The Lumine News

Category: Opinion

  • 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 you🙌🙌🙌 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 husband👫

    God bless Nigeria
    God bless the nation’s paradise

    Thank you Jehovah Overdo🙌🙌🙌🙏

    Thank you friends and my fellow Nigeria people👍👍👍 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 — 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.

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

    [email protected]

  • 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