The Lumine News

Category: Opinion

  • Six Months Ago, Agba Jalingo Wrote: Why Justice Simon Amobeda Should Leave Cross River And Exit The Bench

    Six Months Ago, Agba Jalingo Wrote: Why Justice Simon Amobeda Should Leave Cross River And Exit The Bench

    (This opinion was written 6 months ago.)

    A court order from the vacation judge of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, has stopped INEC from recognizing any candidate of the PDP for the Cross River Northern Senatorial by-election scheduled for October 31, 2020.

    Vacation for federal high courts ends tomorrow Friday September 25 and federal high courts are meant to resume in Monday September 28.

    But while the matter is still pending in Port Harcourt, Governor Ayade went forum shopping for an injunction for his preferred candidate to be announced. He went to his friend, Justice Simon Akpa Amobeda of the Federal High Court in Calabar.

    Fiam, Justice Amobeda arrived Calabar on Sunday and on Monday 21st September, granted an injunction in favor of Ayade’s preferred candidate and ordered INEC to include the candidate’s name as the rightful candidate pending the determination of the motion on notice before him. This is happening during vacation. In broad daylight.

    When were the processes filed?

    Hon. Justices I.M. Sani and I.O. Oshomah are the two vacation judges in the South South. How on earth was it possible for Justice Simon Amobeda to sit during vacation when he is not a vacation judge?

    Was Justice Amobeda granted fiat to sit during vacation?

    What special interest does Justice Amobeda have in Cross River politics?

    He has played so many controversial roles in partisan political scenarios in our State that leaves much to be desired.

    He is the same judge who, on the eve of the contest, said APC did not have a candidate for the 2019 governorship election.

    He is the same judge that threw out Barrister First Baba Isa’s suit challenging the illegal creation of ministries on the exclusive list by Governor Ayade.

    He is the judge that gives all the pro Ayade judgments in Cross River State.

    Justice Simon Amobeda appears to have become a tool in the hands of Governor Ayade to thwart the wishes of the good people of Cross River State.

    I’m glad a petition has gone out to NJC again against Amobeda. Let more follow. He needs to tell the public how that injunction was granted when courts are not sitting.

    Yours sincerely,
    Citizen Agba Jalingo.

    Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are strictly that of the writer, Agba Jalingo and does not represent The Lumine News or the organization the author works for.

  • Jarigbe Agom Vs Stephen Odey: The Favour Factor By First Baba Isa

    Jarigbe Agom Vs Stephen Odey: The Favour Factor By First Baba Isa

     

    Now, that I have read the full majority decision of the Supreme Court and the full minority decision of the Supreme Court, I make these comments.

    Jarigbe Agom has claimed several times that his battle is of the Lord, I’m beginning to see that. There is no way to explain what happened at the Supreme Court without ascribing it to the divine. The opposition handed him that victory on a platter of gold.

    Let me explain.

    1. That I love Jarigbe Agom is an open secret. Most people even think I’m one of his lawyers, on his pay roll, but I’m not. I was not that fortunate. 😀 I openly supported him in this fight simply because I felt and still feel that he was pushed into the battlefield. I feel the leaders of the PDP in Cross River State brought this unnecessary intra party fight upon themselves. My adumbrations on this is well known and well documented.

    2. Somehow I thought Jarigbe will win the legal battles about the authentic list, who is the party candidate and who was elected. I prayed for him to win. I wished I was even part of his legal team, even if it is pro bono. This is because I saw him as the underdog; I always support underdogs, I always want underdogs to win.

    3. So, as each of Jarigbe’s legal victories was announced, I celebrated, I congratulated him.

    4. However, when the Court of Appeal upheld the decision of the FCT High Court ordering INEC to issue Jarigbe certificate of return as the duly elected senator representing Cross River State Northern Senatorial District, I went into a panicked celebration. I even wrote a piece where I expressed my fear that Jarigbe was at the cusp of winning big or losing it all.

    5. Why was I worried? It was clear as crystal to any lawyer who is not totally blinded by partisan politics that that decision cannot stand because necessary parties (PDP and Stephen Odey) were not joined. I didn’t say this much but I was 200% sure that the Supreme Court will throw it out. In fact, I was simply waiting for this to happen. That’s why I advised strongly against Jarigbe being sworn in before the determination of the case at the Supreme Court. I was worried he will lose his seat as House member and then still get thrown out as senator. There were still other ways (including the Election Tribunal) that he could still had bounced back; but I didn’t want him losing it all before bouncing back.

    6. When Stephen Odey appealed, I was like “oh my God, it’s gonna happen. Jarigbe can’t win this one.” First, appealing wasn’t the first best option I saw for Stephen, but appeal was the second best and his lawyers choose appeal. I wonder why they didn’t choose the first but well, it doesn’t matter, Jarigbe won’t survive the Supreme Court anyways.

    7. Of course, I didn’t shout about my fear and conviction that Jarigbe won’t survive Supreme Court; I didn’t want to dampen morale and I still hoped that he will come out victorious. In fact, I told my friend, Joseph Ishaje, that Jarigbe will only win at the Supreme Court if Stephen Odey and his lawyers make a grave mistake. And this is exactly what happened!

