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  • C’River Launches “SCALE 3.0” Strategy For Covid-19 Vaccination, Commence 3 Months Intensive Integrated Vaccination Campaign

    C’River Launches “SCALE 3.0” Strategy For Covid-19 Vaccination, Commence 3 Months Intensive Integrated Vaccination Campaign

     

    The Cross River State Government has flagged off an optimized vaccination scheme termed “SCALE 3.0” to address poor compliance of vaccination exercise as well as accelerate integrated service delivery across the state.

    In an event flagged off by the state Governor, Senator Ben Ayade in company of strategic health Implementing Partners in the state, recorded huge turn out of targeted population in a show of embrace to the deliberate health interventions over the years.

    The Governor, Professor, Ben Ayade who was represented by the Chairman, House Committee on Health, Hon. Dr. Ekpo Ekpo Bassey, in his Keynote address, noted that the SCALES 3.0 strategy will address the identified implementation gaps in SCALES 2.0 and bring about more accountability for performance, strengthen electronic data reporting and promote robust demand generation at the community levels.

    He further stated that the government has a responsibility to ensure that people are in good health and are not infected with COVID-19 as well as other diseases noting that the government has decided to maximize efforts to take vaccination closer to the people and meet their most challenging needs.

    In an earlier address, Director General of the Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (CRSPHCDA), Dr. Janet Ekpenyong thanked all partners for their support and contributions to the vaccination drive in the state, adding that the SCALES 3.0 will operate more focused campaign with mobile and specialized teams taking vaccines to where people live, work and to the hard to reach areas across the state.

    She further mentioned that the services of the agency will not just be in the facilities, but ensures that healthcare3 services will be closer to the people with assured regular sensitization, awareness and outreaches to end preventable deaths.

    “Our services will not only be at the facility level, but we will ensure that we move services closer to the people. Our mobile teams will be moving from one place to the other to get many people especially those eligible to take the vaccine.
    We are also going to decentralize communication and ensure that people at the grassroots are mobilized. We will be working with all the strategic people, traditional leaders, religious leaders, and several other organizations that we can leverage to get many people vaccinated.”

    “We are hoping to achieve the 70% target before the end of the year and see how we can achieve herd immunity as soon as possible. This for us is an opportunity to improve vaccine coverage and ensure that as many people as possible should be vaccinated. Over 500,000 people have been vaccinated in the state, and we are hoping that we can hit the 2.2 million target before the end of 2022″.

    Ekpenyong also thanked Governor Ayade for his commitment to the health sector for ensuring that every Cross Riverian is protected against COVID-19, adding that the Johnson and Johnson vaccine as well as other brands are properly stored to maintain potency and viability.

    Similarly, the Executive Director, National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Faisal Shuaib, represented by Mrs. Ifeyinwa Onwudinjo in his remarks, disclosed that only 3 states have vaccination coverage of over 50 percent thereby leaving 34 states performing sub-optimally in terms of COVID-19 vaccination coverage.

    According to him, “the SCALES 3.0 strategy will enable the Federal, State and Local Government to reach every eligible population in Nigeria with COVID-19 vaccine”.

    He also stressed that the SCALES 3.0 strategy will be anchored on an intensive 3 months campaign, performance-based incentives, optimized integrated package of services, decentralized and incentivized demand generation strategies, partner coordination and accountability, and state-specific context and strategies.

    Also speaking at the launch, Mrs. Joy Chabo, State Immunization Officer, CRSPHCDA, stated that the SCALES 3.0 would be using a human-centered demand generation design to address low COVID-19 perceptions in the state.

    She added that the strategy encourages more outreach where the vaccines will be taken to doorsteps, shops, markets, churches, schools, and every part of the state, regardless of the location.

    SCALES is an acronym for ‘service delivery, communication, accountability, logistics, electronic reporting, and supportive supervision’ for the ongoing COVID-19 vaccination.

    The launch had in attendance representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO), FHI360, Breakthrough ACTION-Nigeria, Heartland Alliance, kncv Tuberculosis, Foundation Nigeria, amongst others.

