me ” that one is an incurable Efik tribal jingoist who has surrounded himself with Efik people only. You people will see wonders. Just wait and see”. I could not offer him a lift him in my car because I was driving in an opposite direction, but I said a little prayer for him and drove home.

    Comrade Obi Ojage is incapable of relating with people or sustaining his relationships and those are two of his many problems. When the quintessential Donald Duke made him a board member of Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) Obi went there and fought every member of the board. In fact the board had to be reconstituted, leaving Obi out before the end of its tenure. That is where the comrade would have baked his own bread and save himself from his present
    ‘kpenklemess’ but the black spirit following him would not give him respite.

    He has abused Donald Duke too, Liyel Imoke also and Dr Pius Tawo who he claimed he grew up together with in the Cameroons, not to talk of his lawyer, Paul Erokoro (SAN). He could have been a genius if he had taken the trouble to go through school properly, but Obi does not have the patience to do anything properly. The little muses in his head remind him all the time that he is a genius and a great man, far above the mortals who hold or aspire to lofty offices today (at his expense?). The tragedy is that he listens to these mobid spirits and does their bidding. We all need to say a prayer in church today for Comrade Obi Ojage’s possible redemption even though he has strayed rather too far into the bush.

    My apologies to Senator Sandy Onor for this response, because he told me clearly ” Dominic, don’t respond. Obi does not matter “.

     

    DISCLAIMER: The opinion expressed in this article is clearly that of the author, Dominic Kidzu and does not represent the represent TheLumineNews or it staff.

     

  • The Impending Battle For The Soul Of Cross River North BY DOMINIC KIDZU

    The Impending Battle For The Soul Of Cross River North BY DOMINIC KIDZU

     

    This is by far, the most expected battle ground in the elections of 2023, more than the FIFA World Cup in Qatar after, ofcourse, the Governorship itself. And the reasons are quite simple. It is already shaping up to be the contest between the Leviathan and the people, the monstrous influence of government and the convinced resolve of the citizens. The dramatis personae are also both equally determined to win the diadem and bring the trophy home either as a personal memento or the carcas of a slain elephant to be shared amongst all, at the village square.

    Who would have thought that the day will come when someone will look a sitting Governor in the eye and stake a similar claim to his cherished fancy. But that day has already come in the Northern Senatorial Zone because the Governor dropped the ball. And now the die is cast! And the man of power and means, the gorgon medusa, finds himself standing bare nockled in the ring with the man of the people, who he has driven to become his nemesis, poised for battle in Philipi.

    If only Professor Ben Ayade had heeded to the often repeated cliché that “a stitch in time saves nine” , Napoleon’s Waterloo may well have been averted. But he did not. He spent too much time listening to the sound of his own voice and dancing trendy steps to the singing and clapping of his appointed choir. No wonder Oscar Wilde wrote that “education is an admirable thing, but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is worth knowing can be taught.”

    In the sunset of 2014, Senator Jarigbe Agom was as excited about an Ayade Governorship as Ayade himself is now inebriated by the pomp and circumstance of his own reign. It was he who broke the news to me in Ikom with excitement, that Governor Imoke has asked Senator Ayade to go ahead and pick the Governorship form. Jarigbe thereafter pulled all the stomps to help put him in office, buoyed such as he was with the idea of a Northern Governorship at last, and his ironclad belief in the ability of the then Senator to positively come through for the North and for the state.

    Alas, no sooner did Ayade ascend the apogee than he looked down from Olympus cursing the base degrees upon which he recently ascended. (I’m sure Shakespeare wrote something of the sort). And then he kicked away the ladder, sending it cantering unto the ground. Oh, what a tragic fall that was! Out of the ashes, however, Jarigbe rose like the phoenix in classical mythology putting on an iron coat to become not even a third term Congressman, but a Senator of the federal republic.

