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  • Ayade’s Commissioners To Protest Supreme Court Judgement On PDP Ward And Chapter Executives Tomorrow But Asu Okang Denies The Allegation

    Ayade’s Commissioners To Protest Supreme Court Judgement On PDP Ward And Chapter Executives Tomorrow But Asu Okang Denies The Allegation

    By Admin

    There seemed to be a different strategy adopted by Governor Ben Ayade’s camp after the supreme court judgment on ward and chapter exco of PDP in Cross River State.

    The supreme had struck out the appeal brought before it challenging the verdict of the Federal Harcourt and the Court of Appeal which authenticated the list that favoured National Assembly Members.

    A development that  some of Governor Ayade’s Aides have continue to argue that it is in their favor. Some of the aides had even announced the dissolution of the ward and chapter exco by the National Working Committee NWC of PDP.

    It was however learnt this evening that Commissioners serving in the Ayade government are currently meeting in one of their colleagues house making finishing touches in preparation of the planned protest.

    According to Agba Jalingo on his Facebook page “Ayade’s commissioners brawling in George O’ben-etchie’s house right now, where they are planning a protest against the supreme court judgement tomorrow”

    When contacted, the Commissioner for Information, Comrade Asu Okang denied the allegation completely and said that “there is no protest, I’m only aware that some junior appointees wants to pay the Governor a solidarity visit to pledge their commitment to the Governor despite the supreme court judgment. To stage a protest will be counter productive”

  • Bekwarra Council Chairman, Dr Josephat Emeka Mourns Late Chief Linus Okom

    Bekwarra Council Chairman, Dr Josephat Emeka Mourns Late Chief Linus Okom

     

    The Executive Chairman of Bekwarra Council, Hon (Dr) Josephat Emeka Owan has expressed  shock at the demise of Ada Bekwarra, Chief Linus Okom, OON, KSM, KSGG, JPII.

    In a release signed by the Chairman, and sighted by The Lumine News, he maintained that it is with a heavy heart to say how deeply grieved he was to hear of the death of Ada Bekwarra.

    The release reads in parts “On behalf of Bekwarra Council, and my family, I wish to commiserate with the entire members of his family, and the good people of Bekwarra LGA over the passing of this humble, patriotic, amiable and notable leader.

    “I would like to express my deep respect for the achievements of Chief Okom in the course of his long life as one of the principal actors in Nigeria’s pre-independence and post-independence politics.

    “An octogenarian, he held various positions as Chairman, CR-North Political Caucus of the PDP, former Board Chairman, Federal College of Education, Obudu, and past Chairman of the Governing Board of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) amongst others.

    “He was a mentor and an inspiration to many, a pious Christian, a seasoned administrator, a wordsmith, an elder statesman so humorous, and the political leader of Modern Bekwarra who was highly thorough.

    “Adah Bekwarra was a man of honour and an achiever. In all his assignments, he was exceptional, forthright, dedicated and showed great commitment in the discharge of his duties. He was a unifying force and his contribution to the growth and development of democracy in Nigeria cannot easily be forgotten”

    Dr. Emeka noted that in all situations, the late Chief Okom lived nobly and he died in nobility.

    “Let us bear in mind that we all have the opportunity to act nobly in whatever position we find ourselves. He died at a time the country and its leadership is in dire need of such leadership, experience and wisdom to tackle the multifaceted challenges facing the nation.

    “I pray God to grant his immediate family the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.

    “May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace..Amen!”

  • Just In: Court Dismisses APC’s Certificate Forgery Suit Against Obaseki

    Just In: Court Dismisses APC’s Certificate Forgery Suit Against Obaseki

    A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has dismissed the alleged certificate forgery suit filed against the governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki.

    Justice Ahmed Mohammed delivered the judgment on Saturday in a suit filed by the All Progressives Party (APC) and a chieftain of the party, Williams Edobor, against the governor.

    The APC and Edobor had filed the suit alleging that Governor Obaseki presented a forged certificate to seek re-election in the Edo State governorship election held on September 19, 2020.

    According to the plaintiffs, the said document was purportedly issued by the University of Ibadan, while the governor presented same to Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) which conducted the poll.

    Before Justice Mohammed delivered the judgement in the suit, counsels to both parties in the matter had closed their cases after they presented witnesses and evidence to the court.

    During proceedings on Thursday, lawyer to the Plaintiffs, Akin Olujimi, adopted his final written address.

    He urged the court to affirm their position that the governor presented a forged certificate to the electoral umpire and was unfit to occupy the office.