    8. Stephen Odey made that grave mistake. They failed to serve the notice of appeal properly. And when they were caught in the act, they attempted to correct it “fraudulently”; the majority of the Supreme Court Justices saw through it all and struck out the appeal.

    9. The minority of Supreme Court Justices who looked at the substantive appeal upheld it and overturned the decision of the Court of Appeal on the grounds I feared they would: the FCT High Court lacked jurisdiction because proper parties were not joined.

    10. The Supreme Court minority decision on the substantive appeal is sound and the majority decision striking out the Notice of Appeal is also very sound. In the end Jarigbe won. He won by the costly mistake of Dr Stephen Odey or what I see as favour from God. The appeal was struck out and the statutory period to relist has elapsed. So, the judgement of the Court of Appeal stands and the certificate of return issued to Rt Hon Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe remains valid.

    11. This looks more like God’s favour when you consider the fact that Stephen Odey was represented by the legal god of election petition. The revered SAN doesn’t make those kind of mistakes. Even the Justice who read the lead judgement insinuated this much.

    12. So, why has Jarigbe not been sworn in? Why is Stephen Odey turning round to say the judgement he appealed doesn’t apply to him? All those ones na politics. If politicians can play politics with people’s lives, is it judgement of the Supreme Court they can’t play politics with?

    13. Is it over for Stephen Odey? From where I stand, there is still a lot of legal tiki taka to be played on this issue, but trying to stop Jarigbe Agom from being sworn in through letter writing by lawyers is not one of them.

    – Written By First Baba Isa (FBI), a Legal Practitioner, based in Abuja.

    Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here are strictly that of the author, First Baba Isa and does not represent The Lumine News or the organization the author works for.

  • Sandy Onor’s Heroism And Patriotic Leadership By Ori Owan

    Sandy Onor’s Heroism And Patriotic Leadership By Ori Owan

     

    It was the famous English playwright, William Shakespeare who postulated that “to be honest as this world goes is to be one man picked out of ten thousand.” And one man picked out of ten thousand as Escriva Balaguer succinctly averred, “must sanctify his work, and sanctify others through his good works”.

    Distinguished Senator Professor Sandy Onor is one man picked by God to lead and to redeem humanity. Amongst millions, he has the crown of stewardship placed on his shoulders. Amongst his contemporaries, he distinguished himself in brilliance, oratory, character of politics. Amongst his counterparts, he has become a shining model. Amongst his kinsmen, he remains the light, pathfinder and touch-bearer. In fact, he has restored dignity and pride to the good people of Cross River Central. He has totally redefined and sanctified the business of politics, with seemingly hopeless and shattered dreams, revived. In addition to this, his functional competence has become a reference point in many climes around the world.

    It is worthy of note that several undeveloped communities which hitherto were in darkness, have been taken out of the wilderness by virtue of Sandy Onor’s unparalleled performance in all spheres of life. These tangible achievements have made several Nigerians to describe him, and correctly so, as the functional ship with the largest “rudder on the wide-open sea”. This is in view of the developmental strides that characterize his quality of leadership and representation in the past years. As a symbol of peace, he plays his politics without mudslinging, which has made it possible for him to reconcile several political factions in his immediate constituency and in other senatorial districts of the state. Indeed, he has inspired and sustained confidence in his followers and this is the reason why he has become more like a beautiful bride with many potential suitors. Unlike many politicians who are deserted, Sandy Onor moves with a mammoth crowd wherever he goes, especially on his regular visits to his constituency.

    Like him or hate him, Distinguished Senator Sandy Onor is a seasoned legislator, a quintessential Patriot, and a crown jewel of inestimable value. His character and leadership style clearly smack of true statesmanship. And by words, deeds, and actions, he speaks truth to power and performs accordingly.

    Thus, from the ancient hills of Obanliku to the seas of Bakassi, Professor Senator Sandy Onor is without a stint of doubt, one of the most peaceful, responsible, and outstanding politicians in Nigeria’s fourth republic. This is because he is the first politician who has given the common men and women, who constitute the hoi poloi of the society, the pride of place in representation. He does this by visiting his constituents regularly to feel their pulse. He is so simple but disciplined to the extent that he runs an open-door policy around his home and office. What manner of a man is Senator Sandy Onor!

    However, Senator Onor’s socio-economic policies and programmes have reduced poverty to the barest minimum. His financial support to both small and medium scale enterprises have gone a long way to revive several businesses within and around the state. On infrastructural development, Sandy Onor has left profound legacies in the rural communities of the Central Senatorial District of Cross River State. Projects are executed and commissioned routinely across the local government areas of the district. As an efficient and uniquely gifted Senator, he awards his contracts in line with international best practices, and supervises same from start to finish. In fact, Senator Sandy Onor made a vow that he will never leave any project abandoned, hence, with nearly two years in power, he has convinced his constituents that he is indeed the Original Caterpillar and the “Irrunandu of Ejagham Nation”.

    In his legislative responsibility, he has performed excellently, with several important bills and motions to his credit. His unparalleled intellect, foresight, and vision leave many erstwhile leaders and followers in utter amazement as to whether Distinguished Senator Professor Onor was born in a different world. All these, in the considered opinion of this writer, remains the reason why he is rising higher and higher through the ladder of leadership with the determination to pull Cross Riverians out of the tinderbox. This is possible in line with Senator Onor’s commitment to justice, equity, poverty reduction, and infrastructural development for the present and future generations.

    Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are strictly that of Ori Owan and does not represent The Lumine News or the organization the author works for.

  • Governorship Zoning Process In Cross River State Politics: The True Position From Our Institution Library And Archives – Joe Bisong

    Governorship Zoning Process In Cross River State Politics: The True Position From Our Institution Library And Archives – Joe Bisong

     

    From the fits and starts of intervening Civilian and Military rule of decades past, democracy finally settled and stabilised in Nigeria in I999. Since then, to present day it has been unbroken civilian rule. It is therefore a given and common sense that when Cross Riverians talk of ZONING OF THE GOVERNORSHIP OF THE STATE, such dates back to 1999.

    1.ZONING in Cross River State has neither been a FORMALISED NOR INSTITUTIONALISED ARRANGEMENT. Although the three Senatorial Districts of the State have each produced a Governor dating back to Mr Donald Duke (South), Sen Liyel Imoke(Central),
    Sen Prof Ben Ayade(North), at no time has the political class of Cross River State, either intra Party or inter Party, institutionalised or enacted on the modus operandi or modus vivendi of the Rotational Governorship basis for the three Senatorial Districts! This is why in virtually all Gubernatorial elections, both intra Party and inter Party, ALL SENATORIAL DISTRICTS HAD CONTESTED!

    2.Rather, ROTATION HAS BEEN THE TREND BASED ON THE SIMPLE AND CONVENTIONAL PROCESS OF SELF ELIMINATION! Once a given Senatorial District got the Governorship for eight years, it eliminated itself from eligibility from the succeeding contest that followed. Such has the wily nilly process of ROTATION BY SELF ELIMINATION evolved that has seen all three Senatorial Districts get the Governorship and accordingly,all have been duly placated!

    3.This first circle of Rotation by self elimination ends in May 2023; and a new circle of same Rotation by self elimination commences . Accordingly, we shall provide proof to our assertion that conventionally, IT HAS BEEN AN ALL COMERS AFFAIR FOR ALL THREE SENATORIAL DISTRICTS IN ANY GIVEN GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION and that Rotation has been based on self elimination of the immediate Senatorial District that just left office after eight years; but not on any formal or institutionalised process!

    4. In 1999 intra Party Primaries in PDP, Mr Donald Duke from the South ran the Governorship Primaries with Barr Kanu Agabi from the North, while Prof Eyo Etim Nyong from the South ran with Mr Mark Ukpo from the North in APP.

    The Governorship election of 1999 was ultimately between Donald Duke from the South and Mark Ukpo from the North.

    5.In 2003,the Governorship election was between Mr Donald Duke of the PDP from the South and Chief John Okpa of the APP from Central.

    6.In 2007, the PDP Governorship Primaries was between Sen Liyel Imoke from Central and Mr Walter Eneji and Dr Julius Okputu from the North. The Governorship election proper of 2007 was between Sen Liyel Imoke of PDP from Central versus Prof Eyo Etim Nyong from South and Paul Ukpo from the North

    7. In fact, it is worth mentioning in retrospect, that even after Sen Liyel Imoke of Central had won the Governorship election in 2007, the North in Ukpo, engaged the Central in prolonged and convoluted litigation at the Election Tribunal that saw
    Imoke’s victory annulled twice.
    8. In 2011,Imoke from Central ran again for his second term against Eyo Etim Nyong, Ima Isa Adegoke(Labour Party),both from the South and Dr Onyuike(Accord Party), Mary Ekpre(CPC), Goddy Akpama (PPA) and Usani Usani(ACN)from the Central.

    9.Then, finally came the present tenure which dated back to 2019. The Governorship election was between Sen Prof Ben Ayade from the North, Sen John Owan Enoh from Central and BARR EYO EKPO FROM SOUTH! In fact, it is instructive to note that Barr Eyo Ekpo, then a renowned stalwart of PDP, decamped from PDP to Social Democratic Party (SDP) only for the purpose of running the 2019 Governorship election.

    10.Conclusively therefore, as it was in the beginning, and now is, so shall it be in 2023 Cross River State Governorship Election! To whom God wills, let the power fall, then the conventional or normative process of ZONING BY SELF ELIMINATION FOR THE THREE SENATORIAL DISTRICTS starts from there and then again in this new circle.

    Chief Joe Obi Bisong is the former State Publicity Secretary of PDP, Cross River State Chapter

     

    Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are strictly that of the author, Joe Obi Bisong and did not represent The Lumine News or the organization the author works for.

  • IWD 2021: Linda Ayade Identifies Poverty As The Main Challenge That Women In Africa Face Today

    IWD 2021: Linda Ayade Identifies Poverty As The Main Challenge That Women In Africa Face Today

    By Fred Abua

    The Wife of the Governor of Cross River State, Dr. Linda Ayade has identified poverty as the main challenge that women in Africa face today. She said most of the other challenges like access to education, gender-based violence, right to inheritance and choice of who and when to marry would easily be surmounted or brought down to a minimum if women were not limited by lack of financial muscle.

    The Governor’s wife who was a guest on Galaxy TV on the eve of the 2021 International Women’s Day said reasonable progress has been made since the struggle for women emancipation started, and vowed that women will not allow their voices to be drowned by the masculine majority that already occupy the leadership and political space.

