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  • Why The Judiciary Should Not Be Dragged Into The Political Fray In Rivers State BY OKOI OBONO OBLA

    Why The Judiciary Should Not Be Dragged Into The Political Fray In Rivers State BY OKOI OBONO OBLA

     

    The antagonists in the political internecine warfare going on in Rivers State presently should not use the judiciary as sacrificial lamb through dragging political motivated cases to the court under the guise of asserting their rights .

    The latest injunction obtained on 10 May 2024 in the High Court ,Port Harcourt, by three members of the Rivers State House of Assembly against 25 members of the House, which restrained them from parading and holding out themselves as members of the Rivers State House of Assembly or meeting/sitting at the Auditorium of the House of Assembly Quarters at Aba Road,Port Harcourt or any other place whatsoever to purport to carry out the legislative business of the Rivers State House of Assembly, their legislative sears having been declared vacant pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

    This seems to me a dangerous escalation of the intractable crisis that has dogged and engulfed the State since 2023.

    It seems to me wrong for three members of the Rivers State House of Assembly to use the weapon of a court injunction to prevent 25 members from carrying out their constitutional responsibilities under the guise that their seats have been vacated.

    Who vacated the seats of these 25 members?

    I know as a fact that in 2023 27 PDP members of the Rivers State House of Assembly defected from the PDP to the APC.

    I know as a fact that under the 1999 Constitution, a member of a legislative house that leaves the political party that sponsored his election to join another political party stands to lose his seat.

    But the exception is when there is a splinter or crisis in the political party that sponsored his election, his defection would not affect his seat.

    Therefore, under the circumstances, could it be said that these 27 other members of the Rivers State House of Assembly that defected from PDP to APC have lost their seat?

    This is a legal question under the circumstances that only a court of law can determine.

    Therefore, he doesn’t lie in the mouth of the three members of the Rivers State of House of Assembly to determine the fate of their colleagues on the other side.

    The Rivers State House of Assembly has a 31 membership strength.

    A quorum of one-third of these 31-member House of Assembly is required constitutionally for it to conduct the business of the House.

    Accordingly , 10 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly is needed to declare the seats of 27 members that defected vacant.
    It is illogical or unconstitutional for three or five members to remove 27 members when, in the first place, they can not form a quorum.

    I think that the injunction obtained on 10 May 2024 by three members of the Rivers State House of Assembly against 25 other members is a desperate act to ward off the impeachment of Governor Sim Fubara by the majority in the Rivers State House of Assembly.

    I think it was a wrongful exercise of discretion by the learned trial Judge to have exercised his discretion in favor of these three members who applied for the order of injunction.

    The judge ought to have ordered that the 1st-25th Defendants should put on notice in order to hear their own side.

    It was wrong for the judge to have at the level of ex parte application to have agreed with the applicants that these 25 members have lost their seats.

    This is the reason why I was saying at the beginning of this write-up that the combatants in Rivers State should not drag the judiciary into their fight.
    @ Okoi Obono-Obla

    Disclaimer: The opinion expressed in this article is strictly that of the author, Chief OKOI OBONO-OBLA, and does not represent TheLumineNews or its agent.

  • C’River State Govt Set To Revamp Home-Grown Feeding Programme, Disengages Old Vendors

    C’River State Govt Set To Revamp Home-Grown Feeding Programme, Disengages Old Vendors

    TheLumineNews

    As part of efforts to reinvigorate the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme, the Cross River State government has announced the disengagement of its former vendors, in a press release dated 3rd of May 2024, sighted by TheLumineNews.

    The release signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Nsa Gill expressed appreciation to the outgoing vendors for their service and wished them well in their future endeavors

  • Foundation Distributes Yam Seedlings To Farmers To Boost Food Production

    Foundation Distributes Yam Seedlings To Farmers To Boost Food Production

     

    By Ovat Abeng

    In continuation of his drive to help indigenous farmers in Anambra State boost food production and arrest the lingering food crisis in the country, Anambra philanthropist, High Chief JohnBosco Onunkwo, through his Foundation, JohnBosco Onunkwo Foundation, has carried out the second phase of his foundation’s free yam seedlings distribution.

