Category: Opinion

  • Desecrating Our Institutions As A Legacy – Barr. Venatius Ikem

    Desecrating Our Institutions As A Legacy – Barr. Venatius Ikem

    By Admin

    Governor Ayade who has refused to abide by the persistent recommendations of the National Judicial Council and swear in Justice Ikpeme as Chief Judge of the state, hopes to rely on a Judicial process to advance his Political career as an affront on civilised society. To be fair, he is not hoping to rely on a legitimate judicial process because he has no legitimate case anywhere. He hopes to corrupt his way to “Justice” by obtaining illegal Court Orders.

    As it stands the Judicial arm of Govt in Cross River State is on her knees, comatose, without a Chief Judge for the first time in history because the National Judicial Council refused to do Gov Ayade’s bidding and recommend his choice as a Chief Judge of CRS! The standoff has left the state without a Chief Judge. How sad! I hope those judges in his “faction” are learning. I must commend those judges who are seeing beyond Ayade at their sacred call in the service of the motherland.

    Currently, the Governor has moved his contempt for the judiciary further to the Federal High Court of Justice sitting in Cross River State, obtaining embarrassing Court Orders against all known processes of Law, in a desperate bid to force a Senatorial Candidate as a surrogate for his return to the Senate in 2023! How much more desperate can Ayade become?

    It is becoming clear to all that Gov. Ayade’s megalomania or obsession with Power is bringing a new dimension hitherto unknown into the body Politics of Cross River State. The predictable next move will be killing of Political opponents. His brother the co-Gov is alleged to be boasting that he can do anything to opposition voices and nothing will happen! As things stand, kidnapping is on the upswing.
    We remain focused and undaunted.

    Those he labelled as “desperate” are now looking like saints! For a man overwhelmingly rejected as a monumental failure in the history of governance in our state to attempt to perpetuate himself in power against the will of the people through illegal and violent means, spells doom for the future of our state, yet most of our “enlightened” citizens are in silent subservience because we lack the courage to speak truth to power!

    Gov Ayade has desecrated all known norms and destroyed all institutions of Government, his family members throw their ill-gotten acquisitions from the public till in our faces and he continues to move deliberately to dictate what our future should look like, allegedly corrupting all institutions on his way.

    Well, some should know that there will be consequences, now or later. Already a couple of careers are on the line of destruction in the judiciary and INEC. The resistance is not sleeping. Some folks in INEC who issued unauthorized endorsement of illegal congress results know what I’m talking about as well as some Judges already making visits to the National Judicial Council.

    Let the message be clear: we must fight to redeem our state and salvage her because nobody from anywhere else is going to change things for us, but ourselves. Unless we stand up to this bully and his totalitarianism, using extant Civil society structures for good governance there will be nothing left when Gov. Ayade is done with us.. We will seek Judicial redress and file complaints against abuse of office by public Servants as become necessary. It might be slow, but Justice will surely come. Don’t despair; don’t think nothing is happening. A lot is happening. The only thing not happening is governance because the Gov has redirected all resources of government, human and material, towards fighting for his Political survival and continued relevance.

    For His Emperial Majesty’s information, The National Judicial Council, is not an arm of the Cross River State Govt that he can intimidate into submission and buy at will like the Cross River State House of Assembly! It is a body of very eminent jurists and judiciary Administrators who understand the critical role of the Judiciary in sustaining a civil society. They may not be perfect, but they know their job.

    The judiciary may have some judges who may be corrupt like all human institutions, some whose courage may fail them sometimes, but largely they are men and women who stand for Truth and Justice!

    Governor Ayade is hardly comfortable with such men and women.

    It is even terrible when you remember that Gov.Ayade claims to be a “Lawyer” or that he read Law! Actually, I have not heard him claim that he is a lawyer, just that he read Law and went to Law School. I know if he passed the Bar Examination, we would have been regaled with pictures of him in a wig or wig and gown. I am sure that very soon University of Calabar will offer him an LLM degree with distinction and before the end of his tenure an LLD. I am very sure that by that time he would have attended less than a dozen lectures!
    He is the Governor!

    Come to think of it doesn’t it surprise you that you have never seen Gov. Ayade in wig and gown? Or address himself as “Barrister” despite his love for titles? Yet we are told that he attended Law School?

    For the clergy, I wish all his spiritual Advisers many more praying hours. Of course Christ said he came for the lost sheep, not for those who are sinless. Your job has been cut out for you. Who am I to judge, seeing that we all sin differently. But remember that our land cries out for Justice and restitution…
    But remember also the prophets of yore who stood up against bad governments in their time, like Prophets Jeremiah, Elijah, John the Baptist. Those who have chosen to use the sacred scriptures to justify bad governance in return for a table in the action and taken refuge in cold complicity should remember that there is a day of reckoning for them too.