    Dr. Linda Ayade recalled her growing up years and praised her secondary school principal, Rev. Sister Eunice Atsu and other women whose integrity and focus left an early impression on her mind that she could achieve her goals. While congratulating the new Director-General of the World Trade Organization, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and the newly elected Vice President of the United States, Kamala Harris, Dr. Ayade posited that even if equality is not achieved soon, women will continually break the glass ceiling and find their way to the front row of every human endeavour.

    To mark the 2021 IWD theme of Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 World Dr. Linda Ayade’s NGO, the Cross River Women Emancipation Initiative, CROWEI, presented cash gifts to selected less privileged women across the state and launched a new mentorship programme tagged “Urban-Rural Support Initiative”. While calling on women to love one another and shun the unhealthy trend of pulling others down, Dr. Ayade identified the mentorship of achievers as one effective way of changing the lot of rural women. The Urban-Rural Support Initiative will pair outstanding urban members of CROWEI with members in the rural areas for a mentor-mentee relationship with the aim of improving the socio-economic worldview of the rural women.

  • Re: Building The Cross River State Of Our Dream. Interrogating The Position of Hon. Chris Njah Mbu-ogar: Facts Vs Farces

    Re: Building The Cross River State Of Our Dream. Interrogating The Position of Hon. Chris Njah Mbu-ogar: Facts Vs Farces

    By Joe Obi Bisong

    For the sake of clarity and in-depth exposition, I would love to give a brief synopsis of the events preceding the Supreme Court Judgement that dealt a traumatizing blow on Dr. Steve Odey and the Governor’s minions.

    Sequel to the unfortunate demise of Late Senator Rose Oko, erstwhile Senator representing the Cross River State Northern Senatorial District, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) fixed a by-election to fill the Vacant position at the Senate. The electioneering process saw two factions within the People’s Democratic Party, both laying claim to Winning the election. The PDP Primaries conducted on the *5th of September 2020* had produced Rt. Hon Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe as winner of the primaries monitored by INEC officials and conducted using the “AUTHENTIC DELEGATE LIST” as approved by the NWC of PDP and Dr. Steve Odey on the other hand claimed to have won the Primaries using another Delegate List. Consequently, both factions went to court seeking legal validation to their individual claim, fortunately for Rt. Hon Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, the Supreme Court on the 25th of February 2021 struck out Dr. Steve Odey’s appeal against the judgement earlier delivered by a High Court and an Appeal Court in favour of Rt. Hon. Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe. This judgement incidentally became the last straw that broke the camel’s back and left Dr. Steve Odey’s camp perplexed, distraught and politically comatose.

    In view of the above, many political analysts, pundits, gladiators and Power Brokers have continued to give different opinions on the outcome of the Supreme Court Judgement, but I am very particular about interrogating the position of Hon. Chris Njah Mbu-ogar as captured in the interview granted to Beatrice Akpala. In doing that, I would gladly x-ray the Facts and Farces as captured in the interview.

    FARCE 1: “Northern Cross River May Never have a Leader”

    FACT: The truth is, every great leader is a product of the People. The People decide who they want as their Leader. Power resides where men believe it resides, it’s a trick, a shadow on the wall. And a very small man can cast a very large shadow, if he has the people with him. The People of Northern Cross River know their true Leader(s).

    FARCE 2: “The Conspiracy of Silence amongst Leaders of thought in Northern Cross River”

    FACT: To his Credit, Hon. Chris Njah Mbur-ogar admitted that His Excellency, Prof. Ben Ayade “attempted” carrying an all- inclusive decision making process in Northern Cross River but “ran into trouble”. This confession from Hon. Chris Njah Mbur-ogar further underscored the claim from some Leaders in Northern Cross River that the Governor has been unfair to them and has outrightly neglected them in the process of critical decision making. This could possibly be the reason for the silence on the part of the leaders of thought in Northern Cross River.

    FARCE 3: “External Interference”
    Hon. Chris Njah Mbur-ogar had accused His Excellency Chief Nyesom Wike, Governor of River State, of interfering in the political affairs of Cross River State in a bid to politically empower his friend and ally, Distinguished Senator Prof Sandy Ojang Onor.

    FACT: The truth is, a bad workman always blames his tools. He blames everyone and everything but himself for whatever ill-fate that befalls him. Let me assume without conceding that Governor Nyesom Wike is actually interfering in the affairs of Cross River State, won’t that be tantamount to saying that the person piloting the political affairs of Cross River State is weak or docile? How well has the Governor played his politics in the State in carrying members of his political party along? Would there be need for external interference if there was no internal negligence on the part of the Governor?

    FARCE 4: Consensus Building
    Hon. Chris Njah Mbu-ogar had appluaded His Excellency, Mr. Liyel Imoke for introducing the principle of Consensus Building into the politics of Cross River State, which has given Cross River State relative peace.

    FACT: Admittedly, the principle of Consensus Building has given Cross River State relative peace but the big question is, how well has the Governor played his own role towards building a consensus? Can you build a consensus in insolation? How well did the Governor follow the principle of Consensus Building in bringing on board the various Local Government Chairmen/Chairwomen? How well did the Governor follow the principle of Consensus Building in trying to foist Dr. Steve Odey on the people of Cross River North. It is worthy of note to stress that Dr. Steve Odey admitted on National Television that the Governor handpicked him and asked him to run for the Senate. This is against the principle of Consensus Building.
    Sometimes, you need to take your enemy’s side if you are going to see things the way they do.