    As Senator, Jarigbe has reset the standard for that office and carved a broad new spectre for himself where even angels will fear to thread without his express permission. He has been creative, resourceful, caring and generous. He has shown the people of the North that it is possible to bring the dividends of democracy to them from Abuja and the people believe him. They believe him because they have seen his work and felt his impact both personally and in their communities. The even call him “the Governor of the North”.

    Governor Ayade is by all means also a worthy son of the North and a scion of Obudu. With his government left with only a few months to put to shore, he has appointed thousands of people into nonexistent offices to help him win back the Senate. For him it is an existential threat and failure is not an option to contemplate because his pride, his future safety and happiness are all at stake. For Ayade the senate is both his life and his future.

    As government appointees prattle and rattle with irreverent pomp and bombast, gushing out expletives and adamant Facebook posts, the word on the street is saying otherwise and every signal continues to point irrevocably in the direction of the Unconquered Generation and its army of self-convinced, self-propelled combatants. Welcome to the Kingdom of BIVAS, the boogeyman of the men in power and of power.

     

    

  • #500m Stabilization Fund: Cross River State Is A Crime Scene BY UMEZULIKE DESMOND-CRUZ

    #500m Stabilization Fund: Cross River State Is A Crime Scene BY UMEZULIKE DESMOND-CRUZ

     

    A senior citizen of this State called me earlier today and insisted that he would love to read my opinion on the trending issue of #500million Stabilization fund received monthly by the government of Cross River State as revealed by the RMAFC recently. Though, a Chieftain of the APC and a close ally of the Governor from the Northern Senatorial District, he had expected me to heap a truck load of coal on the governor over the issue. While I admit that the CPS to the governor tried strenuously to robe the past administration of His Excellency, Mr Liyel Imoke, into the inglorious Bakassi-gate saga, by alluding to the fact that the state have been receiving the #500million since 2008. By making reference to past administration, the CPS aimed to gaslight Cross Riverians and stylistically shift the focus from an issue-based debate to partisan Politics. The aim is simply to share the blame equally between Leaders of the PDP and that of APC, thereby turning a serious matter into Political chicanery.

    But then, I feel there’s a dimension to this whole thing that we care less about. The truth is, there’s an organized crime going on in this state, orchestrated by the elites and fueled by their inordinate desire for resource control and one of the conduit pipe for such display of avarice is the Bakassi Resettlement Project. Since the lost of Bakassi peninsula to the Republic of Cameroon and the subsequent lost of 76 Oil wells to Akwa Ibom State, they have been a few elites eating fat from the plight of Cross Riverians, irrespective of their Political Party affiliation. Till date, they are still Cross Riverians amongst the elites whose company accounts are used to launder money and subsequently shared amongst few cartels in this State. Have you bothered to ask yourself why some elites, even those in the opposition Party, don’t have the nerves to speak even if our state is on fire? The answer is simple, most of them are complicit in this heinous crime against our state. I know of one woman that have continued to make a heavy fortune out of the plight of the people of Bakassi, unfortunately, while she continues to milk her own people, she’s lionized and canonize by the same people whose future and destiny she has bastardized.

    The control of resources, like in most Capitalist venture, is the major yardstick for Politics in this state. Most of our leaders are not necessarily interested in what becomes of the State. They are only interested in what becomes of them and their pockets. This is why you hardly see or hear them condemn the ills of this current administration, because they are either benefiting from it or hoping to benefit.

    By the way, why are we all acting surprised about the #500million as if we are not aware that this current administration is the era of Intellectual Money and Other People’s Money? Is this not the same administration that received 18billion Naira from Federal Government as payment for the Federal Government Roads constructed/maintained by past administrations? Is this not the same administration that received Paris Refund money, Bailout funds and receives ecological funds yet cannot holistically account for it. If they can voraciously gulp 18billion Naira, Paris Refund, Ecological fund, Bail out Funds, what is small sum of #500million that they cannot embezzle?