    Anyway, more relevant to us is that for all those he is paying and destroying with his mantra of “Politics with Ethics” , I wish you well but you will be remembered when the New Cross River State will emerge after the years of the locust!

    Have a great day all.

    Long live CRS!

    Vena.

    Disclaimer: This article is purely the opinion of Barr. Venatius Ikem and does not in any way reflect that of The Lumine News.

  • #29 Sacked Magistrates, Simon Utsu Writes Governor Ayade

    #29 Sacked Magistrates, Simon Utsu Writes Governor Ayade

    By Admin

    A social commentator and critique, Mr. Simon Utsu has written Governor Ben Ayade demanding the reinstatement of 29 magistrates that were sworn in since February 2019.

    Mr. Ustsu took to his verified Facebook account @Simon Utsu to call on the Governor to consider the reinstatement of these magistrates.

    Find full text of the letter:

    “Dear Gov Sir Benedict Ayade,

    “I read your reasons for delisting the 2,000 civil servants from the payroll- they were valid. By choosing to reinstate them in light of that, you did noble. Very commendable. I owe you one bottle of Jacob’s tonic wine ๐Ÿพ for that… to be delivered/redeemed when next I’m in Calabar.

    “You should also address the 29 magistrates that were sworn in since February last year but who were also sidelined and are yet to be paid. They were duly employed after a rigorous recruitment process that was advertised on national dailies.

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    “They were then posted to various courts across the country. 29 were sent to Cross River state but due to some differences you(Ayade) had with the former chief judge of the state, they haven’t being paid a dime in over 19 months and are not being engaged.

    “The speaker of the CRSHA Eteng Jones Williams, Deputy speaker Joseph Bassey and the leader, Peter Odinga should please do all that they can to make sure this is also resolved amicably.

    “Your administration has had the worst relationship with the judiciary since the state’s creation.

    “Kindly do all you can to make sure the relationship status changes from bad to at least good. Regularisation of the employments of the 29 magistrates currently wallowing in career limbo, is going to be a very good step in that direction. And that should be followed by the confirmation of a substantive Chief Judge in line with the directives of the NJC.

    “Happy new month to you and the family Sir.

    “Warm Regards
    Simon Utsu”

  • Religion And State By Barr. Vena Ikem

    Religion And State By Barr. Vena Ikem

    By Admin

    Our Constitution guarantees a secular state. It also guarantees freedom of worship. God’s centrality and preeminence in our lives is not underscored by the appointment of any Religion’s agents as Religious Assistants to the Heads of Govt, however described.

    When did our Governor suddenly discover that he needs this much Religious assistance? I hope he understands the separation between religion and God!

    What I can advise him for free is that what he needs is more of God’s grace and mercies, not Religion’s Assistants!

    I can take him on a historical journey that will include the atrocities that Religion visited on society and how God, not religion came to the rescue. At some point Church and State became one. Indeed it is on record then that reading the Bible became heresy for the non clergy and punishable with death!

    Atrocities are still committed even in the modern day Church in God’s name. Many high ranking men of God are standing trial in various courts around the world for violating innocent underaged children under their care including a cardinal and an Archbishop to mention only two.

    Modern church intellectualism will easily confound you with the theory of the Church as the “body of Christ” , but I will retort to you that left to St. Paul, the preacher of such theology, women would not even have a place in the church! The patriarchy that runs through St. Paul’s theology is, to say the least, embarrassing in the light of today’s realization of the role of women in God’s Kingdom and indeed against the background of the same Church’s veneration of the Queen mother of our Lord and the special place of Mary and Martha in Jesus’ Ministration.

    St. Paul’s epistles clearly demonstrate the shortcomings of man as the messenger of God as distinct from Christ’s original preachings. Of course these are acceptable, with the understanding that afterall Paul himself was a mere human being. This is not helped by the fact that Paul was a latter day convert who didn’t have the privilege of witnessing Christ first hand.

    This is not to diminish his impact or the impact of his mission. It, however, underscores the infinite imperfections of Man as a human being! This is further emphasized by the fact that despite St. Peter being one of Christ’s first Apostles that were called to the Ministry, “one of those he loved”, St. Peter consistently faced Christ’s rebuke for his frequent gaffes and misunderstanding of the essence of Christ’s true mission. Indeed this went on to the very end of his ministry when at the most critical moment St. Peter, despite having been “crowned” by Christ as the “Rock upon which he will build his church”, meaning his successor of sorts, still managed to deny him just before his arrest, crucifixion and eventual death, as predicted.