    The second phase of the yam distribution took place at Ekwulobia and Umuchu in Aguata local government area of the state last week.

    Speaking to beneficiaries by a proxy, Mr. Onyeka Offor (Deputy Chairman, APC Aguata), the philanthropist urged them to cultivate the yam seedlings this planting season and promised to reward those who harvest the biggest size of yams during the new yam festival with cash prizes.

    On behalf of Aguata APC excos, the chairman, Chief Godson Anyadike thanked the founder, Chief Onunkwo for his thoughtful initiative in boosting food production in his constituency among other numerous interventions and prayed for God’s blessings upon him.

    The Foundation have earlier in her first phase distributed the seedlings to farmers in Awka and Onitsha axis respectively.

  • Just In: Court Convicts Man for Raping An Eight Years Old Child In Calabar

    Just In: Court Convicts Man for Raping An Eight Years Old Child In Calabar

     

    A High Court sitting in Calabar, the Cross River State capital has convicted Aniedi Mfon, age 25, for  raping an eight years old child in Calabar today, May 6th 2024.

    Delivering the judgement, Hon. Justice Blessing Egwu, of the High Court of Cross River State, sentenced him to life imprisonment.

    The Judge who lamented the high prevalence of rape, also awarded a fine of One Million naira to the survivor.

    Reacting to the development, Founder of Basic Rights Council Initiative, Mr James Ibor Esq, noted that “I wish to thank the Commissioner of Police and his team, Attorney General, Ededem Ani and his team the staff of the Basic Rights Counsel Initiative and the survivor and her father who resisted intimidation and bribes to back out. Special thanks to our amiable Prosecutor Patience Akpama. You are a rising star”

  • Legal Aid: Foundation Targets Over 10 Inmates Of Calabar Correctional Centre

    Legal Aid: Foundation Targets Over 10 Inmates Of Calabar Correctional Centre

    By Christian Njoku

    Royal Ambassadors Family Enlightenment Foundation, (RAFEF), a Non Governmental Organisation, (NGO), has taken steps to assist some inmates of the Afokang Correctional Centre in Calabar with legal aid.

    This was disclosed by Mr Jonathan Okwudiri, Chairman, Board of Trustees of RAFEF on Monday in Calabar during the official inauguration Ceremony of Cross River Executive Working Committee of the foundation.

    Okwudiri who doubles as the Director General of the foundation said apart from there programmes to empower women and youths, they would be embarking on a project in Cross River to assist inmates in the state’s correctional centre with legal aid.

    According to him, “In Afikpo, we visited the Correctional Centre and got inmates who didn’t have representation and those who didn’t have money to pay for their bail after they were granted bail by the court.

    “The legal team of this foundation went to work ensuring that applications were made to the court to see how we could assist about 12 of them with legal representation and bail payment.

    “We also did the same thing in Amawbia Correctional Centre in Awka where we equally picked 13 inmates to help secure there freedom; in Cross River, we will be doing the same in Afokang Correctional Centre,” he said.

    He said while ensuring that they empower over 1,000 women and youths in each of the 18 Local Government Areas of Cross River, they have taught their members never to protest or fight against government adding that it resolved nothing.

    He said as a group, they had a system of getting positive results through negotiations, dialogue and consultations whenever there was conflict.

    He appealed to the members of the foundation in Cross River to uphold the watchwords of integrity, truth, trust, transparency and accountability, noting that with these virtues, they would excel.

    On his part, Dr. Moses Agboreyo Cross River Coordinator of the foundation said he would work to mobilize members of the foundation to get positive results and meet up with their aims and objectives of empowering people.

