The Lumine News

Category: Opinion

  • The Ritual Of constituency Projects And Legislative representation: Why We Need A Rethink In Cross River North.

    The Ritual Of constituency Projects And Legislative representation: Why We Need A Rethink In Cross River North.

    By Agustine Aboh

    For weeks now the cyberspace, especially the social media space have been crowded with news of constituencies empowerments by of Representatives at the national assembly; Legor and Jari (being a norm).

    It must be noted that since the inception of our contemporary democracy over two decades ago, nothing or very little has changed in content and context of constituency projects and empowerments.

    Ranging from Car and Bike gifts to uncritical loyal foot soldiers and ass-kissers, to wrappers, blocks of six class rooms, toilets, solar streets lights that do not last beyond the day of commissioning, borehole, the regular Magi and salt and conditional cash gifts.

    These have been unchanged, and in the present age of liberal democracy and Fourth industrial revolution, Representatives in CRN still gifts us these benign items.

    Now, back home! Last week I saw Legor gifting Cars to his loyalists in Bekwarra and a Funny looking Obudu-ogoja taxi like Passat to Obudu. Obanliku was not included as usual. Instead, bikes were given to PDP Ward chairmen in Obanliku glorified by a self vilified HOA member in Obanliku.

    To cut the long story short, I think it’s time we begin to rethink what constituency projects and empowerments should be and hold our Representatives answerable.

    That’s right, but some greedy never do well loyalists will say we are wailing and seeking for cheap publicity – at least Google my name and see how far am know and reference across the globe.

    For Obanliku, I think we should begin the process of requesting what constituency projects and empowerments should get to us and our people that will make meaning to our desired quest for prosperity as a people well-neglected and self-injured.

    It won’t be a bad idea we ask Legor and who ever becomes the next senator to include in their 2021 constituency budgets such items like;

    1. A befitting Palace for our Paramount Ruler in Sankwala, Obanliku.

    2. Construction equipments like bulldozer, a payloader, tractor, and other such equipments that will help the local government to open access roads, control erosions and give succour to our people who can not afford to bring their produce to local markets. Since we all know the present state of slavering malnourishment of our Local government resources taken hostage by a family dynasty and Czar.

    3. Enhance Human capital development by giving responsible and reasonable scholarships.

    4. Work as committee members or chairman to help our unemployed graduates littering our villages as it’s done elsewhere.

    5. Provide our farmers with improved seeds and seedlings. And any other projects the communities through reliable needs assessment have presented.
    Let it be known that am not against settling of party loyalists but these shouldn’t be done at the expense of community development. It’s time we all know that politics and governance is all our collective business.

    In our constituency, Legor is not doing us any favors, let it be known that these are our monies.

    Thank God ICPC have started tracking constituency projects starting in CRS with those of Sen John Owan Eno. They’re coming and we’ll be here to furnish them any information they might need. And Legor should not be doing this car gifts alongside his unsaleable Senatorial Candidate, it speaks volumes of the context of his supposed constituency empowerments.

    I come in Peace! Shalom!!

    Long Live Cross River State
    Long Live Cross River North
    Long Live Obanliku, Obudu, Bekwarra Fed Constituency.
    Long Live Obanliku LGA.

    Augustine Aboh
    Geopolitics and Security Expert
    Nigerian Defense Academy, Kaduna.

    NB: The views expressed above are strictly that of the author and does not represent TheLumineNews.

     

  • C’River Northern Senatorial Bye-Election And The Search For Quality Representation And The Implication Of The Electorate’s choice: Candidates Not Political Party Will Unleash The Gains Of Democracy

    C’River Northern Senatorial Bye-Election And The Search For Quality Representation And The Implication Of The Electorate’s choice: Candidates Not Political Party Will Unleash The Gains Of Democracy

    By Z-Effect Media

    The task of political recruitment of a legislator to serve in Nigeria’s red chambers is here again upon us people of Cross River State Northern Senatorial District. As the political climate condenses and gets politically charged, today I’ll be telling you the place of the party, people (electorates), candidate and how decisions hovering around them make for or truncate, torpedo, and makes the gains of political representation elusive.

    Notice that periodic elections is the hallmark of democratic governance. And it is this attribute that adds flavor and distinguishes it from other forms of government – military rule, monarchy, etc.

    These choices in the final analysis zeros up to two choices:

    1. Voting to liberate oneself from hardship misery and the agony of misrule; and
    2. Voting to legitimize through one’s consent his oppression.

    Ironically, the electorates in contemporary time seem not to recognize nor understand how supreme they are, and how critical their decisions in this political recruitment process (election) is to their survival.

    And it is on the basis of this political shortsightedness they make shortsighted electoral decisions that come with incalculable misery, hardship, and agony to them.

    The thing is this: they fail to recognize that a pro-people leader who is a friend of the people not the political party is key to their survival. And voting along that line rather that party is the best mans policy.

    Voting along tribal, religious and political lines and affiliation comes with some uncommon and rare contradictions: What do voters want? And what do they get? Voters want jobs, but joblessness and retrenchment have driven them into despair. Voters want decent living but all they get is against it – the few are rich, the majority are poor. The few exploit and keep the majority in poverty. Voters want freedom for all, but voters are in chains everywhere in conditions that make men torture. Voters want medical care, but what they get is neglect and abandonment. Voters want education for all but our rulers have sustained illiteracy for most.

    Elections after election, the hopes of the people were raised by promises of jobs, education, food, healthcare, transport, etc. But today with our voting patterns detected by party association and affiliation, and party spirit, the result is all the same: more poverty, more homelessness, more hunger, more neglect and misrule.