    FARCE 5: “Prof. Sandy Onor’s Gubernatorial ambition will destroy the Political Family in Cross River State”

    FACT: The truth is Senator Prof Sandy Onor is yet to make any declaration about running for the Governorship seat. Hence, it is wrong to place the cart before the horse. Nevertheless, let me assume that Distinguished Senator Prof Sandy Onor will contest for the Governorship seat, how will his running for the Governorship position destroy the Political Family in Cross River State? The issue of Zoning and Power Shift to Southern Cross River is highly insignificant at this moment. The zoning principle is the political arrangement of PDP as a political party and the party can still decide to zone it’s Gubernatorial ticket to any Senatorial District. Remember, the Party is SUPREME
    FARCE 6:
    POWERS OF GOVERNOR AS LEADER OF POLITICAL PARTY

    FACTS:
    Every Governor is indeed, the leader of the party he belongs to and what qualifies leadership is the ability to take responsibility and understand that a whole lot of good or bad events depend on your decisions, actions and inactions.
    FARCE 7:SEN LIYEL IMOKE’S LEADERSHIP

    FACTS:
    His Excellency Sen. Liyel Imoke is a fantastic politician and great in all perspectives but he too, is human and had his shortfalls and the consequences are factors that have laid a foundation for the avoidable crisis rocking the People’s Democratic Party in Cross River State now. A few, mismanaged issues led to the defection of the former Governor, H.E Donald Duke and Senator Victor Ndoma Egba who exited the party with his portfolio as Senate leader.
    Gov Imoke’s closest aides, the then Chief of Staff and his deputy, Sir Alex Egbonna and Jude Ngaji contested and failed elections and the former left the party to be later followed by his deputy after a second failed trial in the incumbent administration. A few of the myriad of good heads he had as appointees including a former speaker of the CRSHA who acted as Governor when Imokes election was annulled by the court contested and failed gubernatorial elections and exited the party as well. All these high profile defections gave prominence to Labour Party in the State. This dictatorial leadership style was what led to the hand picking of a governor in the person of HE, Ben Ayade as successor.
    Today, Hon Njar Mbu Ogar who at most partook as a chapter chairman during these events attempts to manipulate and arm twist the facts. Such impetus and negative audacity puts a question mark on his integrity.

    FARCE 8:
    Issue of Governor Ayade being undermined by the National leadership of the PDP
    FACTS:
    Contrary to what is being peddled by Hon Chris Njar Mbu Ogar about the Governor being undermined by the NWC of the PDP, indeed, Governor Ben Ayade is the most favoured PDP Governor in Nigeria despite his blatant disregard and noncommittal to the Party. He has never attended the National Executive Committee meeting of the People’s Democratic Party and has never held a successful Caucus meeting which comprises of All National Assembly Members, principal officers of State House of Assembly, some members of the State party exco and Board of Trustees, the only one he managed to put together ended like child’s play because he only called to inform party stakeholders about his choice for State Party Chairmanship yet. In the build up to Congress ,the National Working Committee gave him the sole responsibility of nominating members of the congress Committee to oversee the Ward and Chapter Congresses and after the same committee he selected went back with results, he started calling for a change as if the Party is a play toy.
    No serious party leadership will accept such demands.

    THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE PDP
    The People’s Democratic Party is founded on the following principles;
    – Consensus, where relevant party leaders sit and agree on certain vital decisions including zoning.
    – Strict Adherence to Zoning which is the consensus decision of the caucus.
    – Gender Sensitivity, where party leaders encourage balance in gender participation in party activities.
    – Qualification and Loyalty.

    From the three above, the party caucus finds qualified persons who have been loyal to the party and supports their aspirations.
    Gov Ayade has not kept faithfully, even one from any of these principles. Today, those whose counsel he preferred over sound reasoning are crying foul and looking for who to blame. There’s very little success, if at all, that anyone who builds a fence of sycophants around himself can achieve.

    FARCE 9:FEAR OF 2023

    FACTS: The energy they put into the fright of the outcome of 2023 should be used for sober reflection. 1Timothy 5:8 “any man who cannot provide for his household has denounced his faith and is worse than an infidel”
    Let it be on record that the likes of Chris Njar Mbu Ogar are the reason the crisis in Cross River State PDP degenerated to the level it is today.

    It is instructive to note that he Chris mentioned the fact that HE Sen. Liyel Imoke introduced consensus building at all levels as Governor of Cross River State. The idea of consensus building did not only bring about peace and stability in the polity, it also made him succeed as governor because respected leaders across board were widely consulted before major decisions affecting the state are taken. This gave them a huge sense of belonging and calmed frayed nerves.

    But today, we have a situation where the governor unilaterally takes decisions affecting the State without due consultation and not minding if there are consequences.

    Worthy of note also is the fact that it is not a crime to have a governor as a friend. Keep Governor Wike out of our self inflicted crisis.

