The Lumine News

Category: Opinion

  • Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe: The Personality Profiling of an Ideal Politician BY PETER AGI

    Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe: The Personality Profiling of an Ideal Politician BY PETER AGI

     

    A common notion in contemporary politics holds that political competition and campaigning has become increasingly personalized over time, i.e., a party’s fortune will more than ever before depend on its leading figures. Within Cross River State, Senator Agom Jarigbe Agom” is a reputable politician with humongous capacity that must not be underrated. Today the personalization of political loyalty seems to have set a stage for political alignments with respect to supporters’ loyalty.

    What makes voters prefer a certain type of politician? Focus will be on the politicians’ personality traits as a useful cue for voters that can activate schematic knowledge about a politician’s political leanings and leadership styles. A case review of “The Very Distinguished Senator Jarigbe Agom”.

    This has become fundamentally clear, because there seem to be a paradigm that has been defined in the ensuing political trajectory in the “Cross River North” albeit Cross RIver State. The name of “The Very Distinguished Senator Agom Jarigbe Agom” is consistently and remarkably stimulating greater political loyalties amongst his people.

    Agom Jarigbe Agom has made people to ask what voters’ want from the individual rather than the political party. He has changed the narrative of political discussions and dynamics with respect to representation. Never in the history of representation have the people been so copiously impacted by any political elites like the way he has. The ideological lines of political parties have been relegated to the background and the emerging factor for election now is the compassionate and empathetic leadership of the people’s Senator.

    It is now true and crystal clear that people will vote for PDP because of the personality of Jarigbe in the CR-Northern District rather than the party itself. The CR-Northern District voters are seeking ideological congruence of the party and that of the Senator. There’s no doubt that his ideological wisdom represents the desirable expectations of the will of the people. He is wearing the shoes of the electorates and knows their pains and desires.

    With election campaigns becoming personalized and candidates becoming increasingly important voting cues, the people of the Northern District are continually convinced that Senator Agom Jarigbe Agom will act to protect their interests and represent them well. They believe that his conduct, so far in office protects them from unnecessary vulnerabilities. To them, he is the ideal and total politician that has made representation attractive. He possesses some exceptional leadership traits that distinguish him from other political elites. This explains why he is the most talked about politician within that political sphere.

    The senator possesses the capacity for emotional stability, extraversion, openness to experience, agreeableness, conscientiousness; compassion and empathy , honesty and humility. These qualities make voters prefer him to others. Jarigbe has been tested and proven to be trusted. He is selfless. That’s why every politician in this region must identify with him to enjoy that humongous victory desirable. He is the people’s first choice and always put them first.

    Jarigbe already knows what he is doing currently and what he is going to do during his term in office after 2023 (i.e., representation of policy preferences) and how he is going to do it. It is one thing sending a political neophyte into a territory that he lacks capacity to attract good things back to his people. This is not the time to do just that. Jarigbe now understands how to put items in the budget for the good of his people. His experience has proven to be valuable so far for his people.

    Voters seek personality congruence with political candidates, in part through the representation of basic values and core ideological attitudes. The personality of Jarigbe certainly accommodates the interests and wishes of his people. He is preferred because he stays in touch with the people, very often appear in public and on e (social) media, rather than hermits who reign (maybe well, but) in a silent, untransparent, and isolated way. His projects are visible for all to see. Jarigbe is outgoing, sociable, and talks directly with his people. There’s indeed connection between him and the CR-Northern District people. He answers their calls and solves their problems.

    Jarigbe is not known to change his opinions as the wind blows but always pushes his agenda through (despite obstacles). That means he is a trustworthy man of conviction and very firm. He is hard-working, dutiful, self–disciplined, and achieving. He is reliable, predictable, trustworthy and never engaged in fraud or corruption. His records in public service are impeccable. These are rare traits that distinguishes him from others.

    Senator Jarigbe has access to a lot of information, knowledge, and an incredibly outstanding high intellectual capacity to process this information. When I personally watch him dissect issues on the floor of the senate, during political discussions on national television I get so amused and proud of his intellectual ability. His capacity for rendition, charisma, carriage, comportment, display of linguistic creativity, language concord and candor are remarkably impressive.