    You now see how that thing (political party) is useless in unleashing the gains of democracy and durable representation? It is disingenuous to expect anything tangible from such arrangement.

    The meat of the issue is that people oriented candidate, not political party will liberate and unleash the meaningful life we desire and yearn for. A pro-people candidate not political party will remove these living contradictions.

    The political party is nothing but a vehicle through which interests are moderated, sorted, and pressurized with vigor and attained. Only a people minded leader not political party will moderate those interests in the direction of the people.

    Those who want to see significant transformation on society and in the political space will have to base their political decision making not on party association and/or affiliation, tribe or religious groupings but on quality and competency of the candidate(s) and how they showcase to be leaders of the interest of the majority.

    As we shuttle and find aspirants to pitch our tent with, know we’ve a historical choice to make. It is a choice between freedom and oppression; between health and disease; between welfare and poverty. We’ve to make a decisive choice for freedom, education, jobs, health, decent homes, efficient and affordable transport system knowing a friend of the masses not party will serve. We’ve to choose against oppression, illiteracy, joblessness, neglect, homelessness, poverty, disease, and exploitation.

    Dear people of Cross River Northern Senatorial District, without mincing words, when we fail to act right and positively, we will just be fermenting political, social and economic cul-de-sac and combustibly assailant conditions that will annihilate and consume us all.

    Electorates, over to you.

    We strongly and enthusiastically recommend Prof. Zana to you.

    He has proven that he is a friend of the people.

    Zana is the way moving forward.

    He’ll be offering something more than a clue.

  • Gakem Is The Symbol Of Nigeria’s Unity, Unfortunately Nigeria Has Not Deemed Necessary To Honor The Memory Of This Historic Town – Jalingo

    Gakem Is The Symbol Of Nigeria’s Unity, Unfortunately Nigeria Has Not Deemed Necessary To Honor The Memory Of This Historic Town – Jalingo

    By Agba Jalingo – Lagos

    On This Day In 1967, Gakem Spoke To The World…

    On this fateful and historic day, 6 July 1967, federal troops under the command of Lt. Col. Yakubu Gowon, crossed over to Gakem which was then part of Biafra land, and fired the first shots at unarmed civilians at “Ushara Hills” and consequently ignited a bloody civil war that lasted for 30months.

    Gakem is a community in Bekwara LGA in northern Cross River state. The demarcation between Gakem and its Benue neighbours, Vandeikya is a line of Melina trees popularly known as the “Lugard Wall”, named after then colonial governor-general, Lord Lugard, during whose reign the trees were planted.

    In his book, The Forgotten Lunch Pad: Old Ogoja Province and the Untold Story of the Nigerian Civil War, Nkrumah Bakong-Obi drew attention to the abandoned relics that dot the epicentre of that war in Gakem Bekwara.

    According to Bankong-Obi, “These relics are potential incoming spinning resources that self-imposed blindness, denial of our past and short-sightedness have prevented us from tapping into. I have challenged Nigerian leaders and indeed others who have managed this country in various spheres to tell the world why Gakem, where the first shot was fired has remained a desolate town. Virtually all parts of the defunct Ogoja province still bear scars of the war that swept through the area. The trenches are filling up, the Elekpa pond which the soldiers appropriated from the natives and other scars of war are still in Gakem, Obudu, Yala, Yakurr and other places in the former province. The implementation of the reconstruction, rehabilitation and reconciliation policy didn’t get to Ogoja where the physical trouble began. No form of rehabilitation – physical or psychological has been extended to the area to help fix the problems that the war created.

    “It is disheartening that over fifty years after the civil war ended, not even a brick has been laid in Gakem to symbolize the recognition of that unfortunate event. It is even more sobering when one thinks that the bacons demarcating northern from southern Nigeria are still interred in Gakem, Ogoja, Obudu and other peripheral areas of the present Cross River State. It is only intelligent to say that Gakem is the symbol of Nigeria’s unity. Unfortunately, Nigeria has not deemed it important to honor the memory of this historic town.”

    Someday, we know that the deed will be done….

    Yours sincerely,
    Citizen Agba Jalingo.

    #GakemToTheWorld
    #DontEraseHistory
    #OurHistoryOurHeritage

  • Thinking Cross River: Princewill Ojong Odidi, A Patriot On A Developmental Cause

    Thinking Cross River: Princewill Ojong Odidi, A Patriot On A Developmental Cause

    By Paul Adie

     

    Princewill Odidi is an international development consultant whose patriotic inclination is really hinged on the level of poverty, hunger and disease ravaging Africa, Nigeria and even his Cross River State! As natural with Nigerians in the Diaspora, he is neither happy nor proud of the level of development back at home and this can be seen through his very clinical articles on social media that contrast practices in US, other developed Nations and Nigeria, his daily opinions on political matters, his grants proposal writing masterclasses and recently the African American Chamber of Commerce intervention where he presides over the giving of leverage to genuine African businesses and NGOs desirous of funding and technical partnership from the United States and US businesses desirous of entry to the Nigerian market !

    Odidi, holds a first Class honors degree in Political Science from the University of Nigeria Nsukka and a Master of Arts degree from the University of Notre Dame Indiana specializing in International Conflicts, Diplomatic Negotiations and National Security Studies. He obtained additional degrees and Certifications from University of South Carolina in Budget Analysis, International Financing, Grants Development, Project Evaluation and Project Review.

