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  • Is This How Governor Ayade Will Leave Us? BY AGBA JALINGO

    Is This How Governor Ayade Will Leave Us? BY AGBA JALINGO

    IS THIS HOW GOVERNOR AYADE WILL LEAVE US?

    In 79 days time from now, Governor Ayade will share the grace from office. He will stop being our governor. In case you don’t understand; he will hand over to a new governor and become former governor. But the actual grace sharing begins after the primaries of the political parties which must hold and be completed within the next five months. Even before and after then, politicking takes over everything. Governance grinds to a total halt.

    But I have been thinking and picking my teeth and wondering that, like play, like play, is this how Governor Ayade will just leave us?

    1. Without a superhighway, an evacuation corridor where we will drive from Calabar to Obudu with a glass of water on the trunk of the car and the glass will not shake?

    2. Without turning Bakassi to Lugano?

    3. Without resettling the Bakassi IDPs?

    4. Without, a deep sea port in Bakassi?

    5. Without Ikom Chocolates in the stores?

    6. Without poles, piles and pylons in even Bedwell market in Calabar?

    7. Without even a face towel from garment factory in any shop on Marian road in Calabar?

    8. Without a rice city churning out highly improved “Calas 77” seeds to the rest of Nigeria to generate N70billion annually for Cross River and decouple the State from federal allocation?

    9. Without a trademark roofing sheet or tile from Yala roofing tile factory, in the market?

    10. Without Bekwara groundnut oil in the market?

    11. Without Obubra cassava processing factory starch in the stores?

    12. Without thousands of Cross Riverians on the Ayadecare insurance scheme?

    13. Without a functional passenger and cargo airport in Obudu?

    14. Without registering an airline or getting an AOC?

    15. With a chicken processing factory that functions only during the Yuletide?

    16. Without a cotton farm in Yala to feed the garment factory?

    17. With brown roofs in Calabar without changing every roof to blue roof?

    18. Without a spaghetti fly over?

    19. With a depleted green forest and murderous wood barons?

    20. Without a bag of Ogoja rice in the market from a bubbling rice mill in Ogoja?

    21. With a nearly decapitated civil service?

    22. With children driven away from primary schools for illegal levies?

    23. Without Ayadecare Specialist Hospitals in the three senatorial districts?

    24. Without Centricot, Northicot and Calas Vegas?

    25. Without a petrocross vessel to rake in revenue for our State?

    26. Without a vessel to ship merchandize from Cross River to the world?

    27. Without a revolutionary robotic and artificial intelligence innovation?

    28. Without flying essential drugs to remote areas in Cross River with drones?

    29. Without a functional 23 megawatts electricity generating plant in Calabar or 26 megawatts in Tinapa?

    30. Without building two megawatts electricity generating plants in each of the 18 Local Government Areas of the State, through Industrial Project Services (IPS) from South Africa?

    31. Without a single drug manufactured from CalaPharm?

    32. Without a functional toothpick factory in Ekori?

    33. Without a functional Cross River microfinance bank?

    34. Without a banana processing farm in Odukpani?

    These were just some of our governor’s promises amongst others. Once the cameras roll in front of him, the promises begin to cascade like the springs of Obudu Ranch. He promised a bag full and has achieved little. Scattered all over our State today are monuments of infantile passion about industrialization without direction, that will serve as mementos of the trappings of a governor who knew how to talk but could not do.

    Governor Ayade remains a shining and fantastic example of how passion alone and ideas do not translate to delivery. He is an epitome of a plan-less leader and a reflection of what a disaster plan-lessness and impulse leadership can wreck.

    If you rely on optics and oratory, Ayade will win Nigeria’s best governor any day. But the reality on the ground is not far from me. It is within my grasp, because I am involved.

    Yours sincerely,
    Citizen Agba Jalingo.

  • Sandy’s Rainbow Vision

    Sandy’s Rainbow Vision

    SANDY’S RAINBOW VISION

    Beneath Onor’s blue passion,
    Brilliant crystal ornaments
    Glow like celestial pearls,
    Desiring to serve CRS.

    His golden brain explores daily,
    Full of unadulterated love,
    His heart burns with truth,
    Replete with optimism for CRS.

    In his eyes are seas of tears,
    Lamenting our aged sorrows,
    His caterpillar muscles
    Are ready to toil and serve us.

    Offer Sandy your hearts now,
    Offer him passionate prayers,
    CRS, sleep no more,
    CHANGE knocks your doors.

