The Lumine News

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  • Despite The Paltry Sum Shared To Chairmanship Aspirants, Mr Jerry Ikwen Involved In Ghastly Motor Accident

    Despite The Paltry Sum Shared To Chairmanship Aspirants, Mr Jerry Ikwen Involved In Ghastly Motor Accident

    By Elijah Ugani 

    One of the Chairmanship aspirants for Obudu Local Government Council under the All Progressive Congress APC, in the just concluded local government elections conducted by Gov Bassey Otu, Mr Jerry Ikwen, spent the Christmas celebration in the hospital having been involved in a ghastly motor accident, while returning from Calabar, where the governor had invited them for a Christmas package.

    The accident occured at Oyadama, in Obubra Local Government Area.

    Mr Ikwen is said to have spent the Christmas celebration in the hospital for the first time since birth, and could not experience love from his family during this yelitud.

    Recall that the governor has received widespread condemnation for inviting the Chairmanship aspirants from across the state who payed transport and lodged in hotels only to be given a paltry sum of One Hundred Thousand Naira #100,000.00 only.

    As at the time of filing this report, efforts to reach Mr Jerry to ascertain the current state of his health failed as TheLumineNews has not gotten his contact.

  • Sen Jarigbe Agom Empowers Constituents With Carriage Tricycles

    Sen Jarigbe Agom Empowers Constituents With Carriage Tricycles

     

    The Senator representing Cross River North Senatorial District, Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, has once again demonstrated his commitment to empowering his constituents through economic empowerment initiatives.

    In a recent distribution exercise, the lawmaker presented carriage tricycles to beneficiaries across the Senatorial District, providing a boost to transportation and livelihood.

    This empowerment program aims to enhance transportation and logistics, support small-scale entrepreneurship, improve economic opportunities and alleviate poverty.

    Beneficiaries expressed gratitude, citing improved mobility and increased income potential.

    Senator Jarigbe’s consistent efforts to uplift his constituents have earned him recognition as a champion of grassroots development.

    “Empowering my people is my top priority,” Senator Jarigbe stated. “I will continue to work tirelessly to ensure they have the resources needed to thrive”.

    This initiative is another testament to Senator Jarigbe’s dedication to transforming lives and communities.

    TEAM JARI MEDIA

  • Watch Video Where Cross River Civil Servants Protests Non Payment Of Salary

    Some of civil servants are seen in a viral video, at the office of the Secretary to the State Government protesting non payment of January 2024 salary.

  • Now All I Want Is Some Peace, Some Quiet And The Company Of Decent Intellectually Minded Human Beings. I Would Rather Be Alone Than Be With Loud People! It Is Called Growth By Ray UGBAH MORPHY

    Now All I Want Is Some Peace, Some Quiet And The Company Of Decent Intellectually Minded Human Beings. I Would Rather Be Alone Than Be With Loud People! It Is Called Growth By Ray UGBAH MORPHY

    Its Called Growth!
    I used to love to get and own things, but not anymore! First, I loved power bikes! I acquired 2 of them, a huge pillion BMW and a roaring 2000cc Honda Goldwing. I was an avid biker as I rode regularly all the way from Calabar to Jos just for the fun of it.

    I also loved cars. In my mid to late 20s, I had a couple of Benz cars plus one or two convertibles. This sort of lifestyle continued into my 30s. By my 40s, I lost taste for such stuff. Stuff didn’t thrill anymore!

    Now in my 60s, I see bikers, I smile at them. So I smile also when I see expensive glittering cars drive by. These days, I want to be as inconspicuous as possible.

    I used to go out a lot. We even used to drive all night for attend parties in distant cities. I actually owned niteclubs, bars and lounges. Today, you cant find me in one.

