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  • Goddy Jedy-Agba At 63: The Man, The Technocrat And The Performing Minister/Politician

    By Kinsley Agim

    For a lot of young people, Goddy Jeddy-Agba was the man with a nice set of dentition and son of, arguably, the longest-serving monarch in Africa, who abandoned his sterling career and glorious office in 2013 at the rank of Group General Manager, Crude Oil Marketing Division of the NNPC to pursue a gubernatorial ambition, whenever his name seemed to be mentioned in public. However, there is more to Goddy Jeddy-Agba as a person – a lot more than meets the eye. For his sixty-third birthday, we take a brief look at his life through a few lenses that apply to him.
    The Man
    Goddy, the first child was born into a royal family in Obudu on 20th August, 1958 by Uti J.D. Agba, the paramount ruler of Obudu, Cross River State. After scaling through primary and secondary education, he bagged his first degree in International Studies from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State in 1983. His burning desire for scholarship led him to University of Lagos, Akoka for his master’s degree in International Law and Diplomacy in 1989.
    His massive contributions to nationhood and nation building prompted the then President Goodluck Jonathan on September 2012 to honour him as an Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR). His autobiography, “Stepping Forward with Uti J.D. Agba,” in November 2017, reflected on the influence of his father on his life from childhood.
    The Technocrat
    Goddy Jedy-Agba’s humble beginnings started at the Federal civil service in September 1984 as an Assistant Secretary II. He was posted as a senior assistant secretary to the Federal Development Authority (FDA) in Lagos on October 1985. In the same office, he was promoted to the post of Deputy Liaison officer in 1987. He became the Personal Assistant to the Minister of Special Duties under the presidency, state house-Lagos. Through dint of hard work and commitment to duty, in 1989, Jedy-Agba was selected as personal assistant to the minister of Special Duties under the Presidency; he was moved to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as Personal Assistant to the Minister of State on Foreign Affairs in December 1990. He was on this position till 1993 when he became the Personal Assistant to the Secretary of the State till 1995 when he joined Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC). At NNPC, he rose to become the Head Market Research, Crude Oil Marketing Department and later became the Head Gas/Gas Liquids/Condensate Sales, Crude Oil Marketing Department in 2014, a position he held until he left NNPC to join politics in his state.
    The Performing Minister
    Undaunted by the his unsuccessful quest for the governorship seat in 2015, being a man who lives out my life as Providence decrees, he was nominated for ministerial position by President Muhammadu Buhari in July, and later assigned the portfolio of Minister of State, Power on 21 August 2019. And not forgetting the thundering ovation that greeted his performance during the nominees’ screening in the hallowed chambers of the Nigerian senate.
    Immediately after his inauguration, Jedy-Agba hit the strides with the exuberance of a youthful teenager. He got to work. And barely two years on the saddle as Minister of State for Power, through giant strides and eloquence testimonies, the Utugwuan-born politician has endeared himself to the politically-conscious Nigerians as a darling of the nation, having orchestrated the successful completion of impactful projects in all geo-political zones of Nigeria.
    To buttress my above point, may I outline some of Jedy-Agba’s achievements according to geo-political zones:

    NORTH CENTRAL ZONE
    Installation of 8.25MW Solar Hybrid Project at Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi, in Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue State; 80KWp Solar Mini grid at Upake Village, Ajaokuta Local Government Area of Kogi State; Supply and installation of 1,135 Units of 40W Solar Hybrid Station in Mbaka-ange Village, Vandeikya Local Government Area of Benue State; Supply and Installation of 1000 Units of 15W Solar hybrid station in Alu-Mamagi and Nuku villages in Abaji Local Government Area in FCT Abuja; and Installation of 157KW Capacity Solar Hybrid Mini-grid Power Plant in Rokoto village in Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State.

    NORTH WEST ZONE
    Installation of 90KWp Solar Mini grid at _Kare and Dadin Kowa Villages in Arewa Local Government Area of Kebbi State; and Installation of 30KWp Solar Hybrid at Bambami Village in Batagorawa Local Government Area of Katsina State.