    It is remarkable still that Christ through it all never withdrew the mandate he gave to Peter as the head of his church. The reason is obvious: he wanted us to appreciate how infinitely imperfect man is! He taught us what tolerance means.

    Consequently, we live on and at His Mercy and by His Grace not because of anything we have done or that we EARN it. We can never earn His Grace by any action of ourselves but by the free gift of His Grace from the Holy Spirit!

    5 dozen men of God “Assisting” the Gov cannot earn him the grace of God. It is freely given. Titles cannot earn it. Visiting men of God wouldn’t.

    Just stop corrupting everything in the name of Politics because you risk annoying God further by desecrating His sacred Temples and sanctuary thinking that you can BUY His Grace by buying the men of Religion!

    The gospel of Christ is a message of love. Love for everybody even those that make it so hard to love them. Love is for everybody not just a select few and family.

    If you love those who love you only, then you haven’t truly loved. True love is when you love even when there’s no reason to. True Love is demonstrated in loving the downtrodden. St. James said, “True Religion is helping the windows and orphans”! Loving the stranger, like the Samaritan. True Love is not in vendetta and settling of petty scores.

    Christ’s last act as man was to forgive those who crucified him because he said, ” for they know not what they do”!

    I know how impossible this is for some people and that’s why Christ said salvation is as difficult as passing a camel through the eye of a needle!

    Herein lies the challenge and it cannot be solved by appointment of Religion Assistants! Our land needs healing because atrocities are crying out for Justice! No man of Religion masquerading as God’s messenger can pray that into being!

    The Injunction is simple: seek Mercy and forgiveness. But no one grants you forgiveness except yourself. It’s that simple: if you want forgiveness from God, go and forgive those who offended you so that you will gain forgiveness from those you offended. That’s the Lord’s prayer!

    A word is enough for the wise!

    Happy Sunday!

    Vena.

  • We Cannot Continue To Loose Our Members And Think It Will Not Affect Our Political Fortunes – Peter Odey

    We Cannot Continue To Loose Our Members And Think It Will Not Affect Our Political Fortunes – Peter Odey

    By Admin

    The Leader of the 9th Cross River Sate House of Assembly, Rt.Hon Peter Odinga, has stated that the PDP in Cross River State cannot continue to loose it members and thinks that it will not affect the political fortunes of the party.

    The leader took to his Facebook verified account to air his views on the recent squabbles going on within the party in the state.

    Mr. Odey however, advocated for a roundtable discussion to end the skirmishes that are able to undermine the success of the party in the 2023 general election.

    Find below complete text of Rt. Hon. Peter Odinga Odey’s opinion.

    “MY ONE PENNY.

    “I have been following developments with very keen interest in our politics and I am compelled to drop a few lines.

    “We are gradually disintegrating as a party and as such, most of our members have joined the APC in the State. It is on good record that many of the decision makers in the APC were members of the PDP and at some point founding members of our great party, the PDP. A lot of our foot soldiers and fine players and political tacticians have left the party due to one reason or the other. It can be seen that from the Honorable Minister, Prince Goddy Jedy Agba, Senator John Owan Enoh, Chief Ray Ugba Murphy, Chief Jude Ngaji, Hon Tom Agi. Barrister Joe Agi and even Prof. Zana Akpagu were all members of our party. We cannot continue to loose our members and think it won’t affect our political fortunes. Our brother, Chief Alex Egbona was one of us before he left for the APC, today, there is a huge vacuum in Abi/Yakurr Federal Constituency. We cannot continue to pretend that all is well when it is not. There is a need to immediately restrategize and put our family in order as we progress towards 2023.

    “So much has been written and said in recent time by political observers and party Faithfuls . The time has come for us to put a stop to every lingering issues as party men. It’s time we come together and resolve our issues amicably with the aim of winning for our party. The truth is , all we see daily is getting messy and frustrating. Truth be said, 2023 started too early for us. The fighting is not about the senate. “Authentic list” “conquered ” or “confused ” generations. It’s who gets what in 2023. This is the simple truth.

    “I understand egos have been brushed but we cannot continue on this narrow road. The time has come for all and sundry to settle our differences and work together as a people with the sole aim of winning for our party and people and we cannot continue to play politics of bigotry, bitterness, acrimony, hate, anger and over zealousness. Everyone is important and mutual respect, understanding, love and absolute forgiveness for one another is the way to go. Like I said, it is my one penny . Then again, what do I know?