    Now all I want is some peace, some quiet and the company of decent intellectually minded human beings. I would rather be alone than be with loud people! IT IS CALLED GROWTH.
    If you are 30 and you are acting like a teenager, you haven’t grown. Likewise, if you are 50s and 60s and you are still chasing fun, you are stunted in your growth. Get?
    class Master

    Disclaimer: The opinion expressed in this article is strictly that of the author, Ray UGBAH MORPHY, and does not represent TheLumineNews or its agent 

     

  • How About This… BY AGBA JALINGO 

    How About This… BY AGBA JALINGO 

     

    Every election year, instead of wasting billions of Naira on routine elections, I am proposing a formalization of the prevailing situation.

    1. Any zone of the country or State that overlords who own the political parties give their tickets to run, should all agree and give the rest of the country nominees. No need for elections.

    2. The nominees across party lines can now approach the courts to determine who amongst them will become President or Governor.

    3. Zoning of political offices and the courts, have successfully conspired with our inability to conduct free and fair elections, to effectively hijack the power of the vote from the ordinary citizenry. The office of the Citizen of the Federal Republic, has been stripped of ballot perquisites.

    4. Periodic elections should therefore become undesirable. Just do the zoning by the parties and give us a leader on a platter, if there is any dispute, go to court. INEC spent N355billion in the 2023 elections. Yet it is the courts that are still telling us who won the elections. We can now disband INEC and save that money because their services will no longer be needed.

    5. INEC officials and desperate election contestants will no longer trade deals and money and that’s a way of fighting corruption.

    6. Lives that are usually risked and lost before, during and after elections, will become a thing of the past.

    It appears to me that this system is what our political leaders will prefer and we may need to approve it for them since we don’t want to fight for good and accountable governance.

    It is still a thing of great surprise for me that, a people so many, can be held down by them so few, and prolonged for this much. If e clear you, understand me. If e no clear you, no vex. No be only you. Country hard!

    Yours sincerely,
    Citizen Agba Jalingo.

    Disclaimer: The opinion expressed in this article is strictly that of the author, Agba Jalingo and does not represent TheLumineNews or its agent.

  • NLC, TUC Shifts Grounds, Suspends Nationwide Strike

    NLC, TUC Shifts Grounds, Suspends Nationwide Strike

    The Nigerian Labour congress and Trade Union Congress (TUC) have suspended the indefinite nationwide strike which commenced yesterday.

    This decision was made after meeting with the national security adviser, Nuhu Ribadu.

  • Mediatrix Development Foundation  Commemorates 2023 International Day of The Girl Child At FGGC, Calabar

    Mediatrix Development Foundation  Commemorates 2023 International Day of The Girl Child At FGGC, Calabar

    Mediatrix Development Foundation  Commemorates 2023 International Day of The Girl Child At FGGC, Calabar.

    On December 19, 2011, the United Nations General Assembly declared October 11 as the International Day of the Girl Child, to recognize girls’ rights and the unique challenges girls face around the world. The International Day of the Girl Child focuses attention on the need to address the challenges girls face and to promote girls’ empowerment and the fulfilment of their human rights. Adolescent girls have the right to a safe, educated, and healthy life, not only during these critical formative years but also as they mature into women. If effectively supported during the adolescent years, girls have the potential to change the world – both as the empowered girls of today and as tomorrow’s workers, mothers, entrepreneurs, mentors, household heads, and political leaders. An investment in realizing the power of adolescent girls upholds their rights today and promises a more equitable and prosperous future, one in which half of humanity is an equal partner in solving the problems of climate change, political conflict, economic growth, disease prevention, and global sustainability.

    The event was attended by female students of FGGC and messages focused on the Rights of the Girl Child, leadership & decision-making, quality education, gender equality and empowerment, involvement in politics, etc, were passed.

    MDF, in addition, engaged the students in health education sessions focusing on the Human Papillomavirus and awareness of the introduction and uptake of the HPV vaccine in Nigeria. MDF in partnership with Pink Africa plans to screen the participants for HPV for free, including HPV vaccination in the coming week.