    NORTH EAST ZONE
    Installation of 85KWp solar mini-grid at Dakito Community in Paikoro Local Government Area in Gombe State.

    SOUTH-EAST ZONE
    100KW Mini grid Solar Energy in Eka-Awoke Community in Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

    SOUTH-SOUTH ZONE
    Installation of 60KVA solar hybrid Mini-grid Power Plant in Okangha-Mpkansi Village in Ikom Local Government Area of Cross River State; Installation of 2x60MVA 132/33KV Transformer Substation Located at Ekori-Ugep Village in Yakurr Local Government Area of Cross River State; 100KWP Solar Hybrid Mini-grid at Akpabom Community in Onna Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State; Installation of Solar Street Lights from Ukpiringi-Nkerira, Ukwuta, Ngbenege Communities in Obudu LGA of Cross River State; Installation of 60KVA solar mini grid power plant in Obudu Ranch Resort Obanliku Local Government Area of Cross River State; Groundbreaking of 100KVA Solar Power Plant in Bottom Hill in Obanliku Local Government Area of Cross River State; Installation of 1000KWp Solar Hybrid Mini grid in _Adebayo Community Ovia South West Local Government Area of Edo State; Installation of 132KV Bay extension in _Calabar, Calabar Municipal Local Government Area of Cross River State; and Supply and Installation of 2000 units of 20W solar hybrid station in Abi Local Government Area of Cross River State. Not to mention the far-flung and hard-to-reach communities in the entire nation.
    A fortnight ago during his two years anniversary celebration as Minister of State for Power, the media was awashed with glowing plaudits to Jedy-Agba from across the nation, much to my admiration and pride as a fellow Cross Riverian. And without an iota of consternation, prejudice or disquietude, Goddy Jedy-Agba would go down history as one of the best performing political appointee from Cross River State, nay Nigeria.
    To a proud Cross River State son, bureaucrat, politician, farmer, author philanthropist, former Group general manager, Crude Oil Marketing Division, Nigerian National Petroleum Company and now Minister of State for Power, I wish him more eventful years full of good health, longevity, sagacity and service to humanity. Happy birthday, our dear Goddy Jedy-Agba.

  • UNICAL Alumni Lagos Chapter Presents Award Of Outstanding Leadership To Prof Florence Obi

    UNICAL Press Corps

    The Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof. Florence Obi, has been presented with an Outstanding Leadership award from UNICAL Alumni, Lagos Chapter.

    The colourful event was held at the Echoes of Calabar, Victoria Island, Lagos.

    The award night and dinner was held after a 7.8km road walk and dance, which was earlier flagged off by the Vice Chancellor and supported by MTN-Nigeria.

    The walk started at St. Saviour’s School Ikoyi, to Falomo and back.

    A brand new 2.5KVA generator was also won by one of the Alumni at the end of the walk.

    During the award night and dinner, Alumni of UNICAL who spoke at various capacities, commended the VC for honouring them with her presence and giving the walk a colourful face alongside her friend and a distinguished Nigerian, Sen. Florence Ita-Giwa.

  • 56th Birthday Anniversary: Joe Obi Bisong Goes To Church, Holds Public Lecture

    By Elijah Ugani

    As part of the activities to mark his 56th birth anniversary, the Director General of the Caterpillar Movement birthed by Sen Prof Sandy Onor, Chief Joe Obi Bisong returned to God in thanksgiving and held a public lecture to ex ray successive leadership in Cross River State.

    The thanksgiving mass was held at the oldest parish in Ogoja Catholic diocese, St Patrick’s parish Kakwagom, on Thursday, August 19th 2021 and presided by Rev Fr Richard Otu Agbor.

    The homilist, Rev Fr (Sub-Lieutenant) Simon Bisong, stated that friends and well wishers are gathered here to thank God for granting the celebrant 56 years of good health.

    Referring to the celebrant, the priest stated that “there are so many times you have escaped assassination. During this 56 years of your eventful life, you have created so much impact within our community.
    There are so many people who have made so much efforts, but they have not made any impact.
    We are here to thank God and ask him to keep you to attain the biblical years and even beyond.

