The Lumine News

Category: Opinion

  • 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

  • If Yala Must Be Developed; No More Conventional Prejudices

    If Yala Must Be Developed; No More Conventional Prejudices

    By Ogar Emmanuel – Calabar

    This piece may perhaps goes out as a rebuttal to the barrage of words sent to me in attempt to gag me yesterday over the article I wrote about Yala. For the record, I’ve always been a proud Yala man and I pride myself so in almost all my doings. But I’m not proud to belong to a generation of people that seems to be satisfied with the constant state of backwardness. I’m one of the disquieters poised to cause sociopolitical uneasiness in my LGA until we feel the taste of development like the flavour of our salt.

    I was compelled by force of patriotism to pen the article. I was (I’m ) worried, disturbed, disgruntled and disappointed over the stunted and shunted growth or underdevelopment of Yala even with the numerous advantageous political positions Yala has held and still holding as you read from me.
    I wrote it as a mirror-image of my embittered heart when I compare Yala LGA with her counterparts!

    As a proponent of sociopolitical and cultural development of the society, having the flair for the entrenchment of the pivotal philosophies of social contract, I envisioned that the short but powerful piece would trigger sociopolitical awareness and social change, and afterward heats up the cold enthusiasm of those privilegedly entrusted with our mandate to begin rural development in Yala. It was my desire that an indaba would be called sooner as a result of the post.

    I’m in my late 30s. I’m old enough to express and exercise my inviolable and inalienable rights courageously and honestly without minding whose ox is gored. Hence, over 3 decades ago, I can sadly vaunt that Yala is pitiably stagnant. Not just stagnated but lagging miles behind development! Shamefully, we pride ourselves as a people with so many political officials.

    We’ve many young men that have been gagged because they kissed the lips of Jezebel. They have lost their voice(s). Many of them want obtuse leaders. Leaders without moral and physical courage (s). This is so because they’ve bowed blindly to opinion formed beforehand. This is known as conventional prejudices. If we need change, then we must hold unto Einstein’s opinion.

    Albert Einstein in a letter to a professor emeritus of philosophy at the College of the City of New York, defending the appointment of Bertrand Russell to a teaching position stated,” Great spirit have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds. The mediocre mind is incapable of understanding the man who refuses to bow blindly to conventional prejudices and chooses instead to express his opinion; courageously and honestly. ”

    Because of prejudices, we lack all social amenities. No portable water; zero rural electrification, alarming rural-urban drift, high youth restiveness, no banking facility(ies), no drugs in the health centres, most clinics and infirmaries are homes of street urchins and ruminants animals, no asphalted road, no street light ( solar light) and the once great Okuku market is a shadow of itself. Okuku police station(rented) and roundabout were built more than 40 years ago, but as I type, they’re in sordid and rustic phases of dilapidation.

    Nostalgically, about this time last year, I was hired to carry out evaluation exercise in 3 LGAs (Biase, Ikom and Yala) in Cross River State. As I traverse the length and breadth of Yala in particular, I wept for my people. There was no road from Okuku to Yache even on bike. Before we got to our destination, we got off the bike many times to avoiding falling.

    It’s not my intention to present Yala in this manner — in fact I’m feeling ashamed already. Methinks we’ve jointly failed ourselves and there’s therefore a prevailing need for paradigm shift. A shift from the abnormal we blindly see as normal to the “best-normal.” Consequently, if this piece criticises anyone, such fellow stands criticised.

    For those that called to pooh-pooh the originating post, sorry, be prepare to express more contempts as I’ve steamed up my engine. Expect more!

    You that asked if I was paid: no! I can’t be hired! In fact I wrote it while the preacher was delivery his sermon on Sunday morning. You can see that the time is already late. Thus, we can’t continue to handle matter of this urgent need with child’s clove. You asked whom exactly am I. OK, I’m simply who I’m ! I’m against moribund convention that keeps us behind in development. I’m against ethnicity and tribalism in whatever shades it appears! I’m for humanistic ideas. I’m for comradeship and chivalry.

    Greetings!

    Comr.(Hon) Ogar Emmanuel Oko
    Is from Ijegu Ojor.

  • The Recent Social Media Attack On Sen. Sandy Onor Is Very Unnecessary

    The Recent Social Media Attack On Sen. Sandy Onor Is Very Unnecessary

    By Elijah Ugani – Calabar

    The social media space has been inundated lately with accusations and counter accusations on the scorecard of Cross River State legislators on their one year in office on the 12th of June, 2020, with Sen. Sandy Onor as the focal point.