    The people must be willing to reward the characteristics of ‘a genuine intellectual’, ‘an intellectual leader’, ‘knowledgeable’, and ‘well-informed’ . Senator meteoric rise within the intellectually engaging arena is commendable. Let’s appreciate his capacity in this regards. This guy is knowledgeable and open minded. He is a man who understands pressure yet maintains an amazing level of poise indeed balance when challenges arise.

    If you deserve and desire an incredibly inspiring partnership to achieve the developmental goals for our collective interests, then you necessarily continually participate in the opportunity to make developments real. Support the ideal candidacy of Senator Agom Jarigbe Agom. He shares basic values with you.

    Dr. Agi Peter

     

    Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are strictly that of the author, Peter Agi and does not represent TheLumineNews or the organization the author works for.

  • Cross River APC In Urgent Need Of Peace, Unity And Healing BY DOMINIC KIDZU

    Cross River APC In Urgent Need Of Peace, Unity And Healing BY DOMINIC KIDZU

    The much awaited National Convention of our great party is only three days apace yet there are still too many discordant voices coming from the party in Cross River State. It is almost as if there exists a simmering underlining discontent especially amongst the old members who held sway at the party before Governor Ben Ayade’s entrance and the deluge that followed him into the party. Although the malignant grudge has remained largely understated in open spaces it has been festering threateningly on the inside and now requires an urgent and masterful political apothecary to clean, heal and bind us all together even before the epoch making event of March 26, 2022 gets underway.

    Perhaps that is why in spite of the party’s attempt at consensus agreement in selecting its torchbearer for the position of National Women Leader zoned to the state, two other women went ahead to purchase forms for the contest and are even now campaigning vigorously for the same position in the Federal Capital and other states. A robust contest among the three women on the grounds of the convention will only expose the innate weakness on the part of party members from Cross River, the lack of cohesiveness thereof and show us off as an unorganised brigade of the APC army that is ill prepared for the general battle of 2023.

    Fortunately for the party, both sides to the argument have a valid point to canvass and it seems to me that the loincloth is at this point only soaked with water but not burnt in the fire. The state Chairman of the party and our leaders must move swifty to listen to the complaints from both sides and offer needed assurances urgently to forestall the possible shameful debacle that looms ahead in a few days. As a party man and a statesman what is important to me is the way that my party and my state are presented and seen in the comity of other states and the respectability that should be our just trophy if we conduct our affairs positively with unity, poise and candour.

    The old members of the party who unfortunately now feel that their years of labouring in the vineyard of opposition to hold the party aloft up until recently have not been rewarded and that instead of their just desserts the party has been stealthily taken away from them harbour genuine concerns and must be assured of their place and entitlement in the party and there is no better time to do so than now. The APC was formed in the first place as a bulwark against the perceived unfairness of the PDP in the distribution of advantage which drove many of its state governors and legislators to join forces with the opposition parties to form the APC. Such a party cannot now be seen as foisting injustice on its members be they old or new.

    It is important for the older members of the APC in Cross River State to also note that once there is a merger or collaboration with a larger and stronger group the political equity holding must of neccesity change and the balance of advantage would at first appear to be in favour of the arriving but powerful group until a proper and deliberate redistribution is put in effect that can assuage and satisfy all contending interests. While it may appear today that the new members of the party have seized the power base, the two groups must recognise the fundamental structure of the party nationwide which has put enormous power in the hands of the Governors as leaders of the party in their various states. The way this enormous powers is deployed however would be key in building a strong and cohesive party that both the old and new members can be proud of.