    “With love, humility and oneness we can achieve great milestones together”

     

  • CRN APC Ticket And The Fallacy Of Reconciliation – Inyali Peter

    CRN APC Ticket And The Fallacy Of Reconciliation – Inyali Peter

     

    One of the major challenges facing political parties in Nigeria is complete absence of internal democracy. The country’s democracy is still at its infant stage and it’s evolving, however, in the anti-democratic tendency of always subverting or attempting to subvert the wishes of the people by a conservative few called “stakeholders” has become a serious cankerworm that has eaten deep into the heart of political parties and politicians in the country.

    This terrible and injurious tendency is usually highlighted mostly during primaries for the nomination of candidates. It is almost becoming a tradition in our politics that the wishes of the people in selecting candidates don’t count and this trend is seen in almost all the parties even though it’s increasingly becoming worst in APC, especially the Cross River State chapter.

    As a foundation member of APC from 2013 when it was formed, I can say that one of the things that endeared the party to so many Nigerians in 2015 was the promise of internal democracy which was displayed across the country during primaries for the selection of candidates.

    The 2014 APC Presidential primaries was adjudged the best in the country by political watchers and this gave more credibility to the party as Nigerians saw a classical departure from the trend in PDP where candidates were always imposed.

    While the party is trying to sustain the 2014 legacy in some states, in others like Cross River, the situation has been messy and a direct opposite of it. APC primaries in the state is a myth and a mere show to fulfill all righteousness as candidates emerge through other undemocratic ways like imposition.

    This pitiable situation has always plagued the party into crisis but it seems the people don’t learn. When everybody was expecting that APC was finally ready to challenge the PDP dominance in the state after the leader of the party and Honourable Minister of State, Power, Prince Goddy Jedy Agba ended the over three years leadership tussle, the first major assignment undertaken by the party is threatening to tear it apart again and it’s not for any reason but the same old story of imposition.

    When would the Cross River APC learn that as an opposition, it’s more profitable to go with the wishes of the majority than those of the minority which is mostly driven by personal interest?

    The Cross River North APC senatorial primary has shown clearly that the party doesn’t learn and it’s not ready to be taken seriously in the state. If this is not the case, how can one explain the wisdom in repeating one thing over and over again that has not worked yet expecting different results? Primary is a test of one’s strength, popularity and acceptability and not a sort of a joke where a few people just want to impose their opinions on everybody.

    As usual, after hurting people’s emotions, they stay in Abuja and talk of reconciliation. What is reconciliation in the face of injustice? You rob a man and all the people only to turn back to call for reconciliation? You abuse the people’s sensitivity and only to turnaround to ask them to sheath their sword in the interest of peace? What’s peace when impunity holds sway?

    I find the call for reconciliation in a APC as deliberate trivialization and mischaracterization of an important issue of injustice and stealing of one’s mandate as bizarre and spurious. Reconciliation and justice are two inseparable variables. World over, forgiveness and reconciliation are not achieved where injustice is served in place of justice.

    If truly the leaders of the party want reconciliation, they should start by admitting that they have made mistakes by giving the Cross River North APC ticket to the person that won it and stop the pretense. You can’t deliberately kill a man’s joy simply because you think you can always ask for forgiveness.

    An anonymous APC leader said that “the call for reconciliation has mostly come from the Joe Agi proponents, ostensibly to firm up the purported candidature of their Principal but while their prayers are yet to approach the efficacy line,they have yet to admit their ‘sin’ or fault of subverting the process of our ‘holy’ democracy believed by all to be better than a military command tactic same as they invented and propagated in the recent primary elections”.

    More and more members are now aware that the only thing of interest to most Cross River APC leaders is federal appointment and nothing more. The common man on the street would work for the party at the end, the leaders would go to Abuja to struggle for appointments that don’t have direct benefits to the average party members. All they do is to stop the party from winning elections and if APC don’t win election, how would the people who have played opposition all their lives benefit?

    A stitch in time saves nine. It’s either the APC show commitment for sincere reconciliation by allowing the wishes of the people to stand to safe it from the impending doom or continue to deceive themselves and joke over a fallacious reconciliation that’s built on injustice and abuse.

    I know some people who have never supported the APC beyond the social media would come after me but let me remind everybody that in 2019, I was a lone voice crying for the soul of APC but nobody listened and in the end, the party suffered embarrassing defeats in all the elections except Abi/Yakur federal constituency. Except something is done, the bye-election is as good as over for the APC.

    Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are strictly that of Inyali Peter and does not represent The Lumine News.

  • Gratitude Post, I stand With My Husband – Agba Jalingo’s Wife

    Gratitude Post, I stand With My Husband – Agba Jalingo’s Wife

    By Admin

    May God continue to fall the hand of those that want to see us in pain. Amen.

    This is a gratitude post.

    Gratitude to God my maker who has continued to preserve us, Thank you sweet holy spirit. Haaa, Jehovah Ebubedike I praise you๐Ÿ™Œ๐Ÿ™Œ๐Ÿ™Œ and to you yes you my friends, relatives and great Nigerians who stood by me and joined me in singing #FreeAgbaJalingo my husband everyday from August 22 2019 till February 18 2020 when he was granted bail after 6 months in prison for exposing corruption in Cross River state by the government of gov Ben Ayade.

    This time last year I was thrown into confusion, emotional pain and traumatised still traumatised and apprehensive.

    I should have made this post since August 22 but sincerely it was like there was a replay of the whole governor Ben Ayade plot I was very apprehensive that day so I held back. I refused to go out or let my husband out of my sight I had to reschedule activities programmed for that day.

    August 5, 2019 two of his team members Jonathan Abang Ugbal and Jeremiah Achibong were arrested charged to court for wicked reasons, the matter worry me but glory to my Jehovah Ebubedike as they were discharged and acquitted August 2020 a year after.

    I stand with my husband๐Ÿ‘ซ

    God bless Nigeria
    God bless the nation’s paradise

    Thank you Jehovah Overdo๐Ÿ™Œ๐Ÿ™Œ๐Ÿ™Œ๐Ÿ™

    Thank you friends and my fellow Nigeria people๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘ God bless you.

    Still we rise.

    Mrs. Violet Apeal Agba.

    This is strictly the opinion of Mrs. Violet Apeal Agba and does not represent the views of TheLumineNews.

  • Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want And What You Can Do – By Richard F. Inoyo

    Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want And What You Can Do – By Richard F. Inoyo

    By Admin

    5years after the launch of Agenda 2063_ tagged: The Africa We Want, a brilliant set of initiatives geared at recreating Africa and developing the continent to emerge as a great one, not much of those initiatives have been achieved.

    Hunger is still ravaging the continent, and its ageless partner_ poverty is still strongly ubiquitous across the motherland.

    Although, there are series of challenges that have been identified as being responsible for the unpopularity of Agenda 2063.

    Today, in a bid to help raise awareness around the agenda of the Africa We Want, I have decided among other things to spell out the 15 initiatives below for added awareness:

    You can view Agenda 2063 as a set of initiatives proposed and currently under implementation by the African Union.

    Historically, it was adopted on 31 January 2015 at the 24th Ordinary Assembly of the Heads of State and Governments of the African Union.

    The call for such an agenda was first made by the 21st Ordinary Assembly on 26 May 2013, 50 years after the foundation of the OAU as a plan for the next 50 years.

    The stated goals of the Agenda are economic development (including the eradication of poverty within one generation), political integration (in particular through the establishment of a federal or confederate United Africa), improvements in democracy and justice, establishment of security and peace on the entire African continent, strengthening of cultural identity through an “African renaissance” and pan-African ideals, gender equality, and political independence from foreign powers.

    History has it that, the First Continental Report on the Implementation of Agenda 2063 was presented by President Alassane Quattara of Cote d’ Ivoire on 10 February 2020, marking the beginning of a biennial reporting cycle.

    Agenda 2063 measures progress against a set of goals defined for the first Ten-Year Implementation Plan and was launched together with an interactive online dashboard showing progress in individual areas of the Agenda as well as geographical regions.

    The Agenda includes 15 so-called flagship projects, which have been identified as being key to enabling and accelerating progress in all areas of development.

    These are:

    1. A high-speed train network connecting all African capitals and commercial centres.

    2. The formulation of a strategy for transforming the African economy from a supplier of raw materials to one that actively uses its own resources.

    3. The establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Area.

    4. The introduction of the African Union Passport, and removal of all visa requirements for its holders within Africa.

    5. Ending all wars, civil conflicts, gender-based violence, and violent conflicts by 2020.

    6. The construction of a third Inga Dam.

    7. The establishment of the Single African Air-Transport Market.

    8. The establishment of an Annual African Economic Forum.

    9. The establishment of a set of financial institutions, envisaged as an African Investment Bank, a Pan-African Stock Exchange, an African Monetary Fund, and an African Central Bank.

