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  • May We Find True Love In A world Where Almost Everything Is Transactional BY WOFAI USANI

    May We Find True Love In A world Where Almost Everything Is Transactional BY WOFAI USANI

    May we find love!

    In a world where almost everything is transactional!
    In a world of hard men and hard women!
    In a world ravaged with people whose emotions have been tortured and almost destroyed!
    In a world of demons hiding under the guise of love to Mar!
    May love win!
    May pure love prevail!
    Love without fear of vulnerability
    Love without lies and deceit
    May we not fall victims of another person’s mistakes !
    May we heal from our trauma’s and learn to accept real love when we see it and not question it!!
    May we learn to love purely from the depth of our being!
    May we learn, unlearn and relearn how to love those we love!

    May love succeed❤️pure undiluted love
    Amen!

  • Association Of Cross River Online Journalists Inaugurates New Executive

    Association Of Cross River Online Journalists Inaugurates New Executive

    Culled from EpistleNews

    The 6th Executive Council of the Association of Cross River Online Journalists (ACROJ), was yesterday inaugurated in Calabar, having taken their oath of offices as administered by John Omligbe Esq.

    The ceremony which was held at the Association’s Secretariat, yesterday in Calabar, was described as historic by the Chairman, Comrade Offiong Edem Darlington, of Penchment News.

    Others who were sworn in alongside the Chairman who is doing his second term include Comrade Gloria Umo Akwang, Glocal Media, as Secretary General, Comrade Jonathan Ugbal, CrossRiverWatch as Deputy Secretary-General and Comrade Patrick Obia, CrossRiverWatch as Financial Secretary.

    In his acceptance speech, Comrade Offiong Edem Darlington said ACROJ is entering a new dispensation with a renewed vigor to pursue excellence in journalism.

    He said, ACROJ. has faced tough times and harassment in the last couple of years by the present Administration but has persevered, notwithstanding.

    “ACROJ has taken a lead towards how to do things. We are moving forward. This is for the younger people who are coming in, looking for experience and seeking a career in journalism. We are here to create that enabling environment and allow them thrive,” he said.

  • Beyond 2023: Why The Next Governor Must Be Able To Raise The Dead BY UMEZULIKE DESMOND-CRUZ

    Beyond 2023: Why The Next Governor Must Be Able To Raise The Dead BY UMEZULIKE DESMOND-CRUZ

     

    Beyond the rhetorics and Political razzmatazz, Cross River State needs a Governor who can possibly raise the dead. By this I mean, one who can do the near impossible to salvage what is left of us as a state. One who can take what is left of us as an insolvent state and transform it to something beautiful. To be more specific and particular, we need a miracle worker as our next Governor. And this is why I view it as absolutely denigrating and insulting to our collective sensibility as a people, reducing the Governorship position of our dear state to a mere parochial and fraternity sentiment, where a group of persons are hell-bent on mortgaging our state and our collective patrimony just to pursue the lifetime ambition of a man who sees the Governorship position as his birthright, under the guise of zoning— for Christ sake, we have grown pass such cabalistic approach in our politics as a state. This is time for real business.

    So, it is in consideration of this immutable fact that I have painstakingly followed the activities of all the Gubernatorial aspirants in the mainstream Political Parties in our state. And I can attest that, while the forecast for the 2023 election is still beclouded by a lot of uncertainties, especially in the APC–as to who gets what, how, when and from where– the Peoples Democratic Party appears to be more resolute in their approach to choosing a Gubernatorial flagbearer. And speaking realistically and statistically, except God decides otherwise– which is not foreseeable, as the voice and choice of the people is predominantly the voice of God– Distinguished Senator Prof Sandy Ojang Onor will emerge as the flagbearer of PDP– the indices and favourabilty factors are glaring as there are reproducible. Little wonder a few other aspirants, sensing imminent defeat, have resorted to infantile propaganda against the candidacy of Sandy Onor. There seem to be a new found phobia, in the camp of some PDP aspirants, called SANDYPHOBIA (The Fear of Sandy Onor’s candidacy). So, while we wait for the Governor to choose between his long-time friend, Chief Barr Chris Agara and his adopted Political godson, Asuquo Ekpeyong Jnr, as APC Candidate, we must condition our mind to ask the right questions and choose the best candidate between Distinguished Senator Prof Sandy Onor and any other person from the APC.