    “In this life, you have met a lots of people, some who will come into your life briefly and go away.
    They are some who have been with you from the beginning to the end. On a day like this, you need to appreciate those who have impacted on you positively or negatively.

    “A day where you need to rewrite the agenda of your life. In rewriting your agenda, I wish you to consider these three things.

    “First, Work on your relationship between you and your family members. When you speak, everyone including your family members listen to you.
    Who will take after you, who will take over from you. Build an empire where your family members will take after you.

    “Secondly, build your relationship with those who are working with you. A good leader is the one who want his followers to grow more than him. And that is what we know you for. All you need is to consolidate.

    “The last thing is that you need to consolidate your relationship with God. You have to work on your relationship with God. I know you believe in God, maybe along the way, something happened and you backsides, this is the time for you to put God first on your agenda”

    On his part, the Priest In-Charge of St Patrick parish, Kakwagom, Rev Fr Victormario Otu, described Chief Joe Obi Bisong as a trailblazing community builder and pathfinder whose echoes of goodwill permeates the entire Kakwagom nation and even beyond. He held that for Chief Joe Obi Bisong to have come to thank God for the gift of life further affirms his love for God.

    The parish priest used the opportunity to invite friends and well wishers of Chief Joe Obi Bisong to the centenary celebration of the parish next year.

    Eulogizing the DG, Caterpillar Movement during thanksgiving mass, Sen Prof Sandy Onor hinted that “Joe has limitations just as myself, but Joe is a profoundly good man. Very few are better than him, in terms of quality, honesty, commitment and knowledge of the politics.

    “When I am not around and I ask Joe to go and represent me, most of the times, people wonder whether it is me or not, you know we look almost the same. I am thankful to God for this community to have a son like Joe.

    “When people send you and you passionately commit all that you have to them, God will bless you abundantly, I have experienced this myself, it is too late for me to go back. All the monies available to me for constituency projects, I showed Joe everything, we give back to the people. We will continue to serve our people to the best of our ability.

    “In politics, once you have people who give you bad advice, that is the beginning of your fall. On the other hand, when you are lucky and bless to have people who give you good advice, then you will do very well. I am bless and lucky to have Chief Joe Obi Bisong as my DG.

    “Many people have had cause to say even to me whether Joe own DG is different and whether election has not finished and I say to them that election has not finished. Joe, as long as we have tasks, he will continue to direct us generally.

    “If you want me to be happy with you, speak good of Joe, and if you don’t want me to be happy with you, then speak ill of Joe”

    Reacting to the lecture, Sen. Onor berated leadership approach in the state and averred that “Yesterday we were very proud of Cross River State, today we’re ashamed of our state. People must speak the truth; this is no time for elegance. Our state is drifting. Our people are suffering. Our values and morals have been eroded. Young people are taught rubbish. Our local governments have to be resuscitated. Our councilors would have meaning. Our chiefs have to be respected. Cultism has to be given the back seat. There must be value for money. Cross River has to get back to where it used to be. We may not have money, but we have values as a people. People left their places with their wealth and all to come and rest in Cross River State because of our hygiene and propriety, we will get back there”.

    Presenting the lecture, Mr Ken Egbas, hinted that Cross River State has no development plan as compared to Lagos state that developed a 50 years development plan during the Amed Bola Tinubu reign as Governor. He lamented and argued that Cross River State does not deserve to belong at the bottom of the ladder of every index for measuring human and economic development in the comity of states in Nigeria. Statistics presented by Egbas, indicates that recently, Cross River State ranks the least out of the lowest 5 states on capital expenditure of a budget of about 1.4trillion naira. The five (5) states are: Taraba, Ogun, Imo, Benue and Cross River. In the same report ranking, physical discipline in state budgets, Cross River ranked 35th, only marginally above Borno State. Borno being the capital of insurgence in the North East would have contributed to Borno occupying that position, but what would be the excuse for Cross River? Egbas held that the answer is lack of leadership! He again stated that “given the precarious situation we find ourselves as a state, a ‘Messiah’ would be needed come 2023 to salvage the state from its current state of decay”

  • UNICAL VC Decorated As The Girl Child Ambassador

     

    The Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof Florence Banku Obi has been decorated as an Ambassador for the Girl Child in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the growth of the Girl Child and impressive Gender programmes in the university of Calabar within the short period of assumption of office.

