The Lumine News

Category: Opinion

  • Kidnapping And Executive Demolitions: Citizens Solution Network’s Perspective

    Kidnapping And Executive Demolitions: Citizens Solution Network’s Perspective

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    By Richard F. Inoyo

    Exactly two weeks ago, as the Country Director of Citizens Solution Network, I put up an article in respect to the disturbing trend of kidnapping and called on citizens, state and federal governments as well as the Nigerian Police Force across the country to do their own part in the fight against kidnapping. That article was largely borne out of my dedication to the course of ensuring that as a society we nib in the bud negative gales destabilizing the sanctity of a rational and safe society.

    That said, the recent demolition of the property of a citizen accused of kidnapping by the Cross River State Government has created a new kind of concern.

    While it is on record that as a people we are all unhappy with the negative trend of kidnapping, and the fact that we all are genuinely opposed to the unlawful adoption and inhumane incarceration of another man by a group of miscreants in quest of ransome which kidnapping is all about.

    Yet, even as extremely important as it is for us all to reinvent ourselves to confront and defeat the scourge of kidnapping in our society through intelligence gathering and counter-kipnapping response. It also of equal importance to ensure that this fight against this terrible crime is carried out in such a way that no innocent person is allowed to suffer, and no perpetrator escapes the sword and wrath of justice.

    At this juncture, in order to ensure that we achieve such outcome, it would be vitally necessary to find and engage the best possible crime-tackling protocol that prevent possible executive abuse and misuse of power especially in today’s world where any person can accuse you over anything without evidence.

    And in building this error-minimization protocol of justice administration, it is important we start by taking into cognisance and asking the following question:

    “What if today someone accuses some of you of kipnapping and have your house demolished without court hearing or zero body of compelling proof? How would you feel and what would be your fate?

    Though the recent demolition of the houses of some persons accused of kidnapping by the Cross River State is backed by laws adopted by various states in 2015, but it is still questionable and create room for possible miscarriage in administration of criminal justice under the caprices of executive order.

    As a rule, the idea of separation of power should be central to all law enforcement protocol, lest bunch of executive fellows with questionable agenda may hunt down critics or dissidents in future by simply accusing them of kidnapping and have their properties confiscated or demolished without pronouncement from the Judiciary_ which happens to be the most acceptable arm of government saddled with all extant powers to entertain, try and pronounce binding judgement on accused, arrested and prosecuted persons in the light of evidence beyond reasonable doubt and bias.

    Going forward, I wish to seize this medium to ask us all to call for and demand overwhelming evidence at all times that will apprehended and overseen by an exhaustive trial of all accused persons in assigned court of competent jurisdiction before bringing down the properties of any accused person in furtherance of equity, avoidance of doubt, high-level of proof and justification of every state action.

    This I believe is the best way to safeguard a society of more powerless men, and avert error in executive decisions led by few men who a sad part of our collective history has shown that some executives had never truly cared about the poorest and most powerless demographics of our fragile society.

    Signed

    Richard F. Inoyo
    Country Director,
    Citizens Solutions Network.

    For: Civilian Population and Council.

  • C’River State Local Government Election And My Dilemma – YPP Chairman

    C’River State Local Government Election And My Dilemma – YPP Chairman

    By Elijah Ugani – Calabar

    The Chairman of the Young Progressive Party YPP, Cross River State chapter, Comr. Anthony Bisong has stated that he is in a state of dilemma in view of the Cross River State local government election slated for 30th May, 2020.

    In a release made available to THE LUMINE NEWS, and signed by himself indicates that he desire has been to have a functional local government system to boost grass root representation.

    Full text of the release “In the past 48 hours, I’ve been inundated with calls from different quarters to state my position on the newly published time table for the long awaited Local Government Election. I’ve maintained a studied silence until now due to the complex nature of the issues on ground.

    “Recall that my party, the Young Progressives Party, YPP has had the most rancorous and turbulent outings against the CROSIEC Chairman, Dr. Mike Ushie as a result of what we considered as inconsistencies in the process of filing candidates. Our reservation in that case has not changed. Moreover, we also express our reservation about the cacophony that has followed the new date for the election.

    “It is also important to recall that on the 18th of July last year, I led a protest under the aegis of Coalition of CRS Civil Society Organizations to demand for the conduct of Local Government Election in the State. My desire has been to have a functional Local Government system to boost grassroots representation. I didn’t protest because I wanted to contest the election myself, neither did I protest because I felt my party must win election at all cost. My agitation for grassroots representation has been very altruistic.

    “For the first time in a long time I’ve found myself in a serious dilemma. I’m clearly standing between the devil and the deep blue sea. However, as an advocate of grassroots administration, it’s contradictory to boycott an election that will usher in legitimate functionaries for the Local Government. This is even more important given the preponderance of condemnation that greeted the approval of about #5.4 billion naira by the CRS House of Assembly, a responsibility that is exclusively meant for the Local Government Executives.

    “General speaking, I hold a firm opinion that it would be easier to demand for accountability from elected Representatives. Every political party seeks to win elections but we also have the duty of demanding for accountability from those in power. Therefore, whoever wins in the forthcoming election will definitely come under our scrutiny as we’ll monitor the day to day running of our Local Government Councils.

    “On the strength of the aforesaid, I here state categorically that Young Progressives Party, YPP, Cross River State Chapter support the conduct of Local Government Election in Cross River State come 30th May, 2020. Let it also be on record that we are not in coalition with any party contesting the coming election. Our decision is solely in the interest of Cross River State. Having waited for elections for over four years, we feel compelled to support the new date so that our State can join the league of States with functional grassroots Representatives which we believe would help alleviate our local economy as well as support the fight against COVID 19 at the grassroots.

