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Tag: #APC

  • APC Needs 21-day Notice To Change Buni, Says INEC, Declines Invitation To Party’s NEC meeting

    Culled from The Nation Newspaper
    By Yusuf Alli, Abuja 

    There seems to be no let up in the crisis rocking the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Yesterday, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said the party could only remove the National Chairman of Caretaker /Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), Governor Mai Mala Buni, and other officers after a 21-day notice to the electoral body.

    INEC said it cannot attend the emergency National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of APC next week because the party was yet to comply with relevant laws and regulations.

    It faulted the party for notifying it of its NEC meeting without the signatures of Buni and the Secretary of CECPC, Sen. John James Akpanudoedohe.

    It asked APC to follow due process if it wanted to effect change of leadership.

    INEC made its position known in a March 9, 2021 letter to APC by the Secretary, Mrs. Rose Oriaran-Anthony.

    The letter was in response to APC’s March 8, 2021 notice to INEC to hold a NEC meeting to ratify the choice of Governor Abubakar Sani-Bello as its new chairman.

    But the electoral agency said the laws do not have provision for emergency change of leadership by any party.

    INEC’s letter reads: “RE: INVITATION TO THE EMERGENCY MEETING OF THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (NEC). Please refer to your letter Ref. APC/NHDQ/INEC/019/022/32, dated 8” March 2022.

    “The commission draws your attention to the fact that the notice for the meeting was not signed by the National Chairman and National Secretary of the CECPC contrary to the provision of the Article 1.1.3 of the Commission’s Regulations and Guidelines for Poiitical Party Operations (2018).

    “ Furthermore, the APC is reminded of the provision in Section 82(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 which requires “at least 21 days’ notice of any convention, congress, conference, or meeting convened for the purpose of “merger” and electing members of its executive committees, other governing bodies or nominating candidates for any elective offices.”

    “While hoping these issues are noted for compliance, please accept the assurance of the commission’s warm regards.”

  • Ogoja/Yala Bye-election: Ogoja Has Totally Rejected APC, Bekwarra is aggrieved, Obanliku is unhappy, Obudu And Yala Cannot Secure Ayade A Return To The Senate – Ntamu

    OGOJA/YALA BYE ELECTION AS A LITMUS TEST.

    The much anticipated Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency bye election has finally come and gone. The uncertainties surrounding the outcome, whether the result as announced by INEC is final or there may be a redress at the Election Petition Tribunal is left for the future.

    The election may have been concluded and a winner declared by INEC, but a good look at some facts and figures may leave us with a different impression other than the earlier assumption that the party who emerged winner determines the overall outcome of the 2023 election.

    From what was declared by INEC, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Chief Jude Ngaji scored a total of 22,778(52.5%) to beat his closest rival, the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Hon. Mike Usibe who scored 20,590(47.5%). The percentage margin between the candidates is just (5.05%).

    Judging by the fact that the candidate of the APC is a very popular personality and someone who is contesting for the second time in less than four years, 5.05% is rather a margin too insignificant to celebrate, especially by a ruling party. The implication of this is that, only Chief Jude Ngaji who currently enjoys goodwill across parties can win any election for the ruling party.

    Again, it is on record that Ogoja/Yala currently constitute over 65% of the state appointees in Northern Senatorial District, with Yala LGA dominating in some key strategic appointments. Having people such as; the former DG of Due Process, now APC Chairman, the sacked senator, returned as SUBEB Chairman, CRUTECH Vice Chancellor and other high profile appointees all from Yala. One would ordinarily have expected a landslide margin, but the reality at hand is rather shocking.

    The most recent appointment which was released on the eve of the bye election numbering up to 93 appointees had Ogoja/Yala topping the list as always. Some of us expected the new appointees to show appreciation by harvesting adequate votes. But the lean margin of 5.05% is a clear indication that the Governor’s concentration of his appointment in his preferred location has not yielded bountifully.

    In 2023, APC members in places like Bekwarra must brace up for a tough time. As currently constituted, Bekwarra sits at the lowest rung on the list of appointees.With just two Commissioners, a Senior Special Adviser and other appointees of Bekwarra origin occupying the basest offices. It is clear that Bekwarra has not been in the reckoning of Ben Ayade’s Government. Glaringly, Ayade has scant regard or disdain for Bekwarra, same place he has claimed his grandmother hails from all in attempt to scam the people into aligning with him politically.

    The marginalisation of Bekwarra people continues when he left Bekwarra out without any viable industry, except the reported groundnut milling oil factory, which he has been trying grudgingly to complete. With this stark reality, Bekwarra would have no option than to seek a new realignment as the 2023 general election beckons, with Ayade believed to be seeking a return to the senate.

    This is why the just concluded House of Representatives bye election is an eye opener. From the outcome of the election Ogoja has totally rejected APC, Bekwarra is aggrieved, Obanliku is unhappy. Consequently, Obudu and Yala cannot secure him a return to the senate.