    The event took place at the Vice Chancellor’s office where the Association of Beauty Queens and Kings paid her a courtesy call.

    Prof. Obi, while accepting the honour, appreciated the association for their kind gesture in decorating her into the foundation as a queen and an ambassador, adding that “women are at the fore front of African Girl Child Development globally”.

    Prof. Obi further posited that ‘beauty and brain’ will take the girl child far, adding that women should see themselves as assets and not a liability, even as she charged the girl child to be focused academically.

    She urged the members of the association to spread the message of ‘focus and self-confidence’ to the girl child, adding that Cross River State is a place where the girl child is recognized.

    The Vice Chancellor further assured them of the administration’s support towards the ongoing “Save the Girl Child Campaign in Cross River State”.

    Speaking earlier, the Queen of Elegant Face Africa 2019, Queen Joy Joseph, stated that the association of beauty queens and kings in Nigeria is a forum for all crowned Queens and kings in Nigeria with a clear vision of re-branding the lost image of beauty pageants and collectively share oneness in the vision of societal growth.

    Queen Joy Joseph said the purpose of the visit was to intimate the Vice Chancellor of the association’s one week state working visit to Cross River State and to flag off “Save the Girl Child Campaign”.

    She disclosed that the campaign was engendered by the need to tackle the vices affecting an average girl child in Nigeria and appreciated the Vice Chancellor for her outstanding philanthropic gesture and human empowerment.

    Queen Joseph used the medium to invite the Vice Chancellor for the association’s forthcoming 10 years Anniversary Celebration coming up in Uyo under the chairmanship of the wife of the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mrs. Martha Udom Emmanuel.

    Highlight of the visit was the presentation of Ambassador of Girl Child Award to the Vice Chancellor by Queen Joy Joseph.

  • New Yam Festival: UNICAL VC Felicitate With Boki, Calls For Togetherness

     

    The Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof. Florence Obi, has felicitated with the good people of Boki local government area in Cross River State on the occasion of the 2021 New Yam Festival.

    In her goodwill message, the VC commended the royal fathers of Boki who have kept the tradition of the celebration intact and united for ages, thereby calling for togetherness with a view to promote peace, unity and oneness.

    She said that the New Yam festival afford the good people of Boki another opportunity to celebrate their cultural heritage in a peaceful atmosphere.

    The VC, while calling for peace and tolerance from Boki sons and daughters, advised the youths to shun all forms of social vices during the celebration and beyond.

    She congratulated the farmers for always producing big tubers of yams for the yearly celebration.

    She prayed God to bless the fertile land of Boki with abundant harvest during this season and beyond.

  • Boki New Yam Festival: Rt Hon Hilary Bisong Preaches Peace, Unity

     

    Rt. Hon Hilary Bisong, Member representing Boki II State Constituency in the Cross River House of Assembly has congratulated Boki sons and daughters worldwide on the celebration of the 2021 New Yam festival holding today (August 18).

    He called for peace, unity, joy and happiness among the people, saying that the festival is a period of togetherness, love and tolerance.

    Bisong, who described the festival as a cultural rebirth, re-union and celebration of the “New Yam” as the king of crop, said that Boki was blessed with mass fertile land for agricultural produce.

    According to the lawmaker, the celebration will also foster peace and unity in Boki, adding that the festival had always attracted deserving Boki sons and daughters at home and in the diaspora for the occasion.

    He used the occasion to commend farmers who have kept the occasion alive by producing yams for the celebration.

    He prayed for a bumper harvest on the side of the farmers, thereby asking God to bless the fruit of their hands.

    He called for a peaceful celebration among the youths, thereby urging them to shun all forms of violence within the period and beyond.