    “The major concern of our great party is the forthcoming Bye election in Cross River Northern Senatorial District. We are hopeful that the good people of CR North having learnt their lessons in the past will support us to elect a Senator they can call their own. All our energies and resources are therefore going to be channeled towards winning CR Northern Senatorial District Bye-Election”

    Comrade Anthony Bissong Attah

    State Chairman (Chief Servant)
    Young Progressives Party, YPP, CRS

  • Ben Akak Foundation: Touching Lives With Sympathy And Relief

    Ben Akak Foundation: Touching Lives With Sympathy And Relief

    By Ogar Emmanuel Oko

    The Cross River State government under the guide of His Excellency, Sir Benedict Ayade has been lauded by Nigeria Centre of Disease Control (NCDC) for its emulative and forehanded preventive measures put in place to curtail the spread of covid-19 pandemic. Accolades have been trailing this achievement and the governor likes it. We all like it too because, it has placed our beloved state on global map for positive reason and the world sees us with their prism as beacon of hope regarding any eventuality of combating pestilential disease. This is the fruit of proactiveness.

    Albeit, as an individual, I would wish to suggest that the feat be considered a collective achievement and the ultimate glory be ascribed to the Maker of the universe. While this is being considered, we must not bat an eyelid or rest on our oars as the war being waged against the virus is yet over. I so say because it is my deliberate effort to avow that this celebrated feat was achieved with less dissipation of energy as the state government stood on the shoulders of not a few giants in attaining such height. Amongst them, is the Ben Akak Foundation. Though, there are corporate organizations like Skyrun International, United Bank of Africa (UBA) and the rest.

    On the tapis for discussing first is the mentioned foundation. I don’t know when the foundation was established and I don’t care to know because it’s immaterial. All I care to know is its mission and perhaps vision too! The mission is the apparent reflection what they’ve been doing— to better the lives of people and making the world a better place to inhabit!

    When the latent heat of the pandemic started having it impacts being felt, the government having realized that the dependency on each other was necessary mostly at that early turn of the outbreak, and having knew they couldn’t have been self-sufficient in the battle of covid-19; the Health Commissioner in her many advocacies and sensitization exercises called for the assistance of all and sundry to conjoin forces with the state government. Not minding the existing strain on the Foundation’s budget, due to the number of times it has been called upon for help, Ben Akak Foundation took up the gauntlet by answering the noblest and humanistic call by making yet another round of donation.

    Moved by the spirit of gratitude over the solidarity of the Foundation, Dr. Betta Edu said the foundation has gone beyond bound to show enormous support to the state as this is a fight for humanity. Items donated was 300 sanitizers; 400 surgical gloves, thermometers, 200 face masks, bags of rice and N1 million.

    Awareness on this virus and many others appears an uphill task. Laborious! In plain language, information on covid-19 pandemic is still not sufficient for those living in the hinterlands as most of these places aren’t accessible and as such, most of them know little or nothing about the virus. It’s sequel to the aforesaid that the Ben Akak Foundation has embarked on rigorous sensitization campaign in conjunction with the 18 paramount rulers in the state and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) to bring the awareness to the dwellers. The effects of covid-19 in such places would be fatal with ripple effects due to the communal lifestyle of poor hygiene practices. Therefore, the foundation deserves gift of flowers for its door-to-door campaign.
    No doubt they’re many foundations in the state. But the foundation under consideration stands out as the only one with far reaching tentacles across the three senatorial districts.
    To the administrative team of the foundation, humanity will remain grateful to you all even beyond the vicissitudes of this moment.
    To the founder, Engr. Ben Akak, your deeds shall always speak for you far better than anything in private and in public.

     

  • Three Years Is Enough To Create Impact And Reengineer Governance To Meet The Yearnings And Aspirations Of The People – Imbua

    Three Years Is Enough To Create Impact And Reengineer Governance To Meet The Yearnings And Aspirations Of The People – Imbua

    By Elijah Ugani – Calabar

    A seasoned academician, technocrat and administrator per excellent, Associate Prof. Dave Imbua of the department of History and International Studies, University of Calabar, Calabar, has stated that three years is enough time to create impact and reengineer governance to meet the yearnings and aspirations of the people.

    Imbua who took to his Facebook wall @Dave Mbua to express his opinion being the only avenue available for him to contribute to the development of the state in response to the emotions that led to Gov Ben Ayade sharing tears while he inaugurated the Anti-Tax Agency on Wednesday, May 20th, 2020 at the Exco Chambers of the Governor’s office, Calabar.

    “We now return from emotions to reason and truth. A man who channels the commonwealth of a people into a jamboree of ago massaging projects at the expense of amenities that address the pressing needs of the overwhelming masses will definitely cry at each point that conscience suppresses sycophancy.

    “Now that we are all on the same page as it concerns our gains and losses in the last five years, it is important to re-engineer governance to meet the yearnings and aspirations of the people.

    “Three years is enough time to create impact. But if the think tank and advisers insist that the path taken is not only the best but also irreversible, then three years is a very short time. I wish the current rehearsals for the post-2023 wailings can be nipped in the bud”

  • Ayade, The Cry Cry Baby In Peregrino House

    Ayade, The Cry Cry Baby In Peregrino House

    By Agba Jalingo – Lagos

    Yesterday, my governor, Senator Ben Ayade cried AGAIN while launching the anti-taxation agency in Calabar. The agency is meant to ensure low income earners do not pay taxes in Cross River state. His tears actually touched a soft chord in the minds of many people across the country and several of them have circulated the video back to me. One person who is not even in Cross River state said, their earlier scheduled meeting started with the video where governor Ayade was crying and most people in the meeting also started crying along with the governor whom they concluded is a lover of the poor and this is very impressive.

    But if tears were a true measure of our pain, even Hitler’s drops would be preserved in the alabaster bottle. That is the irony and the double edged nature of that readily available liquid. Once emotions are evoked, in no direction essentially, tears can start flowing and oftentimes, the person whose tears flow down the cheeks, doesn’t even know why they flow until composure is regained.

