The Lumine News

Category: Politics

  • Reclaim Cross River Took The Initiative To Purchase Nomination Form For Sen Sandy Onor Because He Has The Pedigree To Take Cross River Out From The Doldrums Of Maladministration – Paul Ishabor

    Reclaim Cross River Took The Initiative To Purchase Nomination Form For Sen Sandy Onor Because He Has The Pedigree To Take Cross River Out From The Doldrums Of Maladministration – Paul Ishabor

    By Elijah Ugani

    The Director General of the Reclaim Cross River, Paul Ishabor Esq, has stated that the group decided to purchase the expression of intent form for Sen Sandy Onor to actualize his dream to reclaim Cross River State from the doldrums of maladministration and return it to the path of growth and development.

    Ishabor disclosed this to TheLumineNews on a telephone call.

    His words “The dream to reclaim Cross River is meant to take Cross River State back from the doldrums of maladministration and return Cross River State to the part of growth and development.

    “And we found out that the only person who can do the job among those who have come out to aspire to lead us is Distinguished Sen Sandy Ojang Onor. He has the pedigree, he has the intellect, he has integrity, he has character and he has the institutional memory that can galvanize the needed support from those who mean well for Cross River State and bring us back to the path of growth and development.

    “We are happy that we took the initiative to purchase the expression of interest and nomination form for him as Reclaim Cross River.

    “As the Director General of Reclaim Cross River, I want to commend particularly the Board of Trustees Chairman, Mr John George, and all members of the group for our enormous support and contribution for the actualization of today”

    The DG noted that “the journey to reclaim Cross River was signaled by the judgement of the Federal High Court which took back our 18 House Assembly and two Federal House of Representative seats which the present administration felt that it was within their capracises to decide on”

    Ishabor used the opportunity to call on all lovers of Cross River State who are still undecided to come to terms with the fact that Cross River State is already ran underground, and we need to reclaim the state. “The umbrella is big enough to accommodate every Cross Riverian of goodwill, who has the right vision. Politics is a game of number. Our doors will be opened between now and 2023 to welcome Cross Riverians of all works of life into our fold to ensure that we actualize our dreams” He added.

  • Cross River APC In Urgent Need Of Peace, Unity And Healing BY DOMINIC KIDZU

    Cross River APC In Urgent Need Of Peace, Unity And Healing BY DOMINIC KIDZU

    The much awaited National Convention of our great party is only three days apace yet there are still too many discordant voices coming from the party in Cross River State. It is almost as if there exists a simmering underlining discontent especially amongst the old members who held sway at the party before Governor Ben Ayade’s entrance and the deluge that followed him into the party. Although the malignant grudge has remained largely understated in open spaces it has been festering threateningly on the inside and now requires an urgent and masterful political apothecary to clean, heal and bind us all together even before the epoch making event of March 26, 2022 gets underway.

    Perhaps that is why in spite of the party’s attempt at consensus agreement in selecting its torchbearer for the position of National Women Leader zoned to the state, two other women went ahead to purchase forms for the contest and are even now campaigning vigorously for the same position in the Federal Capital and other states. A robust contest among the three women on the grounds of the convention will only expose the innate weakness on the part of party members from Cross River, the lack of cohesiveness thereof and show us off as an unorganised brigade of the APC army that is ill prepared for the general battle of 2023.

    Fortunately for the party, both sides to the argument have a valid point to canvass and it seems to me that the loincloth is at this point only soaked with water but not burnt in the fire. The state Chairman of the party and our leaders must move swifty to listen to the complaints from both sides and offer needed assurances urgently to forestall the possible shameful debacle that looms ahead in a few days. As a party man and a statesman what is important to me is the way that my party and my state are presented and seen in the comity of other states and the respectability that should be our just trophy if we conduct our affairs positively with unity, poise and candour.

    The old members of the party who unfortunately now feel that their years of labouring in the vineyard of opposition to hold the party aloft up until recently have not been rewarded and that instead of their just desserts the party has been stealthily taken away from them harbour genuine concerns and must be assured of their place and entitlement in the party and there is no better time to do so than now. The APC was formed in the first place as a bulwark against the perceived unfairness of the PDP in the distribution of advantage which drove many of its state governors and legislators to join forces with the opposition parties to form the APC. Such a party cannot now be seen as foisting injustice on its members be they old or new.