    The team also carried out sensitization on menstrual hygiene best practices and practical demonstration on the appropriate use of sanitary pads. MDF as part of her advocacy distributed free sanitary pads to all participants to curb or mitigate the deleterious effects occasioned by unhealthy menstrual practices.

    Speaking earlier on behalf of the school management, the Principal of FGGC, Mrs. Eno Bassey, welcomed the MDF Team and expressed gratitude that FGGC, Calabar had been selected to commemorate the 2023 International Day of the Girl Child. She called for continued visits and advocacies to the school to further sensitize the students on health issues and career sessions for societal development.

    This year’s theme for the commemoration is “Invest in Girls’ Rights: Our Leadership, Our Well-being”

  • If The Two Former Governors Are With Sandy, We Will Support Him – Obubra Traditional Rulers Council

    If The Two Former Governors Are With Sandy, We Will Support Him – Obubra Traditional Rulers Council

    By Elijah Ugani 

    The Obubra Traditional Rulers Council has pledged to support Sen Sandy Onor reclaim Cross River State from the maladministration of the present governor, having seen the two former governors, Mr Donald Duke and Liyel Imoke supporting him.

    The traditional rulers made the disclosure at the consultative forum with the PDP Campaign Council, held at the Traditional Rulers Council Hall, Mile 1, Obubra Local Government Council.

    The council recounted the good days of Donald Duke and Liyel Imoke as governors and berated Gov Ben Ayade for subjecting to sufferings.

    Speaking on behalf of the traditional rulers, HRH, Vincent Enang-ere averred that “Like our former governors, Donald Duke and Liyel Imoke performed very pleasantly, if you have the two former governors moving with Sandy Onor, it is only natural that we have to support him, because he definitely perform like them.

    “We are not politicians, we are only sympathizers and we sympathize with the party that will carry us along. PDP is not new to us. It is a party that have performed above average.

    “When you become governor, we don’t go on retirement, please provide the platform and the enabling environment for us to serve our people better.

    “The message we have gotten from you today, we will pass it on to our subjects. PDP is the only party that will take us to the promised land. With God on your side, all of seated here will win”.

    Speaking earlier, Sen Sandy Onor told the traditional rulers that it was very necessary he informed and solicit their support to serve the state from collapse.

    Onor noted that “Obubra nurtured me and very happy about that. When I become governor you will know that your son is governor.
    You in Etung/Obubra are lucky because one of your sons will be governor.
    This is the party you should vote for. Your son will work with me in the House of Assembly and he will support me to serve you better.

    “Friday Okpeche, is tested and trusted, we are sending him to represent us. When you want to send people to Abuja, you send those who will be able to represent you. When I landed the senate, everybody knew I was there. Send catch fire, he is going to catch fire there, and everybody will know that he is around.

    “When Donald Duke was governor, all us were happy. He served us well and Imoke came and consolidated on the gains of what Donald started.
    And came the man who destroyed everything that was built.

    “Thankfully, Imoke came here and apologized to you.
    As traditional rulers, you are supposed to speak the truth. You are not supposed to be afraid us. You can only respect us.

    “You cannot be generous with government money, you can only be accountable.
    You pack money and give to young people without job description, you say you are generous. That is not being generous, it is foolishness.

    “You the Traditional Rulers who takes a lots of pressure from your subjects, settle disputes and receive abuses, your stipends is a just #7,500.00, what is a mis-normal.
    The APC lie a lot. When they come, ask them what they have done for you.

    “When I become governor, one of the first thing I will do is to do a local government tour to enable me interface with you to understand your challenges and how best we can address them.

    “None of the industries, none of the roads undertaken by this government is complete. The only road in the north they said they are doing, as they are working the road, it is piling as they move on.

    “If you have been to Ogoja, you will realize that the guest house that was there, this government demolished it, now they cannot rebuild it. What they will have done was to build a new one.

