The Lumine News

Blog

  • APC Convention: PMB, Aisha Buhari Endorses Mary Ekpere For National Women Leader

    APC Convention: PMB, Aisha Buhari Endorses Mary Ekpere For National Women Leader

     

    The wife of Nigerian President, Dr. Aisha Buhari has endorsed a frontline aspirant for National Women Leader, Barr Mary Ekpere for the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the National Convention.

    The news broke out after President Muhammadu Buhari had a close door meeting last night, 23rd March, 2022, with party stakeholders at the Presidential Villa.

    A source at the villa disclosed that the President wife had always expressed her readiness to work with the past immediate Director General of the National Center for Women Development.

    The meeting which had in attendance some Governors of the All Progressives Congress who are said to be loyal to the President Muhammadu Buhari and the Minister of Transportation, Rt.Hon Chibuike Rotimi, adopted Sen. Adamu as the consensus National Chairman and also Mary Ekpere who is the president’s wife interest as the consensus Women Leader.

    However, according to LeadershipNg, the governor of Cross River State, Ben Ayade, had picked Dr. Betta Edu for the National Women Leader against the interest of the general APC members in the state, raising tension amongst party faithfuls as many threatened to defect if Betta is imposed on them.

    While news filtered in that the Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi, Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege and other South-South leaders met yesterday night, the aforementioned names have debunked the news to be fake, noting that there was no meeting of such to project a unity list from the region.

  • NHRC Condemns Alleged Murder, Burning Of A Single Lady Who Demanded Father’s Inheritance In Ebonyi

    NHRC Condemns Alleged Murder, Burning Of A Single Lady Who Demanded Father’s Inheritance In Ebonyi

    By Peter Okiri – Abakaliki, Culled from Vanguard

    The National Human Right Commission, NHRC, yesterday condemned the gruesome murder of an Ebonyi lady who demanded her own share of her father’s inheritance.

    The single lady, Nnenaya Onu, 35, was allegedly murdered and burnt alive by her assailants as there have not been any record of their (assailants) arrest in the State, since the incident occurred.

    She was allegedly beaten, stripped naked, dismembered and burnt alive in Onicha Igboeze Community of Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

    Vanguard investigation revealed that the victim was murdered behind her late father’s house as her only brother died some years ago, under a mysterious circumstance in the community.

    Confirming the incident, the State Coordinator, National Human Right Commission, NHRC, Mr. Christopher Onyekachi Okorie added that: “She was murdered in cold blood, her leg chopped off and her whole belongings heaped on her while she was burnt beyond recognition.

    “All these happened behind her father’s house at Onicha Igbeze of Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

    “Her offence is that she insisted on demanding her father’s inheritance as a woman. She was not married but lived in her late father’s house at Onicha Igbeze.

    “Her only brother died years ago under mysterious circumstances according to the old mother. She has a surviving sister, Juliet Onu, who is married.

    “Her old agonizing mother points at her cousins as the suspects of this atrocity due to their (the said Cousins) numerous threats to her life before she was eventually murdered, dismembered, and burnt.

    “Her killers forbade any person from the village from talking about the incident nor even sharing the photo of her burnt carcass either on social media or otherwise.

    “Her poor mother wants justice but has no money to sponsor police investigations and arrests.”

    Vanguard gathered that the victim was killed when her mother traveled out of the community to Abakaliki to visit Juliet, her daughter.

    Speaking with Vanguard on Phone, the State Coordinator of NHRC said, he has written a petition to Ebonyi State Police Command over the incident as he was yet to get any response from the Command.

    “According to the sister of the deceased, the incident took place on the 23rd of December 2021 and since then nothing has been done to bring justice to the victim.”

    Contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer, Ebonyi State Police Command, DSP Loveth Odah, who confirmed the incident added that she will get back to Vanguard on the present status of the case.

    https://www.vanguardngr.com/2022/03/nhrc-condemns-alleged-murder-burning-of-a-single-lady-who-demanded-fathers-inheritance-in-ebonyi/amp/

  • 18 Year Old Obudu Born Blessing Ikung Graduates From US Military School

    18 Year Old Obudu Born Blessing Ikung Graduates From US Military School

    18 Year Old Obudu Born Blessing Ikung Graduates From US Military School

    She attended the army basic training school in Fort Jackson, South Carolina State, U.S.A and graduated as Private E2.

    She’s from Ibong village in Obudu Local Government Area.

    Blessing Ikung was born in Nigeria and moved to America with her parents in 2021.