    An attempt to pass the buck and make unguarded utterances rather than come by way of amendable statement will further polarize the system. Leaders must at all times surround themselves with followers who are honest enough to point out loop holes around them. Wrong advisors and praise singers constitute the major pitfalls of leadership because they tell you you are right even when they know you are wrong for the benefits.

    Senator Sandy is delivering excellently well on his mandate as Senator representing the good people of Cross River Central Senatorial District.
    Rather than take media space to play a script in support for Mr Ben Akak to foster his Deputy Governorship ambition ,Chris Njar Mbu-Ogar should do well to show the good people of Etung his achievements as member representing Etung in the house of Assembly. If only he would enlist this energy in service to his people, Etung LGA would be better for him.
    If I may ask, in what capacity is Hon Chris Njar Mbu Ogar acting as the spokesman of Cross River State politics if not for the usual delusions of grandeur and the bloated ego of a failed empire.

    Conclusively, while it is good for us to build a better and stronger Cross River State of our collective dreams, it is worthy of note to further stress that those who live in glass houses, don’t throw stones.

    God bless Cross River State!!
    God bless the PDP!!!

    HON (CHIEF)
    JOE OBI BISONG
    Director General Caterpillar Movement.
    Former Publicity Secretary PDP, CRS.

     

    DISCLAIMER: The Opinion expressed in this article is strictly that of Chief Joe Obisong and does not represent TheLuminenNews or its agent.

  • Nigeria In Need Of A Paul Kagame. By Dominic Kidzu

    Nigeria In Need Of A Paul Kagame. By Dominic Kidzu

     

    Muhammadu Buhari may yet end his Presidency like Emperor Nero, who Tacidus records as playing the fiddle while Rome burned for six days. Emperor Nero was decadent and widely unpopular, so is Buhari, except in the most illiterate quarters of Northern Nigeria. While Emperor Nero spent his day playing the fiddle, it is not certain what Buhari spends his day doing, besides the mandatory five prayers of a good muslim.

    The country he fought so hard to lead has been left unattended to, it’s unity dismembered, it’s peace raped, it’s security taken over by usual and unusual strangers, while the economy and well being of the citizens have been auctioned in an open bazaar of hate, division and bloodletting. A country never before united now sits on the precipice of dismemberment, while the disimilar inhabitants chant war songs and threaten fire and thunder.

    How does this President spend his day at work? Does he open the files atop his ornate desk? Does he listen to security briefings? Does he read the papers? Does he watch television? Does he receive his appointees in audience? Does he attend meetings? What exactly does our president do all day long? One can’t even ask Garba Shehu, because what he says is sooner unsaid, and what he signals is usually eventually unsignalled. Or does the President, like Emperor Nero also have a cute little fiddle tucked somewhere in the cascading folds of his usually white, well starched gowns?

    Patrick Wilmot, the firebrand Jamaican born lecturer in Sociology at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, saw the impending collapse of a country that should never have been, he wrote furiously about it in the New Nigerian newspaper and was abducted by soldiers in the night and sent out of the country. When Karl Maier, the West African correspondent of the Independent, who also freelanced for The Economist and The WashingtonPost, wrote “This House Has Fallen..Nigeria In Crisis”, a commentary about the slow death of Nigeria, he was also banned from entering Nigeria. They couldn’t do anything about Chinua Achebe though, even after he wrote “There Was A Country”, chronicling the Biafran war, the coming of age and destruction of Nigeria, because Achebe is our local hubris with nowhere to be sent to.

    Is it our national character to always live in denial, and rent the banner of our national reality? And lie to ourselves and our children, wishing things done undone, creating the verisimilitude of truth, but not the whole truth? Denying that we have remained a country of competing nationalities. Denying the war drums reverberating across the ethnic lines and the partisanship of the federal government in the impending discordance. Denying that the forests of Nigeria have been overtaken by militiamen of Fulani ethnic stock. Denying that we have no constitution and no country. Denying that the president is an ethic bigot and a believer in the hegemony of his own tribe. Denying that his government has become a coterie for acquisitive individualism and conspicuous consumption. Denying even, that the Boko haram insurgents are still alive, well and potent as a fighting force.

    Yet the president of Nigeria can learn a lot from Paul Kagame of Rwanda, whose circumstances are akin to those of Nigeria. The Tutsis, like the Fulani are tall, slender with long noses. Like the Fulani they are pastoralists, while the Hutus are farmers. The Tutsis were favoured by the colonizing Belgians and given political advantage over the Hutus, even though they are smaller in population, just like the colonizing British favoured the Fulani, who are fewer and gave them political control. The Hutus hated the Tutsis because of their unfair advantage, just as the tribes in Nigeria hold the Fulani in contempt and suspicion because of their unfortunate claim to superiority and ownership of all Nigeria. Like Nigeria, Rwanda survived a genocide that took the lives of over one million people. In Nigeria there were more deaths in the Biafran genocide.

    However, President Paul Kagame has set aside the historical circumstances of his country and built a new Rwanda based on constitutional equity and equality of all tribes. Rwanda today represents the African fairytale, an industrial success with a booming economy having long healed the wounds of 1994. A benevolent dictator, Kagame’s greatest achievement in the end will be that he united all Rwandans and gave them a country to be proud of and to look up to. On the contrary, the president of Nigeria pursues the growth, prosperity and domination of his ethnic Fulani and Northern muslims over the rest of the country, skewing appointments in their favour and investing them with the facade of superiority and invincibility.