    Wash your faces clean,
    From the stains of APCism,
    From the darkness of DECEIT,
    From these seasoned demons,
    Then HOPE shall surely kiss you.

    By Anthony Abuo.

  • Back To South Is Back To Ayade – Donald Duke

    Back To South Is Back To Ayade – Donald Duke

    By Dominic Kidzu 

    Former Governor of Cross River State, Mr Donald Duke has described the Back to South Ideology of the APC as actually Back to the Ayades.

    “Let nobody deceive you. He who pays the Piper dictates the tune. And I believe that it will be unfair to allow our state to continue like this. I know that what I am doing is not popular amongst our people, but I also know that good leaders don’t always do what is popular, they do what is right .”

    Duke who addressed a cross section of wards and polling unit coordinators of the Labour Party in Calaabar South and Municipality at his home in Calabar yesterday admonished them to repeat the work they did for Peter Obi two weeks ago by working for Senator Sandy Onor.

    “I spoke with Peter Obi, whose victory has been temporarily suppressed by the ruling APC, and he asked me to tell you to work for Sandy. If you have ever believed in me, if you have ever trusted me, or loved me then go out on Saturday and work for Sandy”.

    “Peter has been investigating, he didn’t know Sandy before, but he has found out and believes he is the right man for the job. He needs a formidable platform to work when he eventually becomes president. He needs people of intellect, of integrity, people like Sandy ”

    “I’m very involved because things have become too bad. Otu said he wants to continue the legacy of Ayade, the industries, and so on and he means it. He even defended it on television yesterday. He doesn’t even know who actually owns those industries “.

    The former Governor said that what Ayade has cost Cross River in eight years will need an experienced hand to reverse. ” When I was Governor, couples used to wed in Uyo and hold their reception party in Calabar before proceeding to the ranch for honeymoon. Now nobody comes to Calabar again. Ayade has been so bad that even his own people have rejected him and that same person want to give you a Governor “.

    One after the other, the coordinators decried the present state of affairs in the state and pledged to work for the candidate of the PDP in Saturday’s election.

  • C’River Guber Polls: PDP Raises Alarm On Plans By Police To Compromise Elections

    C’River Guber Polls: PDP Raises Alarm On Plans By Police To Compromise Elections

    By Admin

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Cross River has raised alarm on plans by the Police Command to compromise the Governorship election in the state on Saturday.

    This is contained in a statement by the Publicity Secretary of the Party in Cross River, Mr Mike Ojisi.

    He said that the plans were perfected on Wednesday evening when the Commissioner in charge of elections in the state, Garba Aliyu in company of other officers met with Gov. Ben Ayade.

    Ojisi said that information available to the party leadership said Ayade had offered the Commissioner a mount watering amount to execute the plans.

    He disclosed that part of the plan is to create crisis in their strong holds and also used the boys that the All Progressives Congress (APC) has assembled to disenfranchised the people in selected parts of the state.

    He further stated that a number of chieftains of the party have been penciled down for arrest between Thursday and Friday as part of plan to keep them out of circulation until after the elections.

    According to him, “We have it on good authority that arrangement have been concluded to use the Police to compromise the governorship election in the state.

    “The plans to disenfranchise many Cross Riverians, cause chaos in our strong hold, put some of our leaders out of circulation with Police playing a critical role of providing cover for all these unwholesome activities were perfected this evening in a meeting with the governor.

    “Aside the Commissioner, others in the meeting were Garba Aliyu, CP Umar Madaki, in charge of Central, and CP Stanley Ude, in charge of Southern Cross River.

    “Others are: DCP Hayatu Shaff, DCP Aboki Danjuma, DCP Uche Adaku, and ACP Yusuf Doki.

    “They arrived Calabar today and were picked up at the Airport by Asuquo Ekpenyong Jr, Senator-Elect, and drove them straigth to Government House where they met with Ayade.”

    Meanwhile, the spokesperson of the Command, SP Irene Ugbo has debunked such plans, but however confirmed the CP meeting.

    She noted that the meeting was not exclusively for the Police but with other security agencies for the election.

    “The meeting is basically to strategize on the election in the area of security”

  • If I Put My Candidate In Power, I Am Covered? BY AGBA JALINGO

    If I Put My Candidate In Power, I Am Covered? BY AGBA JALINGO

    If I Put My Candidate In Power, I Am Covered?

    This feeling has broken the hearts of several former governors. A litany of them who used their enormous power of incumbency to install successors in the hope that their tracks will be covered, have only had to bite their fingers down the line and face the embarrassing repudiation of such prior commitments, once there is a change of guard.