    It is our legitimate right to hold our representatives at all level accountable, this to me must be done with every sense of responsibility and self respect. I refuse to be convinced that any sane person can resort to the use of derogatory and unpleasant words to demean his or her representative in the guess of holding them accountable.

    Without any equivocation or apology to any person with a contrary view, I condemn in strong terms the manner at which this matter was handled.

    It is very important to state that the Media Assistant to the distinguished senator Sandy Onor, Miss Phylo Modlin Odu, being human may have erred in her approach and attempt to respond to those who have constantly called on our MPs to present their scorecard in the past one year in office.

    Mr. Simon Utsu had on the 12th June called me out to present Hon. Godwin Akwaji’s scorecard, but I have been decisively and resolutely mute not because I don’t know what to respond but because, there isn’t enough to satisfy his curiosity at the moment, and so instead of putting myself forward for a ridicule and attack, I decided to stay at the fence.

    However, I deemed it very auspicious to put some records straight which I think is within my precinct to provide to dole the already erroneous public perception about the operations of the national assembly with regards to constituency projects as practiced in our today democratic system.

    Like others, Sen. Sandy Onor assumed office on the 12th of June, 2019 and President Muhammadu Buhari signed the Appropriation Bill on the 27th May, 2020. It necessarily follows that the 8th National Assembly members had already elected or infused constituency projects into the 2019 budget.

    A quick look at Sen. John Own-Enoh for instance will reveal that some of the projects he facilitated, are the ones currently receiving attention, such as the Agbokim road and other ongoing projects.

    Distinguished Sen. Sandy Onor is currently lobbying for funding to complete some of the abandoned projects while pushing for the release of funds for the new projects as captured in the 2020 Appropriation Bill which is yet to be released.

    I also find it very expedient to mention that the review of the 2020 Appropriation Bill, captured some of the abandoned projects in the central senatorial district of the state for speedy execution.

    Whether wrong or right, it has become a norm in our legislative system that after elections and prior to the inauguration of the new parliament, all funds including constituency funds are closed and directed to the outgoing members of parliament.

    This account for why, government at all tiers, after the inauguration of parliament, makes concerted efforts to make funds available to the new members.

    In view of the bottleneck associated with the system as it is currently, the distinguished Sen. Sandy Onor cannot outlined any physical achievement in terms of projects. This is however applicable to all first time members of parliament, you can verify this from any of them close to you. Hon. Alex Egbonna has the same story.

    They have until December, 2020 to be able to present their scorecards in line with the funds that will be release to them.

    We can ask all returning members of parliament to give us their scorecard in the first year of their second, third, forth or fifth term as it is the case with some of them.

    It is worth to mention here that what I see some MPs rolled out as achievement in within the first year, is a repetition of what they displayed during the billed up to the 2019 general election.

    But I can authoritatively confirm that MP Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe has initiated some projects that are currently ongoing within this one year of his second term in office, the Ijebu water project Yala local government area.

    On securing federal jobs, the era of replacing ghost workers in MDAs is over, this was common between 2011 to 2019, with the introduction of IPPIS, it is very difficult but possible for a member of parliament to get you a federal job. It is our desire that our MPs use their good offices to ensure that federal character is implemented when the federal civil service commission wants to employ.

    Unless you have an ulterior motive to malign the person of Sen. Prof. Sandy Onor, the explanations given here should sub peddle your curiosity and best, I have always insisted that we do everything within our reach to ensure we make contact to get some information from the person we intend to engage directly before we take to social media to vent our displeasure.

    We must rise to the challenge of the moment to engage our leaders at all spheres and strata of leadership, but for us to be justified and not misunderstood, we must do it with all form of civility.

    Long live Federal Republic of Nigeria
    Long live Cross River State
    Long live MPs of Cross River State extraction
    Long live Sen. Prof. Sandy Onor
    Long live all those who stand to ask the right questions about leadership in Cross River State.

    Elijah Ugani is a
    Development/Humanitarian Consultant
    Public/Motivational Speaker
    Public Affairs Analyst/Commentator
    Writer/Publisher/Blogger
    Social Mobilizer of High Repute
    He writes from Calabar.