  • IPMAN Threatens To Shut Down Calabar, Port Harcourt, Enugu Depots, Petrol Stations Over Police Incessant Harassment

    IPMAN Threatens To Shut Down Calabar, Port Harcourt, Enugu Depots, Petrol Stations Over Police Incessant Harassment

    By Judex Okoro, Calabar

    The Cross River state chairman of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association (IPMAN), Comrade Robert Obi, has raised the alarm over police incessant harassment of its leaders, threatening that the association would not hesitate to shut down all the Easern zone depots and petrol stations in Calabar, Port Harcourt and Enugu depots.

    Obi said the decision to close all the stations was reached at after series of meetings with some stakeholders on the new alleged moves by the Police Legal Force headquarters, Abuja to arrest its executives across the zone and possibly install factional leadership, which could lead to another round of crisis in the association in spite of various court pronouncements laying the matter to rest.

     

    The South East zone of IPMAN, which comprises of Enugu, Aba, Rivers, Cross River and Benue states with over 40 depots and 1, 000 petrol stations with about 2, 000 members, has been having a running battle with officers of the Nigeria Police Force over alleged attempts by the police to foist a factional leadership for association’s chapters.

     

    For quite some years now, IPMAN has been factionlised between Chiefs Obasi Lawson and Elfer Chinedu Okoronkwo all from Abia state, leading to series of litigations. However, the litigations culminated in the Supreme Court judgment in Suit No SC/15/2018 delivered on December 14, 2018 and its subsequent interpretation by Federal High Court Calabar dated June 19, 2019, which recognised automatic succession of the Deputy National President, Alh Sanusi Abdu Fari, as National President of IPMAN, based on 1997 constitution of the association as against of one Elder Chinedu Okoronkwo. Alh Sanusi Abdu Fari was in Chief Obasi Lawson’s faction.

     

    Following that judgment, the Attorney General of the Federation and the Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, had in a letter dated January 4, 2019 and sent to Rivers IPMAN Chairman led by Chief Richard Orianwo, acknowledged and congratulated Alh Sanusi Fari as the President of IPMAN following Supreme Court judgment.

    He, therefore, advised “the association and all parties to abide by the Supreme Court and the Federal High Court interpretation on the matter and condemned any acts of contempt of court and the attendant proactive disputes that are escalating tensions and violence in the host community and thus threatening lives and property by any member or organ of IPMAN.” This letter was also copied to Elder Chinesu Okoronkwo.

    In the same vein, the Hon Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timiore Sylva, in a letter dated January 27, 2020 congratulated Engr Sanusi Abdu Fari and promised to work with the new leadership.

    The letter read in part: “The judgments of the Federal High Court, Calabar dated June 19, 2019 as to the tenure of the erstwhile National President, Chief Obasi Lawson, and the automatic succession of the Deputy National President, Alh Sanusi Abdu Fari, as the National President, is noted.”

    The legal department of Inspector-General of Police headed by CP Daso Oruebo followed suit and advised police to recognise the leadership of Alh Fari and withdraw from the occupation of national secretariat in Abuja in compliance with the court orders which incidentally should be extended to other branches having emerged from the same process. The police had since complied.

    But trouble seems to be brewing again in IPMAN following a new twist to the interpretation of the Supreme Court judgment by the new Police Commissioner, Legal Force headquarters, Abuja, DCP Ochogwu Ogbeh, W.A, who had in a letter dated May 13, 2022 advised the Inspector-General of Police to recognise the Chinedu Okorornkwo-led faction of IPMAN and subsequently accord them necessary attention at the national headquarters and in the affected states.

    In the letter describing the Elder Chinedu Okoronkwo-led executives as “the judgment creditors,” DCP Ochogwu Ogbeh advised “all litigants in the disputes, who submitted to the jurisdiction of the Court to respect the outcome of the decision and comply with Court orders, most especially as this decision is coming from the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.”

    Reacting to DCP Ochogwu Ogbeh interpretation of the Supreme Court and Appeal Courts judgment and advise in an interview in Calabar, the Cross River state Chairman of IPMAN, Comrade Robert Asue Obi, described Police action as an invitation to anarchy, threatening that the association would not hesitate to shut down all depots in the eastern zone and close petrol stations owned their thousands of members in protest against police undue harassment of the leadership and interference in their affairs.

     

    Obi frowns at the illegal moves by the police authourities and some disgruntled elements to either misinterpret the Supreme Court ruling or subvert the will of the people and subsequently impose their cronies on the association even when the facts of the matter are very clear.