    Nelson Mandela is remembered today not essentially because he fought for black South Africans, but because he used his victory to institute racial harmony, forgiveness and power sharing even when he had the opportunity to be vindictive and divisive, and to encourage social injustice to the advantage of his African people. Every great nationalist must necessarily rise above the sentiments of tribe, region and religion, and this is what president Muhammadu Buhari has found impossible to do. Yet he has a great opportunity to do so, even now, before the writers of history make his name a byword and consign the sorry patch of his presidency to the abyss of damnation and atrophy.

    Dominic kidzu writes from Calabar.

    Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article is strictly that of Dominic Kidzu and does not represent the opinion of The Lumine News or it’s agent.

  • The Biography Of An African Loyalist. By Dominic Kidzu

    The Biography Of An African Loyalist. By Dominic Kidzu

     

    Now here is a spectacular product of a unique phenomenon, mostly grown in third – world African countries. By the way, aren’t African countries almost all third world, with failing economies, tattered political fabrics, bloated nouveau riche – without agricultural or industrial production, atomistic ethnic groupings and cantankerous fanatical religious convictions? The “loyalist” in Africa is a dramatic archetype originating from both congenital and circumstancial disorders in the socio – economic and psycho – political system.

    Even though they are grown all year round in all the countries of Africa and flourish mostly in seasons of economic strangulation, their main vegetation is in tropical politics, where they are known to flourish in peak season, like Chinua Achebe’s yam tendrils in the rainy season. They arise from a variation of slightly disimilar backgrounds which are tied together by the will to survive, even to live, and the drive to prosper against all odds.

    Diligent research has shown that they are either, school drop – outs, cultists, drug addicts, kleptomaniacs, people with low self – esteem, victims of long years of poverty, offsprings of unbalanced parenting, exconvicts, demagogues, social misfits, and wait for it … even unfulfilled geniuses! For people who fall in this broad categorisation” loyalty ” has become both a profession and a science. A means of livelihood, a bridge to success, a meal ticket, a place to carve out an identity for oneself, however nefarious in complexion and shameful in it’s disposition. There are yet those who have become “loyalists” as victims of the socioeconomic and political system which have sucked them into the mire and putrefaction of its architecture, travelling wherever the wind bends their wing, while remaining firmly on the leash, with minimal reward, less they break free from the agonising shackles of their own unique imprisonment. These are themselves “loyalists ” and also “victims” of loyalty. For them it is a sponge dripping with Socrates’ hemlock which they must drink to quench their taste, and then to die! Someone once argued that there is a relationship between money and power, and that impoverishment is a measure of political control. Could this be true?

    To be a “loyalist ” it is important to gorge out one’s brains and replace them with sand, to suspend disbelieve, to embrace alternative reality, to deify the boss, emperor or potentate and every nomenclature of excellencies, to tell them only what they want to hear. That is why Museveni is still popular in Zambia, Theodoro Nguema Mbasogo loved in Guinea Equitorial, Paul Biya the subject of poetic pynaegyrics in Cameroun. Even our own President Buhari is a great hero, so says the “loyalists “. Yet the “loyalists ” have done more damage to continental Africa and to all its its peoples than colonialism and military interventions ever wrought upon the people.

    And because human beings are by nature both sociopolitical and competitive, and even the primates from which the human species might have evolved practiced an attenuated form of politics, ” loyalty” has become a veritable means of gaining advantage over others, not capacity, knowledge, expertise, hardwork, or qualification. Max Weber’s position that modern society is individualistic, egalitarian, market and merit driven has been overcome by agnatic kinship organisation or the tyranny of cousins in Africa where kinship ties have become the main source of social solidarity. Alexis de Tocqueville and Thomas Jefferson’s prodigious treatises on the equality of man as the inexorable experience of the growth of mankind has since been washed away by rapacious despots at all levels of governance in Africa. Like the Arabian, Ottoman, Chinese and Byzantine oligarchs, governments are controlled by a shadow network of stacked turtles and cousins, and an inner court of henchmen hidden beneath the vinear of “loyalty “.

    The heart of the “loyalist “, to use the words of Mark Twain, “is a cesspool of falsehood, of treachery, and of low and devilish instincts”. The “loyalist ” harbours no redeeming moral graces, no scruples, no tingling conscience, no feelings beyond the alluring touch of goldcoins, ala Silas Manner, or crisp notes, and the dizzying smell of new mint. Money, position, office, advantage and power are their molten gods and carved deities. And once the certain reign of sitting the king is ended, the “loyalists” promptly migrate like egrets to another victim, the new king. They are like herdsmen, or birds of the sky, with no permanent abode. Their “loyalty ” is also itinerant, constantly in search of pasture and water, leaving behind them a scorched earth laid waste by their “loyalty”. Mankind will surely know more peace, progress and prosperity were it not for the pernicious and invasive”loyalists “.

    Dominic kidzu writes from Calabar, Cross River State.