    10. A pan-African digital data network.

    11. The development of a common African strategy for the use of outer-space technology.

    12. The establishment of an African open, digital, distance-learning university.

    13. Cooperation on cyber security.

    14. The foundation of a Great African Museum, preserving African cultural heritage and promoting pan-Africanism.

    15. The compilation of an Encyclopaedia Africana as an authoritative resource on the authentic history of Africa and African life.

    You can help to spread awareness around it and participate to achieving same, after all we are here to see a better Africa.

    Disclaimer: This is strictly the opinions of Richard F. Inoyo and does not represent TheLumineNews.

  • Issues In The Cross River State PDP Crisis – By Barr. Vena Ikem.

    Issues In The Cross River State PDP Crisis – By Barr. Vena Ikem.

    By Admin

    Beyond the entertainment and the street value of the glib talk surrounding the much vaunted talk of the crisis that has engulfed the PDP chapter in Cross River State are real existential threats to the survival of the party in the state and indeed the shaping of the direction of the Politics of the state moving forward. As an active figure in the crisis, it has been difficult for me to comment much on it and so my writing on this platform as in many others has rested for a while out of understandable prudence. Everywhere I have engaged with friends and supporters I am constantly asked why I have stopped writing. The truth is that I have not stopped writing in my head. Translating what I write in my head to paper (?) Keyboard (?) Or clipboard hasn’t been that easy for me Mostly because the truth hurts and I hate to write anything but the truth.

    This morning I have decided to overcome my caution and try to put in clear perspective few of the issues that to my mind reflect my understanding of the issues of the crisis. They probably boil down to just one issue:

    Governor Ayade’s obsessive desire to CONTROL ALL THE LEVERS of POWER in the state!

    For most us who are active Politicians does this not sound strange to us?

    I believe that most of us have directly or indirectly heard the Gov’s boast that he became a Governor without structures. Or better put without structures of his own. We are also aware that the Gov throughout his first four years in office didn’t bother to establish what politicians loosely call “structures” in that same sense. The question that arises is thus: why is the Governor who rose to office without structures suddenly fighting a do or die battle for party structures? Why so when he is no longer going to be contesting a State wide Election that he is suddenly obsessed with establishing structures at the point of his departure? Why the change of strategy?

    Those who argue that the Gov is entitled to do as others, say so out of blissful ignorance and I would not join issues with them. I will allow them to enjoy their blissful euphoria. I remain concerned with the substance of the WHY!

    Clearly, the National Assembly members and the rest of the not-yet-conquered-by-the-food-on-table politicians feel threatened rightfully because the Ayade Government is not remarkable for keeping information from leaking. Indeed there is no secret in the Govt at all because “secrets” leak even before they have been completely formulated. The reason for this is obvious to me. The Governor’s boastfulness is the major reason. So in this case when he started boasting that he will retire every older politician in the state and prop up his own generation of leadership, he didn’t expect that others would be willing to be retired at his convenience. His determination to retire others met with a stiff resistance because nobody would take such a threat lying low.

    But more fundamental is their concern for the FUTURE of our state! If the state of affairs under Gov Ayade are allowed to continue under his chosen and handpicked successor there will no longer be Cross River State because the little that is left will be shared between the two families.

    Furthermore, the reality that statecraft has deteriorated to an all time low is evident. The absolute control by the Ayade family of the resources of the state to the total exclusion of all other stakeholders, leading to unprecedented hardship and poverty has made the struggle to become a popular street rebellion fueling it’s popularity to fever pitch.

    The truth remains that an estimated above 90% of the population of the state support the resistance to the Governor. Prayers are said daily. Priests and pastors pray for it’s success, including his appointed prayer advisers. Traditionalists pour libations day and night. Indeed it is unfair to suggest that some of his family members are not in support of the resistance because many are. I can say this authoritatively being in the center of it all.

    Consequently, Cross River State is occupying the unenviable number one spot of states in Political crisis, due simply to this unnecessary exercise in control. A deft politician would have nipped this in the bud long ago when the Congress became imminent with a simple on the table Negotiation. But no! Some not so young Turks from Yala, have decided that what they want is what is Ayade’s wish! Is it not curious that both actors for the two positions being contested that is tearing the Party apart and giving the Gov sleepless months are both from Yala?

    Prudence would demand that as APC is finally putting their act together, the Gov would take a second look to realize that the challenge at hand might lead to a situation that will render all that he has achieved so far in politics nugatory. If the Senate of CRS Northern Senatorial District is lost to the opposition under his watch as sitting Gov, after losing the Federal seat in Yakuur/ Abi federal constituency, he would be finished as a politician. It would clearly show that what has been said is true that it took only his predecessor to prop him in office and without him and the National Assembly members his Politics is zero.