    So tears are not necessarily an expression of concern, rather, tears can fittingly be described as the defecation of pent up emotions which could also be spontaneous. Tears could also be a pontilitous attempt at hood winking the unsuspecting public into collective amnesia, particularly for politicians.

    The later is where I will categorize the incessant tears of our governor, Senator Ben Ayade and I will tell you why.

    Apart from the poorly substantiated tales of his crying for the poor before his coming into politics, yesterday was the fourth time governor Ayade will be crying in public. But guess what, each time he cried, nothing followed!

    Before you get hoodwinked by yesterday’s tears, let me take you down memory lane.

    17 January 2017, Governor Ayade announced the abolition of all forms of taxation for low-income earners in Cross River state. The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor and Senior Special Assistant Media, Mr. Christian Ita, in a press statement said those affected by the tax exemption are people earning below N50, 000 monthly, taxi, tricycle, wheel barrows, and motor cycle operators as well as petty traders and hoteliers.

    He said Governor Ben Ayade, who gave the order after signing the 2017 appropriation bill of N707 billion, had reiterated the need to provide some economic reliefs to low income earners in the state with regards to taxes.

    Ayade, after signing the budget had warned that: “I am sounding the last warning that henceforth I don’t want to hear anyone who earns less than N50, 000 a month being taxed in any form in the state….In the same vein, I don’t want to see a hotel that is struggling to survive with challenges of diesels being chased by government officials over taxes. I have warned anybody, who is still collecting money from these people to stop forthwith…I have seen poverty in my personal life and I know what that small N2, 000 means to them.

    “It is clear to emphasise here that at this point, no nation, no state and no administrative authority can tax her people to prosperity…God has given us an elevated platform of authority to use our intellects and support them and not to suppress them. Why would government put a burden on people earning less than a N1, 000 a day with wife and children, shopping in the same market with the rich, who earn over N300, 000 monthly? I would rather tax my intellect to prosperity than taxing my people because we have sufficient education, exposure and experience, which we need to bring to bear for the prosperity of our people, which is why they elected us.”

    That was in 2017. YES 2017!!!. Very characteristic of Ayade. He cried after that. Three years after, more than 70 percent of businesses operating in Calabar have left because of multiple taxation.

    Yesterday, he repeated almost the same words he spewed in 2017 verbatim and cried again and the gullible are already crying along with him.

    That is not all!

    In August 2016, Governor Ayade visited Bakassi and cried after seeing the conditions that some returnees lived in. He made an instant donation of N3million. He was accompanied by a representative of the Mayor of Dortmund, Fuss Friedrich whom he said will build free houses for the returnees. He had introduced the man who followed him as the Mayor but it turned out he was “lying.”

    Again in March 2017, during the courtesy visit of the National Commissioner of the National Commission for Migrants, Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons, Hajia Sadiya Farouk in the government house, Governor Ayade cried over the status of the Bakassi returnees. He wept and vowed to do everything he can to resettle the people of Bakassi and called on government not to neglect them. I don’t know whether the people of Bakassi have been resettled after that crying.

    April 10, 2018, Governor Ayade also broke down in tears at the conference room of the government house when he asked his aide on Religious Affairs, Rev. Fr. Bob Etta to pray while signing the NGN1.3 trillion budget of Kinetic Crystallization into law. He cried also because he said the budget was going to de-couple the State from federal allocation and lift the poor out of poverty.

    But shortly after that, CrossRiverWatch news editor, Jonathan Ugbal and three others were arrested for allegedly photographing two commissioners including the immediate past Attorney General of the State, that were sleeping during that exercise. Till date, even the hard copy of the budget is not available to the public not to talk of the promises inside.

    My ten kobo advise to my governor is that the poor can never be freed from poverty by exempting them from taking responsibility. Taxation is not a burden. It is a civic duty for the collective good of the society. Taxes should be reduced, rebates given and made convenient for even the poorest of the citizens to pay with intermittent holidays. Taxes should not be a burden but they should also not be taken away. They are our right and civic duty. Taxes are Biblical. Taxes are a way of ensuring that every citizen of age and ability takes responsibility for the collective upkeep of the society and also ensure government is accountable. Every government that wants to abolish taxes is tilting towards a lack of accountability.

    In a state where the total monthly IGR is less than N1billion and federal allocation is one of the lowest amidst crashing oil prices, abolition of taxes is not magnanimity. It is naivety. Don’t come here and tell me about those thrash called I-Money and G-Money and OPM.

    Finally, I agree wholely that crying is not a sign of weakness. We all cry. I cry too. Even our Lord Jesus cried. But what the governor needed to do yesterday was not another round of crying or a regurgitation of same things he has been saying since 2017 as if he was saying something new, he rather needs to ensure that his aides take him more seriously and respect his orders and commands and directives. If they had done that, poor people would have long had some respite from the tax masters over 3 years ago and our cry cry baby in Peregrino House would have rested his face towel, at least…

    Yours sincerely
    Citizen Agba Jalingo.

    #1103DaysToGo
    #CryCryGovernor
    #StopCryingDoTheWork
    #HoldLeadersAccountable

     

    NB. The Opinions Expressed Are Of Agba Jalingo In His Personal Capacity And Does Not Representing THE LUMINE NEWS.

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  • Remembering Okang Peter And Governor Ayade’s Endless Tears

    Remembering Okang Peter And Governor Ayade’s Endless Tears

    By Anthony Bisong Attah

    On the 23rd of March, 2020, I got a call from Okan Peter to speak on CRBC TV. I declined the invitation because it was on a national issue I didn’t consider too interesting. We both laughed when I assured him that I was going to be available to discuss on critical issues affecting the State. Hitherto, I have been his guest on Sparkling FM and we’ve met at different occasions at FAD FM, Calabar.