    It is important for the older members of the APC in Cross River State to also note that once there is a merger or collaboration with a larger and stronger group the political equity holding must of neccesity change and the balance of advantage would at first appear to be in favour of the arriving but powerful group until a proper and deliberate redistribution is put in effect that can assuage and satisfy all contending interests. While it may appear today that the new members of the party have seized the power base, the two groups must recognise the fundamental structure of the party nationwide which has put enormous power in the hands of the Governors as leaders of the party in their various states. The way this enormous powers is deployed however would be key in building a strong and cohesive party that both the old and new members can be proud of.

    Political parties are entities with a life of their own which grow and develop with time and space. Unfortunately, the APC is one of the youngest parties in the country and is still grappling with the teething challenges of stabilisation nationwide. In Cross River State the party is just taking its first few steps in governance and it will take some time for the new wine to mature in the cellar no matter that it was made from the most vintage of grapes. For the moment everything must be done by the Cross River State delegation to the National Convention to work together as a single interest so that they can bring back home the best that we deserve as a state and as a party. I have no doubt in my mind that in the coming days what appears today as differences would ultimately become the very wires that will bind us together as a solid party. For instance the position of Special Leader which was also zoned to the state has graciously been taken by someone from the old APC and I have not heard one complain from anyone from the new APC. That is the only way we can grow going forward and strengthen ourselves for the challenge of the PDP as we move closer to 2023.

  • The Obvious Disconnect Between The Constituents And Their Representatives Is My Motivation To Offer Myself To Serve My People – Okiri

    The Obvious Disconnect Between The Constituents And Their Representatives Is My Motivation To Offer Myself To Serve My People – Okiri

     

    Mr Cosmas Okiri, an aspirant to represent Obudu State Constituency in the Cross River State House of Assembly, comes 2023 under the People’s Democratic Party PDP, has stated that the disconnect between the constituents and their representative is his major motivation to aspire to bridge the gap.

    In this interview with The Lumine News, he bares his mind.

    TLN: Can we meet you please?

    Cosmas: My name is Cosmas Okiri, from Ukwutia village in Utugwang North ward of Obudu LGA. I hold a masters in Business Administration from the University of Calabar and an international certified Supply Chain Professional with about 15 years experience in the oil and Gas industry. A former student unionist and Trade union leader with a passion for serving and liberating people.

    TLN: What is your motivation to serve?

    Cosmas: My motivation to offer myself to serve the people of Obudu state constituency is drawn from the obvious disconnect between the constituents and the supposed Representative in the state Assembly in the past administrations. Majority of Obudu constituents do not know who is representing them presently in the House of Assembly. worse still is the fact that the representative doesn’t know upto 2% of those she represents. How then can we achieve the best for our people when there is this gap disconnecting the people. I intend to bridge this gap and bring on board an all inclusive participatory approach of representation to midwife group impact and effect on the people and not individuals effect, where others are only onlookers.

    TLN: What is your plan for youth inclusiveness in your policy formulation and implementation?

    Cosmas: The youths remains the main focus of my policy blue print as I personally have a passion for youth development as the youths constitute more than 60% of the populace and remains the most active resource for our collective growth and development as a nation. I intend to engage the youths and carry them along in every project to be embarked on. I will work with the youth council and students associations to synergize and achieve this.

    TLN: How do you intend to harness the vast potentials in the youths to solving the myriads of challenges confronting us using the Tech Solution?

    Cosmas: The youths remains the most active part of the entire population in our constituency and the world over, this should be seen as an advantage to be utilized for the good of the populace. If the energy and active ingredients that the youths go about with is not properly harnessed and positively utilized, they will channel it to something negative and unwholesome to the detriment of the society. I will engage and encourage the youths in capacity building by providing the right activities and resources required to keep them on the positive track. This includes but not limited to special skills acquisition in ICT training majorly and other important sectors of the economy where they can provide needed services and earn income.

    TLN: How do you intend to advance the course of empowerment in your constituency?

    Cosmas: My approach to empewring my constituents will be first to engage the people in quarterly town hall meetings and getting first hand priorities from a collective perspective, the areas that would best benefit our people and then providing the needed resources to boost such activities our people engage in. Empowerment should have a collective impact and effect on the people and not only individual effect where others are only onlookers.

    TLN: Bearing in mind that your constituents are predominantly peasant farmers, what is your plan to advance their livelihood?

    Cosmas: Agriculture remains the most important aspect of any economy as we need food for sustenance and commercial purposes. The raw materials required by most of our industries are from the Agricultural sector and this has to be properly harnessed by our local farmers. We will encourage the peasant farmers with the necessary things required to boost and expand their farming scope to be able to earn better income from their farming activities. Empowerment in the Agricultural sector will be a focal point.

    TLN: How do you intend to strengthen stakeholders engagement in your constituency?

