The Lumine News

Category: Politics

  • Despite The Hardship And Tinubu’s Inability To Fix The Economy, APC Allegedly Commence Permutation For 2027 General Elections

    Despite The Hardship And Tinubu’s Inability To Fix The Economy, APC Allegedly Commence Permutation For 2027 General Elections

    Culled From Nesweekng

    Controversy is said to be brewing in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) over the high cost of contesting elections on the party’s platform due to the increase of the expression of interest and nomination forms since its formation in 2014.

    The cost of APC presidential and governorship forms in 2014, ahead of the 2015 general elections, was ₦27.5 million and ₦5 million, respectively.
    In 2019, it increased to ₦45 million and ₦22.5 million. It, however, climbed to ₦100 million and ₦50 million in 2023, respectively.

    A party stalwart have urged the leadership of the ruling APC to make the 2027 contest less expenssive, alleging that despite raking in billions of Naira from the sale of expression of interest and nomination forms before the 2023 elections, the party has failed to give an account of how the money was spent.

    In a statement on Tuesday, the former national vice chairman (North West) of the APC, Salihu Mohammed Lukman, lamented the increasing cost of contesting elections in the party.

    He expressed fears that by 2027, the APC might charge ₦250 million for expression of interest and nomination forms for the presidency and ₦125 million for the governorship.

    According to him, the APC is “progressively losing the little democratic credentials,” which encouraged Nigerians to expect the possibility of a progressive party emerging out of it in 2015.

    Reacting to the development, the APC National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, said, “The issue of cost of forms for next elections is all speculations.”

    On his part, a Professor of Political Sociology at the University of Abuja, Kari, however, told reporters that placing high fees has continued in the APC because it is the ruling party.

    He also attributed it to the systematic monetization of Nigerian politics and the activities of a select few influential individuals who have hijacked the party.

    “The fee for APC has been the highest because it is the ruling party. The underlying assumption is that anybody who gets APC ticket will likely get elected. It is an assumption that may be true. It may not be true,” he said.

    Kari stated that if the party leadership can put obstacles on the way to political participation through this constant hiking of the fee for nomination, “you have blocked the very essence of democracy, and that is exactly what is happening. So the regime of high fees is a huge stumbling block on democracy because it stops those who cannot pay from participating.”

  • C’River: Tribunal Upholds Governor Otu’s Election

    C’River: Tribunal Upholds Governor Otu’s Election

    The Governorship Election Tribunal in Cross River State, has upheld the election of Governor Bassey Otu.

    The tribunal in its ruling, held that, the issues of Certificate brought before it by sandy Onor of PDP, was a pre-election matter.

  • Ayade’s Approval: Due Process Was Rigorous, Water Tight, Egbelo Replies Ogbeche 

    Ayade’s Approval: Due Process Was Rigorous, Water Tight, Egbelo Replies Ogbeche 

    Ayade’s Approval Due Process Was Rigorous, Water Tight

    Our attention has been drawn to an online publication purportedly authored by Mr. Emmanuel Ogbeche, the press Secretary to Gov. Bassey Otu

    We want to state categorically that under Governor Ben Ayade, at no time was any government approval granted via whatsapp or any social media channel as opined by Mr. Ogbeche

    Appointees of the Ayade administration are still alive and can bear testimony to the rigorous procedure of securing government approvals.

    Every approval, including major land allocations, compulsorily passed through the scrutiny of the Executive Council, Due Process and Audit before getting to the final nod of Governor Ayade.

    Former Governor Ayade and Gov. Otu share a very cordial relationship that has lasted for years, dating back to their years as lawmakers in the National Assembly.

    It is important for Mr. Ogbeche and his co-travellers to note that such statement will be misinterpreted as a rift between Gov. Otu and his immediate predecessor,  His Excellency, Sen. Prof. Ben Ayade.

    We are not unaware of Mr. Ogbeche’s long standing romance with the PDP, therefore, it is now imperative to state emphatically that Mr. Ogbeche is a PDP agent sent to cause disaffection among members of the APC in Cross River State.

    We advise Ogbeche to thread carefully and respect the existing peace and harmony amongst members of the APC family in Cross River State

    Governor Ayade gave his all to ensure Gov. Bassey Otu emerged victorious in the last gubernatorial election, so, Mr. Ogbeche is a beneficiary of Gov. Ayade’s wise decision and shouldn’t be acting like a fifth columnist.

    The APC family in Cross River State remains one indivisible family.