    Political parties are entities with a life of their own which grow and develop with time and space. Unfortunately, the APC is one of the youngest parties in the country and is still grappling with the teething challenges of stabilisation nationwide. In Cross River State the party is just taking its first few steps in governance and it will take some time for the new wine to mature in the cellar no matter that it was made from the most vintage of grapes. For the moment everything must be done by the Cross River State delegation to the National Convention to work together as a single interest so that they can bring back home the best that we deserve as a state and as a party. I have no doubt in my mind that in the coming days what appears today as differences would ultimately become the very wires that will bind us together as a solid party. For instance the position of Special Leader which was also zoned to the state has graciously been taken by someone from the old APC and I have not heard one complain from anyone from the new APC. That is the only way we can grow going forward and strengthen ourselves for the challenge of the PDP as we move closer to 2023.

  • Sandy Onor To Run A Participatory Government

    Sandy Onor To Run A Participatory Government

     

    By Amaechi Victor

    Democracy is often defined in the words of Abraham Lincoln as “Government of the people, by the people, and for the people. It is indeed a system of Government which gives power to the people as they not only choose those who preside over their affairs but are also expected to be active participants in the managing of their collective affairs towards the good of all. It is therefore no wonder that a society like ours as it is today, cannot in all truthfulness, be defined as a democratic society. A society where power belongs to a few cabal who dispenses such as they deem fit just as every conscious effort is made to deny the people freedom of speech in the running of their own affairs; cannot qualify as a democratic society. Can the people be exonerated from any blame towards this ugly situation?

    When we as a people for whatever reason fail to ask the right questions towards the pedigree and intent of those who seek to preside over our affairs; when avarice and wanton materialism make us settle for less than the best in choosing our leaders; when we allow sentiments to becloud our sense of accurate judgements; when we are complacent in the manner is which our affairs are handled: the result no doubt, would be bad leadership with all its attendant maladies such as those prevalent in our National and State Governments. For how long shall this dangerous dive towards the very lowest ebb of acclaimed leadership continue? For how long shall the people continue to wallow in compromise, ignorance and darkness? Who is that leader that would take the lead towards returning power to the people thus letting them witness first hand, the very many great potentials that they possess and how such can be harnessed for the good of the Society?

    Cross River, our dear State is a State blessed with unprecedented natural and human resources waiting to be tapped. A State of great minds in various fields of endeavour such that can be harnessed to bring about a mind-blowing development in the history of our Country. Why then, has ours remained a laughing stock in the comity of States, a complete shadow of itself? The answer is simple; there has not been a participatory Government engineered by a credible Leader with some sincerity of purpose towards harnessing our abundant human resources for the development of our State. This terrible situation no doubt brought about a total lack of confidence in Government hence, the people could not participate in the handling of their own affairs just as a few who tried even against all odds, do not have any good stories to tell as they were either ripped off of their resources or utterly neglected. The result of this bravado of callousness is the terrible shape of our State and her Citizens today. No doubt, the times of that ultimate decision is here again and the question is, is there someone bringing to the table, a total paradigm shift from the callousness and governmental decadence we have witnessed so far?

    “…Once I identify a talent that would be of significant help to move our State forward, I will never hesitate to work with such a person…”; “…Your input into the State economy is very significant..We will go into Collaboration with you..You are stakeholders in Cross River proejct…”; “…In appreciation of our limitations, we shall set up an Advisory Council that will be composed of seasoned, accomplished and knowledgeable Cross River Sons and Daughters to catalyze our much needed regeneration, reorganization and re-engineering..” Senator Prof Sandy Onor 2020. These Statements made at different occasions by the only credible frontline gubernatorial aspirant in our State, go a long way to demonstrated beyond any reasonable doubt, his willingness and preparedness to run a participatory Government where Cross Riverians would reclaim and rebuild Cross River and make her a pride State.

    Yes, Senator Prof Sandy Onor is a firm believer in participatory Governance. This he demonstrated starting from his early year at the national assembly through constituency briefing and interactions. Participatory Government is indeed not alien to the person of R
    Senator Prof Sandy Onor and there is indeed no doubt that under his watch, Cross River people will no longer be spectators in the handling of their affairs rather active participants. His determination to tap into our abundant human resources towards reclaiming and rebuilding our State, is indeed commendable and a right step in the right direction. The question is, how ready are we to key into his optimism of reclaiming and rebuilding Cross River State and making her a proud home for all of us; how prepared are we to answer this clarion call?