    Cosmas: I intend to be holding townhall meetings with the constituents every quarter, thereby providing opportunity for continued engagement with the people where needs assessment will be carried out per time and worked on for the collective good of the people.

    TLN: Your party, the PDP is all over saying that it has returned the powers to the people to elect their leaders, do you have the confidence that you will have a level playing ground to advance your aspiration?

    Cosmas: The people’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Cross River State is on a new pedestal with a leadership that fought strongly against imposition and anti-democratic tendency of previous party leaders. The narratives have changed as witnessed by party faithfuls in the recent by-elections for Akpabuyo state house of Assembly seat and Ogoja/Yala Federal house of Representative. The party conducted a transparent primaries where all aspirants had a level playing field and accepted the outcome of the process without bickering.

    This has given me confidence as an aspirant to remain hopeful that the party will do the right thing.

    I have been a long standing party faithful and strongly believe that PDP is the right democratic platform to progress my ambition to serve our people.

    TLN: How have you impacted your people previously?

    Cosmas: In my private and personal life, I have reached out and supported a lot of students and youths from the constituency and believe that with the expanded scope of public office will offer me, it will give a better opportunity and liverage to impact the general populace through programs and projects that will benefit the people.

    TLN: What is your campaign ideology and your advice to your supporters?

    Cosmas: My campaign ideology is providing an all inclusive participatory representation in the house of Assembly if voted into office, comes 2023.
    The Obudu constituents have not felt any sense of representation for some years going in the CRSHA and we intend to bring back those days of reckoning where the people are properly carried along and people oriented legislation is being promoted in the legislative assembly.

    We will review obsolete laws in existence and bring on more relevant motions and bulls related to trending issues that best suits the modern and evolving society of this digital age.

  • Just In: EFCC Arrests Obiano At Lagos Airport

    Just In: EFCC Arrests Obiano At Lagos Airport

     

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Thursday arrested former Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano at the Murtala Muhammad International Airport Lagos.

    Obiano, who has been on the Commission’s watchlist, was arrested at about 8.30pm.

    He was reportedly on his way out of the country to Houston, Texas in the United States after handing over to his successor, Governor Charles Soludo.

    Channels Television had reported last November how the EFCC had placed Mr Obiano on a watchlist.

    The EFCC had requested the Nigeria Immigration Service to inform it anytime the Governor is travelling out of the country from any of the international airports, as well as other points of entry and exit.

    It is, however, not yet clear why the anti-graft agency placed the governor on a watchlist.

    Sources told Channels Television that the move was an indication that the agency may have been discreetly investigating the governor and possibly have intelligence that he was planning to escape after handing over power to his successor, Professor Charles Soludo, on March 16, 2022.

    Former Anambra State Commissioner for Information, Don Adinuba, had, at the time, condemned the EFCC watchlist reports, claiming that they were politically motivated.

    “Governor Obiano has a whole four months to remain in office as the Anambra State chief executive,” Adinuba said. “Nobody in Nigeria can circumscribe his constitutionally conferred immunity which shields him from both criminal and civil prosecution.

    “The EFCC went too far to announce in November that it is observing him. We are not aware of any state governor who had up to four months to be in office and the EFCC went on to sponsor media reports that he was being investigated.”

  • Amb Nkoyo Toyo Is Changing Political Campaign Narrative. What She Told Odukpani Youths

    Amb Nkoyo Toyo Is Changing Political Campaign Narrative. What She Told Odukpani Youths

     

    By Our Reporter

    The Founder of Gender And Development Action and a major contender for the office of governor of Cross River State, Amb. Nkoyo Toyo met with youths of Odukpani local government area to intimate them of her intention to contest for the office of Governor.

    Amb Toyo, a former federal lawmaker at the meeting stressed the need for young people to begin to ask aspirants the right questions that will generate right answers.

    She cautioned young people against thuggery and all forms of political violence, while advising them to refrain from being used as channels of destruction by some politicians and enemies of democracy.

    At Odot ward, Amb Nkoyo Toyo appreciated the youths for coming out in their numbers to receive her and called on them to take time and scrutinize all those aspiring for the office of governor within the PDP family and choose from the best.

    Amb. Toyo who is the only female aspirant so far in PDP for the office of governor, described herself as the best person for the job with all the qualities of a leader.

    “Among all of use aspiring for this job, look at us very well and our qualifications, networks, previous achievements and judge us by that. The PDP has a lot of work to do. We are in the opposition and as such we need to project a candidate who is easy to market to the people. Not those who the people will reject even before you begin to talk about them

    “if they say the have gone to school, I have, they say they have been to the national assembly, I have also been there. Infact, my records while there speakes volume, more so with the testimonies all of you have mentioned here” Toyo said.