    He should consider seriously the consequences of leaving office with his Senatorial district in the hands of the opposition, and possibly losing the state to the opposition, given the not so tidy state of affairs he knows he will be leaving behind in the state.

    In saying this I am not unmindful of the fact that he is in some ceremonial talks with the opposition. As things stand, if he loses the Senate seat in the north, the value of his so called negotiation will be reduced to mockery! Yes, the opposition will still be talking and encouraging him but they will treat him like you treat the enemy you just conquered in a war. Negotiating surrender after a war is not the same as negotiating peace before the war, a fate Chief Odumegwu Ojukwu of blessed memory, tactically left to his deputy, General Effiong when he saw clearly that he had lost the Nigerian Civil war.

    My penny advise: this is the time to show leadership. The more the crisis lasts the more sympathy the Gov is losing and the nearer the terminal point of his regime. Be wise!

    Falling into the temptation to allow himself to be dragged down has been largely successful because the Gov took the bait of wrong advise and went into a battle he did not understand, did not prepare for because he underestimated the opposition and underestimated even more the level of disaffection within the administration which will continue to lead to sabotage and distrust within the palace! It’s downright dangerous!

    Questions to ponder would include:

    *What possibly could the state executive do against a sitting Gov?
    * In all this fight what contribution has having the present state Exco added?
    *The resources deployed to this fight are they justified?
    * Those collecting all the money so far spent have they given value for the money or is it just a bazaar to collect.

    * Has the fight been worthwhile or has it become an ego massage?

    *Are you counting the reputation cost of the fight? Being demystified close to leaving office is it healthy?

    I leave pundits to ponder on my penny thoughts. Remember leadership is not easy. It gets tested through a furnace once in a while. For Ayade this is the ultimate test of his leadership and so far he has not come to the table yet and time is running out.

    Vena Ikem.

     

    Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here are strictly that of Vena Ikem and does not represent TheLumineNews.

  • Misconstruing Joe Agi’s (SAN) Rhetorics By Infant Terrible

    Misconstruing Joe Agi’s (SAN) Rhetorics By Infant Terrible

    By Ogar Emmanuel Oko

    Yesterday didn’t pass quietly as it ought to have been as far as social media in relation to northern political domain is concerned. This disquietness was given steam by rabble rousing activities of yayo induced fellows.

    While the good and peaceful people of Bekwarra nation were busy in their characteristic industrious, innovative, hospitable and easygoing way of life at the farm; office, market, worship centre and at home, their peace and esteemed regards held by all and sundry were almost murdered and obliterated by the inordinate handiworks of some diminutive infant terrible and hell raisers who peddled a-near destabilizing rumour against the very revered Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Joe Agi, an aspirant in the forthcoming northern Cross River senatorial by-election in order to sow seed of discord in the heart of the people, nay Bekwarra.

    About 48 hours ago, Mr. Joe Agi, an illustrious son of Ijegu Ojor in Yala LGA while consulting some extract of Ogoja people, made statements that hinges on his professional services to the Ogoja people in the past and sadly, his demagoguery have been misconstrued; twisted out of context, intending message ripped into shreds and self-deduced falsehood not from his statement blown out of proportion just to reduce his reputation and acceptability before the estimation of his supporters; eligible electorate and the general public.

    All illustrious sons and daughters of Bekwarra know that Joe Agi being a seasoned lawyer and a man of letters would be reasonable and smart while making statement as it borders on politics at all times. How could a man whose maternal umbilical cord is traced to Bekwarra would stoop low to cast aspersion upon the breast that suckled him? No man having ambition to represent the people will undermine some of its constituents! No man does that and Joe Agi couldn’t have attempted such pettiness!

    I’m glad the vast majority of Bekwarra people have not let those young little devils and prisoners of ignorance altered their rationale with their devilry.
    Ijegu Ojor where Joe Agi hails from, has an element of consanguinity with Bekwarra. Even my uncle (father’s younger brother) is a chief of Akpakpah community in Bekwarra.

    I therefore sympathize with those that have constituted themselves into the league of Brutus, Casca and conspiratorial cliques over their inability to understand Agi’s rhetoric which of course is nobody’s doing.

    To Bekwarra people that have felt undermined, Joe Agi SAN holds the entire Bekwarra nation at high esteem and would not even in the realm of Morpheus belittle them.