    Agboreyo who is also the South-South Zonal Director said the major challenge they faced was funding and mobilisation due to the vast and difficult terrain of Cross River but added that they were working to surmount these challenges and touch lives. (NAN)

  • Do We Vote For Development Or For Palliatives… BY AGBA JALINGO

    Do We Vote For Development Or For Palliatives… BY AGBA JALINGO

     

    Let me start by defining what palliative is.

    “A medicine or form of medical care that relieves symptoms without dealing with the cause of the condition.”

    If you are 30yrs today, and politically active, and commenting on social media, that means in 1999, when democracy returned to Nigeria and when Nigeria adopted the Constitution of the 4th Republic, you were barely 5 years old. You didn’t know anything politically yet. If you are 35years today, that means you were 10 years old. You will have little or nothing to say first hand, about the Obasanjo and Donald Duke years in office.

    Unfortunately for this demographic, for those who are active politically, they are more familiar with the word, “Palliatives” than the word “Development.” In fact, they confuse the latter for the former. For most of them, palliatives means the same thing with development. Anyone who dispenses palliatives is bringing development to the people. So when they vote, they don’t expect much. Once you can dispense some palliatives, the people will translate it to mean development, and they can even go to war for you.

    Consequently, instead of growing our generation and distribution of electricity to illuminate us, power businesses and factories, they are giving us palliatives, – supplying millions of solar street lights across the country. Yet electricity bills keep increasing amidst the darkness.

    Instead of building and equipping hospitals and insuring our health, they are giving us palliatives. They have reduced it to three-days health outreaches in our villages. Yet charges in government hospitals keep rising while they get their own healthcare abroad or in private hospitals.

    Instead of equipping schools, giving us years of expense paid and program scholarships, they are giving us palliatives. They have reduced it to parceling some few thousands in envelopes to distribute in open fields or wiring it to your account, and still call it scholarship, while sending their own children abroad or to private schools.

    Instead of deliberately building massive infrastructure, they are giving us transport palliatives. They are buying rickety foreign coaches, buses and refurbishing, buying keke and okada, to ride on aged roads and rails, while they are chauffeur driven in armored SUVs.

    Instead of building ‘water works’ to purify and distribute pipe born water to homes, they are giving us palliatives. They are counting the number of boreholes they have dug.

    Instead of building refineries to make fuel available, they are giving us palliatives. Sharing money and importing refined products and selling to us at whatever price they like.

    Instead of creating the enabling environment for jobs and earning a living, they are giving palliatives. Sharing wrappers, rice and meat and drinks and condiments to a pauparized population. It’s now all about palliatives, palliatives, palliatives, and nothing but palliatives.

    But it was not always like this. The aging infrastructure in Lagos did not emerge from the Atlantic Ocean. It was built. Abuja was built. The Federal Secretariat, National Assembly Complex, Supreme Court, Airports, 3rd mainland bridge, Carter Bridge, Eko Bridge, the now decrepit general hospitals across the country, the military barracks and facilities, the first generation universities, the hydro dams, the now failed East West road and several others, were started and completed.

    So why have we become so incapable of starting and completing so many things? Is our vote now for palliatives? Have we redefined the meaning of development or do we need to ask why our government has been reduced to palliatives instead of development? If you find the answer, you can share it with me.

    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 

  • Family, Friends And Business Associates Bids Late Leonard Afanga Wodar Farewell

    Family, Friends And Business Associates Bids Late Leonard Afanga Wodar Farewell

     

    It was a solemn moment as family, friends, the leadership of All Progressives Congress Cross River State, and Business Associates trooped the country home of late Comrade Leonard AFANGA WODAR in Igol Ugbagada Nkum Iborr, Ogoja to pay last respect.

    Leaders paid tribute as they took turns to pour emotions over the untimely death of late Hon Leonard Afanga Wodar, a community leader, a peace builder and consummate Business Man.