    Odidi worked with the Carter Presidential Center in Atlanta Georgia upon graduation and later joined Concourse Group were he rose to become Chief Executive Officer in 2009, after which he founded Jeff-Tech Solutions, a technology company. Mr Odidi has been very involved in trade and humanitarian issues with particular interest in Africa among which includes Microsoft Unlimited Potential Projects in Liberia, the International Food Relief Partnerships in Uganda, Guinea Conakry, Zimbabwe and series of research work in Sudan, Congo, Ghana, and Nigeria.

    In Nigeria, he served briefly as Hon. Adviser on Trade, Investments and Tourism to Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State and has also served as Consultant to several federal ministries and parastatals. Mr Odidi presently serves as Financial Consultant to the Administration of Criminal Justice Reforms in Nigeria, domiciled at the Federal High Court Abuja.

    Odidi is on the board of the finance group of the Dubai Africa Infrastructure Finance Summit, he is also a Managing Partner at NEXUS Global Stratagem USA. He is a special adviser to the Honourable member of House of Representatives of Yenagoa/Kolokuma-Opokuma Federal Constituency, Bayelsa State Professor Steve Azaiki.

    As a small business development expert, Princewill Odidi has served as Policy advisor to the United States Chambers of Commerce Small Business Unit. He also sits on several boards including the American Society for International Development Aid, Georgia Cancer Foundation, and the United States Funded Center for Disease Control Project with the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria.

    Odidi has helped hundreds of small businesses in the United States with Project financing from grants and loans. He is a seasoned Business Consultant, Trainer and Human Resource Development expert. For the Past fifteen years, he has facilitated trade and business relations for several American and Canadian firms doing business in Nigeria, Ghana and South Africa including Jacobs International of Canada (Airports development), China based Dongfang Electric Corporation (Power), Barclays Investments (Financing), GE Michelis of Germany (Clean Energy Investors) and host of other American Corporations.

    In the past Princewill has always contributed professionally to Africa and Cross River State where his expertise was sought this he did with or without pay a times. His patriotism has a passionate drive to see Africa and Nigeria in particular achieve her supposed developmental level. Some years ago he came to Cross River and organised his Grants Proposal Masterclass where participants met thrice, and asked questions. He did not leave the participants like that as he encouraged interaction virtually thereafter !

    Princewill Odidi is an objective person who loves to weigh both sides thoroughly. Despite being very far from home he is so on ground about happenings in Nigeria and Cross River than most of us here. He is a detribalized Nigerian who grieves daily about his birthplace as inferred from his post : “A sick man does not care where the Doctor comes from, all he wants is good treatment. Nigeria as a nation is sick. We cannot afford to continuously zone leadership. Let the window be open to whoever is qualified. Let’s get our best” and he also noted in a separate post : “The old automobile car called Nigeria needs a totally new Engine, we call it “the system”. The problem is not so much the individual who wears the crown, the Nigerian system needs outright change because the system as originally designed lacks the capacity to reform itself”.

    Odidi really believes that NGOs and SMEs can drive meaningfull development in Africa, Nigeria and Cross River where government seems to have forgotten the place of wholistic and sustainable development.

    Princewill has helped many to pursue grants both at individual and corporate levels. He has been so supportive in terms of grants capacity building and best practices. He loves technology and believes and uses it to help businesses and NGOs pursue their objectIves through his jefftechsolutions.com

    Princewill Odidi is currently the president African American Chamber of Commerce with headquarters in Atlanta. He is happily married and lives in Atlanta USA from where he keeps in touch with Africa, Nigeria, Cross River and the rest of the World!

    Paul Ingiona Adie
    Ed-Tech Researcher

     

  • UNICAL Vice Chancellorship Contest: Prof. Ndem Ayara Ndiyo, The Man Who The Cap Fits

    UNICAL Vice Chancellorship Contest: Prof. Ndem Ayara Ndiyo, The Man Who The Cap Fits

    By Dominic Kidzu

    Being a proud alumnus of the University of Calabar, in the ELS graduating class of 1988, I have taken more than a passing interest in the affairs of my alma mata, and along with my classmates around the world returned to the ELS Department in 2018 in a Homecoming in which we donated computers and accessories, held an interactive session with students and faculty officials and a Thanksgiving Mass to mark our 30 years of graduation from the famous institution. We also instituted an award for the Best Graduating Student of the Department which started running last year. I am proud to say that in spite of the burgeoning multitudes and expanding challenges, Unical still holds the promise to students who genuinely wish to obtain knowledge and the lecturers have also braved the odds to deliver quality education to serious students in spite of all the challenges.

    A Malabite such as I am will always have the most excellent intentions and best wishes for the institution, and it is within the afore – stated praxis that I wish to establish my locus as a legitimate interested party and therefore qualified to make an active contribution to the conversation about the upcoming Vice Chancellorship elections. This is because I am involved.

    After 45 years of existence the University is a full grown corporate”man” now and is even competing on an even keel with its forebear, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. In my time at the university, almost all the professors and PhDs came from Nsukka. The students were heavily Ibo as well. Student union elections always had candidates from ANIMSA versus candidates from NACRIS, the former comprising of Anambra and Imo states, while the latter had students from the old Cross River State. The story of Abia Onyike ( who later became Commissioner for Information in Ebonyi state)and Feddy Agbe ( unfortunately now late) could perhaps better be told by Honourable Orok Duke. But that is a story for another day. The point to make is that our Unical is now a well matured corporate entity that carries its destiny in its own hands and it is the voyage in the search for that destiny that we are now embarked upon.

    If Professor Ndem Ayara did not come to serve in Governor Liyel Imoke’s government, our roads would probably never have crossed, but he did. And in doing so opened a broad new vista for himself and for the State. As the chief Economic Adviser to the Governor, Ayara quickly became an institution himself, and government functionaries and departments did not receive budget endorsements and approvals without first passing through Professor Ayara and H – Pearson’s ( the quality control consultants he worked with) Carmel’s eye and prior authentication.