    The news of his demise on the 31st of March, 2020 rented the State media space for a long time. This was due largely because of his visibility as a rising media guru. I knew Okan first on the 16th of September, 2017 when he covered the launching of my party, the Young Progressives Party YPP in the State at the Transcorp Hotel, Calabar. He demonstrated unaccustomed passion and dedication to his job as he straddled the Pearl Ball hall with his camera to ensure every detail of the MISS YPP COMPETITION was properly captured.

    I’m not good at writing or even commenting on the dead because of the emotions it evokes especially to the family and their loved ones. However, each time I recall events before the demise of my friend, two things readily strikes my mind; one, he spent many years as a volunteer staff of CRBC and just when he was absorbed into the system as a full staff he became a victim of the 2500 Civil Servants who’s names were delisted from the State payroll since September last year. He was set to attend the screening interview that was postponed on the 24th of March before he died one week later. Secondly, he was still being owed by the State Government for the role he played during last year Carnival Festival themed ‘Humanity’.

    I was shock as I watched our Governor, His Excellency, Sir Benedict Ayade weeping profusely in the now viral video during the inauguration of the State Anti Tax Committee. For the avoidance of doubt, the terms of reference given to the committee chaired by Bishop Emmah Isong are not new to Cross Riverians at all. We are already used to the empty rhetorics and the theatrical distraction of weeping by the Governor. Maybe he would have been a better ‘undertaker’ than an Executive Governor, knowing that weeping alone without action has never solved any problem. A Governor that cannot weep for owing Civil Servants a whopping nine months salary arrears and 5 months unpaid stipends and Honorarium to those who toiled day and night including personal Financial commitment to see to the success of the State sponsored Carnival should not weep at all. A Governor that withholds over five years gratuity of retired Civil Servants in the State should not think that shedding ‘Iguana tears’ is a safety valve to negotiate public sympathy and gain citizen’s confidence.

    We are tired of seeing our Governor admit his failures openly with tears as smokescreen to cover for his negligence and incompetence. We prefer to see our Governor braze up to the challenge of governance by minimising cost and deploying lean state resources to areas that directly affect the citizens.

    Like my late friend, Okan Peter, several other Cross Riverians have died without being paid for several months and others have gone without enjoying their Honorarium after several months of labouring to make the 2019 Carnival a success story. A lot of retirees have died and others consigned to inhuman conditions after giving 35 years of meritorious Service to the State. These are the things that should make a good Governor to weep.

    My friend Okan is gone already but he left a family behind. I pray the Governor pays his Honorarium to his family and get a member of his family to replace him in his place of employment or elsewhere. That’s the best way to immortalize a young man who died on an empty stomach while serving the State.

    Comrade Anthony Bissong Attah
    State Chairman (Chief Servant)
    Young Progressives Party, YPP, CRS

     

     

    NB. Opinions Expressed Here Are Strictly That Of Anthony And Does Not Represent The Lumine News.

  • State Congresses Ignite Fresh Crisis In PDP

    State Congresses Ignite Fresh Crisis In PDP

    Jonh Alechenu of Punch Newspaper examines the recent Peoples Democratic Party ward and Local Government congresses held nationwide and posits that a lot of work is still required to return the party to winning ways.

    Since its defeat at the presidential election in 2015, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party has struggled to find its feet and return to winning ways.

    The battle for the control of party structure at the ward, Local Government and State levels among chieftains of the PDP, has resumed with a renewed intensity that has left some wondering if there is a general election by the corner.

    A public affairs commentator, who identified with the party in its formative years, Chief Cosmas Ekpunobi, explained the reason behind what appeared to be a renewed interest in the party’s congresses.

    He said, “For any politician worth his salt, the ward, Local Government and State congresses are not only important but also crucial. There is a reason why party members are expected to first register at the ward level. It is expected that a person who intends to seek to serve people using the party’s platform should be a person with a grass roots appeal. So, the importance of having a voice at these levels cannot be overemphasised.”

    The PDP National Working Committee had issued guidelines for the conduct of its congresses at all levels across States of the federation starting from March 7, 2020.

    Twenty three out of 26 States, including but not limited to Abia, the Federal Capital Territory, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Nasarawa, Niger, Ondo, Ogun, Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Cross River, and Yobe, carried out the exercise.

    However, three States namely: Jigawa, Ogun, and Yobe had yet to hold their congresses when the coronavirus-induced lockdown led to the suspension of the exercises.

    As is often the case with congresses in multi-party democracies like Nigeria, divergent views have trailed the conduct of the exercise.

    While some hailed the process, others took issue with either the conduct or outcome of the process. In Ekiti State, for example, a former Governor, Ayodele Fayose, is locked in a battle of political wits with the Senator representing Ekiti South Senatorial District, Biodun Olujimi.

    Party stakeholders in the State have been embroiled in leadership crisis as far back as 2017 when Fayose was in office as Governor.

    He ensured that his preferred candidate, Prof. Kolapo Eleka, emerged as the party’s standard bearer in the 2018 governorship election which the party lost to the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Kayode Fayemi.

    A fresh battle for the control of the party structure presented itself with the conduct of ward congresses expected to usher in Executive Committee members for the 177 wards of the State.

    The Deputy Governor of Taraba State, Haruna Manu, was delegated by the PDP National Working Committee to lead a Committee to supervise the exercise.

    A party source who pleaded for anonymity in order not to jeopardise the efforts of the newly inaugurated Caretaker Committee said, “The congress was largely peaceful, it was supervised by the relevant bodies including the Independent National Electoral Commission and security forces. There were indications that candidates loyal to the combined forces of Senator Olujimi, Senator Duro Faseyi, and other party elders created upsets which loyalists of the former Governor found hard to accept. The two groups went ahead to inaugurate parallel Executive Committees which the party has refused to recognise and in its place appointed a Caretaker Committee.”

    Stating her position in the dispute, Olujimi blamed the latest round of crisis on the Deputy Governor of Taraba State, Manu.

    She told reporters in Abuja that the crisis in the State was far from over because the right things were not done.

