The Lumine News

Category: Opinion

  • Why Obono Obla And The APC HIERARCHY Are Afraid Of The Military BY DOMINIC KIDZU

    Why Obono Obla And The APC HIERARCHY Are Afraid Of The Military BY DOMINIC KIDZU

    WHY OBONO OBLA AND THE APC HIERARCHY ARE AFRAID OF THE MILITARY

    By Dominic kidzu

    Chief Obono Obla has been on overdrive since last week’s polls throwing tantrums like a baby in need of its feeding bottle. In doing so he has told dozens of lies against the PDP and the Nigerian military and is generally confirming what we already knew that the APC is scared of the coming governorship and House of Assembly polls because of its tattered performance in the two tenures of its misrule at all levels.

    Obla would like the general public to believe the ruse that it was not the government at various levels that deployed the military to give security cover on election day as has been the tradition over the years. In his wild goose chase he seems to be suggesting that a private citizen or some set of private citizens actually brought out the military on election duty nationwide.

    To remind Obono Obla, who has really not been able to return to normalcy ever since he was disgraced out of office at the federal level with accompanying embarrassing legal suits that tended to have reduced his claims to intellectual and legal high ground, no one outside the Commander In Chief of the federal republic and his military generals can move the military around the country.

    Obono Obla should recall that President Buhari, the leader of the APC and the country made an announcement just before the elections ordering the military to shoot at sight people who steal election materials or try to intimidate voters. If members of his party fell foul of this order and were duely arrested or disciplined, Obla should not go about in search of scapegoats because he will not find any.

    What Obla has inadvertently laid bare is his frustration at the capacity of the Nigerian military to deny his party members the opportunity to use cult groups, bandits and cutthroats to intimidate voters and steal electoral materials to formulate criminal and unverifiable victory. Even when a fine gentleman and level headed media man and politician in his party, Ritchie Romanus gently cautioned him against his wild scaremongering, Obla employed hack writers to insult him in a voluminous poorly written response.

    The Nigerian military is not a party in this election nor does it have a dog in the fight. Imagine what would have happened in Ugep and several other areas if military personnel were not on election duty with highly respected individuals resorting to brute force in order to win by any means necessary, even if several people were killed in the process. The military high command is advised to ignore and disregard the vituperations of Obono Obla as mere sound and fury without substance. The military will surely return on election duty on March 11, and there is nothing Obono Obla and his like can do about that.

  • Sometimes There Are Situations In Life That Only The Mountain Top Can Provide Answers BY PETER OBELE

    Sometimes There Are Situations In Life That Only The Mountain Top Can Provide Answers BY PETER OBELE

    MOUNTAIN TOP

    Sometimes there are situations in life that only the mountain top can provide answers. Both Abraham and Jesus went to the mountain top and their lives were never the same again. Jesus, with Peter, James, and John went to the mountain top to pray and the whole heavenly court was on the side of Jesus. They heard the voice of the invisible God saying, “This is my chosen Son: listen to him.” (Luke 9:35). Abraham was able to receive the blessing of being the father of all nations because he was willing to go to the mountain top (Gen. 12:1-4). Moses encountered God on the mountain, and so did Elijah. By mountain top, we are referring to that changing experience of prayer in your life that leaves you a completely different person.

    In life, we sometimes experience absurdities that fill our minds with doubts; situations that could lead us to give up the faith and at times like that we ask, “Where is God?”. For example, the just concluded election results in Nigeria left many wondering whether or not God is still in control. For some, it was nothing short of subvertion of justice that could lead to crisis. But let the will of God be done. At other times, we face crises such as terminal illnesses, breakdown of marital relationships, discord between friends and family members etc. At times like this, we feel like the whole world is collapsing right under our noses. It is precisely at times luke this we need to go up the mountain top of our prayer lives and ask God to help us see things from his own point of view

    By the time God grants us such a glimpse of his divine guidance, we will realize that all our troubles in this life are short-lived and in Gods time everything will fall into place. Then, we would have the courage to accept the apparently meaningless situations of this life, knowing well that through it all, God is not only in control, but he is on our side. All it takes is a little glimpse of heaven, to empower us to take up our crosses and follow. Find time during this lenten season to go to the mountain top. Try a programme of prayer this lent and life will never be the same again.

  • Back To South Or Back To Odukpani: Sandy Onor To The Rescue BY ELIJAH UGANI

    Back To South Or Back To Odukpani: Sandy Onor To The Rescue BY ELIJAH UGANI

    BACK TO SOUTH OR BACK TO ODUKPANI?