    This was, however, rejected by Governor Obaseki’s counsel, Ken Mozia, who asked the court to dismiss the suit over what he described as the plaintiff’s failure to prove their case.

    A Dramatic Switch, Yet Same Result
    Governor Obaseki contested and won the governorship election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in a bid to extend his stay in office by another four years.

    Although he was elected into office for the first term on the APC platform, the governor later defected from the party after he was screened out from the party’s primary which saw Mr Osagie Ize-Iyamu emerging as the APC flagbearer for the election.

    This came in the middle of a lingered dispute between the governor and his predecessor and immediate past APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole.

    After defecting from the APC, he got the PDP’s ticket and went ahead to defeat Ize-Iyamu for the second time to claim the governorship seat in what can be described as a dramatic switch of political parties.

    Governor Obaseki had defeated Ize-Iyamu as the APC candidate in the 2016 governorship election while the latter was the PDP candidate.

    Four years later, he secured 307,955 of the total votes, 84,336 more votes than Ize-Iyamu who got 223, 619 votes.

  • Bonny Ewhe Sets The Pace, Donates Generator and Cash To National Identity Management Commission

    Bonny Ewhe Sets The Pace, Donates Generator and Cash To National Identity Management Commission

    By Elijah Ugani

    The Chairman of Obudu Local Government Council, Mr. Boniface Ewhe has donated a 2900KVA generator and a cash of (#50,000.00) fifty thousand naira only to the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Obudu branch to facilitate enrolment of those who were yet to be enrolled.

    Presenting the generator, the Chairman noted that “we are worried that majority of our people are yet to be enrolled for NIMC, and with the directives to link all sim cards to NIMC, it becomes very obvious that those who were not captured, would come to be enrolled.

    “As a council, we are not unaware of the challenges that beclouds this exercise, ranging from power supply to provision of fuel. It is on this note that I present this generator and a token of #50,000.00 to aid your work”

    When contacted by The Lumine News, Mr. Ewhe said “we want to avoid the idea of officials charging people to pay money for enrollment. When people pay transport from their villages to come to the registration center, asking them to pay money for any logistics is abnormal.

    “We have to provide the needed logistics for NIMC to enable them do their job. Government is government, be it federal, state or local government. We have to take ownership of the enrolment process.

    “When they derail, we can then ask the necessary questions, for now, we will give them all the support they need to do their job effectively, and we are hopeful that they will deliver on their mandate”

    Mr. Ewhe used the opportunity to call on all residents of Obudu to take advantage of the opportunity created to enroll for NIMC as to be linked to their sim cards.

    Receiving the generator on behalf of the Chairman of the National Identity Management Commission, the Head of NIMC Obudu, Mr. Paul Alekwu thanked the Chairman of council for the magnanimity in donating the generator as well as providing fuel, and pledged utmost use for the purpose it is meant for.

    Mr. Alekwu used the opportunity to call on Chairmen of other councils in the state to follow the path created by Mr. Boniface Ewhe to ease the enrollment process.

    This gesture by the Obudu council Chairman would not have come at a better time than now, when an Aide to Governor Ben Ayade had raised alarm that some NIMC officials are charging and collecting as high as #2,000.00 for enrollment.

    A development that has led to the suspension of some of the officials of the commission.

  • C’River Gov’t Inaugurates COVID-19 Action Recovery And Economic Stimulus Steering Committee

    C’River Gov’t Inaugurates COVID-19 Action Recovery And Economic Stimulus Steering Committee

    BY admin

    The Cross River Government has inaugurated the COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (CARES) committee to steer the activities of the programme in the state for the next two years.

    Deputy Governor of the state, Prof. Ivara Esu, who inaugurated the team on Wednesday in Calabar, said that the project was timely and coming at a time where the Nation’s economic needed to be stimulated with various programmes.

    CARES is a World Bank Assisted programme which is supported by the Federal and State Governments in Nigeria, designed to stimulate the economy.

    According to him, with the coming in of the programme which is scheduled to start by April, the state will consolidate on the gains and reduce her poverty rate of 36.3 to at least, a single digit.

    He cited the destruction of properties in government offices and private homes in Calabar during the #EndSars protest on Oct. 24, 2020 as one of the factors that has further created poverty in the state.

    “I want to specially commend members of this committee and especially the Chairman of the committee, Dr Inyang Asibong, who is the Commissioner for International Development Cooperation for her drive in making this programme a reality in the state,” he said.

    Earlier in her opening speech, Dr Asibong mentioned the benefiting areas to include CSDA, FADAMA, Enterprise Development Funding, Livelihood, Public Work Fare and the State Cash Transfer Unit.