    Olujimi said, “There is no calm within the Ekiti PDP. What we have is the lull before the war. We are already in the battle mode.”

    A former spokesperson for Fayose, Mr. Lere Olayinka, in an interview with Sunday Punch, described what is happening as a battle for the control of the party.

    He said, “It is a battle for control. Olujimi wants to control the party, which is what she is doing. The truth is that a more knowledgeable person, grounded and loved by the people has taken control of the party.”

    Even though the party has appointed a seven-member Caretaker Committee headed by a former Senate Deputy Chief Whip, Hosea Agboola, to oversee the party affairs in the interim, Olujimi and her supporters have gone to Court to seek judicial intervention.

    A slightly different scenario played out in Ogun State as a party Executive Committee loyal to a PDP chieftain, Senator Buruji Kashamu, was inaugurated to hold the forth as the State party leadership for the next four years.

    This situation drew the ire of the PDP NWC.

    The National Chairman of the party, Uche Secondus and the party’s National Secretary, Senator Umaru Ibrahim Tsauri, in a joint statement barely 24 hours after the Abeokuta inauguration, dissociated the party from the exercise describing it as “illegal, null and void.”

    The statement partly read, “The attention of the National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party has been drawn to some media publication, especially, the online media concerning a purported inauguration of certain unknown persons as State officers of the party in Ogun State on Friday, May 8, 2020.

    “We want to advise members of the public, especially the teeming members of our great party in Nigeria and Ogun State in particular, that the Peoples Democratic Party has not conducted any congress for the election of the party officers at any level of the party: ward, LGs chapter and or State, in Ogun State.”

    In response, the “newly inaugurated” State Party Chairman, Samson Bamgbose, said the inauguration was legal because it was in line with all the relevant laws of the land as well as the party guidelines.

    Bambgose, who noted that the position of the NWC with regards to the inauguration was not unexpected, in a statement, said, “It is disturbing that our leaders in this great party still do not understand (or just don’t care) that all politics is local.”

    While responding to some of these issues, the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Kola Ologbodiyan, said, “The position of the party with regards to the issue in Ogun State is clear. The matter is in Court and as a law-abiding party, we will await a judicial pronouncement before taking the next step.

    “Our congresses which were held across 26 States of this country were largely peaceful and you can see from the outcome, the party is being repositioned to liberate Nigeria and Nigerians from the shackles of this rudderless regime of professional propagandists called the All Progressives Congress.”

    He further explained that the fact that there were disputes in three or four out of the 26 States where congresses were conducted did not take away the fact that the exercise went on smoothly.

    But a political affairs analyst, Emmanuel Acheme, recalled that the PDP was founded in August 1998 by members of several groups and political associations, some of which included the G-18 and G-34 that held sway as the party to beat for 16 unbroken years.

    He said the party enjoyed a broad political base attracting old and new breed politicians, retired/retiring high-ranking military officers, and academics with an interest in political office as well as businessmen who wanted a piece of the action.

    Acheme further explained that the founding fathers of the PDP most of who have either died or have left the party, were initially driven by a common goal of getting rid of the military and building a nation based on constitutional democratic ideals but that somewhere along the line, “greed and the disrespect for laid down rules took over.”

    He said, “Like it or leave it, yes, the PDP brand has suffered a lot of bashing over the years but you honestly cannot write it off yet in the light of recent events.”

    Speaking in a similar vein, a Kano-based political activist, Aminu Abubakar said, “This is to be expected because it is clear to everyone with eyes that the current All Progressives Congress regime has failed and we are confident that a window of opportunity will soon present itself for us to participate in the process to replace it, three years is not too long in the life of a nation.”

    However, the Chairman of the Buhari Media Organisation, Niyi Akinsiju, disagreed.

    He said, “The PDP brand is damaged beyond repairs. If you remember, they toyed with the idea of changing their name and rebranding but Nigerians are wiser today than they were 16 years ago when they allowed the PDP to run this country down. This administration is rebuilding our economy and our infrastructure from the scratch and all Nigerians of goodwill recognise and appreciate this.”

    Political pundits express the hope that as the PDP attempts to rebuild its brand, it will carry along lessons learnt from previous experiences.

  • Save Our Society Today While Contending Covid 19

    Save Our Society Today While Contending Covid 19

    By Ediomo Isung-Harmony

    Since the COVID-19 outbreak, humanity has been threatened to its core. The world is on pause and the global economy has nosedived.

    The Government at various levels have been putting in various measures to contend the invisible enemy. Health workers, Corporate bodies, Religious organizations, Security personnel, Individuals etc are not left out.

    One of the measures adopted by the Government was the total lockdown which was declared across the States.

    The pandemic which took everyone by surprise was followed by the declaration of total lockdown without adequate measures put in place to tackle its effects on the indigent.

    The lockdown has brought so much hunger and hardship to people mostly in the informal sector of the economy.
    These people include the petty traders, street vendors, loaders, e.t.c.

    Most of our young men and women who make their livelihood through daily struggle have become stranded and cannot plan for their survival.
    Even the palliatives given by the Government and those donated by Individuals still end up in the hands of the well to do, the politicians and their cronies.

    Would you blame the daily income earners obeying the devil’s call as the only means to survive?
    An idle man they say is the devil’s workshop and more or less now that survival is involved, everyone wants to live and deserve to live.

    Some of these persons have already turned to street robbers, house breakers, scammers etc as a means to survive, therefore increasing the rate of crime and making our society unsafe.

    Most of our communities which never experience criminal activities are now experiencing them.
    Some of our ladies including married women have also yielded to the satanic call by seeing sex as a lucrative source of surviving during this lockdown.

    Although COVID-19 is an invisible enemy which we must defeat, we should also know that putting all efforts in fighting this enemy will only make us the losers in the battle if our society is unsafe.

    More action plans to feed the common Nigerian most especially in the rural areas should be put in place with a very high level of transparency.