    Vote integrity! Vote Credibility! Vote Preparedness! Vote Participatory Governance! Support Sandy Onor for Governor Cross River State!

    #JoinHandsToReclaimRebuildCrossRiverState

  • As A Property Lawyer, If You Are Not Very Careful And Disciplined, Clients Will Maltreat You To The Point Of Tempting You To Cut Corners Just To Earn Your Fees BY FIRST BABA ISA

    As A Property Lawyer, If You Are Not Very Careful And Disciplined, Clients Will Maltreat You To The Point Of Tempting You To Cut Corners Just To Earn Your Fees BY FIRST BABA ISA

     

    Most clients think that until they buy the property you don’t deserve to be paid for consultancy and doing due diligence for them. In other words, if you do due diligence for them and find out the property is not “clean” and ask them not to buy, they don’t think they owe you a fee. They will just tell you “thanks” and walk away.

    This is why some colleagues and agents don’t care about due diligence. Once a client points them to a property, they will just take a day or two, do absolutely nothing, then just report back to the client that the property is clean, the client will pay for the property and small generational curse on it, everybody will share the money and leave the client and his children’s children to deal with the wahala.

    Agents even laugh at people like us. They will say, “Barrister, all these things you are checking, just know we can’t share the money if you tell them not to buy o. You won’t see shishi.”

    And they are always right.

    I will check AGIS, check CAC to see the directors and shareholders of the company offering the land for sale; I will spend my time, money and expertise in all these and I will advise a client not to buy because of legal issues on the property, and they will say thanks and walk away. Talking about next time, when the deal click, we go do you well. Emeka, you are a bascad! Do who well, which next time?

    Mehn, I’m just tired. I have to start suing these clients for my fees, what no lawyer wants to do, since I can’t just lie to a client that a property has no issues so that he can buy and pay my fees.

    My tired is tired.

    By Firsts Baba Isa (FBI)

     

    Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are strictly that of the author First Baba Isa and does not represent TheLumineNews or the organization the author works for.

  • David Umahi: Who Did You Vote For, Party Or Candidate? BY FIRST BABA ISA

    David Umahi: Who Did You Vote For, Party Or Candidate? BY FIRST BABA ISA

    DAVID UMAHI: WHO DID YOU VOTE FOR, PARTY OR CANDIDATE?

    Until the Supreme Court puts this to rest, and even long after that, this debate will rage on. My joy is that the Supreme Court is not just a Court of Law but also one of policy. The Law Lords will not just look at the law, but logic and commonsense surrounding the facts and the law.

    Who owns the votes cast at an election? Party or candidate? My answer is, both. It is a time bound political marriage of convenience. The Constitution never contemplated a divorce before the effluxion of this time.

    However, those who say the votes belong solely to the candidate even have a weaker argument. The facts of this case and the law in Faleke vs INEC doesn’t support them.

    Let’s look at another fact. Who do we vote for during an election, the candidate or party? In the 2019 Ebonyi State Gubernatorial Election, was it PDP that was voted for or it was David Umahi?

    I invite you to turn to the ballot papers used in that election to find your answer. Find attached ballot papers used in that election. Look at them very well. Have you seen it?

    When we go to vote, we go to vote for parties not candidates. Ballot papers carry the names of political parties, not candidates. Ebonyi people thumb printed beside PDP in the 2019 Gubernatorial Election. The name “David Umahi” was not on the ballot paper. The votes belong to the party.

    This is why the Certificate of Return issued to him by INEC states that: “I hereby certify that Nweze David Umahi of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been elected to the office of Governor of Ebonyi State…” Without the PDP he is nothing, but without him, the PDP still has their votes.

    “… of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)…” denotes ownership. No one, who is not “of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)”, owners of the votes counted from the ballot papers, could be Governor. Simple.