    While we have excellent examples of Deputy Governors in Nigeria who maintained their comportment and cool until the end of the tenures of their principals, we cannot say the same thing with most successors who were foisted on the people by out going governors. Like the perpetual crow of the rooster, their day of rancour is only a few miles down the road.

    Let me begin from Lagos, where Fashola was planted by Tinubu. The relationship later became so bitter that it was the generality of Lagosians that rose to Fashola’s defense and kept him in power. Though fences were later mended, what happened between the duo is a lesson in successor politics. What also later happened to Fashola’s successor, Governor Ambode, is public knowledge.

    When Orji Uzor Kalu planted his former bone man, Theordore Orji in Abia, he thought he had it all settled. It wasn’t up to six month before Theordore went for the jugular of his former boss. We know how it ended.

    The story of Ganduje and Kwankwaso also quickly comes to mind. How one was like eczema on the other’s skin. So close were they that some persons even swore they will never suffer a broken lid. The moment the guards changed, things also changed for the worse and till date, the lid between them is still broken.

    Ahmed Sani Yerima of Kebbi, worked so hard to plant Mahmuda Aliyu Shinkafi, as his successor. After taking over, his former man-friday, Shinkafi tormented Yerima so much that he worked double to ensure Shinkafi didn’t return for second term.

    Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom is having his own fair share of the successor politics lessons from Emmanuel Udom. Akpabio personally brought Udom and nursed him into Governorship. That relationship has completely soured.

    Or is it Aregbesola of Osun State? He even fought with Asiwaju, his political benefactor in order to plant Oyetola. It wasn’t up to the first hundred days in office before the war between the two began. I’m not sure it’s over yet.

    Go to Edo State and also verify from Oshiomhole what he has seen in the hands of Obaseki. If you don’t have access to Oshio, please ask Google and see Obaseki’s side of the story and you will understand.

    Ibrahim Dankwambo, of Gombe who was practically installed by Senator Danjuma Goje, fell out with his benefactor barely months after taking over power. The duo at a point couldn’t see face to face.

    A former governor of Borno State, Ali-Modu Sheriff, had a major disagreement with his anointed successor Kashim Shettima, who is now the VP-elect and at a point, the former governor couldn’t even enter the State.

    Attahiru Bafarawa of Sokoto State who also handed over to his anointed successor, Wamakko, had to drag his successor to court only a few months later after accusations of corruption between the two started flying here and there.

    Peter Obi left office confident that he did a good job by planting an anointed successor, Willie Obiano, whom Obi personally brought from the banking sector to make Governor. How did it end with the two of them?

    Between Sam Egwu of Ebonyi and his successor, Martin Elechi, the story wasn’t different, as well as between Isah Yuguda of Bauchi and his successor.

    While in Nasarawa State, former Governor, Tanko Al-Makura, had to set up a panel to probe his predecessor, Senator Abdullahi Adamu.

    Even when a father, who was former Governor planted his own son as Governor, in Kwara State, it wasn’t long before the two Sarakis fought to a finish and father frustrated the son from winning a second term.

    Back home in Cross River, we know what happened between Duke and Imoke. We also are fully aware of what is ongoing between Imoke and his anointed successor, Ayade. And with this trajectory, we can also predict with exactitude, what will happen between Ayade and whoever he will hand over to, whether that person be his anointed successor, Prince Otu or his old friend, Sandy Onor.

    Yours sincerely,
    Citizen Agba Jalingo.

  • Like Sandy Onor, Sons Of The Black Men BY SANDRA MICHAEL

    Like Sandy Onor, Sons Of The Black Men BY SANDRA MICHAEL

    Like Sandy Onor, Songs of the black men

    As bright as dawn
    as precious as Shawn

    So thick is his hair
    so lovely is his care

    So gorgeous is his skin without blisters
    he glitters without filters
    He is the black man he has evolved

    Yellow, white, or chocolate
    there is nothing nicely than a black man
    with deep black eyes
    nose so pointed and wise

    I know a black man
    who would clasp our hands when danger shows up

    Let the obidients and otudients
    sing him praises
    the mighty reclaimer is here
    the star of the ejagham kingdom
    the harmonizer ready to reclaim
    ready to reclaim our stolen mandate
    he is the people’s champion

    When you look at my face
    tell him that I’m visible when it matters
    oh ye black men
    your woman adores you
    your people acknowledge you
    let nothing in you rest
    until you reclaim the mandate

    Let the dundrun drum be displayed
    without dismay and delay
    nations are about to come to his rising!