    If you were eating three times daily, there’s nothing wrong if you eat twice and save the other for your neighbor who has no food.

    By doing this, our society will be saved and the battle against COVID-19 would be won.

    Let’s save humanity.
    Let’s save Nigeria
    Let’s save our States
    Let’s save our society.
    Together we will defeat COVID-19.
    Cheers to Victory.

     

  • Right Candidate, Not Anyone Can Win C’River Northern Senatorial Bye-Election For APC

    Right Candidate, Not Anyone Can Win C’River Northern Senatorial Bye-Election For APC

    By Z-Effect Media

    The opposition All Progressives Congress, APC in Cross River State have had plenty opportunities to win many election in the State but has failed because of the ever recurring mistake of fielding the wrong candidates believing that anybody will win them the election.

    The first golden opportunity APC had was in 2016 during the Yakur 11 rerun election. Yakur11 is the state constituency of the former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Dr. Usani Uguru and former Governor, Chief Clement Ebri.

    Chief Ebri and Usani are two heavyweights that winning a state constituency election shouldn’t have been a problem. Ebri is a household name in Cross River politics that’s highly respected across party lines while Usani on the other hand, a then serving Minister is a fierce Politician who many believe have mastered the tricks of winning election.

    With all these credentials, the juggernauts failed to deliver the constituency to APC due largely to the choice of candidate in that election. The candidate divided opinion among loyalists of the former Minister and his former Boss, Chief Ebri. This division affected the commitment of party faithfuls who didn’t actually worked for the party or anybody at all.

    There have been series of other examples where the ground was very soft as it is today for the APC to win the northern senatorial district election but because of the strange politics of “anybody APC presents will win the election”, a party that boast of many of the who is who in Cross River State have been limited to just one win.

    The success of the party in the only win; ,Yakur/Abi federal constituency won by Chief Alex Egbonna should ordinarily serve as a guide going forward but some members are still trying to play the old style of thinking that even if an inanimate object is presented against anybody by the PDP, APC will win.

    The crisis brewing in PDP today is also giving the APC ‘anybody’ politicians the hope that whether the right candidate is fielded or not, the party will coast home to victory.

    This is not true. Only the right candidate will win APC the northern senatorial district election not anybody.

    Even if the PDP continue as a divided party into the election, if APC fails to field the right candidate, they’ll not get the right results.

    It will even be dangerous for any party at all not just APC to rely on the crisis brewing in PDP to decide who fly the party’s flag. PDP has mastered the act of reconciliation. In 204/2015, it was like PDP will explode in the state but few days to election, they closed rank and delivered the party 100%.

    Even before the 2019 general election, many had predicted that, from the national to states, the party was going into extinction but this wasn’t the case as it returned even stronger to challenge APC for the top seat in the country.

    APC especially in the state is still learning the mastery of reconciliation. This is why the party has remained divided for more than three years. No doubt, there’re encouraging signs that the party is walking stoutly towards returning as one, but it has taken just too long for the leaders of the party to realise that the time for ego fight is over, now the party needs to be winning election.

    Who then is a right candidate?

    The right candidate for the next northern senatorial district bye-election should be someone in the mold of Chief Alex Egbonna. A proven performer, a grassroot mobilizer, someone whose impact is still fresh and still being felt by the people, someone with network, popularity and acceptability across party lines and above all, a candidate with the resources for the election.

    Going by these credentials, only one aspirant in APC fits perfectly and that’s, Prof. Zana Akpagu.

    Prof. Akpagu, the incumbent Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar is the only person going into the election that his name ring bell across every local government in the north, the state and beyond. He has touched more lives than any other in person in the last four and half years from the zone. His popularity and acceptability is across all divides. He is a thorough breed grassroot mobilizer and above the par performer.

    What he has done in the past few years place him way ahead of everybody who has indicated interest in all the political parties not just the APC. In terms of job creation and community development, nobody has done it better than him. Many families who hitherto were struggling to put food on their tables are today feeding other families courtesy of him.

    Despite the fact that the PDP is engrossed in a bitter fisticuff, the northern senatorial district is where the Governor comes from and nobody can undermine the power of the Governor. Therefore, if APC has serious interest in winning the election then it must put forth it best and see winning election to be more important than frivolities expressed by some who may not be truly interested in seeing the party win.

    APC can’t afford to repeat the politics of anybody can win election and expect anything other than a resounding defeat. Nobody except Alex Egbonna would have been able to win the Abi/Yakur federal constituency for APC and as it stance today, nobody other than Prof. Akpagu may be able to win APC the Senate election.

    With Egbonna success, the choice of Akpagu should be an easy and unanimous one but only time shall tell whether the party is truly interested in winning election.

    ®Z-Effect Media

     

    Disclaimer

    This is solely the views and opinion of Z-Effect Media and does not represent THELUMINENEWS.

  • David Abua: Vice Chancellor With The Midas Touch

    David Abua: Vice Chancellor With The Midas Touch

    By Com. Ogar Emmanuel Oko

    In ancient Greek mythology and classical literature, a legend is told of a king who lived and ruled Phrygia in Asia Minor about 8th (some scholars have argued in support of 2rd century) century before the birth of Christ by the name — Midas.

    Satyr aka Silenus was a companion of Dionysus, an Olympian god of winemaking, ritual madness, grape-harvest, theatre, fertility and wild frenzy was drunk and found himself on the warmth arms of Phrygian peasants who brought him to Midas. Midas took care of him for ten days and on the eleventh day, he returned him to Dionysus. For the act of hospitality and generosity shown to Silenus, Dionysus granted Midas’ modest request which was whatever he might touch should be changed into gold and his chalices, furniture and daughter, Marigold (Zoe) became gold.

    Nowadays, to have the Midas touch means to have the ability to be successful in doing whatsoever one does. In recent years in the annals of the prestigious Cross River University of Technology (CRUTECH), one of the many overseers who had superintended over the affairs of that famous institution with somewhat like a Midas touch is certainly the incumbent Acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. David Abua Ogar.