    The APC has a particular number of votes in that election; not enough to produce a Governor. It is incongruous therefore that anyone claiming to belong to them should be Governor in 2019, or anytime thereafter, before another general election. This is a mockery of our constitutional and partisan democracy.

    It shouldn’t stand.

    – By Firsts Baba Isa (FBI)

     

    Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are strictly that of the author, First Baba Isa and does not represent TheLumineNews or the organization the author works for.

  • David Umahi: How Defection Invalidates His Certificate Of Return BY FIRST BABA ISA

    David Umahi: How Defection Invalidates His Certificate Of Return BY FIRST BABA ISA

    DAVID UMAHI: HOW DEFECTION INVALIDATES HIS CERTIFICATE OF RETURN

    Find attached the Certificate of Return issued to David Umahi before he was sworn in as Governor.

    Get any certificate of any Governor in Nigeria, or any elected official, let’s have this conversation; please, constantly look at the Certificate of Return as we progress.

    Section 75 (1) of the Electoral Act 2010, states that “A sealed Certificate of Return at an election in a prescribed form shall be issued within 7 days to every candidate who has won an election under this Act.” See section 72 (1) of the Electoral Act 2022.

    Without a Certificate of Return there is no evidence that a candidate won an election and he cannot be sworn into office. A Certificate of Return is the gold medal of an election; without it, you can’t lay claim to be a winner.

    Now, let’s look at the Certificate of Return issued to Umahi.

    It says: “I hereby certify that Nweze David Umahi of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been elected to the office of Governor of Ebonyi State…”

    Did you see that?

    “Nweze David Umahi of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)…”

    Let’s look at the meaning of the proposition or the word “of”.

    “Of” is used in expressing the relationship between a part and a whole.

    So, the Certificate of Return made it abundantly clear that Nweze David Umahi (is a part) OF Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) (the whole)…” One cannot exist without the other in governing Ebonyi State. That’s why the Federal Government led by President Buhari is known as the APC Government. This is how it is all over the world that practise partisan democracy.

    You can never divorce your government from your political party. In fact, the president or governor is the leader of his political party at the Federal or State, respectively.

    When the people voted for you, it was your party’s manifesto, aims, objectives and proposed plans that they voted for. They saw the manifestoes of other political parties but chose yours. You are expected to implement your party’s manifesto as Governor. You can’t convince people to vote for one manifesto and then turn round to defect and adopt another one they rejected at the polls. That’s criminally dishonest.

    Back to the Certificate of Return, a new one has not and cannot be issued to David Umahi after his defection. The only Certificate of Return he holds that empowers him to be Governor of Ebonyi State, is the one that reads: “Nweze David Umahi of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)…”

    You cannot hold a Certificate of Return that says you are of the PDP, while you have declared publicly that you have left the PDP. By this singular action, you have invalidated the Certificate of Return, the only document that gives you the power to be Governor.

    As long as David Umahi maintains he has left the PDP, and as long as the only Certificate of Return issued to him by INEC states that: “I hereby certify that Nweze David Umahi of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been elected to the office of Governor of Ebonyi State…”, Umahi cannot continue to be Governor.

    He might be righteous but he has destroyed his foundation. And as the Psalmist lamented in Psalm 11:3, “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?”

    This applies to other Governors, like Ben Ayade of Cross River State, who have also decamped but holding Certificates of Return carrying the name of another political party.

    – By Firsts Baba Isa (FBI)

  • Is This The End Of David Umahi As Governor? BY FIRST BABA ISA

    Is This The End Of David Umahi As Governor? BY FIRST BABA ISA

    IS THIS END OF DAVID UMAHI AS GOVERNOR?

    We know the facts already. We have read several legal commentaries already. Even if you are not a lawyer, you should be well versed already with the facts and law of this particular case.

    It seems to me that many lawyers are already so certain that the Supreme Court will throw away the judgment of the Federal High Court ordering Governor David Umahi and his deputy to vacate their offices immediately for defecting from the PDP, the party that sponsored them to become Governor and Deputy, to the ruling APC.