    “All the trees Donald planted, they have cut them down. The Calabar you use to know is very dirty. The local government has been destroyed. There is a relationship between the local government and the economy of the rural people.

    “When you destroy the local government system, then all hope is lost. Now they are carrying someone to come and tell you to vote for.
    If you go to government house, you cannot use the toilets there, they have destroyed everything we are known for. Please vote for PDP and bring us back. The respect you have for us, when we get to office, your stipends and allowances will be increased.

    “Donald Duke didn’t lie, Imoke came, he never lied and I will not lie. I don’t believe in the politics of lies”.

    On his part, former governor Donald Duke urged the traditional rulers to give the same support they gave him in 1999 and 2007 to emerge governor to Sen Sandy Onor”As you supported me in 1999, please support Sen Sandy Onor to become governor
    It is a serious business. What happens in the next four years will determine what will happen to us in the next decade.

    “Life is all about hope. Whoever gives you hope, is the person you will follow. If you trusted me, please trust this man. He has been in the system. Weather it is in the local government system, he has seen it, he even wrote a book on Local Government Administration.
    When you’re commissioner for Agriculture and Environment. You have to move round the state. You don’t sit in the office.

    “You also sent him to the senate. At the senate, just in three months, the Senate President in the opposition party declared him as the Orator of the Senate, to me that means a lot.

    “The back to south is a mirage, let everybody go out and vote. Whoever does not vote, does not like this state, such a person is the reason why we are where we are”.

  • Cross River 2023: Beyond The Drama And The Beating of War Drums BY UMEZULIKE DESMOND-CRUZb

    Cross River 2023: Beyond The Drama And The Beating of War Drums BY UMEZULIKE DESMOND-CRUZb

     

    There is a drummer in APC. When it suits his ego and pecuniary motives, he rolls out his gong and cymbal, beating the sounds of war. But unlike Akin, the talented drummer boy and singer in Cyprian Ekwensi’s famous book —The Drummer Boy – this APC drummer has no control over the rhythms and melodies produced by his own drum. He rolls out his drum and beats to the irregular sounds of war once he is guaranteed a pecuniary benefit. This drummer, who is neither a veteran nor conqueror of any known political battle, sits in the comfort of his home before the camera and fans the embers of war. Listening to him speak on borrowed robes in front of the camera about 2023, one would think that the end has come for the PDP in Cross River State. His vituperation brings back reminiscences of his inglorious days in PDP, when he went on rampage on National Television, issuing threats to the highs and lows, even to the supreme deity of Rivers State Politics — Nyesom Wike. He crowned himself Chairman of Party and sought to demystify every other contender, but then, fate knocked him off the cliff, just before dawn.

    Bruised and bloody-mouthed, he found refuge in the broom-wielding occultic party, APC. Through the shenanigans of his paymaster, the drummer became the leader of his new conclave and like the merchant of political war that he is, he sought to lead his party into a media war, not just within Cross River State, but down to the sacred dwelling of the supreme deity. To ingratiate his paymaster, he issued lily-livered threats to the supreme deity. Aware of his enfeeblement, the supreme deity defied his puerile threat and stormed the abode of the drummer, and as expected, the drummer abandoned his drums of war and ran away with his tail in-between his legs.

    Today again, the drummer has gone on rampage on National Television, announcing the obsequies of the indomitable Peoples Democratic Party in Cross River State and gloating over the use of state-sponsored violence to steal the mandate of the PDP in Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency; and in his characteristic manner, promised to use a sledgehammer against a formidable Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, whom he clownishly referred to as a fry. Clearly, this drummer is already setting the stage for anarchy, come 2023 election. Like the harbinger of doom, the APC —aware of their conspicuous failures in Government -– has sent him on National Television to send a red alert to their food-on-the-table foot soliders.