    He disclosed an uncanny capacity for organisation and approximation to perfection. He was humble but firm as steel. He was as meticulous as a grandmother and as generous of spirit as a French priest on Assumption Thursday. He instilled the highest quality of focus and timelines even amongst politicians and was unsurpassed in the fine art of tests and measurements. He left his position at the end of his tenure, having earned the friendship and respect of all who worked with him. No wonder that the Administration delivered so succinctly on the set targets of rural development, and up scaling of health and educational infrastructure.

    Ayara signposted his availability for higher responsibility even in that brief tour of duty and it was obvious to all the discerning that we were going to hear much more about him before his sun sets in the west. And now it seems that the lot should rightly fall upon him in Unical, in due consideration of capacity, time and circumstance for the everlasting glory of that great institution. More and more the University of Calabar, like Joseph of Arematiah, is beginning to carry the cross of unemployment off the blistered shoulders of the State government. There are very nearly as many Cross Riverians working in Unical as there are working for the State, and the ones in Unical are earning better, living better and progressing better. Remove Unical from Cross River State and the economy will nose dive very quickly. Professor Zana, the outgoing Vice Chancellor has done very well because he has exposure, is inbred and is pragmatic. This is the legacy that must be built upon in order to avoid a descent to retroactive continuity.

    It is often said that the morning surely tells the day, and so it is that even as Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Ayara showed clearly that he will not tolerate the stagnation of the growth pattern of officials. Today his tenure produced 25 Professors and a whole pride of PhDs, while also reactivating the almost moribund post – graduate program in the department of Political Science. He brought the Faculty journal that was virtually extinct back to life thereby providing academics the platform for publishing their research. It is no longer news that Professor Ayara is an innovator with exceptional ICT skills. He  was the person who introduced the E – Learning platform in the Faculty of Social Sciences enabling teaching on a 24/7 basis with all the features for one – on – one interaction with each student on the Platform, while also uploading course outlines and lecture notes for the overall benefit of the students. These innovations have substantially reduced students interaction with lecturers as submission of assessments, registration for courses and project supervision are now all being done online.
    Upon his return from his tour of duty as the State Economic Adviser, Ayara introduced the electronic system of voting in elections as a way of curbing electoral violence which hitherto characterised SUG, faculty, departmental and even kparakpor elections on the campus. He is also reputed to have exposed many of his colleagues to consultancy engagements with reputable international organisations.

    “There is a tide in the affairs of man, which taken at the flood leads on to victory…” Such then is the tide upon which Professor Ayara’s amarda sails the high seas to ultimately put ashore with a song of victory and cymbals of vanquishment. For the turn of leadership is phased and Ayara seeks only to take his turn, because he believes that they win who always wait, with love and not with hate, and he has waited these several seasons, with love and not with hate. Perhaps no one is better prepared to lead the University of Calabar to a certain glorious future at this time. And since the University community cannot be, like Vladimir and Estragon in Samuel Beckett’s tragicommedy ‘Waiting For Godot,’ who waited for the redeemer that never showed up, we also must seize the opportunity now that assures of a better future for the institution while it presents itself. Although Ayara exudes a steady confidence in his abilities and in his own self, he is the first to admit that there are others besides himself who can pull the chestnut out of the fire. What is left is for the electorates in the University to discover where true genius actually lies.

    The temptation to buckle under the force of sentiment and emotion can sometimes be ever so strong and present, and could lead to the making of wrong choices as a consequence of language, tribe, culture and even gender. Once we are able to wean ourselves from the autocracy of emotions and weigh all the aspirants on an even scale it should become obvious who the cap truly fits.

    Dominic kidzu is the Special Adviser to the Governor on Information.

     

    N/B This is strictly the opinion of Dominic Kidzu and does not represent TheLumineNews or it staff.

  • Citizens Solution Message on Father’s Day, and theTest of Fatherhood.

    Citizens Solution Message on Father’s Day, and theTest of Fatherhood.

    By Admin

    As a nation, we can disagree about virtually everything. But if there is one thing, we all can unanimously agree on, is the fact that as a country we are plagued with several problems. And these problems stare us all in our eye daily.

    But below is what we at Citizens Solution Network think:

    The challenges we face are real and surmountable, yet none of us will be able to fix the plethora of problems we faces without leading new advocacy and building new economic skill engagement centres across the state.

    If people are hungry they will do everything to survive including betraying their conscience and family for meal ticket. Several fathers out there are doing their best, others are simply ruining all known effort at making this country a sane one.

    But raising awareness is not enough, we must all take it from highlighting youth weakness and complaining about how kids are raised by fathers, to drafting new solution plan and encouraging development of skill centres across the nation.

    The staggering statistics of unemployment and attendant social vices level within the country unequivocally suggest that, university education isn’t sufficient to address those problems, and if cares ain’t taken, our current matrix of universities may be a breeding conduit for a list of some dangerous problems we all face:

    from cultism to sorting to sexual predatorism to top-management position bias against women ascension, just to mention a few.

    Hence this should propel all right thinking persons with a fresh call to rethink everything by taking new protocol into contextual and conceptual national development frame work.

    If youths can earn via skill and business acumen they acquire during realtime training at various economic skill centres, they will become independent from government zombie plan.

    Secondly, we have to encourage more youths to join various civil society organisations to build their ideology and heighten their patriotism level to stand up against all forms of injustice and state excesses.