    Yeah he’s strong
    he’s structured

    He’s resilient
    but he can’t accomplish it unaided

    I tell you
    a lot of goods come out from the ebony soul
    black is an identity

    By Sandra Micheal ✍️

     

  • Peter Obi Endorsement Of Sandy Onor And The Issuing Of Threats To Igbo Community In Cross River State By The APC BY UMEZULIKE DESMOND-CRUZ

    Peter Obi Endorsement Of Sandy Onor And The Issuing Of Threats To Igbo Community In Cross River State By The APC BY UMEZULIKE DESMOND-CRUZ

    PETER OBI ENDORSEMENT OF SANDY ONOR AND THE ISSUING OF THREAT TO THE IGBO COMMUNITY IN CROSS RIVER STATE BY THE APC

    Understandably, the endorsement of Senator Sandy Ojang Onor, the Gubernatorial candidate of the PDP in Cross River State, by Mr Peter Obi, dealt a traumatizing and deafening blow on the APC in Cross River State. While I heartily sympathize with them and in the spirit of sportsmanship, acknowledge their right to react to the issue of Obi’s endorsement of Senator Sandy Ojang, I honestly feel it is sickeningly insulting for the APC to issue threats to the Igbo Community in Cross River State, just because Mr. Peter Obi endorsed Senator Sandy Ojang Onor.

    I read with utter dismay and grave concern a publication attributed to one of the Spokesperson of the APC in Cross River State, wherein, he flagrantly accused Mr. Peter Obi and his people–the igbos– of trying to reintroduce what he referred to as “internal colonialism” and vowed that his Party will do everything to stop Mr. Peter Obi and “his people”. Firstly, let me acknowledge the fact that it is the constitutional right of Mr. Peter Obi to endorse any Gubernatorial candidate, and in this case, if there is any Political Party that has the right to react offensively to the endorsement, it should be the Labour Party in Cross River State, and not the APC. I mean, we have over 14 Political Parties in Cross River State fielding Gubernatorial Candidates, why is the APC the only party whose feathers are ruffled by this endorsement? Why are they trying so hard to incite the people of the State against the Igbo community in Cross River? Why are they making unnecessary reference to the bitter issues of Civil War and the pre-colonial era?

    More worrisome is the fact that Peter Obi’s endorsement of Senator Sandy Ojang Onor, has no ethnic coloration, as Sandy himself is an Ejagham Man from Etung Local Government and married to an Ejagham woman from same Etung Local Government Area. Sandy’s mother, who is from Akamkpa is also Ejagham and not Igbo. I am pretty sure that, if you trace the genealogy of Senator Sandy Ojang Onor, at least, to the 4th generation, you may likely not find any ancestral link with the Igbos. And same goes to his Deputy Governorship Candidate, who is proudly an Efik Princess, from a reputable Royal family. So, on what basis is the APC trying to whip up ethnocentric sentiment against the Igbos in Cross River State, due to Mr. Peter Obi endorsement of Senator Sandy?

    I am an Igbo man from Cross River State–proudly and unapologetically so– and I speak on the basis of Self–preservation and morality, not Politics. The APC in Cross River State must as a matter of utmost importance, stop the fanning of these smoldering embers of hatred against the Igbos in Cross River State. The Gubernatorial candidate of the APC must call to order, some of his overzealous media handlers, lest they set the entire state on fire. I am an Igbo man and it is my inalienable right to support whosoever I deem fit to govern our State. Enough of the threats!

    ©Umezulike Desmond-cruz

  • A Harvest Of Endorsements For Sandy Onor As Saturday 18 Beckons BY DOMINIC KIDZU

    A Harvest Of Endorsements For Sandy Onor As Saturday 18 Beckons BY DOMINIC KIDZU

    A HARVEST OF ENDORSEMENTS FOR SANDY ONOR AS SATURDAY 18 BECKONS

    BY DOMINIC KIDZU

    Saturday this week is going to be an unforgettable day for Cross River State as the people troop out in their numbers to cast their vote for the kind of tomorrow they want. Already, political, religious, socio-cultural and commercial interest groups have began to indicate clearly the choices they have made and the direction of their votes.

    For Senator Sandy Onor it has been a harvest of endorsements from very influential people and groups who have chosen him over and above the APC candidate. The battle cry from all who have pledged to help to crown him king has been the search for a clean break from the nightmare of the APC administration which they have disavowed as evil and retrogressive.