    As the quest for redemption of Cross River State from the shackles of maladministration continue to gain momentum with just a few days to the governorship election, where a few persons including Gov Ben Ayade, are gunning for the BACK TO SOUTH agenda, it is imperative to note that, ab initio, while adopting Sen Bassey Otu as governorship candidate and handing the Senate ticket to Asuquo Ekpenyong Jr, was ill- conceived.

    While majority of those from southern senatorial district, continue to query the rationale behind handing over both the governorship and senatorial tickets of the All Progressive Congress APC, to same local government council, Odukpani, it is more worrisome to note that with the outcome of the national assembly election last week, where the house of representatives for Calabar/Municipality federal constituency, and southern senatorial district seat were both won by two Odukpani sons, Akiba and Asuquo Ekpenyong Jr.

    Although those holding the view that the Member-Elect of the Calabar Municipal/Odukpani federal constituency is a member of Labour Party, it is important to note that it was a miscalculation to have foisted both the governorship and senatorial candidates on the APC from the same local government.

    The question that remains unanswered on the lips of the electorates is how will Odukpani local government area hold the House of representatives position, senate and governorship positions at the same time?

    Political pundits, supporters/members of the Obidient Movements, and some members of the APC, have recently expressed displeasure with the permutations of governor Ben Ayade, and called on the electorates to cast their votes wisely during the governorship election.

    To concentrate very sensitive positions in one local government area, seems to undermine the competencies of very seasoned and competent capacities to return the fortunes of the state to its lost glory.

    Sen Sandy Onor, has been around the state for many years, he understudied the administrations of both Gov Donald Duke and Sen Liyel Imoke, when Cross River State used to be positively discussed globally and will deploy the experience acquired over the years to reposition our state.

    Maybe it was the will of the Almighty, to cause voters to cast their votes in favor of Akiba and Asuquo Ekpenyong Jr, from same local government area, to expose and situate our thinking in this direction to enable us support the cause of Sen Sandy Onor to reclaim Cross River State.

    Sandy Onor is the man with the needed capacities, he understands how local government system functions, having served as Chairman of Etung Local Government Area, State Chairman of ALGON, National Vice President of ALGON and later Acting National President of ALGON. He also served as Chairman, Local Government Service Commission.

  • Cross River North Elections, Put The Blame Where It Is…BY AGBA JALINGO

    Cross River North Elections, Put The Blame Where It Is…BY AGBA JALINGO

    Cross River North Elections, Put The Blame Where It Is…

    While most people in Northern Cross River are relieved by the inability of Governor Ayade to win the Senatorial seat, some busy-bodies particularly from outside the North are whining and dwelling in obtuse dialectics about how Ayade’s appointees from his place failed him.

    Can you all please shut that narrative and shut it right away. Even after losing, there is this palpable feeling in the North that more woes should have even befallen him. Most people are like, “good riddance to bad rubbish!” People aren’t celebrating his failure in the North. They are enraged. It’s a decision they had long made; to reject him and they just wanted a violence free election so they can do that and they did. Yet they are still angry at him.

    What exactly should his appointees have done? Force people to vote a man that hasn’t done any good for them? What did Ayade himself do? For eight solid years, there is not a single FUNCTIONAL project in Cross River North and that’s the fault of Ayade’s aides?

    This man was expected to develop the place he comes from. Not to give people pittance in the name of food-on-the-table for eight years. Paying miscreants monies that civil service directors who have worked for decades don’t earn. He could have done that as a philanthropist and not bother to be Governor. He couldn’t do anything other than optics. Each time I kept writing that this governor is just snapping pictures of painted monuments and speaking big grammar, it is people from outside the North that keep saying I am exaggerating.

    But we have an enlightened voter population in Cross River North and the result of the elections is a genuine reflection of the feelings of the people. The losers can’t even allege rigging because they can’t provide evidence anywhere. They are the ones that tried to rig but were resisted.

    So people should stop begging the issue in trying to make it look like there was famine in Cross River North and if Ayade appointees had shared money on the streets for the voters, they would have retired Ayade to the Senate. That’s denigrating, demeaning and speaks very little to the educated and enlightened voters of Cross River North, who have expressed themselves in that historic election.

    If you chopped your own food-on-the table, and remained for your people and that helped to win your polling unit, kindly accept that the people of Northern Cross River weren’t waiting for such tokenism to mine their votes. They wanted development not carcasses. They got less and they bargained for more elsewhere. That fact should be accepted with due respect as the people have pleased to do. Put the blame where it is…

    Yours sincerely,
    Citizen Agba Jalingo.

  • 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.