    Her proud mother, Theresa Undie shared pictures on social media with the caption ‘I am the mother of an American soldier 🇺🇸

  • Communique: APC Has No Justification To Be On 2023 Ballot – PDP Govs Forum

    Communique: APC Has No Justification To Be On 2023 Ballot – PDP Govs Forum

     

    The Peoples Democratic Party PDP Governor’s forum held its meeting on Wednesday, 23rd March, 2022, at Aba, Abia State.

    The meeting reviewed the excruciating hardship and suffering being meted out to Nigerians by a failed APC led Federal Government; the near collapse of the APC as a viable political party, the readiness of the PDP to take over and offer qualitative leadership options to rescue the nation and issued the following Communique:

    1. We lament the terrible pain and hardship facing Nigerians in virtually all aspects of life. The meeting noted that life was much better in 2015 under the PDP than today under the APC as exemplified in the following Comparative Indicators obtained mainly from the National Bureau of Statistics:

    a. Diesel which is critical for running of SMEs was N131.47 in 2015, it now costs above N700
    b. Fuel: Official and Black-Market was N87/155 in 2015, it now costs N167/350.
    c. Aviation Fuel/Air Ticket Rate on Domestic Flights was N110 per Litre/N18,000 in 2015, it now hovers around N700 per Litre/N70,000, where available. Indeed, the scarcity of fuel which has resulted in loss of several man hours is a disgrace to Nigeria.
    d. The collapse of the National Grid (126 times in 7 years – (June 2015 to March 2022) and its consequences for non-availability of power is most unfortunate.
    e. Kerosene (NHK) used by the ordinary Nigerian for cooking and power was N180 in 2015, it now sells at ₦450.
    f. Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) – 12.5kg Cylinder sold for N2,400 in 2015, is now sold at between N8,750 and N10, 000.
    g. Prices of basic food stuffs are now three times higher than what they used to be in 2015. Staple foods such as rice, beans, cassava flakes are now slipping out of the hands of average Nigerians. Indeed, a Bag of Rice sold for N8500 in 2015 is now N39,000.
    h. Electricity was N14.23 per kilowatt in 2015, it is now N38.530, and not even available.
    i. Unemployment rate was 11.4% in 2015, it is now over 33%, one the highest in the world.
    j. The poverty rate in 2015 was 11.3% but now about 42.8%.
    k. Accumulated Inflation in 2015 was about 4%, it is now 15.50%; Inflation Rate was 9.01% in 2015 and now 15.7%.
    l. Perhaps the Exchange Rate has been one of the most disastrous. N150 to a dollar was the parallel market (patronised by most businessmen and Nigerians) rate in 2015, it is now about N580 to $1 in the parrel market and still rising.
    m. Debt and Debt Servicing:
    Domestic Debt of N8.4T and External Debt of USD 7.3b was incurred between 1999-2015.
    While Domestic Debt of N7.63T (June 2015-Dec 2020) and USD28.57b as at Dec 2020 was incurred. External debt of USD21.27b was incurred between June 2015 and 2021.
    n. National Debt to GDP Ratio was 23.41% (2016) it is now 36.88% (2022).
    o. The Corruption Index has risen from 136 in 2015 to 150 now.
    p. Nigeria’s Misery Index, an indicator used in determining how economically well off the citizens of a country are, is usually calculated by adding the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate to the annual inflation rate, has moved from 14.75 percent in 2015 to 50.48 (2021).
    q. The major threat to the agricultural sector and food security in Nigeria is insecurity. In the northeast of Nigeria, it is estimated that no fewer than 70,000 hectares of arable farmland have been abandoned in the affected States and Local Government areas. The trend is the same all over the country. This further contributes to food inflation. The APC led Federal Government must take steps to cooperate with States to bring security down to the grassroots.

    2. The Forum is surprised that in the face of these statistics of complete failure in all ramifications and areas, the APC still wants to be on the ballot in 2023.

    This shows how uncaring and insensitive the APC is.

    3. The Forum urges Nigerians to reject the APC, a party run undemocratically by a Committee contrary to the Constitution (S.228) with Mr. President regularly issuing instructions and dictates. It is impossible for a party so disorganized to offer good governance to the people of Nigeria.

    4. The meeting expressed concern and alarm over various reports and claims of incidents of stealing of crude oil ranging from 80% to 95% of production made by industry practitioners and called on the Federal Government to set up an appropriate mechanism to reverse this trend and bring perpetrators to account.