  • Man Murders Wife’s Lover On Matrimonial Bed

    Culled from Punch

    A 32-year-old businessman, Ezekiel Igbokwe, has been arrested by the Ogun State Police Command for allegedly killing his wife’s lover, Victor Olatundun.

    Igbokwe was said to have killed Olatundun after he caught him having sex with his wife at their matrimonial home.

    The suspect allegedly committed the offence at about 12am at Peace Lodge on Itura Street, Awa Ijebu, Ijebu-North Local Government Area of Ogun State.

    The suspect, who committed the crime on Wednesday, July 27, was arrested by the police the following day.

    Igbokwe and his 28-year-old wife were among the 23 suspects paraded at the Ogun State Police Command headquarters, Eleweran, Abeokuta, on Thursday, for various offences ranging from murder to illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.

    Igbokwe, who said he was a businessman, explained that he had returned from his trip to Onitsha and met Victor on top of his wife on their matrimonial bed.

    He said he picked a machete in the toilet and cut the victim in the neck and hand.
    Olatundun reportedly died on the way to the hospital.
    Igbokwe, who deals in electronics, said he was born in Ago Iwoye, Ogun State.

    He said, “I travelled to Onitsha on July 25, and when I came back on July 27, I met a man inside my room making love to my wife. Then we started fighting. The man was stronger than me. When I saw he could overpower me, I got a cutlass in my toilet and dealt him blows in the hand and neck. On the way to the hospital, the fuel in the car finished and he died.”
    Igbokwe said he committed the crime due to anger, adding that he never meant to kill the victim.
    He claimed that he had never met Olatundun before, saying he also never suspected that his wife was having an extra-marital affair with anyone.

    PUNCH Metro learnt that Igbokwe and his wife, Juliet, have three children aged nine, seven and five.
    Juliet, who sobbed intermittently, said her alleged lover had been pressurising her for a relationship for some time.

    She explained that she had always told him she was married, but the victim never gave up until he ended up at their matrimonial home on that night.

    Juliet, who said she sold snuff, said Victor was her supplier and he pestered her for six months before she finally gave in.
    She said she suspected that the deceased used a charm on her, as she could not explain how it all happened.
    She said, “He had been disturbing me that he wanted to marry me, but I said I was married.

    “On the day of the incident, I really can’t say if he used a charm on me. All I know is that he called me that he wanted to see me and I told him not to come; he knew my house and when he came, I didn’t know what happened.

    “He used to come and deliver snuff to me in the house. On the day of the incident, he told me he was coming from somewhere and that it was already late. He wanted to sleep in our place till the next day. He didn’t know that my husband was away. He tried to sleep with me, but later he didn’t.”

    Juliet, who claimed that she got married to her husband in 2005, said the husband did not take good care of her and the children.
    She said their marriage had been turbulent and fraught with fights and quarrels.

    The mother of three said each time there was a fight, her husband would leave the house for months.

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  • Court Awards N4M Compensation To Businessman Detained, Tortured After Catching Policeman With His Wife In His Matrimonial Home

     

    BY SAHARA REPORTERS, NEW YORK 

    A Chief Superintendent of Police, CSP Celestine Umeh, the Nigeria Police Force and the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner of Police have been ordered by the Akwa Ibom State High Court sitting in Uyo to pay the sum of N4 million as compensation to a businessman, Clement Asuquo Etim.

    SaharaReporters had reported how Etim, was arrested, detained and tortured for three days after he caught Umeh in the night in his matrimonial home at Aba Ukpo Estate in Uyo.

    In a 46-page court document filed in May 2020, Etim stated that Umeh, who is now the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Itu Division in Akwa Ibom State, violated his fundamental right to private and family life guaranteed by Section 37 of the Nigerian Constitution when he intruded into his matrimonial home in his absence at Aba Ukpo Estate in Uyo to be with his wife, Mrs Laurentia Asuquo Etim.