     

    He explained that the Attorney general of the Federation, AGF’s letter, copied to Elder Chinedu Okoronkwo and his faction, who lost out at the Supreme Court, had acknowledged Alh Sanusi Fari as authentic National President of IPMAN as well as his Depot/Unit chairmen.

    “Following the legal advice, the police are putting all arsenals to arrest the current executives of IPMAN in Nigeria, particularly in Calabar NNPC depot and allegedly hand them over to the people of their choice. IPMAN warns that if any further step for the Police to interfere with the current leadership of the association headed by Alh. Debo Ahmed, as national president, and that of my office, we would shut down the distribution channels of petroleum and allied products in Nigeria pending the when the police return to their senses.

    “IPMAN leadership has resolved to continue with their rights in the constitution and abide by the extant laws and subsisting judgments of the courts in their favour.”

    Describing the recent police interpretation as travesty of justice, the counsel to Alh. Ahmed Debo-led IPMAN, Daniel Enegu Mgbe, regretted that the Police under the watch IGP decided to be misled by its legal unit headed by DCP Ochogwu Ogbeh in defiance of the position of the Attorney General of the federation.

    Mbge recalled that CP Daso Josaih Oruebo and IGP had confirmed the same legal advice of Attorney general of the federation on a memo dated June24, 2021, insisting that the Police authourities have no constitutional powers to neither reverse the AGF legal advice nor usurp his constitutional duties, adding that any attempt by the Police to override he the legal advice of AGF amount to trying to lock horns with the law officer of the federation.

    He stated that Section 15 of Sheriffs and Civil Process Act 2004 clearly spelt out the functions of the under Section 4 of Police Act 2020.

     

  • 2023: Come Up WITH Revolutionary Ideas To Change Cause Of things In C’ River, Sen Onor Charges Youths

    2023: Come Up WITH Revolutionary Ideas To Change Cause Of things In C’ River, Sen Onor Charges Youths

     

    By Judex Okoro, Calabar

    Cross River governorship candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Sen. Sandy Onor, has called on the youths to come up with revolutionary ideas to change the cause of things in the ahead of 2023 in the state.

    Speaking at PDP Town Hall meeting of major youth stakeholders and leaders of support groups organized by WANBONEH group and held in Calabar on Friday, Onor, representing Cross River senatorial district, said the youths, with a lot of energy, have a say in the state and that is why he made a forty-one year-old lady as his deputy governor.

    He disclosed that those who have ruled the state in the past were in their youthful age and urged them not to be allow selfish politicians to manipulate their youthful energy, adding that life is full of vicissitudes but with purpose and determination they can conquer.

    He said: “I have worked with youths and believe in youthful energy because as a youth I was a party chairman. But look at my age and so things must change. I am not going to lead Cross Riverians astray. I would tell you the truth and be practical with ourselves by returning to our land and harvest the nature’s gift.

    “It is high time youths stopped being manipulated by those who don’t have their interest at heart and should neither listen to people who manipulate their energy to achieve a purpose and later dump them, promising to empower them in practical terms once he is elected in 2023 and not on the food-on-the-table agenda.”

    On the issue of back-to-south zoning arrangement, he said: “The issue of zoning was too emotional thereby undermining the mission of our struggle. Besides, the party primaries were too competitive and everybody who came was a quality material to be toyed with. So, let us try and put beyond the acrimonies of yesterday. I love back-to-back to south movement because it has its own energy. I have worked for the south before those clamouring now.

    “I was the chairman of the defunct Democratic Party of Nigeria (DPN) as a youth and I supported southern candidates. So, we should shun ethnic politics to move the state forward because we are in a mess. When I win, I would be blind to ethnicity. I believe in quality as long as you can add value to the government.

    “In the history of the state, nobody has dominated one another neither any group has. So, why are people trying to divide us because we have commonalities? For now, we should look at competing fiercely and favourably with whosoever APC brings. And now is the time for PDP youths to rise to the occasion. Therefore, I caution the youths against engaging in anti-party because it does not help anyone and it is a smack of hypocrisy and witchcraftcy.”

    Earlier in his welcome address, the National Leader of WANBONEH, Comrade Asu Abang, said the stakeholders’ meeting was organized as part of healing processes among the youths and see how they can come together to deliver the PDP candidates across board.