    Well, it isn’t the crux of this piece at this juncture to weary my readers with copious citation of Professor David. However, for the sake of the knowledge of the unsuspected population of my readers whom have not had the privilege of knowing Prof. David, that I feel obliged to reveal in brevity his personality in few lines.

    Prof. Ogar, David Abua is a professor of Forest Economics and Management. He hails from Adiehe, Bekwarra Local Government Area in Cross River State. He got his PhD in Forest Economics and Management in 2001 from the University of Ibadan. The Acting Vice Chancellor began his scholarly career as a college lecturer in the Cross River State College of Agriculture, Obubra in 1995 and 1996, he was employed as an Assistant Lecturer in the University of Calabar where he rose through diligent and courageous efforts to the coveted professorial rank in 2015.

    He has been a Visiting and Adjunct Lecturer to the Department of Forestry and Wildlife, University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State from 2008 – 2012. Prior to his appointment as Acting Vice Chancellor of Cross River University of Technology in November 2019, Prof. David was Sub-Dean, Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Wildlife Resources Management in the University of Calabar from 2004 – 2006 and Acting Head of Department, Department of Forestry and Wildlife Resources Management, University of Calabar from 2006 – 2008. He was Head of Department of Forestry and Wildlife for about 3 months from September 2019 to November 2019 before His Excellency, Prof. Ben Ayade, the governor of Cross River State appointed him as Acting VC of CRUTECH.

    He belongs to some reputed professional bodies such as Forestry Association of Nigeria (FAN); Nigerian Environmental Study Action Team (NESAT), Nigerian Rural Participatory Appraisal Network ( NIPRNET), Rainforest Alliance (worldwide), Forest, Trees and People (worldwide), The Fulbright Association of Nigeria (worldwide) and The European Centre for Research, Training and Development, United Kingdom.

    That being said, for the past 5 months that Prof. David took over the reins of leadership in CRUTECH, he has rendered efficient, conscientious and obtrusive but invaluable services to this great institution in tandem with the advantageous policy of His Excellency, Prof. Ben Ayade in revamping the educational sector in the state.

    It’s a trite — perhaps, a commonplace to avow that there’s absolutely no perfect system. Every system has its peculiar bottlenecks that militate against development, innovations and stunt growth. Albeit, men have always risen to take up the gauntlet and CRUTECH isn’t an exception. The institution has its challenges and they’re people conjoining forces with Prof. David to take up the gauntlet and cut the Gordian Knot. The team of seasoned administrators in that citadel of learning are solving difficult problems by adopting bold and drastic measures.

    Before now, the security and surveillance networks were quite porous and appalling. Cultism was canonized. Goons, gangsters and racketeers had colony on campus where they carried out antisocial activities. Obviously, the campus was gradually sliding on the precipice of Hobbesian anarchy where life is short, hellish, brutish and nasty for members of the University community until the collaborated efforts of the school’s management and that of the state’s coercive instrumentalities restored peace, normalcy and order to the system.

    Being a former Examination Officer in the Department of Forestry and Wildlife Resources Management in Unical; External Examiner for undergraduate and postgraduate oral examination to the Department of Social and Environmental Forestry, University of Agriculture, Markudi, Benue State and member of Examination Malpractice Committee, Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Wildlife Resources Management, Prof. David has been able to bring to the table the experience garnered to solving the related problems of examination malpractice in CRUTECH to a reasonable extent.

    Today, the laboratories and workshops in all the campuses are being equipped. The school’s lands are being surveyed, landscaped and walled. Staff and students’ welfare is given high premium. Grants for research are released on time. Human capital development of staff is encouraged. Measures are put in place to increase the internally generated revenues to relieve the institution of total reliance on government for funding. The institution is focusing on improving the poultry and fishery ventures in this regard.

    Hand sanitizers produced from the school are now being used by the public in preventing covid-19 pandemic. Portable (drinkable) water in plastic bottles and sachets packaged from the school are being consumed by members of the public. Renovation of dilapidated structures is ongoing. Lecture venues for students are now made conducive to enhance teaching and learning.

    The facts aren’t in contention that the standards set by Prof. David’s predecessors aren’t only been maintained but obtrusively taken to a new, lofty and golden height for the admiration of all and sundry. Taking a cursory look at the transformations and improvements in the institution, one would gladly agree that Prof. Ogar, David Abua like Hercules has cleansed the CRUTECH (Augean) stables perfectly well. How? Check the itemized achievements below.

    The Acting Vice Chancellor upon assumption of office accomplished some uncommon task within and outside of the University community:
    1. Meeting with Various Stakeholders in the University: The Ag. VC in order to have an understanding of the University community, engaged all the stakeholders in the University individually and as groups to enable him plan for the development of the institution.

    2. Bill to CRHA: For the change of University name, a bill was taken by the Ag. VC to the CRHA to change the University name in line with NUC requirement. The bill has been passed by the House and awaits accent by His Excellency.

    3. Campus Tour: The Ag. VC, upon assumption of office embarked on a tour of the Main Campus and the other 3 Campuses to assess facilities on ground and identify challenges.

    4. Functional Medical Centers: The Medical Center at the Calabar Campus has been made fully functional, which was almost moribund as at the time of assumption of office. In keeping to his 5-point agenda, welfare of students and staff, he repaired the X-ray and Dental machines, installed a generator and repaired a borehole to supply water to the Center. Medical examination for the students and staff are now carried out in the Medical Center, hence generating money to the school, same project is on-going at the Ogoja campus. As part of staff welfare, upon assumption of office, the Ag. VC facilitated the regular and timely payment of salaries. This has been maintained since assumption of office.

    5. Repair of the Main Water supply equipment at Main Campus: As a matter of urgency, the VC has embarked on the repair of water system at the Calabar Campus to supply water to the University community, including staff quarters, hostels and offices. Water being a basic need is taken as a priority to the VC.