    But beyond the drama and the beating of war drums, there’s an inescapable reality facing the APC, which is, the people are aware of their many failures and the only option left for them is to resort to violence. And in rolling out their drums of war, the APC-led government has started arresting, indiscriminately, members of the Peoples Democratic Party in the Northern Senatorial District. I guess that is the drummer’s definition of a sledgehammer. In their desperation, they have appointed both the living and the dead into government, paying them paltry sums ranging from 20k to 30k. But while the drummer and his men continue in their drama, it appears the people are getting more emboldened to withstand their antics and stand in solidarity with the PDP in reclaiming the State. To regale his viewers, the drummer played to the gallery by whipping sentiment in support of a southern Candidate and dismissing the PDP as an appendage of the dwelling of the supreme Political deity. Yet, no Government has disparaged the Southern Senatorial District like that of the drummer’s paymaster, who turned Calabar into a cesspool, with potholes and debris competing with pedestrians in the city.

    It is worthy of note to remind the drummer that no one party has the monopoly of beating the drums of war. Let it be made known to him and his co-travellers that in PDP, there are veterans of many Political battles and conquerors of not a few. The last Ogoja/Yala elections exposed the cheap and desperate tactics of the APC, and they should be prepared for a fitting counterpoise if they dare the people a second time. Security agencies are respectfully invited to take note.

    The drummer must be prepared to face defeat, not by guns and thugs, but through the ballot and by the power of the electorates.

  • PDP Inaugurates Campaign Council, Promises To Reclaim Cross River

    PDP Inaugurates Campaign Council, Promises To Reclaim Cross River

    By Elijah Ugani

    The Cross River State chapter of the Peoples Democrate Party PDP has inaugurated its campaign council, and has promised to reclaim the state in 2023 polls.

    Inaugurating the campaign council, the PDP state Chairman, Mr Venatius Ikem charged the campaign council to coordinate all the vibrant energies needed to win the 2023 general elections at all levels.

    In his words “I want to congratulate all of you who made the list to drive the process to reclaim our state. Let me charge you to coordinate all the energies needed to win the 2023 general elections”

    Speaking further, Mr Ikem took responsibility for all complains associated with the composition of the campaign council list and promised that with due consultation with other stakeholders, the campaign council will be enlarged.

    He expressed satisfaction that Cross Riverians are desirous of volunteering to serve in the process that will midwife Cross River State of our dream.

    He stressed that not everyone will be in the state campaign council, others will serve in the local government campaign council and appealed to them take the task at the local government level very seriously.

    On his part, the PDP governorship candidate, Sen Prof Sandy Onor, congratulated all those that made the campaign council list and averred that “the journey to recover Cross River State has just begun. I must commend your zeal and determination shown in this all important task to rescue our generation and the one next.

    “Together, we will go to every local government with our message. We will not promise what we cannot do. I have served as Local Government Council Chairman. I was Chairman of Chairmen. I was also ALGON National Vice President and President at some point. I also served as Commissioner in two ministries, Agriculture and Environment. I served as Chairman, Local Government Service Commission, and now I’m a serving senator. I have experience and served in all the tiers of government and I’m better equipped to salvage this state that is drifting.

    “Let me use this opportunity to appeal to you to remain in your various local government areas and organize your people, don’t follow us around. Mobilize your people, let them come out and vote, protect your votes. No body will intimidate us”

    The Chairman of the campaign council and Former Governor of the state, Mr Donald Duke commended the resilience of the state executive committee and for finding all members of the committee worthy of the noble assignment to rescue the state and declared that all hands must be in deck to reclaim the state.

    The Director General of the campaign council, Mr Efiok Cobham Esq, pledged to deliver on his assignment as he thanked the state executive committee to have found him worthy of the task to direct the affairs of the council.

    The Campaign Council is made up of 1,080 members with the former Governor, Mr Donald Duke, as Chairman and former Deputy Governor, Efiok Cobham, as Director-General.

    The campaign structure has Ekpo Ada, Esq, Ntufam Gabe Orji and Hon.Mom Olom as Southern, Central and Norther senatorial districts coordinators respectively.