    They all seem to agree that a vote for Prince Otu will translate to foisting an Ayade dynasty in Cross River State through the backdoor since it was Ben Ayade’s consumptive junior brother, Frank Ayade, who single handedly chose Prince Otu as candidate and has continued to fund his campaign from the proceeds of state capture in the last eight years. Apart from Frank Ayade, huge amounts of money are also said to have been removed from the local government funds for the Ayade-Continuity-Project which they are prosecuting as a do-or-die affair.

    The Ibo union in Cross River state has endorsed Senator Sandy Onor, so has the Akwa Ibom union, two critical interest groups in the state. The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Cross River wing of National Youth Council of Nigeria, about ten other political parties, apart from the Labour Party and it’s vastly popular presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi and our quintessential former Governor, Mr Donald Duke.

    Only yesterday, ten candidates for the two seats in the House of Assembly from Calabar South, Prince Otu’s safe heaven, also joined the widely popular movement for Sandy Onor governorship. Various women groups and market associations have also adopted Senator Onor’s electrifying running mate, Emana Duke Amawhe and are rallying their members to work for her ticket.

    It is now very clear that the people have rejected the APC and what the party has come to represent under the mediocre leadership of Governor Ben Ayade who spent eight years supervising the deliberate and systemic destruction of everything the people were proud of about their dear state. Our rich forests, our tourism, our finances and all state institutions have been laid waste by a party and government that does not know when enough is actually enough.

    Now the die is cast and the people have made their choice. Even though the ruling party has continued to perfect their plans to manipulate election results by compromising INEC officials, disruption of the voting process and thuggery, the will of the people will triumph and their choices will still stand. As Donald Duke said in his endorsement video yesterday, “This Back-to-South slogan is simply just back to the status quo, back to the Ayades with one transitioning from Co-governor to the actual governor through his surrogate he single-handedly picked and has funded thus far”.

  • Nigerian Army Remain Neutral And Apolitical In The Discharge Of Its Constitutional Roles; Not Perturbed By Politically Motivated Fake News – FHQ

    Nigerian Army Remain Neutral And Apolitical In The Discharge Of Its Constitutional Roles; Not Perturbed By Politically Motivated Fake News – FHQ

    NIGERIAN ARMY REMAINS NEUTRAL AND APOLITICAL IN THE DISCHARGE OF ITS CONSTITUTIONAL ROLES; NOT PERTURBED BY POLITICALLY MOTIVATED FAKE NEWS

    The attention of the Nigerian Army has been drawn to a deliberately calculated smear campaign in the Social Media and other fora against some of our senior commanders and officers. While these unconscionable acts are inexplicable, the motivation behind them are not far-fetched. In the just concluded Presidential and National Assembly elections, officers and men of the Nigerian Army adopted a firm and resolute stance in providing security support for the Elections in a manner that effectively curbed and prevented ill-intentioned groups from violently interfering with the process. There is no doubt that Nigerians are excited at this responsible posture and the democratic opportunity it offered them. However, some interest groups, that were effectively prevented from hatching their nefarious plots to influence the course of the elections through violence, are understandably piqued by this assertiveness of the Nigerian Army.

    As constitutionally conceived, the Nigerian Army is nationalistic in its make-up and organization, drawing strengths from the diversities in our great nation. Our responsibilities, so far as elections are concerned, remain that of providing support to primary law enforcement and stakeholders in the Electioneering process towards ensuring that Nigerians are allowed to choose their leaders and representatives in a peaceful manner. This goal remains our only focus and one we would continue to pursue, mindful that the average citizen expects nothing less from his Army.

    The Army Headquarters wishes to assure the public that any misconduct against any of its personnel would be responsibly investigated and any subsequent substantiation would attract the appropriate disciplinary sanctions in accordance with established practices and extant laws. In the same vein, it should equally be appreciated that the character and reputation of a senior officer earned over 3 decades of meritorious service cannot be allowed to be destroyed by misguided elements through mere speculations. The resort to the sentiments of ethnic and religious colorations would not also diminish the Nigerian’s Army resolve to carry on its roles professionally.

    The Nigerian Army, therefore, urges all Nigerians to ignore the mischief being propagated by ill-intentioned individuals and groups, and continue to go about their civic responsibilities without any fear of molestation. We would continue to work with sister Services and other Security Agencies to meet all security-related expectations of citizens as enshrined in the laws of the Federation.