    We must begin to look beyond party affiliation, clannish inclination, tribal and Senatorial sentiment and elect a Governor who can bring back our Glory days. As a state with the 2nd lowest Allocation from Federal Government and high debt profile, coupled with a comatose economic and commercial activity, with businesses and SMEs closing up and leaving the state in droves, we need a Governor that can revive our Agricultural and Tourism potential, a governor with the Political will to fight insecurity. A Governor who understands the plight of the masses, one with enough experience of how the Local Government level functions. We don’t need another digital Governor that will give us digital Superhighway, Spaghetti Flyover, Deep Seaports and Industries only on the pages of Newspapers and Billboards conspicuously hanging in the streets of Abuja and Calabar. We need a Governor that can give us only the basic things–Security, Good Roads, Health, Education, etc–, revive our economy and take adequate care of our Civil servants and retirees. That is the Miracle—working Governor we all deserve in 2023, and I am optimistic that we can collective achieve this, if we jettison political sentiment and put Cross River State first.

    God bless Cross River State!!

  • 2023: APC Delegates Should Seek Victory First Before Cash: BVAS Will Be Used BY JUSTIN OBONGHA

    2023: APC Delegates Should Seek Victory First Before Cash: BVAS Will Be Used BY JUSTIN OBONGHA

     

    Glorious greetings from God Most High and Happy Sunday to All Progressives Congress members and our dear DELEGATES. We are edging closer to our party’s primaries and I think it’s imperative we get to understand better, how the general elections especially Governorship in Cross River State may look like.

    As we begin to assemble delegates and entreat for support for our different aspirants, please do well to always let them know a few things that should guides their decision, thoughts and choice. Do well to tell them that, if they supports and eventually vote a wrong aspirant, our party will fail woefully in the GENERAL ELECTIONS.

    Tell the delegates that no bad candidate can win elections even by rigging. There’s a new technic that makes it impossible for rigging. It’s called BVAS. Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) is a device that replaced the smart card reader, which was used in 2015, with the dual capacity for fingerprint and facial authentication. BVAS is a technology solution based on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and is only as good as both the age of the data and the training that the algorithms receive.

    The Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS, is designed to inject technological impetus into our electoral system which makes it almost impossible to rig elections and had further reduced the power of incumbency.

    BVAS is designed to give our electoral system credibility and given the voters hope that their votes will begin to matter. As a DELEGATES, we should be careful with who we VOTE as CANDIDATE.

    2023 Governorship elections will be keenly contested. Our only advantage, will be fully dependent on the charisma, and likeliness of our candidate and not even the cash some aspirants are banking on.

    Electoral corruption, cutting corners in the electoral process, snatching ballot boxes and ballot papers would never easily be done in 2023 elections. The by-election in Ogoja, Yala and Akpabuyo LGAs should be like a litmus test and the results I think wasn’t to our party’s favor. If not for the NAME, JUDE NGAJI, APC would have failed woefully.

    So, let me say it very clearly that the BVAS as a form and mode of accreditation has come to stay, and the Commission isn’t ready to compromise it standard. And jettisoning of results will not be possible anymore. If the party gives ticket to someone whose victory will be dependent on rigging, or money, then we should be prepare for the worst.

    Secondly, tell the DELEGATES that the strength of the opposition, is almost the as the same both in popularity, cash and otherwise. And the personalities PDP are parading as aspirants can’t be easily defeated except the APC present a candidate who is loved and extremely outstanding in popularity and likeliness.

    We all know that Cross River State has for more than 20 years been ruled by the PDP and our people are deeply drunk with the name. So APC needs a candidate that is as old as PDP and more popular than the PDP as a party. Anything less, will be catastrophic to our victory.

    Aspirants will come with money; some 200k, 300k, 500k and others may tempt you with even a million naira as a DELEGATES just to vote him to become CANDIDATE of our GREAT party, but be guided with the fact that the general elections has changed and we won’t enjoy the power of incumbency and therefore, we cannot rig elections.

    Be it your brother, friend, master, boss, father or whatever relationship you share with any of the aspirants, be true to yourself, to them and to the party. Out collective interest as a party, is to win elections and continue to be the RULING party in the State.

    This is my wise counsel to the DELEGATES and PARTY members.

    Justin Obongha.