    In Adiabo ward where Amb Toyo also met with the youths leaders, she cautioned them against selling their consciences and votes for a token and suffer for another four years.

    Some of the youths who spoke at the meeting expressed appreciation to her for the visit while saluting her courage to contest for the office of governor come 2023.

    Amb. Toyo becomes the only governorship aspirant in the PDP who is connecting directly to the people through town hall meetings with different groups including Elders, Women, Youths and people living with disability across the state. A complete departure from the traditional campaign gatherings typical with politicians.

    According to her “we must change the narrative, this is the only way you can really know the problems of the people ward by ward, village by village and local government by local government. We want to be sure that at the end of the day, the people makes the right choice with the power that they have”

  • APC Needs 21-day Notice To Change Buni, Says INEC, Declines Invitation To Party’s NEC meeting

    APC Needs 21-day Notice To Change Buni, Says INEC, Declines Invitation To Party’s NEC meeting

    Culled from The Nation Newspaper
    By Yusuf Alli, Abuja 

    There seems to be no let up in the crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Yesterday, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said the party could only remove the National Chairman of Caretaker /Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), Governor Mai Mala Buni, and other officers after a 21-day notice to the electoral body.

    INEC said it cannot attend the emergency National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of APC next week because the party was yet to comply with relevant laws and regulations.

    It faulted the party for notifying it of its NEC meeting without the signatures of Buni and the Secretary of CECPC, Sen. John James Akpanudoedohe.

    It asked APC to follow due process if it wanted to effect change of leadership.

    INEC made its position known in a March 9, 2021 letter to APC by the Secretary, Mrs. Rose Oriaran-Anthony.

    The letter was in response to APC’s March 8, 2021 notice to INEC to hold a NEC meeting to ratify the choice of Governor Abubakar Sani-Bello as its new chairman.

    But the electoral agency said the laws do not have provision for emergency change of leadership by any party.

    INEC’s letter reads: “RE: INVITATION TO THE EMERGENCY MEETING OF THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (NEC). Please refer to your letter Ref. APC/NHDQ/INEC/019/022/32, dated 8” March 2022.

    “The commission draws your attention to the fact that the notice for the meeting was not signed by the National Chairman and National Secretary of the CECPC contrary to the provision of the Article 1.1.3 of the Commission’s Regulations and Guidelines for Poiitical Party Operations (2018).

    “ Furthermore, the APC is reminded of the provision in Section 82(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 which requires “at least 21 days’ notice of any convention, congress, conference, or meeting convened for the purpose of “merger” and electing members of its executive committees, other governing bodies or nominating candidates for any elective offices.”

    “While hoping these issues are noted for compliance, please accept the assurance of the commission’s warm regards.”

  • Emana Ambrose Amawu Inaugurates Her Campaign Team For The ABC House Of Representatives

    Emana Ambrose Amawu Inaugurates Her Campaign Team For The ABC House Of Representatives

    Odymonkez Blog 

    One of the leading aspirants for the  Akpabuyo, Bakassi and Calabar South  the Federal House of Representatives,  Emana Ambrose Amawu, inaugurated her campaign team at her Calabar residence.

    Speaking on her three points Agenda which represents the 3Rs, Rebirth, Restoration, Reward.

    Accordindly, her Rebirth Mantra is based on bringing new life to existence and Restoring the dignity of the three Local Government Areas under her district.

    Reiterating, she emphasized that the time has come for her people to reap the benefits of their many years of tilling and toiling as she is poised to birth a new era, restore the lost hope and foster a reward system for all their years of hardwork and labour.

    She added that a great deal of women have in the past performed excellently as women are know for great leadership qualities and as such should be given the opportunity for what they have to bring to the table not necessarily because there are women.

    Emana, who noted that leadership failure or success isn’t gender bais, as any gender can fail or succeed at a given task.

    All through her years of service as a media personality, she has carried out her job excellently, which includes but not limited to going to the field for reportage at any hour of the night irrespective of her gender thus arguing that responsibility or irresponsibility isn’t also gender bias.

    Emana, urges and solicites to the good people of Akpabuyo, Bakassi and Calabar South, to give her their entire support ahead of the audacious task as she recognizes the strength of team work.

  • Jarigbe Agom Empowers All PDP Chapter Executives In Obudu, Bekwarra And Obanliku Federal Constituency

    Jarigbe Agom Empowers All PDP Chapter Executives In Obudu, Bekwarra And Obanliku Federal Constituency

     

    The senator Representing Cross River North Senatorial District, Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, has empowered chapter executives of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Obudu, Bekwarra, and Obanliku Federal Constituency.