    Well, I’m not so sure, and I will point out why, presently.

    1. First, most of the legal commentaries I have read tend to ignore the Supreme Court decision in Yahaya Bello’s case, or at best just gloss over it. But the Supreme Court will certainly not gloss over this decision. Here, the Supreme Court made it abundantly clear that votes belong to a political party. In fact, this principle was so forcefully enunciated that Faleke, the late Audu’s running mate was not allowed to inherit the votes; even when Falake argued strenuously that the votes belonged to the late Audu and himself as candidate and running mate in that election.

    2. The present case has nothing to do with Amechi’s case, a case which has been overtaken by the amendment of the Electoral Act 2010. The Yahaya Bello’s case was decided in 2016 when the Amechi’s scenario was no longer applicable. So, don’t mix up the two. The Supreme Court decided in 2016 that votes belonged to a political party when the Electoral Act was already amended and without recourse to the Amechi’s case. So, the Bello’s case is still good and reliable precedent for the Umahi’s case. I expect the Supreme Court, when it finally gets there, to look at it.

    3. In the case of NWANKWO & ANOR v. INEC & ORS (2019) LPELR-48862(CA) the Court of Appeal held that:
    “… It is trite that it is only a natural person that can be lawfully declared and returned as a winner of an election. The Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended) only contemplates the declaration and return of a candidate in an election and not a political party”.

    I agree. But I don’t see how this negates the principle that votes belong to a Political Party. A political party cannot be declared Governor but a natural person nominated by a Political Party will be.

    4. A political party cannot win election as Governor without a natural person and a natural person cannot win election without a political party. It is a political marriage solemnised by the constitution. You cannot forcefully divorce yourself from the marriage and still want to enjoy benefits accruing therefrom. This is the reasoning of the trial judge and it makes a lot of sense.

    Section 177 (c) of the Constitution states clearly that one of the requirements for being qualified to be elected Governor is that a person must be “a member of A political party and is sponsored by THAT political party.”

    You must be sponsored by a political party. “A POLITICAL PARTY”. Not all political parties. So, it is reasonable that once you leave that POLITICAL PARTY that sponsored you to become Governor, you have lost a key aspect of your qualification as Governor and you cannot be properly so called anymore.

    5. A very very heavy weather has been made of the case of AG, Federation v. Atiku Abubakar (2007) 10 NWLR (Pt.1041) 1, 29. But in this case, the issue of who owns the votes cast in an election never came up. This is a new issue and those who think the Supreme Court will blindly follow its decision in AG, Federation v. Atiku Abubakar, might be in for a rude shock.

    This time around, the Supreme Court will not just be looking at the issue of the legality of an elected member of the Executive defecting or cross carpeting but the issue of who owns the votes cast in an election will come to the fore; and if the Supreme Court holds that votes belong to a political party, as they held in the Yahaya Bello’s case, the Law Lords will very likely come to a different conclusion than the one held in Atiku Abubakar’s case; after all, the court held in this same case that defecting is “is painful, unconscionable, and immoral…”

    – By Firsts Baba Isa (FBI)

    The views expressed in this article are strictly that of the author, First Baba Isa Esq and does not represent TheLumineNews or the organization the author works for.

  • Happy International Women’s Day To Women That Are Doing Their Best To Ensure The Bias Is Broken.

    Happy International Women’s Day To Women That Are Doing Their Best To Ensure The Bias Is Broken.

    Happy International Women’s Day celebration to every woman out there who is doing so much to ensuring the bias is broken.

    Today I join Nigerian women across the states and in diaspora to speak in respect to gender balance and political correctness.

    Over the years women like Margaret Thatcher, Fumilayo Kuti, Margaret Ekpo and a lot of other heroeins played very sensitive roles in leadership and also fought for women emancipation, we must not allow their fight go to ruins.

    Leadership failures or successes are not gender bias, men as well as women have failed and still failing in different sectors, therefore we cannot continue to fenging ignorance, we must seek for capable hands as both gender has its best foot that should have a stake in the corridors of power.
    We must not continue to jettison the role of women in politics, governance and leadership.