  • Caterpillar Movement Debunks Rumors Of Sandy Onor Picking Senatorial Form, Called On Supporters To Remain Unperturbed

    Caterpillar Movement Debunks Rumors Of Sandy Onor Picking Senatorial Form, Called On Supporters To Remain Unperturbed

    CATERPILLAR MOVEMENT

    PRESS STATEMENT

    We, in the Caterpillar Movement have come across a fictitious newstory by one Citizen Ekanem Essien purporting that our Principal, Sen. Sandy Ojang Onor has ” technically withdrawn ” from the Gubernatorial contest by picking dual forms for both the Gubernatorial and senatorial elections as a contingency in the event of failure.

    We wish to outrightly debunk this malicious rumor by stating that Sen. Sandy Ojang Onor has never been one to shy away from a fight, especially one that is done with the public interest at heart.

    Furthermore, Our principal, Sen. Onor would never venture into a course with double minds or cold feet to the extent of cowering by attempting to contest for two positions at once.

    For the records, we wish to state clearly that only the Gubernatorial Nomination form was purchased by our Principal because he believes strongly in his credentials, competence and capacity to emerge victorious. The unwholesome act of buying two forms at a time is a practice set aside for losers to showcase their cowardice by being unsure about their political aspiration.

    Our Principal is decisive, precise and Lucid enough about his intentions to rescue Cross River state from the shackles of maladministration currently experienced and is therefore reticent to subscribe to political gimmicks.

    Let those who are cowards continue to be indecisive and at a quandary but we in the Caterpillar Movement are solely only interested in the Gubernatorial Position. We are confident that victory is sure.
    Once more, we enjoin our supporters to continue to remain peaceful and unperturbed by this deliberate distraction by the true enemies of our dear State .
    Again they have failed and will continue to fail.

    God bless us all.

    Joe Obi Bisong (Hon. Chief)
    Director General

  • Barr. Imah Nsa Adegoke Declares Gubernatorial Ambition, Canvass For Power Shift

    Barr. Imah Nsa Adegoke Declares Gubernatorial Ambition, Canvass For Power Shift

    PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY CROSS RIVER STATE

    20th April 2022.

    Press Statement:

    Barr. Imah Nsa Adegoke Declares Gubernatorial Ambition
    ……canvass for Power Shift.

    Yesterday, Tuesday 19th April 2022, the State Executive Committee and members of our party received in audience a gubernatorial aspirant, Barr. Mrs Imah Nsa Adegoke. The campaign team led by the aspirant arrived the party Secretariat around 3:45pm.

    Speaking during the consultative meeting, the Gubernatorial aspirant thanked the party for receiving her team. Declaring her intention to join the Gubernatorial race, Barr. Mrs Adegoke canvassed for a power Shift in the Politics of the State.

    “My name is Barr. Mrs Imah Nsa Adegoke. I am officially declaring my intention to run for the Governorship position of this state. I believe in democracy, which is a government of the people, for the people and by the people, not a government of the elite and the privileged few. As a lawyer with almost 40years’ experience, I had as a lawyer to NUPENG from 1988 to 1996, negotiated better working conditions for oppressed junior oil and gas workers with Integrity, refusing offers to sell out their interest. This experience drives my passion to ensure that under my Government, we will aggressively combat the recalcitrant conduct of labour employers in the state. Driven by my passion as Chairman of Bonny Environmental Consultants’ Committee from 1997 to 2002 with power to negotiate with Nigeria LNG, Shell Petroleum Development Company etc, on behalf of Bonny Kingdom, I led negotiations and ensured transparent compensations to impacted Communities. I will bring same commitment and passion to bear in Cross River State by ensuring that all companies extracting our resources Commit to ensuring that the rural Communities benefit from an approved and robust Corporate Social Responsibility budget”

    On insecurity, the legal practitioner advocated the deployment of forensics in tackling Security challenges. While summarizing her manifesto under the acronym “SHIFT”. On Zoning, the aspirant enjoined the party to give all aspirants a level playing ground while assuring the party that she’s not running on the basis of gender as she believe she’s the best for the job.

    Reacting to the comment, the state Chairman of the Party, Barr. Venatius Ikem eulogized the aspirant for taking the bold step to declare, while assuring her of a level playing ground.