    Egbelo Edward N.
    For Sen. Prof. Ben Ayade Media

  • Under Ayade, Govt Approvals Were Done Via Whatsapp – Ogbeche

    Under Ayade, Govt Approvals Were Done Via Whatsapp – Ogbeche

     

    Emmanuel Ogbeche, the spokesperson to Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State, said the new administration inherited a “rundown” state.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the spokesperson stated this when he spoke with the members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Cross River State Council, in Calabar on Monday.

    Mr. Ogbeche stressed that the state was “badly rundown” and that it would require the support and collaboration of all to put things in order.

    He, however, said Governor Otu is up to the task of turning things around.

    According to him, “Otu inherited a rundown state. It was badly rundown… There is no record of anything; approvals were given on WhatsApp messages.

    “It will require a lot to turn the state around, and thank God we have a capable and listening governor ready to provide the needed leadership.”

    Speaking further, Mr. Ogbeche solicited the NUJ’s support for the governor while promising that the governor would support the union.

    He said he is ready to give his all to justify the governor’s confidence.

    “This is a job I never lobbied for or didn’t make any call nor contact anyone to secure the job.

    “The job found me with God’s grace, and I am ready to do everything to justify that confidence reposed on me by the governor.

    “As a member of the union and the immediate past chairman of Abuja council, I will ensure a robust relationship between the governor and the media practitioners in the state,” he stated.

    The Chairperson of the NUJ in the state, Nsa Gill, congratulated Mr. Ogbeche on his appointment and promised that members of the union in the state would work to ensure he succeeds in his new office.

  • If APC Loss The Governorship Election Of 11th March, 2023 The Entire Blame Should Go To Governor Ben Ayade And The Party Leadership BY MFAM MBIA ASU

    If APC Loss The Governorship Election Of 11th March, 2023 The Entire Blame Should Go To Governor Ben Ayade And The Party Leadership BY MFAM MBIA ASU

    AT THE MOMENT, THOSE OF US WHO WERE CALLED ALL SORTS OF NAMES BECAUSE OF OUR LOYALTY TO THE APC HAVE BEEN VINDICATED:
    ~By Comrade Mfam Mbia Asu(CIFIAN).

    If APC loss the Governorship election of 11th March,2023 the entire blame should go to Governor Ben Ayade and the Party Leadership in Cross River State.

    After the impunity and imposition by APC in Cross River State called “Consensus” that produced Sen Prince Bassey Otu as the APC Governorship Candidate, the choice of Deputy Governor ought to be based on capacity and other factors that can give APC victory in Cross River State.

    Unfortunately, the impunity took the worst dimension as Old Ikom (the most marginalized Political bloc) in Cross River State was denied the opportunity to produce the APC Deputy Governorship Candidate. If the APC has given Old Ikom the Deputy Governorship slot,it would have helped to cushion the effect of the PDP Gubernatorial Candidate who hails from Old Ikom.

    To the chagrin of Party faithfuls, the Party and Governor Ben Ayade zoned the Deputy Governorship Position to Cross River North that has the incumbent Governor, incumbent Chief of Staff to the Governor, incumbent Minister, incumbent Chairman of Forestry Commission, incumbent State Chairman of APC, etc.

    To be Candid, the APC made a terrible blunder to zone the Deputy Governorship Position to Ogoja LGA that is the strongest hold of PDP in the entire Cross River State.

    I can still recall that I wrote an article last year stating that even if the law permit Political Parties to nominate three Deputy Governorship Candidate and even if APC decides to nominate all the three Deputy Governorship Candidates from Ogoja LGA, that APC would not be able to win Ogoja LGA.

    Due to my loyalty to the APC,I embarked on an independent survey in Cross River North, and I discovered that the most popular person from Cross River North at the moment is Distinguish Senator Stephen Odey and I made an appeal that Senator Stephen Odey should be given the APC Deputy Governorship ticket in order to our ease our job.

    My appeal for Senator Stephen Odey to be given the APC Deputy Governorship Position was resisted with the Wicked excuse that a House of Representative Member and a Deputy Governor can not come from the same Local Government Area. Whereas the APC Governorship Candidate and the APC Senatorial Candidate for Southern Senatorial District both hail from Odukpani LGA. Presently, Odukpani LGA has already produced the House of Representative Member-elect for Odukpani/Calabar Municipal Federal Constituency and Senator-elect for Southern Senatorial District. And we are still waiting to vote for Odukpani LGA to produce the Governor of Cross River State on March 11,2023. Indeed, God is an Odukpani man.