    Let’s support women and give them the chance and opportunities to bring to the table of economic development the attributes they’ve applied in home building and sustainability.

    Our country will remain underdeveloped as long as we continue to underrate, undermine, relegate women and juxtapose her capabilities on the altar of Patriarchy.

    We can’t win this war without you our fathers, brothers, sons, husbands, uncles etc. y’all have daughters, mothers, sisters, wives, Aunties.
    Please speak with us and call the Senate to do the right thing.

    Let’s break this jinx and bias together.
    I am Ambassador Odenke Ibiang
    House of Assembly Aspirant 2023

    I Celebrate these women, they impress and inspire me to do more by their work and resilience.

  • Ogoja/Yala Bye-election: Ogoja Has Totally Rejected APC, Bekwarra is aggrieved, Obanliku is unhappy, Obudu And Yala Cannot Secure Ayade A Return To The Senate – Ntamu

    Ogoja/Yala Bye-election: Ogoja Has Totally Rejected APC, Bekwarra is aggrieved, Obanliku is unhappy, Obudu And Yala Cannot Secure Ayade A Return To The Senate – Ntamu

    OGOJA/YALA BYE ELECTION AS A LITMUS TEST.

    The much anticipated Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency bye election has finally come and gone. The uncertainties surrounding the outcome, whether the result as announced by INEC is final or there may be a redress at the Election Petition Tribunal is left for the future.

    The election may have been concluded and a winner declared by INEC, but a good look at some facts and figures may leave us with a different impression other than the earlier assumption that the party who emerged winner determines the overall outcome of the 2023 election.

    From what was declared by INEC, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Chief Jude Ngaji scored a total of 22,778(52.5%) to beat his closest rival, the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Hon. Mike Usibe who scored 20,590(47.5%). The percentage margin between the candidates is just (5.05%).

    Judging by the fact that the candidate of the APC is a very popular personality and someone who is contesting for the second time in less than four years, 5.05% is rather a margin too insignificant to celebrate, especially by a ruling party. The implication of this is that, only Chief Jude Ngaji who currently enjoys goodwill across parties can win any election for the ruling party.

    Again, it is on record that Ogoja/Yala currently constitute over 65% of the state appointees in Northern Senatorial District, with Yala LGA dominating in some key strategic appointments. Having people such as; the former DG of Due Process, now APC Chairman, the sacked senator, returned as SUBEB Chairman, CRUTECH Vice Chancellor and other high profile appointees all from Yala. One would ordinarily have expected a landslide margin, but the reality at hand is rather shocking.

    The most recent appointment which was released on the eve of the bye election numbering up to 93 appointees had Ogoja/Yala topping the list as always. Some of us expected the new appointees to show appreciation by harvesting adequate votes. But the lean margin of 5.05% is a clear indication that the Governor’s concentration of his appointment in his preferred location has not yielded bountifully.

    In 2023, APC members in places like Bekwarra must brace up for a tough time. As currently constituted, Bekwarra sits at the lowest rung on the list of appointees.With just two Commissioners, a Senior Special Adviser and other appointees of Bekwarra origin occupying the basest offices. It is clear that Bekwarra has not been in the reckoning of Ben Ayade’s Government. Glaringly, Ayade has scant regard or disdain for Bekwarra, same place he has claimed his grandmother hails from all in attempt to scam the people into aligning with him politically.

    The marginalisation of Bekwarra people continues when he left Bekwarra out without any viable industry, except the reported groundnut milling oil factory, which he has been trying grudgingly to complete. With this stark reality, Bekwarra would have no option than to seek a new realignment as the 2023 general election beckons, with Ayade believed to be seeking a return to the senate.

    This is why the just concluded House of Representatives bye election is an eye opener. From the outcome of the election Ogoja has totally rejected APC, Bekwarra is aggrieved, Obanliku is unhappy. Consequently, Obudu and Yala cannot secure him a return to the senate.