    5. The PDP Governors once again decried the inability of the NNPC to make its statutory contributions to the Federation Account, inspite of Oil selling at above $110. It is patently unconstitutional for NNPC to determine at its whim and discretion when and what to pay to the Federation Account, as it is a mere trustee of the funds for the three tiers of Government: Federal, States and Local Governments. We once again, call for investigations and audit of the quantity of consumption of fuel ascribed to Nigerians and for deployment of technology at the filling stations to determine in a transparent manner the volume of consumption.

    The Governors would resist any further attempt by NNPC to ascribe unsubstantiated subsidy claims to other tiers of government.

    6. Furthermore, S.162 (1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended stipulates that “The Federation shall maintain a special account to be called “the Federation Account” into which shall be
    paid all revenues collected by the Government of the Federation…”
    and S.162 (10) states that “For the purpose of subsection (1) of this section, “revenue” means any income or return accruing to or derived by the Government of the Federation from any source and includes –
    (a) any receipt, however described, arising from the operation of any law;
    (b) any return, however described, arising from or in respect of any property held by the Government of the Federation;
    (c) any return by way of interest on loans and dividends in respect of shares or interest held by the Government of the Federation in any company or statutory body”

    a. As of today, 18 (Eighteen) Federation Revenue Agencies are not paying/remitting any revenue to the FAAC Account. These include (i) Central Bank of Nigeria (ii) Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) (iii) Nigeria Liquefied National Gas (NLNG) (iv) Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC) (v) Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) (vi) NPA (vii) Security and Exchange Commission etc

    (b) FIRS and DPR takes cost of collection of 4% (Four percent) of Revenue collected while Customs collects 7%. In March 2022 for instance, FIRS took N15.4Billion as cost of collection and Customs took N8.4b. If these are annualised, FIRS and Customs collects about N1.84Billion and Customs N100B per annum. Obviously, some states of the Federation’s capital budget does not come close to these.

    (c) Nigeria Federation has 49% shareholding in NLNG. According to the Minister of Finance during the 2020 budget performance brief at the National Assembly stated that the federation received dividend of N144billion (One Hundred and Forty Four Billion) from NLNG. These figure to the best of our knowledge was never paid into the Federation Account.

    (d)) NNPC deducts N8.33Billion monthly for the rehabilitation of the Refineries in Nigeria. Till date no refinery is working.

    (e) On priority projects of the Nation’s oil industry, NNPC deducted N788.78Billion for various investments between 2018-2021 without recourse to FAAC.

    (f) NNPC in 2021 alone claimed to have paid over One Trillion Naira as petroleum subsidy. Indeed, the month of March 2022, N220Billion was deducted as oil subsidy with a promise that N328Billion will be deducted in April 2022. This is unacceptable.

    (g) NNPC and FIRS as well as other remitting Agencies continue to apply an exchange rate of N389/$1 as against the Import and Export window of N416/$1. The extent of this leakage can be better felt, if this rate is compared to the current N570/$1.

    (h) From available records about N7.6T is withheld between 2012 and 2021, by NNPC from the Federation Account. All these are said to be payments for oil subsidy.

    (i) Conclusively, we believe that all these leakages in NNPC have been made possible because the President is also the Minister of Petroleum. The urgent separation of these two portfolios have become necessary

    7. The Forum noted the approval by the PDP NEC of the Time Table and Timelines for Congresses and Convention of the Party and urged all party members and party leadership to remain focused and united to win power in 2023, to tackle the myriads of problems facing the country.

    8. The PDP Governors congratulated the host, His Excellency, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, the PDP Governors’ Forum Vice Chairman, for his generosity and hospitality in the hosting of the meeting.

  • Liberian University Seeks Partnership With UNICAL In Research, Exchange Programmes

    Liberian University Seeks Partnership With UNICAL In Research, Exchange Programmes

     

    African Methodist Episcopal University (AME), a Liberian institution is seeking partnership with the University of Calabar (UNICAL) in the area of research, students and staff exchange programmes.

    The proposed partnership was brought to the fore when the Vice-Chancellor of AME, Dr Alvin Attah, paid a working visit to UNICAL Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Florence Banku Obi in Calabar.

    Dr Attah, who is an alumnus of UNICAL, said that the need to give back to his alma mater informed his decision to pay a visit to UNICAL.

    The AME vice chancellor, who said he would continue to be a good ambassador of UNICAL, expressed optimism that the partnership would expand the frontiers of knowledge.

    “I am here to see how well we can collaborate in some common areas like staff and students exchange and research.