    Today, the reality is dawning on the Cross River State Chapter of Our Great Party and Our Leader, Sir Ben Ayade that winning an election should be based on the credibility and acceptability of the Candidates. It will be a herculean task for APC to win the 2023 Governorship in Cross River State.

    May God help the APC.

    I wish the APC well.

    ~Comrade Mfam Mbia Asu(CIFIAN),
    A Chieftain and Founding Member of the APC.
    02/03/2023.

     

    Disclaimer: The opinion expressed in this article is strictly that of the author, MFAM Mbia Asu, and does not represent TheLumineNews or its staff 

  • Now Is The Time To Focus On The Future Of Cross River State BY DOMINIC KIDZU

    Now Is The Time To Focus On The Future Of Cross River State BY DOMINIC KIDZU

    NOW IS THE TIME TO FOCUS ON THE FUTURE OF CROSS RIVER STATE

    Now that we have gotten over the emotional part of elections and have arguably lost some and won some, the time is ripe for us all to focus more objectively on the future of our state and less on our party, our brother, our friend. For any man who sets up a big company and decides to hand it over to his brother or club mate rather than to an experienced and capable manager will surely find his company in ruination and distress in the end.

    Luckily for us, we are only about to wake up from about eight years of agnatic kinship style of governance and the tyranny of cousins, with the elite deck magically restacked in less than a decade through exclusive patronage by the sovereign and the stuffed turtles hidden beneath the vinear of loyalty. The people have suffered greatly under the Egyptian captivity and the time has now come for their inexorable liberation.

    And now that it looks like Grigori Rasputin is set to leave the Winter Palace in Leningrad, the search for the new occupant must be deliberate and dispassionate, to find the right man for the job of clearing out the closet
    and cleaning up the Augean stable. These are truly uncertain days during which the citizens will hold their breath for two weeks, afrighted by the ghost of Banquo and the squamish feeling of de javu, uncertain still about the certainty of their own redemption or a darker, impending season ahead. As Achebe puts it so succinctly, ‘it is morning yet on creation day’.

    Unfortunately, politics is too divisive and self interest propelled to allow for clear-headed thinking and decision making even on a consequential subject matter such as this one. Having handed over our collective destiny and patrimony to different manner of leaders over the past twenty-three years, it should be concerning to us as a people and as a state who becomes Governor from May 29, 2023. The sheer weight of this period invites us to think deeply and make a dispassionate decision for our dear state and for ourselves.

    We don’t need a continuation of the nightmare of the last eight years in any guise or form. We don’t need a sectional leader whose allegiance will be to his tribe because it is their turn. Their turn to do what? Their turn to chop? That is not what we need as a state at this time. We don’t need the reign of Obudu mafia to be replaced by the reign of the Efik mafia. We need a Governor for all the people whose claim to the exalted office is based on his own self conviction that he is capable and ready to offer the best of himself in service for the good of all the people.

    Cross River State and it’s people have suffered enough, endured enough and sacrificed enough. We cannot afford to make another mistake. Right now we have gone down so deep that we need an elevator to bring us up to the ground floor. We can no longer allow sentiments, rather than our heads to determine our choices because eight years from May 2023 can be a long walk in the scorching sand of the Kalahari desert, when we could so easily have chosen the short road to the brook and the glory of our land.

    Disclaimer: The opinion expressed in this article is strictly that of the author, Dominic Kidzu, and does not represent TheLumineNews or its staff

  • Sandy Onor Meets Business Owners In Calabar, Assures That He Will Change The Story Of The State

    Sandy Onor Meets Business Owners In Calabar, Assures That He Will Change The Story Of The State

     

    By Dominic Kidzu

    The Nkonip Hall in Ikot Ansa was already filled to the outer fringes even before Senator Onor and his Deputy Governor designate swept into the arena, and a conspiratorial whispering campaign was afoot in the Hall with enthusiastic participants validating the certainty of a Sandy Onor governorship. Cecil Ita, Willy Okokon, Bassey Ekefre, Ubong Harry, Ntufam Okon Ekpo and a host of others were on hand to set things aright.

    Then the Irunando blew in like a tempest, in all his substantial physical quantity and intellectual clout, upsetting all previously held stock opinions and trenchant battlements. The way he held himself, the measured cadences of his speech, the poignancy of his delivery and the natural simplicity, without affectation, without pomp or circumstance, crowned him Governor-in-waiting. There was no bombast, no grammatical turgidity, no make-belief. Just a countryman’s conversation with his people for whom his passion soars. By his side was Emmana Duke Armawhe, the running mate, beautiful like an artwork, polite and refined as only an Efik lady can be and intelligent to boot.