    “I want to thank you for speaking so eloquently like a gentleman of the bar. You left no one in doubt. All the women that came here to consult have been exceptional but you have come to top all of them. I want to assure you that the party will give all Aspirants a level playing ground. It is only in PDP that you will come yesterday and we guarantee you a level playing ground because we are a democratic party. I want to also thank you for not talking about North, South or Central. We need a Candidate that can deliver. I am happy you did not talk about zoning”

    Signed
    Prince Mike Ojisi
    (State Publicity Secretary)

  • Police Raids Hotel Where Underaged Girls Trafficked From Rivers State Are Used As Sex Slaves In Delta

    Police Raids Hotel Where Underaged Girls Trafficked From Rivers State Are Used As Sex Slaves In Delta

     

    Operatives of the Delta State Police Command has raided Fagboma Hotel where underage girls trafficked from Rivers State are used as sex slaves and rescued the victims.

    Focus Naija can report that the sting operation was carried out on Friday, 15th April, 2022, after the command received information that the hotel located at Aragba in Otokutu Town, Ughelli South, Delta State was been used as a brothel for underaged prostitution.

    According to the Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP Ari Mohammed Ali during a press briefing at the Command’s Headquarter in Asaba, investigations revealed that a woman simply identified as Joy trafficked the victims from Rivers, took them to Patani to forcefully swear an oath then brought them to Otu-Jeremi and handed them over to the owner of the brothel by name, Edwin Etareri.

    He said that the owner of the hotel is currently at large but his wife, Grace Etareri is currently in custody alongside ten men and ten suspected prostitutes that were arrested during the raid.

    The press briefing goes thus;

    “On 15/4/2022 at about 2330hrs, the Command received information that Fagoma Hotel located at Aragba in Otokutu in Ughelli South LGA of Delta State is being used as a brothel where underage children are trafficked and used as sex slave. The command upon receiving this disturbing information raided the brothel and the following underage girls were rescued:

    1.Happiness Johnson ‘f’ age 13yrs
    2.Esther Godspower ‘f’ age 21yrs
    3.Angel John ‘f’ age 22yrs
    4.Miracle Bishop ‘f’ age 19yrs
    5.Happiness Isreal ‘f’ 19yrs

    “Investigations revealed that one Joy ‘f’ surname unknown now at large trafficked the underage girls from Rivers State took them to Patani where they were forced into taking an oath before they were brought to Otu-Jeremi and harbored by one Edwin Etareri the owner of the said brothel and his wife one Mrs Grace Etariri currently in custody. Ten other male suspects and ten female suspected prostitutes were also arrested during the raid. Investigation is ongoing.”

    Source: https://www.facebook.com/100041566351018/posts/838414320887439/?d=n

  • Caterpillar Movement Describes A Non-existent Online Poll By Delegates Of The PDP In C’River For The Gubernatorial Primaries As Misleading And False Graphic Presentation

    Caterpillar Movement Describes A Non-existent Online Poll By Delegates Of The PDP In C’River For The Gubernatorial Primaries As Misleading And False Graphic Presentation

    THE CATERPILLAR MOVEMENT

    Press Release

    Our attention has been drawn to a spurious,
    misleading and false graphic presentation on social media detailing a non-existent online poll by delegates of the PDP in Cross River State for the Gubernatorial Primaries.

    As we all know, elections have never been won from social media postulations and ” online polls” but in the interest of full disclosure, we in the Caterpillar Movement wish to state categorically and emphatically that the circulated graphic is nothing but a figment of the imagination of a particular political interest group skewed heavily to favour their candidate while at the same time attempting to create a psychological mind game on the mind of delegates in the party to think that they have some phantom advantage when in truth, our Principal, Sen. Prof. Sandy Ojang Onor is , by every standard, the leading and preeminent candidate for the position of party flagbearer.

    We believe that this fantasy, packaged as an online poll is nothing but the last kick of an obviously dying horse hell-bent on not only destabilizing our well meaning party delegates but also on being bad losers since it has become obvious that their aspiration shall not see the light of day.

    Accordingly, we urge all our teeming supporters to remain calm and unperturbed by this false development while also urging them to continue to spread the gospel of our Principal and his intentions to liberate the state from this current chokehold.
    It is our belief that come May 21st, we shall emerge victorious at the only real and legitimate polls available to us; The PDP Gubernatorial Primary Election.

    God bless the PDP
    God bless Cross River State
    God bless the Caterpillar Movement.

    Joe Obi Bisong ( Hon. Chief)
    Director-General

  • Godwin Agbor Declares Intention To Contest Obudu State House Of Assembly Election

    Godwin Agbor Declares Intention To Contest Obudu State House Of Assembly Election

     

    A front line contender to represent Obudu State Constituency in the Cross River State House of Assembly, Dr Godwin Agbor has formerly declared his Intention to contest the election under the All Progressive Congress APC.