    Let’s get to work, if anyone here is ready to lead change with selfless dedication.

    We think, we should move from just talking about the problem to acting and working with new imagination while reviewing familiar possibilities.

    As we mark happy Father’s Day, we all need to appreciate the fact that, a father without grounded ideology is a threat to national security and emancipatory development.

    As we wish every father out there happy father’s day, there is need to call for new approach to tackling problem at family, community and national level.

    You will agree that, the true test of fatherhood is the quality of youths any given society could boast of.

    The time has come to ask ourselves, “What is the quality of youths our society today can boast of?”

    Let the pondering be yours for the taking

    Thanks

    Richard F Inoyo
    Country Director,
    Citizens Solution Network

    For: Civilian Panel and Population Council.

    N/B. The views expressed here are strictly that of Richard Iyono and does not represent TheLumineNews or its staff

  • ICPC Has Invited Me And Is Threatening To Arrest Me, Against Their Own Law, To Compel Me To Break Attorney-Client Privilege – Isa

    ICPC Has Invited Me And Is Threatening To Arrest Me, Against Their Own Law, To Compel Me To Break Attorney-Client Privilege – Isa

    By Elijah Ugani – Calabar

    A human right and constitutional lawyer, Mr. First Baba Isa Esq…  has raised alarm over the continues threat by the Independent and Corrupt Practices Commission ICPC, to arrest, detain or declare him wanted, to compel him to bridge the attorney-client privilege.

    Mr. Isa took to his verified Facebook account @First Baba Isa to disclose this maintained that he rather die defending the attorney-client privilege than to live and be pointed at as that lawyer who broke the attorney-client privilege without due process of the law.

    Hear him “Yesterday, I told my story: a story of how I got a valid court judgement in favour of my client. A story of how this judgment apparently went against the plans and dreams of ICPC. A story of how because of this ICPC is hunting me down like a wanted terrorist. You can read the full story, with all documentary attachments by clicking on this link https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10160002509834408&id=725834407.

    “There is another horrendous angle to this. An angle so patently and gruesomely illegal; the thought that ICPC can even contemplate this makes me shiver.

    “On the 19th of June, 2020 and after going to my office and home to arrest me unsuccessfully, ICPC went to my home and office to paste a letter on my door inviting me for questioning concerning a case I am handling as a legal practitioner. Find the letter attached.

    “That same day they published a press release, so I know exactly why I was being invited. If you clicked on the link above, you must have seen the press release.

    “If you read the letter of invitation attached, you will see that their invitation is premised on Section 28 of the ICPC Act.

    “It will be apt to reproduce Sections 28 and 29 of the ICPC Act for fluid adumbration:

    “Section 28 of the Act states that: “(1) An officer of the Commission investigating an offence under this Act may – (a) order any person to attend before him for the purpose of being examined in relation to any matter which may, in his opinion, assist in the investigation of the offence…”

    “Section 39 states that: “Notwithstanding the provisions of any other written law (INCLUDING SECTION 28), a Judge of the High Court may, on application made to him in relation to an investigation into any offence under this Act or any other law prohibiting corruption, order a legal practitioner to disclose information available to him in respect of any transaction or dealing relating to any property which is liable to seizure under this Act provided that no court shall require an advocate or solicitor to disclose any privileged information or communication which came to his knowledge for the purpose of prosecuting any pending proceeding.”

    “The above provisions read together is as clear as crystal. Section 39 made it abundantly clear that a Legal Practitioner can only be invited by an order of court and not a mere letter from ICPC. And an order of court can only be obtained to compel the attendance of a legal practitioner for an interview with ICPC only when the matter has to do with a property liable to seizure and when it is not related to a pending proceeding.

    “In the instant case, I did not carry out a transaction for my client touching any property which was liable to seizure; at the time I carried out a transaction for my client concerning the money in her account, there was and still is a valid court judgment authorizing GTB to give my client access to her money. At the time I carried out transaction touching on that money, it was not and is still not liable to seizure. In any case, there is no court order obtained by the ICPC to invite me, assuming without conceding that I dealt with any property for that matter that is liable to seizure.

    “Obtaining such an order will even be a gross illegality since there is a pending proceeding instituted by me on the instructions of my client against the ICPC. Section 39 of the ICPC Act, supra, made it abundantly clear “… that no court shall require an advocate or solicitor to disclose any privileged information or communication which came to his knowledge for the purpose of prosecuting any pending proceeding.”

    “What I am being invited to come and disclose is “… privileged information or communication which came to (my) knowledge for the purpose of prosecuting (a) pending proceeding.” This cannot and should not be allowed to happen.

    “It is settled law that when the word ‘shall’ is used in a statute, it is not permissive but mandatory, and the person or body to which it relates has no option but to comply with the provision of the statute. See KALIEL & ANOR V ALIERO & ORS (1999) 4 N.W.L.R (PT 597) 344@ 355.

    “In Hunt v. Great Northern Railway (1891) 2 Q.B. at page 191, Lord Esther M.R. said: “A privileged occasion arises if the communication is of such a nature that it could be fairly said that those who made it had an interest in making such a communication, and those to whom it was made had a corresponding interest in having it made to them. When these two things co-exist, the occasion is a privileged one.”

    “This statement of the English Court of Appeal in the case of Hunt vs. Great Northern Railway, supra, was adopted by the Nigerian Court of Appeal in the case of GIWA V AJAYI (1993) 5 NWLR (PT. 294) 423.

    “The letter of invitation purportedly derived its foundation from Section 28 of the ICPC Act, supra, while the ICPC conveniently ignored Section 39 of the same Act. They cannot choose and pick which section of the Act to obey and which section to disobey. This is highly preposterous.