    As Ntufam Dr. Francis O. Effiom told the audience, the occasion was intended for the business community to exchange ideas with the man who wanted to lead, since political power was only second to the power of God. The manufacturing Association of Nigeria, Calabar Chamber of Commerce, the artisans, tailors, mechanics, market women, keke owners and riders, taxi drivers, tipper association, and other traders were all represented in the meeting. “The present government has used too much of grammar to confuse us, please let this not be another round of grammar. ”

    Ken Asim Ita who represented the Calabar Chamber of Commerce, said that MSMEs employed about 86 percent of all workers in Cross River State. According to him, the business environment has not been favourable in terms of access to finance, access to markets, strangulating multiple taxation and poor government policies. While the representative of non bank micro finance association, Pastor Theodore Ebuta pointed out that this was the first time a governorship candidate was interacting with the business community in this way. The president of Timber Dealers Association, and clanhead of Uyangha, Chief Effiong Ewa Ebani, accused the forestry Commission of failing in it’s duty to control the wood business by allowing all kinds of people to invade the forest.

    Responding, Mrs Emmana Amarwe pointed out that lack of the will to follow through with its own policies by the state government was the reason why private businesses were suffering. “Our access to the ocean, our mineral endowments and tourism potential are our sure bet for prosperity if well harnessed. We are prepared to do things differently. We will listen to you and we will do your wish”.

    When Senator Sandy began to speak the audience erupted in excitement and chants of PDP filled the air. ” I like politics of truth. Hit the nail on the head. Our greatest problem as a state is lack of courage. We moan, we complain, we murmur, but we don’t say it as it is. When I was in government with Imoke, the bureau for investment was strong, the office for due process was about the best in the country, but today our tax system has been bastardized, our internally generated revenue has been personalized. I’m a professor, but there are professors and there are professors. I know what proper governance means to rural people and small scale businesses “.

    ” What is going on in this APC government is that there is a gap between the government and the people. You cannot sit in Calabar and continue to pontificate on what the people need. It is the people who tell government what they need. The people may not need the super highway, they may not need an airport, what they need are small projects.You can harvest the forest in a sustainable manner, not to destroy everything just to make profit. There is a forest in the middle of Rio de Janeiro. Tourists come from all over the world to see it. We won’t stop your trade but we will transform it into a more sustainable way. In this governance of falsehood they don’t mean what they say and they don’t say what they mean. Their candidate will not be different. If they knew he will be different they wouldn’t have given him the ticket anyway. ”

    ” You must refuse to be intimidated. The police are paid to protect you, not to intimidate you. Cultists are not spirits, stand up to them. We will win the elections and we will change the story of Cross River State because God is always on the side of truth. God is on our side.”

  • Gabu, Yache, Echumofana, Okuku And Ugaga Receives PDP Campaign Trail As Mass Defection Hits APC

    Gabu, Yache, Echumofana, Okuku And Ugaga Receives PDP Campaign Trail As Mass Defection Hits APC

     

    The Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), Candidates in Cross River North Senatorial District, led by Dist Sen Jarigbe Agom, today visited Gabu, Yache, Echumofana, Okuku and Ugaga wards of Yala Local Government Area as part of its ongoing ward-ward Campaigns.

    Sen Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, Barr Godwin Offiono and Barr Paul Ebiala PhD, in company of the PDP Cross River State Party chairman, Barr Vena Ikem and other Leaders of the party took the message of hope and continuity to the people, assuring them of even better representation by the party’s candidates.

    Sen. Jarigbe while speaking at the various wards, promised to sustain the momentum when re-elected as Senator.

    Barr. Goffio and Barr Paul Ebiala while speaking, also promised to emulate the good representation introduced by Sen Jarigbe at the House of Representatives and State Assembly respectively when elected.

    The party’s candidates were endorsed by the leaders and masses at the various wards, stating that the gesture was in appreciation of the many projects and empowerment carried out by PDP over the years and continually.

    Mass defection was also witnessed in Ugaga ward as “Ugaga Dependable Friends” led by Hon. Theresa U. Enyuma dumped APC. She stated that her group’s return to PDP was premised on the bad leadership of Hon

    Stella Odey and APC in general.

    CRN CAMPAIGN MEDIA.

    Stella Odey and APC in general.

    CRN CAMPAIGN MEDIA.

  • Arrest Of PDP Supporters In Ogoja: Ayade/APC’s your Plan To Utilize State Security To Intimidate Voters

    Arrest Of PDP Supporters In Ogoja: Ayade/APC’s your Plan To Utilize State Security To Intimidate Voters

    Culled From Weetalknaija.com

    A team of Nigerian Police personnel, on Monday, raided Ogoja Urban, arresting over 30 supporters of Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The team of security men which came all the way from the State Capital, was alleged to be acting on the directives of the State Governor, Ben Ayade.