    Abang said: “We wanted to seat together and discuss some issues that arose from the primaries across the state. As stakeholders, the youths have significant roles to play ahead of 2023. We know some youths are angry over the non-realisation of back-to-south arrangement in terms of the governorship.

    “However, now that we have chosen who leads us at all levels, it is imperative all the youths speak in unison and move into the field and mobilise the electorate for PDP because when we win, all us would be better for it. This is not the time for blame-game as we must come out with zeal and determination to reclaim the state from APC.”

     

  • Wike Dissociates From Suit Challenging Atiku’s Candidacy

    Wike Dissociates From Suit Challenging Atiku’s Candidacy

    Rivers State Governor, Mr Nyesom Wike few moments ago (Friday) distanced himself from a purported suit said to have been filed by him seeking the removal of Atiku Abubakar as presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in next year’s general election.

    This comes few hours after some media outfits had reported that Wike had ordered the removal of PDP flags in Rivers State government house, which also turned out to be false.

    In an exclusive chat with THISDAY, the Governor denied knowing anything whatsoever about the purported suit or even knowing the lawyers who filed the suit in the first instance. “I don’t know anything about the so called suit. I did not ask anyone to file any suit for me”

    The media was on Friday morning awash with reports that Governor Wike and one Chieftain of the PDP, Mr Newgent Ekamon, had dragged the PDP to court seeking the removal of Atiku as Candidate of the PDP in next year’s presidential polls.

    According to the purported suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/782/2022, the plaintiffs were said to have hinged their claims on the grounds that the PDP primary conferred undue advantage on Atiku which aided his emergence as candidate of the PDP in the May 28 and 29 primary.

    Reacting to the publication, Wike flatly denied the suit said to have been filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja. He described the suit as the handiwork of mischief makers who merely want to use him to score cheap political goals.

    He stated emphatically, “I don’t know the lawyers”. Continuing, he said, “am I a kid to be filing a suit at this time. I had 14 days after the primary within which to have filed any suit. I didn’t do that then, is it two months after primary I will file a suit?

    He also recalled that, “just yesterday they came up with the claim that I ordered my Chief Security Officer to pull down PDP flag in Government House. This is all false, it’s all propaganda. Some people are trying to use me to win the election. Please disregard all these lies”.

    ThisDay

  • Dear Prince Otu, Don’t Start From Where We Are Leaving BY AGBA JALINGO

    Dear Prince Otu, Don’t Start From Where We Are Leaving BY AGBA JALINGO

     

    We are leaving somewhere. Like, departing from a place of discomfort to another destination. That should happen in exactly 291 days. It is important for all of us to make sure we remind whoever will take over the reins of power from Governor Ayade, whether it is the ruling or the opposition party, that we are reading their lips and preparing their marking scheme.

    Prince Otu, the APC guber candidate was on a thank-you tour of Cross River North recently. I think they had a good time going round without any major incident of violence or chaos. That is very commendable. Two things however have been sticking out like the sore toes of an elephantiasis infected feet. Among the events that took place in the North, Otu’s supporters have been particular about two. The spraying of money from an open roof car in Bekwarra for people to pick from the ground and Otu’s promise to revamp Okuku Market in Yala LGA, if he becomes our next governor.

    While Otu supporters called what happened in Abuochiche junction the triumphal arrival of Prince Otu, to a tumultuous welcome, what I saw was people throwing Naira notes from the open roof of a speeding vehicle and luring poor villagers to scramble for a pick among bikes that could have hit anyone. Let me be very clear that in Nigerian politics and during campaign seasons, it is not only Prince Otu or his supporters that will be caught in this. Having said that, that cannot be a standard we will accept or tolerate in our State.

    First, Prince Otu was a member of the National Assembly that passed the CBN Act which criminalizes the denigration of Naira notes in the manner we saw in Bekwarra. In a place where laws work, all those caught on video spraying or trampling on those notes should be facing a magistrate by now. Secondly, it smacks of taking our people for granted because of their poverty, anytime someone who says they want to go and lead us and alleviate our poverty, come around and begin to throw Naira notes to the ground for peoples’ fathers, mothers, aunties and youths to trample on themselves and pick and fight over after the convoys are far gone.