    I encourage those youths to desist from heating up the polity and rather use their energy in gainful ventures and to our beloved brothers and sisters, the people of Bekwarra to wave this evil with a sleight of hand. We’re one people โ€” though with different languages. Our bond is stronger and can’t be broken by the handiworks of desperate few.

    God bless Bekwarra nation!
    God bless Yala nation!

    Comr. (Hon) Ogar Emmanuel Oko
    Ijegu Ojor Public Relations Officer.

    NB: The opinions expressed above are strictly those of Ogar Emmanuel Oko and does not represent TheLumineNews.

  • The C’River Ministry OF Int’l Devt. corporation And The Role Of Development Partners.

    The C’River Ministry OF Int’l Devt. corporation And The Role Of Development Partners.

    By Eugene Upah

    Inspired by the over 4 million strong population base of the state and the gene pool of some of the most entrepreneurial and industrious minds in the country that is concentrated in Cross River, the state Governor, His Excellency, Senator Prof. (Sir) Ben Ayade in 2015, created the Ministry of International Development Corporation (MIDC) to further industrialise and decouple the state from its civil service status.

    The Ministry of MIDC acting as a powerhouse and gateway between the state, local and foreign development partners is responsible for coordinating all donor funded projects in the state. The creation of the MIDC, without doubt, has added immeasurable value to the people’s paradise developmental drive.

    The MIDC is headed by a youthful technocrat, Hon. Dr. Inyang Asibong and has also been saddled with the responsibility of attracting first-world intervention programs to the state with the intention of selecting areas of critical urgent attention.

    Through the efforts of the Ministry, the European Union, WHO, World Bank, the United Nations and her sub-agencies like the UNHCR, UNFPA, UN-WOMEN, UNICEF and UNIDO, have so far identified areas of urgent attention and gone ahead to implement programs to service those concerns. This incredible progress was recorded by the new ministry in just 5 years of its existence.

    The bilateral and multilateral sections of its terms of reference, enables the MIDC to scout donor support for funding of projects in the state. As a pre-condition before lending support to state proposals, majority of World Bank assisted projects must be state-owned to guarantee sustainability. The state government MUST also provide counterpart funding and political cover for all donor projects to accelerate implementation. A typical example is the Nigerian Erosion and Watershed Management Program (NEWMAP) intervention projects. Cross River state recently released its counterpart funding for the NEWMAP erosion projects for critical water torn sites across the state.

    Under the MIDC’s watch, World Bank assisted programs like the State and Local Government Reforms Project (SLOGOR) is anchored in the Community and Social Development Program (CSDP). On this, the government approaches the local communities to identify and implement micro-projects with the aim to make a direct and immediate impact. Examples of projects that fall within the scope of the CSDP are provision of street lights, renovation of classroom blocks, basic water supply etc.

    Also, using the state’s social register, the MIDC designed a template that made it possible for the Youth Empowerment and Social Support Program (YESSO) to be successfully implemented across the state with little hassle. YESSO’s was the platform for the payment of COVID-19 monthly sustainable palliatives packages to the vulnerable and aged. The agile and youthful weren’t left out; they underwent trainings and have been integrated into the scheme.

    The Agro-Processing, Productivity Enhancement and Livelihood Improvement Support (APPEALS), is another extension of the MIDC, inspired by His Excellency’s concept of G-MONEY and is used to promote agricultural enhancement with the engagement of some 5,000 people in the agric value chain.

    Furthermore, the COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (CARES), is an upcoming program initiated by the MIDC to ensure sustainable palliatives support to communities, farmers, businesses and individuals in the state to cushion the aftermath of the global pandemic.

    Counterpart funding has since been provided by the state to enable UNICEF provide specific attention to the plight of women and children.

    The UNDP is working in partnership with the MIDC to ensure the state is clean and green. This will be achieved through planting of trees and facilitating of programs aimed at discouraging deforestation.

    Through the MIDC, the Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Reform Program (WSSSRP) for the supply of potable water is currently ongoing in selected communities across the state.

    Recently, a number of classroom blocks were commissioned in Biase and an agro scheme aimed at enhancing the production of Cassava and other staple farm produce, was initiated by the Honorable Commissioner in Abi LGA under the aegis of one of such developmental partners.

    Lastly, the state government in collaboration with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is currently working towards expanding the Senator Prof. Ben Ayade industrialization drive across the state in line with the “Spirit of Enterprise” mantra of his administration.

    ยฉEugene Upah is the Senior Special Assistant to Cross River Governor Ben Ayade on Public Communications.

    [email protected]