    ONYEMA NWACHUKWU
    Brigadier General
    Director Army Public Relations
    13 Mar 2023

  • Propositions For Cross River NASS Members To The 10th NASS (IV)… BY AGBA JALINGO

    Propositions For Cross River NASS Members To The 10th NASS (IV)… BY AGBA JALINGO

    Propositions For Cross River NASS Members To The 10th NASS (IV)…

    Opportunity Statement

    It is on record that in the past 10 years, over N1.5trillion has been appropriated for constituency projects in Nigeria, yet the impact of such huge spending on the lives and welfare of ordinary Nigerians can hardly be seen. Peeved by the ugly development, the ICPC in May 2020, declared that it would prosecute recalcitrant legislators, who are gifted to diverting funds meant for constituency projects.

    The Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, said in an interview that the Commission, in its bid to look at the kind of corruption that affects ordinary people, would investigate the execution of constituency projects.

    While informing Buhari of this ugly development during a visit in 2020, Prof. Owasanoye told the President that: “Sir, we discovered that some agencies of government are favourites for the embedding of constituency projects irrespective of their core mandate and capacity of these agencies to deliver or supervise projects. Most notorious in this regard are the Border Communities Development Agency, and Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria.

    “Duplication of contracts with the same description, narrative, amount, location awarded by the same MDA to bring the amount allocated within approval threshold of the executing agency, or to expend allocation to sponsor of the constituency project.

    “Many of the contracts were inflated yet poorly executed. Substandard items were used against specifications in the Bill of Engineering Measurements and Evaluation thus diminishing the value of the projects to the intended beneficiaries. Many projects were also not built to specification.”

    He also pointed out that: “Empowerment and capacity building projects are very popular, but are highly prone to abuse and very difficult to track. We find that almost 50 percent of budgetary allocation to zonal intervention projects goes to these opaque activities. Empowerment items are sometimes stashed away by sponsors and not distributed till the next budget cycle while in some cases, the same items are re-budgeted and duplicated.

    “Many community members believe that sponsors pay for projects from their funds, rather than from public treasury. Thus they are beholden to the sponsor rather than claim their rights.”

    Propositions

    1. Instead of stuffing a few notes into envelopes and distributing on camera to constituents as constituency bursary intervention, why not commit such funds into starting properly managed Educational Trust Funds, open to public donations and scrutiny? This isn’t difficult. It begins with a meeting of your team of professionals and a team from the State Scholarship Board.

    2. There is an urgent need for the amendment of the Federal Scholarship law to allow sub-national scholarship boards to explore and expand their funds net and accountability feedbacks, with a view to broadening their scope of intervention. Someone has to draft that amendment.

    3. Instead of waiting for phone calls from desperate sick constituents asking for help for emergency medical bills, why not collaborate amongst the members going to the 10th NASS from Cross River State, to kick-start a subsidized health insurance scheme for vulnerable members of our communities? A pilot scheme can begin with an HMO and a hundred subscribers from each Federal Constituency and Senatorial District, mostly women of child bearing age, and expand the net there-upon. This will grow to cover other constituents over time.

    4. Instead of giving handouts to people to pay rents, can we begin to consider a legislative framework for alternative and affordable mass housing options and models for our communities? Things like, fire proof, affordable, prefabricated settlements that will solve the housing problem on a sustainable and incremental basis?

    5. Can we also begin to consider legislation that will support the building of hi-tech functional innovation and entrepreneurship clubs and centers and clubs, in our constituencies and ensure they function efficiently by challenging them to produce implementable products on realistic timelines?

    These are actually things that require discipline to do, and they tarry before maturation, and politicians generally believe that such things don’t help them to win the next election. Yet in the long run, it is the mushrooming of these structures that will solve society’s problems on a sustainable basis.

    The only person I know who ever commanded his followers to cast their burdens on him and meant what he said was, Jesus the Christ. But he was not voted into power. The people we vote cannot solve our problems by themselves. They solve them through systems and structures. Without building systems, there is little they can do on their own. That’s why they haven’t been able to solve any of our problems because they keep trying to do it through personal bank alerts and their back pockets. But they are actually meant to midwife the building of structures, systems and processes that will perpetually solve our problems, even when they leave office.

    And today, they have so pauperized us that we no longer know the difference between service and charity. But may God give us understanding to discern the difference and be able make our leaders serve us accountably.

    …. _To be continued_ …..

    Yours sincerely,
    Citizen Agba Jalingo.