    The toe, knee and elbow injuries they sustain in the running and falling, the risk of being knocked down by a rushing vehicle, are all part of the wickedness infested by such despicable show of shame. These are not sights that should be celebrated. Our people are not dogs and food should not be thrown to them on the ground. Dogs too don’t eat from the ground any longer. Even Ayade is putting the food on the table. He is not throwing it on the ground.

    Prince Otu was also quoted as saying: “I spent most of my school days in the North, and during that time, people come from all over the country to buy at the Okuku market. I will revive that market and make sure that happens again in my time.” Now, this is where I want to caution that we cannot continue from where we are leaving. Stop the bogus promises and stop them now please. We are tired of these bogus gargantuan and olympotic promises. Do what the laws says.

    We need to tell Prince Otu early enough that, if by any chance he becomes our governor, rather than bother about fixing Okuku market, he should promise Cross Riverians that, he will not touch or pilfer LGA funds like all his predecessors have been doing and will allow the LGAs to work and function as enshrined in our Constitution. If he does that, Okuku market will function as he desires without his intervention. Historically, markets have always been out of the purview of governors even from colonial administration. Communities and local chiefs have always had a way to manage their market places peacefully until big government began to unfairly interfere.

    Let us also remind Prince Otu again that, sub(e) of the Fourth Schedule of the 1999 Constitution, clearly vests the establishment, maintenance and regulation of slaughter houses, slaughter slabs, *markets* , motor parks and public conveniences on LGAs and not on Governors. It is the refusal of the governors to do what the law says that is killing markets like the one in Okuku and several others across the State. I am very sure that even that time Otu spent in the North like he said, the Okuku market he says was doing well and bringing people from across the country was developed and run by the LGA not the State government.

    We shall continue to standby and gather together what those who want to lead us are promising us on their way to power and keep the promises as their marking scheme. This will serve as a good reminder and a wealthy library for the social contract.

    Yours sincerely,
    Citizen Agba Jalingo.

  • No One Can Be More PDP Than Chief Soni Obache Abang BY JOE OBI BISONG

     

    Chief Soni Abang stirred the hornet’s nest late last week when he granted an interview to one of the Governor’s one thousand media aides and instead of speaking about the issues surrounding his party’s difficult campaign, as its supposed Director General, he needlessly took a bronco – charge at the People’s Democratic Party, haughtily unleashing an extensive narrative that belied and made a mockery of the real facts that are alive and on ground in Cross River State today.

    While Chief Soni Abang speaks about the PDP as having a moral baggage in the interview, the real moral baggage of the PDP was and still is, with the greatest respect, Chief Soni Abang himself. Apart from the fact that he was Chairman of Boki local government area under the umbrella of the party and thereafter Chairman of the same PDP for about seven years, his tenures witnessed unbridled greed and extortion by his goodself or agents, while selection of Party candidates was administered like a bazaar with the tickets going to the highest bidders. He was draconian in leadership and elephantine in his appetite for money, big cars and good food. At one point, the leadership had to make the difficult decision to banish him to the Republic of Mali, just to keep him far away from the cookie jar. This is the moral baggage that Chief Soni Abang has fortunately transferred to the All Progressive Congress and its tainted candidates, which he should frankly be speaking about.

    His reference to an imaginary principle of zoning in Cross River State flies in the face of truth because he is obviously aware that such a principle does not and has never existed. The Cross River State Director General of the APC campaign should be well advised to rather focus on the following issues:
    1. The difficult matter of running on Governor Ben Ayade’s legacy.
    2. The yet to be answered questions about the certificates of his party’s governorship candidate.
    3. Whether his party’s governorship candidate was duly cleared to contest the Primaries or otherwise.
    4. The questionable character and reputation of his party’s candidates, generally speaking.

    5. The dire need to find workable ways to boost the economy of the state, create jobs and restore investor confidence in Cross River State.
    6. The Director General of the APC campaign may also wish to address the allegations hanging around his neck, like the sword of Damocles, that he has been fully paid by this government for his portion of the Boki East – West Road which has been abandoned.

    One cannot live in a glass house and continue to throw stones at his neighbours indiscriminately. The campaigns for the elections of 2023 shall be conducted the way the parties model them to be.
    The choice is between an issues – based campaign or a mudslinging model. While the Senator Sandy Onor campaign organisation in particular and the PDP at large, has chosen to deal with the issues as they affront and affect the generality of our people, we are also prepared to respond appropriately in kind, whenever and wherever the integrity of our patriotic charge is considered to have been unduly impugned.