    Reading his tribute, the immediate past Chairman of Ogoja LGA and leader of Nkum Iborr Ward, Hon Emmanuel Ishabor x-rayed the contributions of the late Afanga, he charged everyone to learn to celebrate ourselves while we are still alive because the vacuum he left cannot be filled in a hurry. He said he was forever indebted to him for being a pillar of support to him and the Ward.

    Hon Patrick Agbe who read the tribute of the state Chairman of APC, examined the life of Afanga as a political son whom he tutelaged for years. He said the disease is a good example of a community leader who is loved by his people. He Admonished everyone to be mindful of how we use positions of influence and leadership.

    Hon Emmanuel Anoh who read out the tribute of the Deputy Governor of Cross River State, Rt Hon Peter Odey, posed a striking question: “with this death, the questions in our hearts about why good men depart so early have become even stronger. He also said I have a worthy opponent whom I ran elections twice- first as students and then in 2019 when we ran for the Ogoja State Constituency in the Cross River State House of Assembly. On both occasions I won but he was gracious in defeat and never took me to courts nor did he allow bitterness to build between us”.

    Hon Joe Lifu took tributes for the Ugbagada community as he reeled out the humane and sacrificial life of the disease. He said the APC Family, BAKOR nation is pained by this death, the Executive Director Operations of SYNERGY MINERAL RESOURCES LIMITED, Akpoga Geoffrey, took the tribute for the group, a company late Afanga tenaciously built while he was alive.

    The funeral climaxed when an age long friend of late Afanga, Dr Oli made a passionate appeal to the government of Cross River State to assist the family in the children’s education, saying the late Afanga toiled so much for the party and deserves handsome rewards even in death.

  • Surface Intelligence And The Limit Of Excellence BY JOHN GAUL

    Surface Intelligence And The Limit Of Excellence BY JOHN GAUL

     

    Surface intelligence includes a shallow appreciation and understanding of arguable issues, including a preliminary, pre emptive and flash impact of what a subject matter is all about .

    Surface intelligence generates from Surface understanding ,You can use it to describe a basic or cursory understanding of something, but not a thorough or deep understanding.

    Intelligence can be defined as the ability to solve complex problems or make decisions with outcomes benefiting the actor, and has evolved in lifeforms to adapt to diverse environments for their survival and reproduction.

    On the other hand Deep knowledge refers to a thorough and comprehensive understanding of a subject or topic. It involves not only being able to recall facts and information about the subject, but also being able to understand and apply this knowledge in a variety of contexts.

    Surface learning is the more factual information or surface knowledge that is often a prerequisite for deep learning. Deep learning involves things like extending ideas, detecting patterns, applying knowledge and skills in new contexts or in creative ways, and being critical of arguments and evidence.

    Surface intelligence comes from Surface learning, in Surface learning students focus on external goals such as getting a particular grade or award or pleasing or impressing someone else.

    These students tend to do only what is necessary and focus more on being able to regurgitate what they have learned rather than truly understanding and absorbing the material.

    One of the greatest challenge of our generation is that serious minded people who are bestowed with critical decision making process still groove with Surface intelligence.

    Unfortunately, their beneficiaries are also gifted with Surface understanding.
    Any society made up of surface thinkers is limited in excellence.

     

    The opinion expressed in this article is strictly that of the author, John Gaul and does not represent TheLumineNews or its agent 

  • Ganduje Cannot Not Find Justice In The Kanu Commission Of Inquiry BY JOHNSON BRISIBE

    Ganduje Cannot Not Find Justice In The Kanu Commission Of Inquiry BY JOHNSON BRISIBE

     

    What justice can the cockroach expect from a panel of inquiry set up and populated by chickens. The answer is none. No justice, no fairness, no equitable outcome, because the commission has only one secret charge: “Oga said you should find him guilty and commit him to jail.”

    All the motions being dramatized are aimed at confusing the ignorant public because the single minded mission is to bring Dr Ganduje to his knees on the charge of not having treated his former boss, Dr. Kwankwaso with respect for most of his reign as Governor. It is a clash of egos and a hubristic show of might.