    “We have issues in Africa and unless we find solutions within ourselves to solve them, nobody will do it for us.

    “We have common traditions, common cultural values and we all need each other to see how we can move forward.

    “As a malabite, it is a good thing for me to come and visit where I was trained,” he said.

    According to him, AME is also partnering with other universities in Africa, and maintained that UNICAL being a reputable tertiary institution have been chosen among many others.

    Responding, the vice-chancellor of UNICAL, Obi said she was pleased that an alumnus of UNICAL was at the helm in a Liberian university.

    Obi, who said she was proud of the AME vice chancellor, said “you have done so well, we congratulate you as a malabite, once a malabite, always a malabite’’.

    She called on the AME vice chancellor to always make his alma mater proud by projecting the image of the institution.

    Prof. Obi told the AME vice chancellor that having risen to the position of a vice-chancellor in Liberia, it shows that UNICAL churns-out quality individuals who have been found worthy in character and learning.

    She commended the AME boss for deeming it fit to involve UNICAL in his quest for African collaboration and partnership.

    Obi said that it was easier for Africa to partner with itself rather than looking outward all the time.

    “UNICAL is ready for the partnership and modalities will be put in place by the institution’s Directorate of External Relations and Partnership to cement the relationship between both universities,” she said.

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

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

    By Elijah Ugani

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

    Ishabor disclosed this to TheLumineNews on a telephone call.

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Scores Of Heads As Armed Men Invades Kagoro Community In Kaduna

    Scores Of Heads As Armed Men Invades Kagoro Community In Kaduna

    By Steve E Okpale

     

    These are not Ukrainians, these are Nigerians.

    These are indigene of KAGORO right here in KADUNA STATE massacred in their own land by heavily armed, and sponsored men who successfully passed through various check-points unhindered. Over 50 persons lost their precious lives last night, and over 100 houses were razed down with fire.

    Let the world know that southern Kaduna, and KAGORO in particular is under ATTACK. These attacks occur every week either in different locations, or at spotted location.

    Let the world know that that these people were not supposed to die yesterday.

    Nigeria is experiencing GENOCIDE, we have not just accepted that.
    #Kagoro

  • Woman Caught With Kidnapped Children In Port Harcourt

    Woman Caught With Kidnapped Children In Port Harcourt

     

    Children allegedly kidnapped by an aged woman have been rescued at Mango Estate, Elelenwo, Port Harcourt.

    The woman whose name is still unknown, allegedly kidnapped and kept the children in her house.

    According to an eye witness, one of the children had escaped and informed people around. A mob broke into the house and found 6 children with their hands tied to their back with one already dead.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • PDP Hails Court Judgement Sacking 20 Lawmakers In Cross River State, Describes Verdict As Victory For The Electorates

    PDP Hails Court Judgement Sacking 20 Lawmakers In Cross River State, Describes Verdict As Victory For The Electorates

    *PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY CROSS RIVER STATE*

    22nd March 2022.

    Press Statement.

    *PDP hails Court Judgement Sacking 20 Lawmakers in Cross River State*
    …..describes verdict as victory for the electorates.

    The Peoples Democratic Party Cross River State has describe the judgement delivered by the Federal High Court Abuja, sacking 20 lawmakers from Cross River State who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress as a landmark judgement and victory for the electorates in Cross River State.

    The judgement which was delivered by Justice Taiwo in a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/975/2021 filed by the PDP, held that the defendants, having decamped from the Political party that sponsored their election before the expiration of the period for which they were elected have by virtue of the provisions of Section 68(1)(g) and Section 109 (1) (g) of the Constitution of the federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) respectively, vacated their seats and are not entitled to continue to occupy the various seats or offices into which they were elected. The court also made an order of mandatory injunction compelling INEC to accept from the PDP, the list of its members for the purpose of filling the vacancy created by the exit of the lawmakers.

    In view of the judgement, the Peoples Democratic Party Cross River State congratulates the electorates for standing formidably with the PDP, assures them of more victories ahead.

    Reacting to the judgement, the State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Barr Venatius Ikem called on other members of the All Progressives Congress to take advantage of the “April Transfer” season and return to the Peoples Democratic Party. The State Chairman expressed optimism that the judgement of the court will be implemented and upheld by the appellate courts.

    The Peoples Democratic Party enjoins party faithfuls to remain steadfast and committed to the party in the quest to reclaiming the party’s mandate stolen by APC.

    God bless Cross River State.

    Signed:
    Prince Mike Ojisi
    (State Publicity Secretary)