    In the face of the greatest rape of our State throughout the history of our corporate existence, and the systematic destruction of everything we hold dear, young men holding food on the table jobs could be excused to join the Hallelujah Choir; not men like Sony Abang who till today, are known to be unrepentant secret critics of of Governor Ben Ayade’s misgovernance. It is a blatant tragedy indeed, for people like Chief Soni Abang, to whom this state and the PDP gave life, to be seen to validate, as the cheerleader, the complete decimation of all the achievements their excellencies Donald Duke and Liyel Imoke both of whom brought him up by hand, left behind. Surely there must be other ways of baking bread beside being a zombie or puppet for someone else.

    DG, CATERPILLAR MOVEMENT

  • Jarigbe Agom Facilitate FG Palliatives For The Aged, Vulnerable, Widows And Widowers In Cross River North

    Jarigbe Agom Facilitate FG Palliatives For The Aged, Vulnerable, Widows And Widowers In Cross River North

     

    The Senator Representing Cross River North Senatorial District, Distinguished Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe has facilitated the disbursement of palliatives from the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster management and Social Development, to the vulnerable, Aged, widows, and widowers in Cross River North Senatorial District.

    The disbursement which was made in Ogoja LG council by Staff of the FMHADMSD, has over 100 beneficiaries from the 5 LGAs of Cross River North, who received a token of N20,000 each.

    The facilitation is in line with the Senator’s relentless effort to ameliorate hunger and suffering in the Senatorial District while also striving to put other social amenities like water, good roads, conducive learning environment, etc, in place, for the overall wellbeing of his constituents.

    Beneficiaries were selected from the 54 wards of Cross River North.

    TEAM JARI MEDIA

     

  • Amb Soni Abang: The Ignorance Of A Politician On Sabbatical – PDP

    Amb Soni Abang: The Ignorance Of A Politician On Sabbatical – PDP

    PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY CROSS RIVER STATE.

    9th August 2022.

    Press Statement:

    AMB. SONI ABANG: THE IGNORANCE OF A POLITICIAN ON SABBATICAL.

    Our attention has been drawn to a scathing and vitriolic comment credited to Amb. Soni Abang, the factional Director General of one of the many APC Gubernatorial Candidates in Cross River State, wherein Amb. Soni Abang, mischievously insinuated that the Peoples Democratic Party is coming into the 2023 elections with a very heavy moral baggage as a result of the Gubernatorial Candidate of the PDP coming from the Central Senatorial District.

    In a bid to score cheap Political point and whip up ethnocentric sentiment, Amb. Soni Abang who just returned from political sabbatical threw caution to the wind and spoke disparagingly about the PDP, the same Political Party that gave him the platform to become who he is.
    Abang as erstwhile chairman was the most dictatorial and undemocratic in the history of party politics in Nigeria. The same Abang who is today talking about brotherliness and natural justice, fought against His Excellency, Senator Liyel Imoke and nearly truncated Imoke’s 8years tenure as Governor. So, where’s the brotherliness?

    As Amb. Soni Abang appears to be recovering from the rude shock that visited him following his loss of favour with Senator Liyel Imoke since his ignominious ambassadorial posting to the Republic of Chad, that sent him on Political exile, we would love to ask him what he negotiated for the Six Local Government Areas of Central SenatoriaI District where he comes from, as someone interested in Political inclusiveness. Where is the equitable distribution of offices in his beloved APC, when the Senatorial District with a sitting Governor is still imposing a deputy Governorship Candidate on his party for the sole purpose of shoring up his failed bid to return to the Senate, an ambition that he can see clearly is bedeviled with bad omens indicating that it is already stillborn.

    If we may ask, why is Ambassador Soni Abang working tirelessly to give his younger brother the ticket of the PDP to contest the Federal House of Representative seat of his Constituency Ikom/Boki, instead of his party the APC, if he considers the APC a just and preferred platform?
    Maybe the APC needs to interrogate these inconsistencies of a pretentious returnee Political gangster with the reputation of trading only on electoral goods.