    She explained that the focus of the programme was to help in the recovery of the economy by way of collective involvement of all relevant stakeholders who have been identified to play certain roles.

    “In the area of public work fare, we are going to get youths, both skilled and unskilled, to be meaningful engaged so that they can earn a living.

    “For the Cash Transfer Unit, pregnant women, the vulnerable and physically challenged persons will also benefit from this platform.

    “Also, the FADAMA project will cater for the provision of input to farmers among many other beneficiaries,” she said.

    She commended Gov. Ben Ayade for placing premium on intervention programmes in the state, adding that the state was ready for the implementation of the programme

    Mr Toni Ikpeme, Board Chairman of Community and Social Development Agency, who spoke on behalf of members of the committee, assured that they were going to give in their best in order to achieve the mandate of programme.

    Members of the committee include the Commissioner for Finance, Mr Asuquo Ekpenyong, Commissioner for Commerce, Mrs Rosemary Archibong and Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Okon Owuna,

    Other members are; Commissioner for Youths and Skill Development, Mr Signor Omang-Idiege, Mrs Marjorie Asuquo, Special Adviser to Gov. Ayade on Enterprise Development Funding, Mr Gabriel Adah, Director General of Cross River Commercial Transport Regulatory Agency and Mrs Monique Ogon, Special Adviser to Gov. Ayade on Enterprise.

    Also in the committee are, Mr Victor Edet, Special Adviser to Gov. Ayade on International Development, Mrs Kate Ajibike, Special Adviser, Community Development Enterprise and Mr Felix Ita, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of International Development Cooperation.

  • Just In: Communal Skirmishes Between Abankang And Alok Claims Two Lives

    Just In: Communal Skirmishes Between Abankang And Alok Claims Two Lives

    By Elijah Ugani

    Two persons are said to have lost their lives to a communal Skirmishes that ensued between Abankang and Alok both in Ikom Local Government Area of Cross River State.

    The two communities are along Ikom – Ogoja high way.

    Commuters have expressed concern that the Skirmishes if not checked might put their lives at risk.

    The crisis is not unconnected with land dispute.

    As at the time of filing this report, soldiers have been deployed to the boundary to maintain peace.

  • BREAKING: Supreme Court Strikes Out PDP’s Appeal On Ward And Chapter Exco List

    BREAKING: Supreme Court Strikes Out PDP’s Appeal On Ward And Chapter Exco List

    By Elijah Ugani

    The Supreme struck out the appeal filed by the PDP challenging the judgement of the High Court and the Court of Appeal on the ward and chapter exco list.

    In a unanimous judgement, the court orders parties to bear their respective cost in the matter.

    The apex court has today January 6th, 2021 laid to rest the squabbles orchestrated by the ward and chapter congresses that produced parallel Exco.

    The National Working Committee NWC, had ratified the list that favoured National Assembly members and the exco sworn in virtually.

    The faction of the governor had insisted that the governor being the leader of the party in the state must be the one to produce the ward and chapter exco list.

    This however led to litigation. The matter was however decided in favour of the National Assembly members at both the High Court and the Court of Appeal. Dissatisfied with both the judgment of the two courts, the governor’s faction approached the supreme court.

    The Lumine News can authoritative report that there seemed to be tension in both camps with many insinuating that the governor may decamp should he lost the ward and chapter exco list to the National Assembly members.

    With this judgment, normalcy will return to the party as the authentic exco will settle to begin work.

    Speaking to The Lumine News, Mr. Peter Akpanke congratulated all the exco that were sworn in and said “indeed democracy has come to stay. This victory is for all of us, irrespective of our differences, and it will sure solidify our party”

  • Rovers FC Resume Preparations For 2020/2021 NNL Season With High Hopes

    Rovers FC Resume Preparations For 2020/2021 NNL Season With High Hopes

    By Kelvin Obambon

    With the 2020/2021 Nigeria National League (NNL) season sets to kick off on 16 January, 2021, the Calabar based Rovers Football Club has begun preparations amid high expectations for the season.

    Speaking during the resumption of training at the U.J. Esuene Stadium, Calabar, on Tuesday 5th January, 2020, Technical Director of the club, Mr Etta Egbe, said the team is advancing preparations for the opening season, while expressing optimism that Rovers would finish top on the table and possibly gain promotion for the country’s top flight league, which is the NPFL.

    “We have an ambition like every other club in the division. We want to see how we can get to the top and then gain promotion to the premier league where we rightfully belonged. This is what we are working towards. As you can see the players are having adequate training. We are preparing them for the opposition ahead. In ten days time the league will start and we hope to have a good representation.”