    Sources have said that the police team was drafted from Ogoja, Ikom and Calabar to effect the arrests on trumped up charges of destruction of billboards and obstruction of public peace. But another source said during the Nortfest (New Yam festival), Ayade ordered that all PDP billboards be brought down in the entire Ogoja Urban, alluding to the fact that indeed the PDP billboards were brought down and under the supervision of security operatives. Some of the people so far arrested are key supporters of Sen. Jarigbe and supporters of other PDP candidates in the north.

    Reacting to the hideous political machination, the PDP Chairman, Cross River State, Mr Vena Ikem Esq, said “I have information on the alleged arrest of our supporters by police authorities, yesterday, in Ogoja. The APC and the boys have been stimulating crisis in the hope of using the police force to clamp down on our supporters, especially in the northern senatorial district.

    “Governor Ayade has lost all semblance of credibility amongst our people, but he is desperate to return to the Senate. So we know his game plan depends entirely on utilizing the state security to intimidate voters. How that will work for him remains to be seen”.

    The PDP State Chairman assured PDP supporters and the general public that “we will use all means at our disposal to frustrate such nefarious plans; Ayade and the APC will exhaust themselves before time because we will follow up all their shenanigans,” avowing that “Nigeria is still a country of law and order.”

    Confirming the arrest, the Police Public Relations Officer, Irene Ugbo, said: “Yes, I am aware of the Police arrests in Ogoja. They arrested them in connection with alleged destruction of APC billboards. When they bring the suspects, we would screen them and fish out the culprits and those innocent would be freed and those found culpable would be charged to Court.

    “The Police frown at destruction of billboards and we have earlier issued a statement about that.”

  • Mass Defection Hits APC In Obudu As PDP CRN Undertakes Ward To Ward Tour

    Mass Defection Hits APC In Obudu As PDP CRN Undertakes Ward To Ward Tour

    By Elijah Ugani

    In what can be best described as political suanamy, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Cross River North Senatorial District received into it fold, members of the All Progressives Congress APC, during the tour of the ten wards of Obudu Local Government Area.

    The People’s Democratic Party PDP, used the visible projects undertaken by Sen Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe across the 54 wards of Northern Cross River within the last fourteen months as a model for true representation, assured the people that another four years will only expand the reach of Sen Jarigbe Agom and other candidates of the PDP.

    Stakeholders from the various wards noted that Sen Ben Ayade had received the support of Obudu in 2011, 2015 and 2019 and dashed the hope and support he enjoyed, but brought untold hardship on his people.

    The visibly angry, defectors lamented the ill treatment occasioned by the APC led governments at the Federal and state level, political high-handedness, lack of visible dividends of democracy, economic hardship, deceit among other things as their reasons for dumping the party.

    Receiving the defectors, the State Chairman, Mr Venatius Ikem Esq, commended the boldness of the defectors and assured them of equal treatment and opportunity in the party. He charged them to be resilient and ensure that the is reclaimed from the shackles of maladministration of the APC led government under the leadership of Sen Ben Ayade.

    Royal fathers at the various wards, gave their royal blessings.

    The Vice Chairman of UKALU Traditional Rulers Council, HRH, Ochui Dr Obi maintained that the Alage nation is yet to feel the impact of the present administration and call on Sen Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe to extend his constitituency intervention projects to their roads, bridges and culverts, especially the two major bridges linking Amukwong – Ngorkpu and Okikwo as well as the Okordem bridge.

    Begiading Traditional Rulers Council, thanked the PDP for all she has done for the ward and noted that there is no need for campaign in the ward.

    At Utugwang North, the Traditional Rulers recounted the reception accorded them by Sen Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe during his Thanksgiving reception. They noted Sen Jarigbe’s projects and empowerments which have brought his name on the lips of the electorates, shows that he is the biblical Moses who led the of israelites out of Egypt.

    Sen Jarigbe While responding at the various wards, promised to sustain the tempo as and averred that “to whom much is given, much is expected” He promised to increase the number of projects ranging from school renovation, water and street lights as well as empowerment.

    Amb. Peter Akpanke, PDP Candidate For OBO Federal constituency, Chief John Okwu, Obudu State Constituency Candidate, took turns to address their teeming supporters and party faithfuls, and urged them to remain resolute and support all PDP candidates to ensure victory and more projects.