    Ordinarily, we would have chosen to remain calm and let the tantrums thrown at us slide but for the sake of clarity and emphasis, we wish to reiterate that we are not interested in playing the Politics of ethnocentric agitation. We have, for the umpteenth time, reminded Cross Riverians that while others are preaching ethnicity, we are preaching unity and oneness, hence our philosophy of Back To Us.

    For the avoidance of doubt, it is on record that the Peoples Democratic Party Cross River State carried out the most transparent, free and fair primaries in the history of our state, unlike the APC where a group of persons sat down over some bottles of alcohol, drank themselves to stupor and unilaterally forced other aspirants to step down for the preferred Candidate of a cabalistic few, even against the interest of their party faithfuls, which has led to series of litigations.

    We are bemused that the APC can muster the effrontery to talk about moral baggage against the PDP. What can be more burdensome than the fact that APC handpicked all its Candidates in an unjust and unfair manner. What can be more burdensome than the fact that the APC took both their Gubernatorial and Senatorial ticket in the South to one Local Government Area, while excluding the other six Local Government Areas. What can be more disturbing than the fact that the APC in a bid to fruitlessly safeguard the Governor’s already embattled Senatorial ambition, took the position of the Deputy Governorship Candidate of their Party to the Northern Senatorial District. Where is the justice and fairness Amb. Soni Abang is sanctimoniously trying to preach when a particular Local Government Area occupies the Governorship seat, Ministerial seat and currently battling to lay claim to the Senatorial ticket of the Northern Senatorial District. What happens to other Local Government Areas in the North and Central Senatorial District?

    While we do not wish to involve ourselves in the malicious diversionary Political antics of the APC, we enjoin them to prepare themselves and meet us in the field as we are confident that the good people of Cross River State are eagerly waiting to vote them out and reclaim our dear state.

    Signed.

    Prince Mike Ojisi
    State publicity Secretary.

  • Are You Running For National Assembly Election From Cross River? Let Me Have Your Attention Please BY AGBA JALINGO

    Are You Running For National Assembly Election From Cross River? Let Me Have Your Attention Please BY AGBA JALINGO

     

    Six years ago, just after taking office, Governor Ayade made a very strong case for the abundant mineral resources in our State in a visit by the Minister of Solid Minerals to Peregrino House in Calabar and shortly after, the Cross River State Ministry of Solid Minerals obtained exploration licences for mineral resources from the federal government. The licences include quarry lease for granite, exploration licence for limestone, clay and shale as well as reconnaissance permit.

    That deft move by Governor Ayade was and still remains a huge milestone because the Mineral Resources Act 2007 vests the total control and appropriation of mineral resources on the federal government, yet the Land Use Act says the Governor holds the land in trust for his people. Getting the mining licenses was therefore a massive opening for our State to directly participate in the exploration of our natural endowment. Governor Ayade immediately admitted afterwards that financing was the next challenge and called for patience. He said the next step was the sourcing and provision of financing for exploration in his bid to diversify the State economy.

    The Governor pushed again and in February 2021, the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development announced that an artisanal and small scale mineral processing cluster will be established in Cross River State and will be completed within six months. The Minister of State, Uche Ogar, disclosed this in Calabar while he was receiving title documents for a five-hectare land donated by the Cross River State government in Yala LGA for the project.

    The choice of Cross River State for the siting of the cluster project for barite value chain development was predicated on the fact that the state is endowed with large commercial deposits of the mineral. Barite deposit occurrences in Cross River State are mainly around Obubra through to Yala Local Government Area which informed the siting of the cluster project in Yala. Under the project, the Federal Government intended to embark on infrastructural development within the cluster area such as a barite processing plant, mining equipment leasing bay, training center, warehouse, office complex amongst other amenities.

    The National Bureau of Statistics aggregate production of mineral products in Nigeria peaked at 89.48 million tonnes in 2021 with Ogun, Kogi, and Cross River States recording the highest output. Breakdown of State profile analysis showed Ogun recorded the highest production in 2021 with 32.04 million tons, followed by Kogi with 18.40 million tonnes and Cross River with 11.64 million tonnes.

    Till date, that project is in the limbo. It has been overtaken by politicking and nothing is been heard about it.