  • As Magistrate Ashipu Protests Non Payment Of Salary For Two Years, Chris Edadi Resigns His Appointment For Collecting Salary Without Work For Two Years – Attah Ochinke

    As Magistrate Ashipu Protests Non Payment Of Salary For Two Years, Chris Edadi Resigns His Appointment For Collecting Salary Without Work For Two Years – Attah Ochinke

    By Attah Ochinke

    BETWEEN CHRIS EDADI AND MAGISTRATE ASHIPU

    These two citizens of Cross River probably don’t know each other. Am not aware of any connection between them except that each had the courage to speak up, and by coincidence, they spoke on the same day, 4th January, 2021. Both must have individually resolved that come 2021, they must take action. Thus on the first working day of the year, each person moved.

    Magistrate Iyeh Ashipu was employed as a magistrate into the Cross River State Judiciary and posted to Odukpani. She sits in judgment in her court; dispensing justice without fear or favour, affection or ill will. Or at least that’s what’s expected of her. For 2 years she has not been paid a salary. On 4th January, 2021, she left her court where she dispenses justice to others, to seek justice for herself on the streets. She took her two children to the gate of governor Ben Ayade’s office to protest the non payment of her salary for the past 2 years. Two yesrs? What has she been eating?

    Chris Edadi also acted in protest but from exactly the opposite end of the spectrum. In his case, he was being paid by Governor Ben Ayade as a political appointee, but given no work to do. He got tired of the injustice of pay without work and resigned in protest. He is not alone in the dilema of pay without work; estimates put his category of appointees without work at 6000 in Cross River State. The others are in quiet connivance with the government, to receive wages without labour.

    So how did we get here? Where, on the same day, one high official of government is on the street with her children crying for 2 years of work without pay, while another high official of the same government is resigning in protest over payment without work?

    Is there no policy co-ordination in the government? How do we have a situation where politicians are ascribed names in a fraudulent pretext of appointment, and paid from public funds, while judicial officers performing sensitive duties are left without salary for 2 years? When magistrate Ashipu goes back to her court after her one-man protest, is she expected to also reject bribes and eschew corruption?

    How did we get here?

    Disclaimer: The opinion expressed here is solely that of Attach Ochinke and does not represent The Lumine News or its agent.

  • Even If Jarigbe Doesn’t Win In The End, I Will Be Happy That He Would Have Taught Governor Ayade That You Cannot Always Ride On A People Roughshod And Go Away Without Bruises – Agba Jalingo.

    Even If Jarigbe Doesn’t Win In The End, I Will Be Happy That He Would Have Taught Governor Ayade That You Cannot Always Ride On A People Roughshod And Go Away Without Bruises – Agba Jalingo.

    Kudos To Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe

    I like Jarigbe Agom

    I love fighters.

    Jarigbe is the member representing Ogoja/Yala federal constituency in the House of Reps and he is having a running battle with governor Ayade over many things including the struggle for the Cross River North Senatorial seat.

    By my make up, I am naturally drawn to the underdogs. I love their triumph. The odds are always against them but they rise.

    I love Jarigbe because he has become the stormy petrel from within. I have nursed my doubts about his complete sincerity to follow through in his insistence that the right thing must be done by Governor Ayade. I always told him he will soon drop the gauntlet like they characteristically do in their party PDP, and enter a room then come out smiling with Governor Ayade and leave us with only pictures to publish. So far, he has proven me wrong.

    Jarigbe has demonstrated the firmness and effrontery that Cross River North needs in her next Senator. Governor Ayade’s first shot in the Senate when he was a green horn himself representing the same Cross River North Senatorial district before becoming governor, was to take on the red chamber frontally without fear or favor.

    The Senate under General David Mark, was deliberating in plenary over capital punishment for kidnappers. In his very famous intervention, Senator Ayade stepped up and berated the Senate and accused his colleagues of playing the ostrich when they collect millions of Naira and want to legislate the capital punishment for kidnappers who are mostly unemployed youths. This contribution made headlines and also cost Ayade some speaking time in the red chambers subsequently, after the leadership of the Senate began to see him as a rising threat. That is the stuff that Cross River North senators are made of. Tough, fearless, and knowledgeable. They have the ability to confront nonsense and call it what it is. That is the mould Jarigbe has cast himself in the last one year in Cross River.

    In a state where stakeholders with a louder voice that his. In a State with three former governors who are alive and kicking, a State with a former Senate leader of the Federal republic, a state with a minister in opposition, a State with former ministers and former this and that, who have mostly refused to stand up to be counted in the face of the arrogance of our governor, Jarigbe has been able to make himself available for the many Cross Riverians looking out for those that should call our governor to order. Jarigbe who may not be as rich as we perceive other individuals, is spending money, time, energy and building structures and getting down to the people to give them an alternative voice, yet he is in the governor’s party while the opposition politicians in the State are no where to be found.

    I feel a huge sense of relief because the trend where our governor feels that he can continue to hand pick individuals and stifle opportunities for the growth of choice and democracy particularly in northern Cross River must be challenged. Two male members of the State House of Assembly died and the governor sits and says their wives should go and replace them. A Senator dies and you bring up another stooge to impose on us?

    Are you God?

    Even if Jarigbe doesn’t win in the end, I am from Northern Cross River, I will be happy that he would have taught governor Ayade that you cannot always ride on a people roughshod and go away without bruises.

    Thank you.

    Yours sincerely
    Citizen Agba Jalingo.

    Disclaimer: The Opinions in this are strictly that of Agba Jalingo and does not represent The Lumine News or its agent.