The Lumine News

Category: Opinion

  • 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);
    fbilegalfirm@gmail.com

     

    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

     

    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

     

    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

    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

    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

    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.

  • Nigerian Governors Forum Now A Toothless Bulldog – Gov Wike

    By Paulinus Nsirim – Port Harcourt

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike says the Nigeria Governors Forum has become a toothless bulldog because it has lost focus on its role in defending the rule of law in the country.

    Governor Wike said the Forum used to be non-partisan and a powerful voice on national issues.

    He noted that since the All Progressives Congress(APC) took over the leadership of the body in 2015, Governors have turned to beggars.

    The governor made the assertion at media parley that held at Government House, Port Harcourt.

    “Before 2015, the Governors Forum used to be very powerful as symbols of their respective states but APC killed it because they were protecting the interest of the ruling Party.

    “During of one of the rerun elections in this state, my security aides were withdrawn thus exposing me to danger, the Forum did not say anything because the Chairman was a member of APC.

    ” I told them then that what they were doing was wrong. Now they have become a Beggars Forum even when there are constitutional infractions.

    “You can see that APC Governors say that they are progressive. You can see how progressive they are when they keep quiet when a fellow sitting governor is disqualified from contesting elections.

    ” Adams Oshiomole campaigned for Governor Obaseki four years ago. The same man has turned around to say that Obaseki has a defective certificate.

    “Has Oshiomole apologised to Nigerians that he supported someone with a defective certificate? Who is saying that a sitting governor has a defective certificate? Is it a man that does not have a certificate?

    ” Oshiomole should be told to practice what he preaches.

    ” APC wants to perpetrate impunity in Edo State the way they unleashed terror in Rivers State in 2019.

    “They think because they have the Army, Police and INEC they can do anything and get away with it.

    “They tried it in Rivers State but God gave us the will to say no. I hope Edo people will also say no to their impunity,” he stated.

    Speaking on Governor Obaseki’s planned defection to PDP, Governor Wike said he would be happy to receive him.

    He however, said that he would not guarantee automatic ticket for him because Edo people would decide.

    “Edo PDP have a role to play. There is nothing like endorsement. But I must tell you that I am not happy the way he was disqualified by the APC because it will affect his integrity, “he said.

    The governor debunked insinuations made by the State Chairman of the Nigeria Medical Association(NMA), Dr. Obelebra Adebiyi about the State’s response towards COVID-19 and said the State Government has given the Ministry of Health all that it requires to fight the pandemic.

    The governor stated that the increasing number of Covid-19 cases results from more testing conducted on persons and Obelebra who is in charge of the state treatment centre cannot politicise the fight by creating unnecessary panic to score cheap political points.

     

  • APC Will Suffer For Disqualifying Obaseki – Oyegun

    By Admin

    The immediate past national Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Chief John Oyegun, has reacted to the disqualification of governor Obaseki by the APC screening panel, describing it as “an hatchet job.”

    In a statement signed by Oyegun’s Public Affairs Adviser, Ray Morphy, the former Edo state governor said: “The disqualification of Obaseki by the APC Screening Panel is a hatchet job aimed at installing a stooge that will allow some people unfettered access to Edo Treasury.

    “While not a surprise, that disqualification is clear indication that internal democracy has been murdered in APC, a party which we founded on the principles of fairplay and good conscience!

    “I daresay that APC will suffer dire consequences in Edo state if this disqualification is not speedily reversed.

    “As a matter of fact, Oshiomhole is indeed the one who is guilty of anti-party, not Obaseki. Oshiomhole is the one who is acting unconstitutionally not Obaseki. I hope that Oshiomhole will not go down in history as the undertaker of APC

  • Citizens’ Solution Network’s Press release On June 12 Democracy Day

    By Admin

    Today ought to be a day that we all are supposed to celebrate with great joy and jubilation. It is however sad that to note that, the current set of leaders we have in Nigeria are yet to truly live up to the spirit of June 12th.

    While we find the effort of the Buhari-led government to have made June 12 Nigeria’s Democracy Day commendable.

    We at Citizens Solutions Network believe more still need to be done to thoroughly and completely honour the spirit of June 12.

    As it stands, we are of the view that until the current crop of leaders we have in this country include M.K.O Abiola name among the official national list of Presidents we had ever had, their claim of believing in the ideology behind June 12 should be treated with strong and utmost suspicion.

    We at Citizens Solution Network strongly believe that, anything short of including M.K.O Abiola name among the gazetted list of Nigeria’s Presidents is a dangerous mockery of the entire struggle of June 12 that led to the death of several Nigerians, and a display of lack of genuine democratic acknowledgment and historical honesty.