    “On another remove, the strategy of freezing my accounts containing my legally earned fees in other to frustrate me and get me arrested so as I can be compelled to divulge privileged information is not only illegal but primitive and nebulous.

    “This is why yesterday, I filed processes in a court of competent jurisdiction to strike down this demonic move with the gavel of justice.

    “ICPC has threatened to declare me wanted if I don’t honour their illegal invitation. I know they can do that. I know they can even arrest me while this suit is pending in court. We are all witnessing the funeral of the rule of law. But no matter what happens to me, I will not be that lawyer who will be illegally compelled to divulge privileged information. If I do that, my career as a lawyer is finished: I will be known as that lawyer who divulges privileged information; my clients will leave me. Then the ICPC will go for other lawyers… Then, the law is doomed.

    “I rather be remembered as that lawyer who died defending attorney-client privilege than to be alive and be pointed out as that lawyer who broke that privilege without due process of law.

    “If I perish, I perish!”

    F. Baba Isa, Esq.,
    Principal Partner,
    FBI LEGAL, Abuja.
    07037162029 (WhatsApp only);
    [email protected]

     

    N/B. This opinion is strictly that of First Baba Isa and did not represent the views of Thelumninenews or its staff.

  • Lessons From My Grandmother: If You Have One And You Call Her A Witch Because Of The Blessing Of Old Age, Please Note That Witches Are Treasures – Jalingo

    Lessons From My Grandmother: If You Have One And You Call Her A Witch Because Of The Blessing Of Old Age, Please Note That Witches Are Treasures – Jalingo

     

    By Admin

    Agba Jalingon shares two very heart touching lessons he learnt from his grandmother and wants everyone to reevaluate our thoughts.

    Jalingo took to his official Facebook account @Agba Jalingo to share his lessons, hear him.

    “Lessons From My Grandmother

    “I still have a 119year old grandmother. There is practically no one even 20 years younger than her that is still alive, that she knows. They are all dead.

    “Like all vehicles that have spent so much time on the roads, her human vehicle which has carried her soul about for more than a century is old, frail and rickety. Her muscles have atrophied. Her vision blurred and you sometimes have to talk on top of your voice for her to recognize it is you but she still walks around assisted only by her walking stick.

    “But I still enjoy massaging her muscles. With coconut oil specially prepared at home by my wife, each time I want to receive her blessings and prayers, hear tales, proverbs and learn some lessons, I go to her and massage her weak muscles. Her shoulders. Her feet to her thighs. When she feels really good and relaxed after that, she always has something to tell.

    “In her old but still very sharp voice, she will call out: “My son, how is your wife, she did not come with you?

    ‘No mama! She will come next week.

    Why na?

    Is she pregnant with my grandchildren?

    Grandma you never tire with grandchildren?

    “Nooo, I cant be tired o.

    “Why na?

    “You remember I married for 12 years and I was childless. Everyone was calling me cock cock cock. When my husband buys wrapper for his other wives and I request for mine, he will tell me other women use their wrappers to tie their children on their backs, what does a barren cock like me need a wrapper for? I will cry and enter my hurt.

    “I know that story grandma. You have told me before.

    “Ok. I forgot that I have told you before my son. But see me today. That barren cock has seen her 4th generation. My roots have extended up to the 4th generation and I am still alive while those who called me barren, have all gone. So in life, learn that what is barren today, can still blossom even over generations.

    “Ok grandma.

    “Lesson Two:

    “Grandma will never take money from me again and I asked why she doesn’t want my money again like before.

    “Sit down my son….

    “Ok grandma.

    “See, I don’t need money again. I neither buy nor sell again and at this my age, what do I need any money for? I have never bought anything for many many years now. What I need now, is company and you people are now always in a hurry to leave me when you come. You want to run and see your friends, peers and families and I am always hold up in my small corner here very lonely. So my son, give the money to those who still need it. I don’t need the money. Just tarry with me a little while for that is the best thing I need now and not money.

    “Ok grandma.

    “And it then dawns on me that, if God spare me too, a time is coming when I will not need money again. When all I will desire will just be people being around me and keeping me company and my problem will no longer be money, whether I was ever rich or poor.

    “So if you don’t have a grandma to learn from, you are missing.

    “And if you have one you are calling her a witch because of the blessing of old age, please know that witches are treasures and don’t ask me how….

    “Take your coconut oil now and go to massage her and make her bless you and talk to you in hush tunes.

    “Good morning and God bless you now now”

    Yours sincerely,
    Citizen Agba Jalingo.

     

  • Despite All Odds, Ayade Accelerates Development Of Cross River – Onyemaizu

    Despite All Odds, Ayade Accelerates Development Of Cross River – Onyemaizu

     

    By Chidi Onyemaizu

    Call him a limit breaker and you won’t be wrong because that is what he is.
    Evidently, the excruciating financial incapacitation Cross River finds itself as a result of dwindling federal allocation has not stopped Governor Ben Ayade from accelerating the pace of infrastructure development.

    With the loss of its 76 oil wells, Cross River lost its oil- producing status and with it came quantum loss of revenue in terms of federal allocation and the 13 percent derivation accruing to oil bearing states.
    Right now, Cross River is the 2nd lowest in federal allocation. The situation has now become so debasing that the state got a paltry N800 million last month as allocation.

    However, in the face of the above viscitiidutes, Ayade has in five years as a governor effectively deployed Cross River’s limited financial resources to reinventing the state.

    Odama Emmanuel Odama’s experience at the Calabar- Odukpani road underscores this narrative.