    Egbe further stated that with the quality of players, coaching and technical staff in the team, Rovers Football Club would put up performance that Cross Riverians will be proud of.

    He said “Cross River State Government has been very supportive to the team. We want to use this opportunity to thank Governor Ben Ayade, who has never said no to issues concerning Rovers Football Club. He has always been there for us. We need to reciprocate by getting the club good results that will take us to the premiership.”

    However, the resumption which comes amid the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic would have little or no visible impact on the team’s level of preparedness, as the Technical Director assured that Rovers Football Club has put in place adequate COVID-19 prevention protocols in line with directives from the national league body.

    He added that currently the squad is made up of 11 old players who will be complemented by additional 20 players for the season.

    The Nigeria National League has been out of action after it went for the 2019/2020 break in December, and never returned due to the outbreak of Covid-19.

  • Tension Heightens As Supreme Court Delivers Judgement On PDP C’River Ward and Chapter Exco List Tomorrow

    Tension Heightens As Supreme Court Delivers Judgement On PDP C’River Ward and Chapter Exco List Tomorrow

    Supreme Court To Deliver Judgement On PDP C’River Ward and Chapter Exco List Tomorrow

    All is set for the apex court (Supreme Court) to deliver judgment on the ward and chapter exco list of the People’s Democratic Party PDP, tomorrow Wednesday, January 6th 2021.

    Recall that the PDP in the state has been fractionalized after two lists emanated from the party congresses held to elect ward and chapter exco.

    The two factions had the governor, Sen. Ben Ayade as leader while the other faction is led by National Assembly members from the state.

    The National Working Committee NWC, had ratified the list that favoured National Assembly members and the exco sworn in virtually.

    The faction of the governor had insisted that the governor being the leader of the party in the state must be the one to produce the ward and chapter exco list.

    This however led to litigation. The matter was however decided in favour of the National Assembly members at both the High Court and the Court of Appeal. Dissatisfied with both the judgment of the two courts, the governor’s faction approached the supreme court.

    The Lumine News can authoritative report that there seemed to be tension in both camps with many insinuating that the governor may decamp should he lost the ward and chapter exco list to the National Assembly members.

    As the supreme delivers judgment tomorrow, it lay to rest which faction will handle the affairs of the party in the state.

  • 30 Women Detected With Breast Cancer In October 2020 – Linda Ayade

    30 Women Detected With Breast Cancer In October 2020 – Linda Ayade

    Simon Ushie

    The wife of the Cross River State Governor and the President/Founder of Mediatrix Development Foundation, Dr. Linda Ayade has disclosed that her organization in collaboration with the Cross River State Government have identified 30 women across the three Senatorial districts of the State with various stages of breast cancer in the past one month.

    Dr. Ayade made the declaration at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital during the annual flag of the the 2020 breast cancer awareness month and service provision organized by the Breast Imaging Society of Nigeria( BISON) aimed at reaching out to to women and men in the state to create cancer management and prevention strategies to beat the growing incidences of breast cancer in Cross River State.

    Dr Ayade said, her organization and her office having identified the essence of early detection, partnered with the state government through the Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency to move into Communities working side by side with local media agents to draw people into checking for lumps in their breasts which was successful, and 30 patients have been identified and referrals made for advanced procedures on the patients.

    She pledged to be more committed in 2021 to sensitize more women “We hope to work closely with you all in 2021 and get more women sensitized, screened and treated on the various stages of breast cancer”.

    On her part, the Director General of the Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency Dr Janet Ekpenyong said, the month has offered her Agency the opportunity to improve upon some services especially breast cancer check through various trainings and workshops organized by partners like BISON with visible results been recorded.

    She said henceforth, every woman who visit any of the primary health care centres across the state will be subjected to compulsory breast check to halt the increasing figures of new cases and deaths.

    Head of the Breast Imaging Society of Nigeria (BISON), Cross River State Chapter, Dr Ofonime Ukweh, maintained that “though, all through the phase of Covid19, breast cancer remains the leading cause of death globally with over 600,000 deaths in 2018 alone”

    Dr Ukweh further called for a shift of attention from the consideration or believe that Breast Cancer is peculiar to the female gender alone, she calls on men at all ages and profession to present themselves for regular breast check in teaching hospitals across the country, with BISON ready to support patients who are diagnosed of cancer.

    She used the opportunity to call on all people to have an improved lifestyle through proper diating and regular exercise as well self and frequent check.

    She averred that the group in the past five years have seen them offer services including world class breast imaging, image guided intervention and research following best global practices.