    Let it be on public registry and national archive, that today, Citizens Solution Network demand the inclusion of M.K.O Abiola name to the officially recognised list of Presidents, Nigeria had ever had, and his name should come immediately after the name of IBB and before that of Abacha.

    This is the way to go to truly demonstrate sincerity to the idea and struggle. And for those saying, he never took the oath of office, we demand that the current Chief Justice of Nigeria should administer the oath to M.K.O Abiola posthumously. Let’s lead the world in this way by doing the right thing.

    Thanks

    Signed

    Richard F. Inoyo
    Country Director, Citizens Solution Network.

    For: Civilian Population and Council.

  • Vena Ikem’s Congratulatory Letter To Newly Elected Chairmen And Councillors In Cross River State

    By Admin

    Welcome to A New Dawn: A letter of congratulations to The newly elected Chairmen and councillors in Cross River State.

    As Gov Ayade takes a few steps in the direction of the change we desire let me use this forum to encourage him and also congratulate the newly elected Chairmen of the 18 local govt councils and their vice Chairmen together with the 196 councillors and very soon about 518 appointees to various positions in the councils.

    It is not true that we do not appreciate when positive steps are taken in the polity. It is that we desire to see more positive steps than occur in recent times and so we are usually skeptical of the steps when taken until they are concluded.

    As the election process has been concluded we feel happy that a breathe of fresh air has been injected into the life of Cross Riverians, and into our body politics, no matter how Imperfect the process may seem. Already the euphoria that has greeted the new and incoming administrations is palpable and an indication that it is what the people desire. The people have been waiting for this for so long and they are happy that it has finally arrived !

    I want to congratulate Gov. Ayade for finally arriving at a convergence with me in my anxiety to see Democracy take root once again at the grassroots level of our state. As a product of this tier of Govt I cannot help myself but encourage it’s elevation as a critical catalyst for grassroots development.

    Let me use this opportunity to also advise the new administrations in the various councils, that despite the challenges you may face, you owe your people the onerous responsibility to deliver on some critical challenges that must be confronting them in order to endear yourselves to them.

    Our people are yearning most of all to be listened to. To be heard. Building gigantic projects might appeal to them because we all yearn for development, but what is most critical is giving them a listening ear, empathizing with them and making the right effort to appreciate their yearnings and aspirations. This is most exemplified in making yourselves available to them when they need you in a timely manner.

    Do not surround yourselves with too many ‘boys’ that will make it difficult for the ordinary citizen of the local govt to reach you and discuss with you, no matter how briefly once in a while. Do not create a “security” cordon around yourselves that insulates you from the people you have been given the responsibility to administer.

    For most of you, your political career begins now. How you lay the foundation will determine how far you can go. Some of us did this 29 years ago and we are still blessed to be around. The secret is really as simple as I am spelling out to you: Live simple. Keep in touch with your people. Don’t be in a hurry to get rich. A good and impactful politician never really gets rich! He or she is often too busy making sacrifices to remember to accumulate enough to get rich. In this class of 18/18/196, of 2020, new stars will be made. Future ministers, Governors, commissioners etc are already being groomed. Are you going to be one of the few or will you return to relative obscurity and blame Governor Ayade for not “allowing you to make money”?

    The Governor has given you this rare opportunity to distinguish yourselves which many have sought all their political career and never got. He cannot be your excuse for failure to live up to the aspirations of your people.

    Your people are watching as you change friends, change appetite, change women/ men change clothes and accommodation but your excuse will constantly be that “the governor is not giving us money”! But he is giving you enough to change all these things except offer a little helping hand to those who today are all over you, supporting you. Those who put their lives on the line and quarrelled with others in the bid to support you to get here.

    Watch your every step. Have empathy for your friends, brothers, sisters and electorates. If you think people are not seeing you, surely God is and will reward you abundantly over the course of time, if you do well, if not with material gratification, with long service to humanity and a good name.

    Eschew crisis as much as possible. Avoid trouble in your councils and always prefer the path of amicable resolution of differences and there will be peace in your councils, which is the ultimate desire of our people.

    Keep yourselves close, don’t harbour grudges against those who didn’t support you because you are now representing all.

    Most of all make yourselves a vessel for good, no matter how little, day by day and you will be amazed how much good you are capable of doing in a very short time.

    I want to live to be able to point at you in a couple of years at my retirement and say, (s)he was a chairman when Gov. Ayade organized the first local govt election and I was the State Chairman of our great Party !

    Wishing you God’s abiding graces and guidance throughout your tenure.

    Long live Cross River State!!!

    Long live The People’s Democratic Party! ( PDP).

    Vena. Ikem.

     

    Disclaimer: This opinion is strictly that of Vena. Ikem and does not represent THELUMINENEWS or its staff.