    Odama Emmanuel was a frequent traveller to Calabar. Well established in building materials business in the Northern Cross River axis, he was virtually visiting Calabar, the city of his birth and youth, every two weeks to fraternize with old friends and unwind.

    However, this was to come to an abrupt end nearly a year ago when his 2012 Toyota Camry almost become a carcass after kissing a big pothole at the then single lane Tinapa- Odukpani axis of the Calabar- Itu highway. Odama was only lucky to escape with his life.

    Pouring invectives at the federal government for “neglecting an important federal road and planting death on the road by so doing”, Odama who survived the mishap by the wickers vowed never to visit Calabar again “until something is done to that road”.

    Last week, a pressing business matter compulsorily demanded his attention in Calabar and off, Odama set out but albeit with shivering trepidation about that portion of the road that almost consumed his life and car.

    However, Odama’s initial trepidation dissolved into pleasant surprises as he approached the Tinapa- Odukpani axis of the road. Instead of big gullies, what stared at him was an ongoing asphalting of a dual carriageway.

    Overwhelmed by curiosity and lost in the maze of thought, Odama screeched to a halt to have a proper view of the road.

    As he was doing that, a motorist who noticed his perplexity came to his rescue; he slowed down and shouted in pidgin English: “Oga, na de handiwork of our digital governor Ayade you dey see so ooo”!

    At that moment, Odama made a quick mental journey backward and taking control of the oasis of his memory, he realised he was indeed at the Tina- Odukpani axis of the road, and ironically the very spot his car became a wreck a year earlier! It was magical.

    The dualization of the Tinapa-Odukpani section of the Calabar highway is just one out of many life- changing projects Cross River state governor, Professor Ben Ayade has undertaken in five years of his governorship to alter the hitherto inelegant narratives about the state.

    Before now, the road, a federal highway and a gateway to other parts of the country, was impassable, a death trap. But the governor insists that apart from the road being critical to Cross River’s economy, he would not fold his hands and wait for federal intervention while lives are lost there daily.

    “This construction work is very critical for us because this is where you connect to Abuja, this is where you connect to the seaport, this is where you connect to Port Harcourt, the whole of the southern part, the northern part and up to the Cameroon. This is the only way, the gateway into Calabar. So it is our heartbeat, which is why we have focused on it as a priority”, he said.

    Essentially, May 29, 2015 ushered in for Cross River an exhilarating dawn in the annals of its history. On that day, Ayade, a man imbued with fecundity of ideas as to how to pull the state out of the doldrums took over the reins of government.

    That day as he stood on the dais facing a mammoth crowd of cheering Cross Riverians at the U.J Esune stadium after taking the oath of office, he was clear on his mission and certain about his vision.

    His eyes shone with hope and his face flushed with a glint of inward satisfaction and conviction having carefully designed a blueprint to jump start the reinvention of his dear state.

    And as he made to address the people, he paused for a second and made a silent but solemn pledge: I will NOT disappoint my people.

    Five years on, governor Ayade has largely delivered on his dream: Industries of different shades, built from the scratch, dot the landscape across Cross River, roads have been constructed across the state with the 147 kilometre Okuku/ Mfon/ Yala/Bekwara/ Obudu ring road liking the five local government areas in Northern Cross River as the largest of such construction ever undertaken by any state government besides the 274 kilometre Superhighway linking the state with Northern Nigeria currently under construction.

    Ayade has also heavily invested in human capital development as can be gleaned from the engagement of youths in Agricultural value chain to prepare them to be self reliant, establishment of Construction and fabrication Academy to train middle level manpower for the state and the setting up of a world class Teachers Continuos Training Institute at Biase to train and retrain teachers in the state.

    It’s obvious that governor Ayade undertakes the socio-economic and infrastructural development of Cross River with clarity of mind. Clearly, the chain of feats he has achieved since emerging governor in 2015 and subsequent reelection in 2019 have indeed delivered him to history’s door post.

    At the end Ayade’s tour of duty in 2023 history will firmly record that there was once a governor who started the process of decoupling Cross River from over dependence on the monthly federal allocation through massive investment in Agro- Industrialisation.

    With about 32 majorly Agro- based industries, some completed and functioning and others at the various stages of completion, established in five years, Ayade’s zeal in remaking Cross River leaves one awe- struck.

    Bearing bold testament to this are the undeniable presences of Africa’s first ever automated Rice seeds and seedlings factory, Garment factory, Calachika chicken processing plant, CalaNoddles factory among others at the Calabar industrial park.

    Among the industries are also the ultra modern rice mill at Ogoja, the automated cocoa processing plant at Ikom and the tooth pick factory Yakurr.

    The rice, garment and toothpick factories are already operational and generating income for the state while the rice mill and cocoa processing plants are expected to commence operation soon.

    Ayade’s urbane nature, his civility, his welfarist and humanist bent verge on his political creed: Politics with ethics. This explains why he has no airs around him, is not magisterial and embraces everybody irrespective of political affiliation or ideology.

    However, more importantly, this cerebral Professor of Environmental Microbiology seems also to richly apply John Mason’s philosophy in piloting the affairs of Cross River.

    According to Mason “the true measure of a person is in his height of ideals, the breadth of his sympathy, the depth of his convictions and the length of his patience”.

    Professor Ayade’s passion and empathy for the downtrodden and the vulnerable fits perfectly into Mason’s postulations as evidenced in his (governor Ayade) recent employment of 8,000 youths as part of COVID-19 palliatives, abolition of taxes and levies on small scale businesses and the provision of eye popping social housing scheme for Bakassi returnees who since the ceding of the Bakassi Peninsula to the Republic of Cameroon in 2006 have remained refugees in their fatherland.