    What Kwankwaso and his political son, Abba Yusuf are doing is to put to work, like the writer, Gustave Flaubert, the role of perception to create a multiplicity of truths and different versions of reality. For instance, it is their aim to create the perception that Dr. Ganduje, the immediate past governor is the most pressing problem of the state and that investigating him, not Kwankwaso, is the most brilliant thing to do.

    It is very likely that Ganduje has been shaken sore, breaking him however is going to take a long and protracted struggle especially since the two fellas pointing their second fingers at him also have the rest of their fingers pointing back at themselves. And Ganduje is in a position to know details of Kwankwaso’s shenanigans having worked with him for almost two decades..

    Already there is talk about local government funds ending up in Kwankwaso’s presidential campaign account. There is sure to be more pungent revelations from his two term governorship of Kano state and his work as federal Minister of Defense during which Ganduje was his deputy and Special Adviser respectively. The smelly air is surely not going to clear up soon.

    Or is it all about the battle for 2027? There has been talk about Kwankwaso considering to join the All Progressive Congress. Is the tactics aimed at getting Ganduje out of the way so that when Kwankwaso eventually joins the rulling party, he will be Lord over the whole of Kano state with no one left who is capable of struggling for a piece of the highly populated sub region?

    What is in this fight for the citizens of Kano, as hunger, deprivation, illiteracy and poverty continues to tear away at the people. How does distracting Ganduje put a morsel of food on the table of the people. As billionaires like Dangote and Rabiu continue to release palliative grains for the hungry millions of Kano, Abba Yusuf and his godfather are having fun playing high wire politics with the aim of crowning Kwankwaso political king in Kano. Is this what the multitudes voted for? Was this part of the bargain?

    Kano as a state and a people continues to lag behind in all the development indices apart from the startling hunger and poverty. As hundreds of thousands of young school age children throng the streets and invade restaurants for left over food, the only thing that borders the NNPP leaders is the battle for political superiority. There is no doubt that Abba Yusuf who is rumoured to have won his governorship in a board room trade-off is going to disappoint the people big time, having already lost focus from his campaign promises.

    A so-called populist ideology as the ‘Kwankwasia’ idea the NNPP trumpets should focus on improving the living conditions of the masses of its people in critical areas as healthcare, mass education, employment, food and nutrition among others. Yet the government in Kano prefers to orchestrate high drama as a substitute for genuine development ideas. Ganduje will certainly not find justice in the Kano kangaroo investigation commission. He is already vindicated by the sheer desperation and partiality of the governor of Kano state and his leg men.

    We call on the president, Ashiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to step in with a clear statement on his stand in the matter so as to bring order to what has become an APC in Kano state that has been completely invaded by officials and machinations of the NNPP. It is now clear that the Kwankwaso group cannot be trusted even as he mulls political cooperation ahead of 2027. It’s leaders are self absolved in their own egos and are not people to trust or do business with. A word is enough for the wise.

    Johnson Brisibe writes from Abuja.

  • Godwin Offiono visits TB, Leprosy, Orthopedic Centres In Ogoja, Donates Items

    Godwin Offiono visits TB, Leprosy, Orthopedic Centres In Ogoja, Donates Items

    The Member representing Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency, Hon. Godwin Offiono, yesterday visited the Tuberculosis, Leprosy and orthopedic centres in Ogoja LGA.

    The MP went bearing gifts such as, sewing machines, rice, yam, garri, etc, and cash. He assured the patients of his constant support and prayers.

    According to the patients, the MP visited them few months before his election where he promised to return again after the election; he fulfilled the promise yesterday and assured them of constant visits. They prayed for the MP and wished him success in all his dealings.

    Also, the MP had a sit out with the people of Urban Ward 2 at Abakpa Motorpark in Ogoja LGA, where he assured constituents of continuous good representation.

    GOFFIO MEDIA.