    The second project was announced in February 2017. The Federal Ministry of Science and Technology and Cross River State launched a waste-to-wealth program in Calabar. The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, laid the foundation for a plant to process waste-to-wealth at the Idundu Industrial Layout in Calabar and said the Calabar site was the pilot project. Governor Ayade noted on the occasion that the project would help in the production of biogas, organic waste and feeds for aquatic culture in the State.

    These are two well thought-out but pending or stagnated or siphoned federal projects designated for our State already. Whoever is going or returning to the National Assembly from the State should get a small team to take pens and papers and ask these questions:

    1. How can the Mineral Resources Act 2007 be amended to give States increased stake and access to their mineral resources? This will lead to the drafting of an amended bill that member.

    2. What is my strategy for engaging with lawmakers from Ogun, Kogi and other mineral resources rich States to achieve this goal based on shared interest? This collaboration based on shared interest across several States will create the robust and necessary initial buy-in for the amended bill.

    3. What is the oversight intervention required to push through with the federal ministry of mines and minerals to make sure that the mineral processing cluster that was to be established in six months in Yala returns immediately? Who did what and who did not do what and what was left to be done on the part of our State or FG? Who is in the NASS committee that oversights the ministry of mineral resources or any other relevant committee that needs to be engaged and lobbied to ensure every bottle neck is cleared for the return of the project? This may lead to increased appropriation to the ministry to fast track the project. This will reveal the reasons why the project was stalled and also provide an opportunity for effective oversight function.

    4. Question 3 is applicable to the waste-to-wealth program of the Ministry of Science and Technology. Same questions need to be asked with adequate follow up.

    I cannot over emphasize the impact that these two projects and their value chain will unleash in the State economy and job creation if executed. But like most things associated with our Governor, he starts on a very promising note and then blows the expectations away in no time. Indeed, Governor Ayade may be like former Super Eagles player, Pius Ikedia who skillfully dribbles everyone with mastery until he enters the 18 yard box and wastes the ball without scoring; it is now time for others on the pitch with him to assist him knock these loose balls into the net. This will not stop anyone from buying the usual okada and wrappers for distribution back home. It will only improve the quality of representation that the State will be getting from the next set of National Assembly members. I am only making suggestions since I am not running any election.

    Yours sincerely,
    Citizen Agba Jalingo.

  • Ukwortung Clan Appreciates Anonymous Gesture, Seeks Government’s Approval To Commence School Renovation

    Ukwortung Clan Appreciates Anonymous Gesture, Seeks Government’s Approval To Commence School Renovation

     

    The leadership of Ukwortung clan has commended the benevolence of an anonymous who have indicated interest to renovate one of the delapidated buildings at St John’s Primary School Ukwortung, Obudu Local Government Area.

    The community received the representative of the anonymous on Saturday, 6th August 2022.

    The Community Chairman, Mr Peter Ugani who spoke on behalf of the community noted that “We want to very sincerely that our anonymous brother for his thoughtfulness to assist us renovate this school. He has shown us that he is very serious about this renovation work. Please convey our unalloyed commitment to the completion of this project. We will make our contribution where we can to ensure that this project sees the light of the day”

    The community noted that they will write to officially notify and seek the approval of SUBEB Chairman as work begins on site.

    In a letter sighted by TheLumineNews, and signed by the Clan Head, HRH, Uti Moses Odikpo and Community Chairman, Mr Peter Ugani, indicates that the roof was blown off in 2016 and that series of letters were written calling on SUBEB to renovate the building.

    The letter reads in parts, “We write to notify you of our intention to commence the renovation of a classroom block in our community, St John’s Primary School, Ukwortung, that was blown off by windstorm in 2016.

    “Our children had received lessons under very terrible conditions which have impacted negatively on them.

    “Our interactions with previous Head Teachers reveled that series of letters calling on SUBEB to step in were written to this effect.

    “Poised to ensure that our children have a condusive learning environment, we are glad to inform you that an anonymous has indicated interest to renovate the block for our children’s use.

    “It is on this premise that we write to request your approval for the renovation of this classroom block as we continue to support government to provide the basic amenities”

    The anonymous representative, stated that there is no political undertone to the renovation of the school building, but that he was touched by the disturbing pictures circulated on social media.

    He commended the resilience of Elijah Ugani who drew the world’s attention to the state of the school and promised to commence work as soon as possible.