    In the words of Robert Green, “it’s better to win hearts, better to battle with hearts than with weapon”. Ayade has won hearts- beyond Cross River, with his superlative performance in five years as attested to by the avalanche of awards he has been bestowed on in recognition of his people oriented governance and purposeful leadership, most recent of which were the Independent Newspapers and Leadership Newspapers Man of the Year Awards on Industrialisation.

    Chidi Onyemaizu writes from Calabar

     

    Disclaimer: This is strictly the opinion of Chick Onyemaizu, it does not represent the views of THELUMINENEWS or it staff.

  • Councilors Are Not Chairman Boys, They Are Legislators And Representatives Of Their Various Communities – Jalingo

    Councilors Are Not Chairman Boys, They Are Legislators And Representatives Of Their Various Communities – Jalingo

    By Admin

    A Veteran journalist and human rights activist who was declared a Prisoner of Conscience by Amnesty International, has   stated that Councilors are not Chairman boys, but are legislators and representatives of their various communities, who have control of an arm of government at the local level to oversight and checkmate the chairman for effective management of our resources and community.

    Agba disclosed this on his verified Facebook account today 17th June, 2020 in an attempt to intimate councilors who have little or knowledge of the role of a councilor, as a respond to one of his friends who is a serving councilor in one the local government council who sought his (Agba) counsel.

    Find full text of Agba Jalingo’s solicited counsel.

    “Agba, We Be Chairman Boys?

    “Wetin be Councilor work sef?

    “After dem swear us in, our leaders dey tell us say we must be loyal to Chairman if we no wan get problem. E dey sound like threat. Are we supposed to be chairman boys? Wetin be councilors work sef?

    “No mind dem. Na shakara. If una reach ten ba; six of you by simple majority fit remove the chairman sef, if una fit agree. But that is not the first thing to do……

    “For you that is reading this, I don’t know what immediately comes to your mind when you have a discussion like the one above, with one of the newly elected councilors in Cross River state.

    “In case I am already boring you with my hackneyed expletives about Cross River, please kindly understand with me. I have determined decidedly, supposedly, intentionally, to deliberately pay additional attention to how local government funds in our State are judiciously utilized.

    “The NFIU rules and the assumption of office by the newly “elected” chairmen after five years, have both combined to give me a new task of ensuring that we sustain the discussion around how the N3BILLION LG funds that goes to the 18 LGAs in our State monthly is expended.

    “But the goal of making these huge resources work for our rural people will remain illusive if councilors who are lawmakers at that level, do not know their duties. As honest as my councilor friend is, in that our conversation and with all the willingness he has demonstrated to learn, it is also a lesson to the electorates to up their game and resort to leaders who have a clear idea of their duties before take off.

    “Councilors are like Senators and House of Representatives members at the federal level or like members of State Houses of Assembly at the state level. They are the ones saddled with the constitutional role of making by-laws for the administration of LG councils in Nigeria.

    “A by-law is a rule or law established by an organization or community to regulate itself, as allowed or provided for by some higher authority. The higher authority, the State House of Assembly in our case, establishes the degree of control that the by-laws exercise.

    “Like federal and state lawmakers, councilors are elected to represent their local communities in the running of their local council and they have very important roles to play.

    “Among others, they are meant to communicate Council policy and decisions to people in their Wards.

    “All councilors are meant to be advocates for their communities and are ‘case workers’ for their individual constituents when advice or support is requested, while also acting as advocates for the best interests of their Wards and also the wider council area.

    “Councilors are also meant to lobby for local concerns and issues that are important to their various Wards.

    “They are meant to be resolving potential conflicts among community organizations.

    “It is part of their role to support communities to develop their own solutions to problems in their area, where appropriate

    “Balancing competing demands for resources when making decisions in the best interests of the whole LGA.

    “These tasks are usually achieved in chambers through a set of organized rules which include:

    “Standing Orders: These are rules to ensure that council and committee meetings are run properly, and decisions are made in an open and accountable way.

    “Contract Standing Orders: The rules for buying goods and services, as decided by the council.

    “Financial Regulations: Rules to make sure the council is honest and open when dealing with public money.

    “After election, you will now be able to contribute to the development and review of the council’s policies through your role in challenging and scrutinizing the work of the council. Councillors are the only locally democratically elected community representatives capable of holding public services to account for their performance within local areas and on behalf of local communities. Having been sworn in, councillors now have a key role to play in scrutinizing and monitoring how well services are delivered by the council and its partners.

    “Be mindful that Councils are not just service providers. They also play a regulatory role in issues such as planning, licensing, trading standards and environmental health.

    “This involves councillors playing quasi-legal roles on special committees. These regulatory committees operate within a specific set of legislation and guidance that will be provided by the councillors.

    “Since no politician can yet get into office in Nigeria without political party affiliation, councilors are as well expected to remain affiliated, disciplined and report back to their parties.

    “They should engage with their local party organization and meet regularly as a political group within the Ward to continually review party policy to be abreast of council policy.

    “In a nutshell, councilors are not Chairman boys. Rather, like federal and state lawmakers, they are legislators and representatives of their various communities who have control of an arm of government at the local level to oversight and checkmate the chairman for the effective management of our resources and our communities.

    “Finally, there is also a need to reassess the quality of people we elect as councillors considering the important roles they play in the administration of our councils and the volume of money that now goes into the councils”.

    Thank you and God bless Cross River

    Yours sincerely,
    Citizen Agba Jalingo.

    #FollowOurMoney
    #HoldLeadersAccountability