    6. CRUTECH Fountain Water: The University has successfully started the Production of table-water; producing sachet water, bottle water of 50cl and 70cl. With the successful installation of water equipment, the University awaits NAFDAC registration to start marketing of the products. This will serve as one of the IGR sources in the institution.

    7. Security: To address the security challenges on campus, trained security personnel have been recruited and equipped across the 4-campuses to face the security challenges on campus.

    8. Staff School (Nursery and Primary): The staff school, which have been operating without approval from the Ministry of Quality Education, have been fully certified to operate the nursery and primary schools and application for the secondary school have been made to the Ministry of Quality Education. By the Grace of God, the Secondary arm will commence study next academic session.

    9. Renovation of the Staff Club: “All work, without play makes Jack a Dull Boy Money have been approved for the renovation of the staff club. Theres need for a staff club for relaxation of staff on Campus.

    10. Graduate Assistantship (GAs) Placement: Before now, Graduate Assistants were not considered as staff and were placed on stipend; Council has approved the appropriate placement of GAs in line with the practice in other University.

    11. Staff Verification: Approval for staff verification/auditing has been given by the Government Council of the University and the exercise is on-going. The report will help management in planning.

    12. Examination Malpractice: The management has put measures in place to curb examination malpractice, extortion, corruption and sorting. So far, reaching measures have been taken, including not limited to customization of examination answer booklets.

    13. Verification of Receipts: In order to address the cutting of corners by students in fee payment, the Vice Chancellor has created a Desk Officer directly under his office to verify and screen receipts of students requesting for their certificates and transcripts, to ensure that they pay fees to the university accounts. This has yielded much result.

    14. Directorate of Research and Development: The Directorate of Research and Development has been created and fund attracted from TETFund. The directorate has also benefited from a conference sponsorship to Dubai from TETFund. The fund will be used to furnish and purchase utility Vehicle for the Center.

    15. TETFund: The Vice Chancellor upon assumption of office, has facilitated the release of fund to the University after initial delayed. This effort has yielded result as the University has within March 2020, secured TETFund Zonal Intervention for Infrastructure Development and Research and Development. Also, the school have nominated 3 academic staff to attend conference in USA and UK to be sponsored by TETFund.

    i. Secured the approval for the merger of the pending 2017, 2018 and 2019 TETFund outstanding balance for some projects. This was a major breakthrough to uplift the university infrastructure.

    16. Joint University Preliminary Education Board – JUPEB: The VC upon assumption of office, signed an MOU with JUPEB and has since commenced the operation of JUPEB in the University. This programme has generated some revenue to the University.

    17. Visit to the Paramount Rulers and Clan Heads of our Host Communities: Two weeks after assumption of office by the Ag. VC, he embarked on visitation to all the Paramount Rulers, Clan and Village Heads of our host communities across the 4 campuses of the University. The visits is yielding results, for instance, Ogoja campus has almost been completely fenced.

    18. Sport: The CRUTECH Sport Unit through the Kyrat Club were sponsored for a competition and came as runner up in the 2019 National Competition held in the University of Benin, Edo State. They won many gold, silver and bronze.

    19. Accreditation: Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Department of Accountancy participated in professional accreditation in exercise and we are expecting positive result. The University is also planning towards the accreditation of about 25 programmes in 2020 across the 4 Campuses in the University.

    20. Issuance of PG Certificates: The school have issued PG certificates which have been pending since the inception of the University. In addition, the university has provided certificate folders for safe keeping of the certificates and in turn generate revenue for the University.

    21. Orientation of Fresh Students: The Ag. VC revitalized Students Orientation and timely preparation of lecture time-table and teaching commencing as scheduled in the academic calendar for 2019/2020.

    THE VC’s INNOVATIONS TOWARDS INTERNAL REVENUE GENERATION

    WATER PRODUCTION: – The VC as a matter of priority initiated, through CRUTECH Consult, the production of 50cl, 70cl bottle and sachet water with the installation of latest equipment. This is expected to be a money spinning venture for the University, hence improving the IGR to reduce being over dependent on government to meet critical needs.

    THE MEDICAL CENTER:- The University Medical Center now provides basic medical services, since the installation of dedicated generator and borehole equipment. At the moment, all medical services are provided there. Medical examination for students and staff are being conducted there improving significantly the university IGR.

    PG STUDENTS CERTIFICATE FOLDER:- From the innovation, the University is making some money from the folders, thereby improving the IGR.

    FEE PAYMENT: – With the reintroduction of orientation of freshers and senate policy on fee payment, fee payment is very encouraging.

    JUPEB: – From the operation of JUPEB, the institution is generating some money internally.

    PROPOSED INTERNAL REVENUE GENERATION
    Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry:
    Direct production of food and forest products such as: Rice, Cassava, Maize, Yam, Livestock (Poultry, Fish, Pigs, Goat, Sheep, and Cattle), Oil Palm, Citrus, Teak, Gmelina, etc will be encouraged.

    CBN LOAN/GRANT: The University is Soliciting for Loan/Grant from CBN to go into agricultural production of Poultry, Rice and Fish.

    FUTURE PLANS
    Establishment of Renewable Energy Center/Directorate in the University in line with the State Government policy on renewable energy.
    Introduction of Short term-courses in Safety, Oil and Gas, Environment, Agric.
    Establishment of Wood Skill Acquisition Center for production of furniture for the University and possible commercialization.

    The governor richly deserves accolades for finding Prof. David worthy to oversee the state owned University as Acting Vice Chancellor. Therefore, it’s only wise to encourage Prof. David to continue with his Midas touch in changing CRUTECH to Gold. Bravo Prof.!

    Comr.(Hon) Ogar Emmanuel Oko
    07056270286 or [email protected]

     

    Disclaimer

    This article is solely the opinion of the writer, Comr. Ogar Emmanuel Oko and does not in any represent the Theluminenews.