    The declaration was held on Monday 18th April, 2022 at his home town, Ukpada – Utugwang, Obudu Local Government Area as part of the Easter celebration with his ward party members, leaders, councillors, ward Chairmen and Secretaries, chapter Chairman and Vice Chairman.

    Declaring his intention, Dr Agbor stated that he has consulted the leadership of the party at all level and he is still consulting and so decided to formerly declare his intention to contest election.

    He assured that which ever modality the party will adopt for the selection of its flag bearer, he will emerge victorious by God’s grace.

    Dr Agbor averred that his loyalty to the party is evidently clear and that most of those who parade themselves as loyal members of the party do so because they are in the payroll of his Excellency, if you remove the salary from them, they may want to leave the party.

    “I have a lot of bills to bring to the table for good governance which will take care of the youths, the women and the elders. If you liken our political sojourn to Catholicism, you will realize that I have done my baptism, I am only waiting for confirmation. Most of those who have indicated interest are preparing for baptism” Said Agbor.

    He assured that most of his bills will come from his constituents through town hall meetings.

    Agbor maintained that he has capacity, qualifications and has impacted his people through community services and that the people are witnesses to his impact.

    Agbor maintained that the party now more than ever needs credible candidates that will be accepted across party lines to win the general election.

    Responding, Mr Agorye Ajang commended Dr Agbor for the initiative and bold step to contest the election, having consulted the relevant stakeholders.
    He advised Dr Agbor to avoid having issues with other aspirants, as they will support whoever the party chooses to fly the flag.

    The Ward Chairman of Utugwang North, Mr Paul Akpanke thanked Dr Agbor for his boldness and advocated for primaries which will offer them the opportunity to participate in the process, as they will not have any role to play if the process is going to be by consensus.

    In his vote of thanks, the Councilor representing Utugwang Central, Hon Emma Adinyang commended Dr Agbor and used the opportunity to call on the party to explore the direct or indirect mode of primaries as the use of consensus post potential danger to unity of the part.

    Dr Agbor is the Medical Director, Omega Agbor Clinic and Maternity, Boki, Cross River State and currently the General Secretary, Association of Nigerian Private Medical Practitioners, ANPMP Cross River State.

    He is a practising Catholic and a Knight of St Molumba Nigeria, Sub Council Physician. He is married to Mrs Adeline Agbor and is blessed with Children. He was the Coordinator and Supervisor for the APC registration and revalidation exercise in Obudu. He was the APC flag bearer in the December 2020 Obudu State Constituency bye-election to replace the late Hon Godwin Akwaji.

     

  • GFO Orim Foundation Begins Construction Of Delapidated Culvert Linking Ofambe And Okiro In Obudu

    GFO Orim Foundation Begins Construction Of Delapidated Culvert Linking Ofambe And Okiro In Obudu

    The Chairman of GFO Orim Foundation, and Chief of Staff to the Cross River State Governor, Hon Martin Orim an illustrious son of Alege/Ubang, has commenced a total overhaul of a delapidated culvert linking Ofambe and Okiro, Ubang in Obudu.

    Reports has it that the Chief of Staff has instructed the contractors not to leave the site until the culvert is fully completed. He has insisted on the use of quality materials and also given directives to allow people of the community monitor the progress and quality of work being done.

    The construction work is a collaboration of the GFO Orim Foundation and the Okiro community. The community requirement is to provide sand and gravel while other requirements is provided by GFO Orim Foundation.

    As at today, work on the said culvert is at top speed, and the contractors are poised on delivering a quality culvert in record time, to beat the later part of raining season.

    This development comes on the heels of the outcry by Mr Emmanuel Abua on the 24th November, 2021during his ward tour of the People’s Democratic Party PDP. Lots of attention was drawn via his verified Facebook page about the dilapidated culvert linking Ofambe to Okiro, the last village in Ubang.

    In the widely circulated Facebook publication, Emmanuel had cried of neglect of the people of Okiro and had called on leaders to help in constructing a culvert for the community.

    When contacted, Emmanuel Abua commended the Chief of Staff to the governor for the prompt response and assured that such collaboration is needed most now than ever for the good of the people, and maintained that criticizing government is never a bad thing, but rather calls government attention to areas where they need to take action.

    GFO Orim Foundation has undertaken a lots of projects for Alege/Ubang ward of Obudu Local Government Area including human capital development of the youths.