    The Nigerian Police Force whose contribution in intimidating electorate largely influenced the actualisation of the lean margin of 5.05% won’t afford the luxury of sending over 5000 officers to each Local Government of Cross River State in 2023. And because it would be a general election, the possibility of having a police helicopter hovering over of every Local Government is very much unlikely.

    Those planning to hide under state powers and the security for intimidation as recorded at many instances across Ogoja and Yala would be disappointed.

    If the Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency bye election was a litmus test, then APC and Governor Ayade have their work cut out for them.

    Equally, the trouncing of the APC by the PDP in Akpabuyo State bye election sums up the acceptability deficit of the power of the party in the state.

    Agaji Adie Ntamu (SAT)
    Is a Strategic Media Consultant,
    and a Seasoned Teacher.

     

    Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are strictly that of the author, Agaji Adie Ntamu and does not represent TheLumineNews or the organization the author works for.

  • #FBIRandomThoughts – The Wike Alliance With CRS PDP And The APC Obscurantism

    #FBIRandomThoughts – The Wike Alliance With CRS PDP And The APC Obscurantism

     

    One of the weapons of politics is obscurantism and obfuscation. This is the deliberate repainting of lies to look like truth and of truth to look like lies; the doctoring of facts and midwiving of half truths. If you are not very careful, you will be profoundly misled.

    For instance, take Governor Wike’s support for the PDP in Cross River State. The man is a PDP Governor, there is nothing strange in his support for his party and party members anywhere and anytime. He is showing this massive support for his party and friends in Cross River State.

    We have seen him show this support in several fora. Just yesterday, he was in Calabar for the PDP Rally. The mercantile obscurantists in APC have gone into full gear trying hard to sell us a spinned yarn. They are telling the PDP to be ashamed that their support is coming from outside the state.

    Ahn, ahn. Is politics no longer about building bridges and alliances? The first deployment of King Solomon’s wisdom was that he built alliances: 1 Kings 5:12 says, “The Lord gave wisdom to Solomon, just as He promised him; and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a covenant.”

    I heard that Governor Ayade considers himself to be among the wisest men in the world, I don’t know about that and I won’t argue that with him or anyone; however the Governor has proven that his unique kind of wisdom doesn’t incorporate building political alliances. His political wisdom is clearly different from that of Solomon, this is why he woke up one day and found himself in the PDP Political Wilderness and had to run out of the party.

    As a PDP Governor, he had no friends, refused to attend party functions or functions of the Governors Forum and he ended up with the ugly record of the being the first sitting Governor in the recent political history of Cross River State to have the party structures taken away from him while he rode alone in his long and loud convoy.

    Today, he is in APC, with little or no difference: no friends, no alliances and his horde of political hallelujah boys are daring to laugh at a group of politicians building bridges and alliances. Dry joke.

    Even the kings of Isreal asked fellow kings for help. 2 Chronicles 28:16 says, “At that time King Ahaz sent to the kings of Assyria for help.” Kings David, Solomon and others build alliances, asked and received help when the situation warrants it. This didn’t make them slaves to these kings. This is why the picture of master-servant or slave the APC is trying to paint between Wike and Cross River State PDP is pathetic.

    But it is not just pathetic, it is irony. When Wike came to Calabar we didn’t see anyone bowing or prostrating to him; but we all remember the picture of a man who prostrated and worshipped Governor Ayade at the UJ Esuene stadium when the said man was purportedly elected the APC State Chairman. Pray, tell, which party has a god and master and which one has a friend and supporter?

    Don’t let anyone fool you, building alliances is always a political masterstroke. The friendship between Governor Wike of Rivers State and the stalwarts of the PDP in Cross River State is a masterstroke. Of course, the APC knows this, that’s why they can’t sleep well. The thing dey pepper them for body.

    To succeed, build alliances; at times even with enemies. The Isrealites did this. Judges 3:13 “And he gathered to himself the sons of Ammon and Amalek; and he went and defeated Israel, and they possessed the city of the palm trees.”

    – By First Baba Isa (FBI)