    The State Deputy Chairman of the party (North), Chief Austin Edibe, while presenting the items urged the beneficiaries to remain steadfast in their services to the party. He said the gesture is one of the ways in which the senator wishes to commend their efforts in supporting the party to grow from the grassroots.

    He further encouraged them to always have the interest of the party while working for the success and progress of the party in the senatorial district and state at large.

    Commenting on the development, Chapter chairmen and members of their cabinet, described the Distinguished Senator as a performer who has always kept his words in delivering the dividends of democracy to the good people of Cross River North, they appreciated the lawmaker and further pledged their unalloyed loyalty and support to ensure that the party moves to an enviable position in their respective local government areas.

  • PDP Appoints Jarigbe Agom Secretary, Lagos State Congress Appeal Committee

    PDP Appoints Jarigbe Agom Secretary, Lagos State Congress Appeal Committee

    The senator representing Cross River Northern Senatorial District, Sen Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe has been appointed alongside six others to serve in the Appeal Committee for the Lagos State Congress.

    In a release signed by the National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Hon Debo Ologunagba and sighted by TheLumineNews, indicates Sen Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe is to serve as Secretary while Aldophus Wabara PhD is to serve as Chairman of the committee.

    The release reads in full *March 2, 2022 Press Statement PDP Constitutes Lagos State Congress Appeal Panel.

    “The National Working Committee of our great Party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has constituted the Lagos State Congresses Appeal Committee to consider appeals arising from the conduct of the State Congress in Lagos State. The members of the Committee are:

    “1. H.E. Sen. Adolphus Wabara, PhD.- Chairman.
    2. Dr Akilu Indabawa – member
    3. Hajiya Inna Maryam Ciroma – member
    4. Chief Emmanuel Ogidi – member
    5. Hon. Aro Bamidele – member
    6. Barr Oji Zawo member
    7. Dist. Sen. Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe – Secretary.

    “The exercise is scheduled to hold on Thursday, March 3 to Friday, March 4, 2022 at the PDP National Secretariat, Wadata Plaza, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja. Signed: Hon. Debo Ologunagba National Publicity Secretary”.

  • Ogoja/Yala Bye-election: Cross River PDP Rejects Result, Alleges Rigging

    Ogoja/Yala Bye-election: Cross River PDP Rejects Result, Alleges Rigging

     

    The Peoples Democratic Party in Cross River State has rejected the result of the February 26 bye-election for the Ogoja/Yala Federal House of Representatives seat.

    Speaking at a news conference in Calabar, on Tuesday, the state Chairman of the party, Venatius Ikem, said the election was marred by malpractices and violence, insisting that the Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Mike Usibe, won the election.

    He accused some officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission of compromising the electoral process in favour of the All Progressives Congress, whose candidate, Jude Ngaji, was declared winner by the returning officer, John Edor.

    According to him, “We reject in totality the results announced by the Returning Officer in the Saturday, February 26, bye-election for the House of Representatives seat for Ogoja/Yala, in which the APC candidate was wrongfully declared a winner, because he did not score the majority of valid votes cast in that election.

    “The bye-election was characterised by massive irregularities, including violence, orchestrated by the APC-led government and her officials who snatched ballot boxes and other election materials at will at gun point and manipulated the results to their advantage.”

    He also alleged and demanded “as a matter of urgency the disbandment of the Special Police units under the Chief Security Officer of the Governor, which he is using for thuggery and political purposes, raining mayhem on innocent voters, contrary to all expectations of a neutral state security outfit.”

    Ikem also made other demands, among which is “that the Independent National Electoral Commission investigates its staff, especially one Mr. Toyin, an Assistant Director or Deputy Director in the Commission’s office in Calabar in charge of the IT unit, with a view to unravelling his interference with the BVAS machines deployed for the election, which he claimed that 5 units were missing
    before the election, and which were alleged to have suddenly emerged at election centres.

    “We demand that Mr. Festus Okoye (National Commissioner) be equally investigated and never again posted for election duty to Cross River State, because he has shown clearly that he comes
    here at the behest of Governor Ayade and to do his dirty work of subverting the will of the electorate in the state.

    “Most importantly, we demand that INEC should produce all BVAS machines used for the election to ascertain if the accreditation recorded in the machines corresponds with the number of votes declared by the Returning Officer in the February 26 bye-election.”

    He said the party has evidence to prove that the election was rigged in favour of the All Progressives Congress and hoped that the result will be upturned through legal processes in favour of the PDP.

    Video clips of the alleged violence and ballot box snatching by the APC officials were shown to journalists at the venue of the event.