    A Lagos-based human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, who represented Mr Etim filed the lawsuit with Suit No: HU/FHR.72/2020 at the High Court of Akwa Ibom State, and asked the court to enforce the fundamental rights of his client to dignity of the human person, personal liberty, private and family lives and freedom of movement.

    In a judgement delivered on Monday, August 16, 2021, the presiding judge, Justice Charles Ikpe, found that the police violated the fundamental right of the Applicant to personal liberty by detaining him for three days without justification.

    The judge also found that Mr Etim was tortured by the Police, which amounts to a violation of his right to dignity of the human person.

    Also, the court found CSP Umeh liable of violation of the fundamental right of the Applicant to private and family life by intruding into the matrimonial home of Mr Etim without his consent.

    The court restrained the police from arresting the Applicant except by the order of a court.

    In his reaction to the judgment given in his client’s favour, the Applicant’s counsel, Effiong said the judgement is a reminder that the court remains the solace of the oppressed.

    Effiong commended the judge for his industry and the lucidity expressed in the judgment.

  • C’River Born Human Rights Advocate And Blogger, Ms. Odenke Ibiang Bags UN SDGs Ambassadorial Award

     

    A Cross Riverian, Odenke Ibiang popularly known as Odymonkez Blog is amongst the newly awarded Ambassadors of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Network (UNSDGs Network)

    Her passion for socio-economic transformation, health promotion, gender rights advocacy and policy development has endeared her career choice in Public Health.

    She’s also a Content Creator, Political and Social Analyst, Good Governance advocate, Social Media and Brand Influencer.

    https://www.facebook.com/groups/1505154099495167/permalink/4570716236272256/

  • Zemoh Flags Off Training Of Corps Members For School Feeding Programme

    By Esther Eyitayo

    The State Coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps NYSC, in Cross River, Mr Andrew Zemoh has flagged off the the training of Corps Members selected for the Home Grown Feeding Programme in the state.

    The Coordinator who disclosed that 52 Corps Members were carefully selected from all the 18 local government areas of the state said they will be given intensive training as they are expected to bring the best out of the programme. He emphasized that, as Corps Members embark on the exercise, all gadgets that were dispatched to them must be well taken care of and handled as their personal belongings and must be returned intact after the exercise.

    He stressed the need for patience on the part of Corps Members as their target audience are young children from Primary 1 to 3 and they must be well cared for.

    The flag off being his first official assignment in the state since he took over as the 28th State Coordinator, Zemoh used the opportunity to express gratitude to everyone that showed up for the event. He further revealed that he wore his khaki in this same state 30 years ago, and encouraged Corps Members to always be of good conduct and abide by the tenets of the scheme wherever they find themselves.

    On his part, the NYSC Schedule Officer for the Home Feeding Programme, Mr. Obot Emmanuel, sensitized Corps Members on the school feeding programme.  He emphasised the importance of an accurate data of all the schools from Primary 1 to Primary 3 classes, and encouraged all the Corps Members participating in the program to take the assignment seriously as there will be no room for failure. 

    He further disclosed NYSC plan to visit other local government areas between Wednesday and Thursday to achieve the aim of the school feeding programme. He averred that Corps Members will be provided with feeding and transportation fare at the end of the programme. 

    The State Consultant of the programme,  Mr. Eric Egbe called on Corps Members who will be part of the project to reach out to him when they face with technical challenges as regards the work entrusted to them for a hitch free and successful data collection.

    On her part, the Commissioner for Humanity and Social Welfare, Hon Blessing Egbara, who was represented by the Project Manager, Ntufum Gabriel Okulaju implored the Corps Members to be patient and explain to teachers in each school the purpose of their assignment and what they want to achieve. 

    Also speaking, the State Team lead, Mrs Elizabeth Odu, in her remarks encouraged Corps Members to be ready to set for work, as their hands will be on deck during the Salah break to show how serious the project is.

    Odu maintained that Corps Members should also be ready to move from one local government to another and from one school to another. She encouraged them to take the pupils they will be working with as they are and exercise patience especially with the children and parents.

    Gadgets were dispatched to all Corps Members which include; iPads, chargers, OTH cords, Power bank and Scanners.