    #500million is it for eba, is it for Garri, is it for Ewa, dodo or Agbado?

    May Affliction Never Arise The Second Time!!!

    *©Umezulike Desmond-cruz*

  • N500m Stabilization Fund: The Lie From Abuja And The Silence From Calabar BY AGBA JALINGO

    N500m Stabilization Fund: The Lie From Abuja And The Silence From Calabar BY AGBA JALINGO

     

    Barely forty days to the end of former Cross River Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke’s administration, in a petition dated April 16, 2015, Cross River lawyer and former presidential aide, Okoi Obono Obla, petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, to investigate the expenditure of allocations to the 18 local governments in Cross River State from the federation account, under Imoke’s watch.

    The petitioner, Obono Obla, amongst other demands, asked the EFCC to investigate the expenditure of the sum of N15 Billion by Governor Liyel Imoke approved by the Federal Government of Nigeria to ameliorate the economic losses suffered by Cross River State as a result of the judgment of the Supreme Court that led to the loss of 76 Oil Wells to Akwa Ibom State by Cross River State and the transfer of the sovereignty of Bakassi Peninsula to the Republic of Cameroon.

    And to also investigate the expenditure of a monthly augmentation of N500m (Five Hundred Million Naira) from the Stabilization Fund paid to the Cross River State Government in 2013 by the Federal Government of Nigeria for two years at the first instance.

    Obla’s request was sequel to information disclosed in a leaked letter dated April 12, 2014 which the RMAFC sent to Imoke, requesting to visit the State to monitor and evaluate what the Bakassi intervention fund had achieved. The letter also disclosed that a lump sum of fifteen billion naira was released from the Stabilization Fund by RMAFC, to the Cross River State government, plus five hundred million naira monthly augmentation for two years, amounting to 6 billion naira, which was also paid in bulk in June 2013. In addition to another N400million Naira every month. (The letter is attached here.)

    Then in May 2017, a former Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Aliyu Mohammed, during a visit to the State to see Governor Ayade, said as part of efforts to assuage the pains caused by the loss of Bakassi, about N38billion has been paid as special allocation to the State by the Federal Government over a period of 11 years, as compensation.

    CrossRiverWatch has been tracking this development since 2012. So when the incumbent Chairman of RMAFC, Mr. A.M. Shehu, mentioned $500million, it conflicted with all I have heard previously about this matter and created doubts in my mind. While it is clear that A.M. Shehu, told a lie about the currency they send to Cross River State and replaced Naira with Dollars, it is even more worrisome that Calabar is silent on the whereabouts of the money. Calabar is more anxious to tell us it wasn’t Dollars but reluctant to tell us what the Naira they accept they have been collecting has been utilized on.

    After joining their political party, Obono Obla, abandoned the petitions he wrote against Governor Imoke and the press statement from Governor Ayade’s office on Friday, though conceded that they get N500m every month, still didn’t not tell the public what exactly the money has been used for. That exactly should be our bone of contention. It is our right to know and we need to know and we actually need to know NOW!

    Meanwhile, I was abruptly corrected yesterday during an interview with a relevant source. A top source in RMAFC, who pleaded anonymity, told yours sincerely that, contrary to what people are saying, the Bakassi augmentation fund is meant for the entire Cross River State and not one LGA alone.

    The source said: “Before Cross River lost the Bakassi oil wells to Akwa Ibom, money for the 76 oil wells was not sent to Bakassi LGA alone. It was part of the Cross River State share from FAAC for the development of all the LGAs. Bakassi LGA has its own share from the center like the other 17 LGAs. The augmentation is to serve the same purpose that the oil revenue was serving and I am sure the revenue was not used in Bakassi alone. It is for the whole of Cross River State to augment her allocation for the lose of revenue following the ceding of Bakassi to Cameroon. I need you to correct that impression out there please.”

    Yours sincerely,
    Citizen Agba Jalingo.