    The Nigerian Police Force whose contribution in intimidating electorate largely influenced the actualisation of the lean margin of 5.05% won’t afford the luxury of sending over 5000 officers to each Local Government of Cross River State in 2023. And because it would be a general election, the possibility of having a police helicopter hovering over of every Local Government is very much unlikely.

    Those planning to hide under state powers and the security for intimidation as recorded at many instances across Ogoja and Yala would be disappointed.

    If the Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency bye election was a litmus test, then APC and Governor Ayade have their work cut out for them.

    Equally, the trouncing of the APC by the PDP in Akpabuyo State bye election sums up the acceptability deficit of the power of the party in the state.

    Agaji Adie Ntamu (SAT)
    Is a Strategic Media Consultant,
    and a Seasoned Teacher.

     

    Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are strictly that of the author, Agaji Adie Ntamu and does not represent TheLumineNews or the organization the author works for.

  • Rivers PDP Replies Alphonsus Eba, Describes Him As A Political Piece-of-furniture Character

    PRESS BRIEFING OF THE STATE CHAIRMAN OF PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY (PDP), RIVERS STATE CHAPTER, AMB. DESMOND AKAWOR ON THE 23RD OF FEBRUARY 2022 AT PDP SECRETARIAT, RIVERS STATE.

    “The Unwarranted Outcry of Cross Rivers State APC and her Impossible Demands: a Case of Timidity, Confusion and Resignation to Empty Threats”

    Our attention is drawn to the rather lackadaisical, callous, and unconstitutional speech given at a press conference by the Cross Rivers State APC Chairman, one Alphonsus Eba, who sounded the politically and legally dumbest in the year 2022. But not to worry, the year is still young to give a prize.

    Just like the saying “when the thing greater than the cricket enters its hole, the cricket runs for fear”. It does not in any way presuppose that the thing which entered the cricket’s hole had entered with the intention of causing chaos. It is only an impulse felt by the inferiority of the cricket, and it acts in sheer timidity. This adage aptly describes the visit of His Excellency, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike CON, GSSRS, POS Africa, “Mr. Quality Project” to Cross Rivers State.

    Alphonsus Eba went on and ahead to expose his ignorance at the political and local grand schemes, by stating quite shamelessly that the visit of His Excellency, Nyesom Wike, was to intimidate and bully him and his fast-eroding party, and then he committed the most unforgivable fallacy; daring to declare the Dike Ohna 1 of Ikwerre and Governor of Rivers State a security risk, and warning him off the terrain of Cross Rivers State.

    Firstly, if we should lend some credence to his rather foolish words and consider it on the merits, when has a mere visit for a political rally become such as to incite violence in the State nor on Mr. Eba and his cancerous APC party? It goes to show the foundational pillars upon which APC builds: political intolerance, zero democracy and zero conformation of opposition participation. Otherwise, why is the Cross Rivers APC wailing and crying wolf over a mere legally and morally justified political rally of the PDP in Cross Rivers State? Are they allergic to opposition activities? That has never and can never be the PDP.

    The PDP is a political party whose blueprint is that of democracy, inclusion, and condonation. If the PDP had ever in the records of history been like the APC currently is, then the APC would not have seen the light of power. What exactly are they afraid of? Is it not that which is bound to happen? It is indeed advisable that the APC begins now to ready their crying handkerchiefs, as more tears are bound to flow.

    Again, who is Mr. Eba, a rather political piece-of-furniture character, to declare a sitting governor a security risk? The millipede challenges the elephant to a dance because it thinks it is a contest for the one with more legs.

    May we bring it to the knowledge of Mr. Eba that his speech is suggestive of the fact (which is ostensible) that his political party also exists in flagrant disregard of fundamental rights, right to expression, right to movement, right to franchise, right to association. May we also add that these rights are constitutional, legal, transboundary, and do not change because Cross Rivers State is concerned.

    His Excellency, Nyesom Wike, an illustrious chieftain of PDP, a political lifesaver, the Rivers rock of Gibraltar, and an upright leader by all means, had visited Cross Rivers State for her By-Elections for the Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency and Akpabuyo State Constituency billed for Saturday, 26 February, 2022.

    It was a rally for campaign flag off. It will be recalled that the police had in the earlier hours of Saturday barricaded the Calabar Sports Club, the venue for the flag-off of PDP’s campaigns for Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency and Akpabuyo State constituency bye-elections. It was obvious the Governor of Cross Rivers State, through the instrumentality of the Police, was bent on frustrating the planned PDP rally. Unfortunately for Gov. Ben Ayade, Governor Wike threw this plan overboard, and Mr. Eba, the APC chairman who’s also an aide to the Cross Rivers State Governor, ran to the media to cry out his frustrations in the form of spewed trash.

    Why would Gov. Ben Ayade, a sitting governor, for mere federal constituency elections, forestall the activities of the state citizens whose offense is simply rejecting the meal of the devilish APC? Does that in any way show democracy and government of inclusion? Does that suggest that the ensuing elections were planned to be free and fair?

    May it also be noted, especially since the annals of history remain accessible and public, that this is not the first of a kind of visit Governor Nyesom Wike, and indeed any governor at all, would be visiting another state in solidarity with his political party, ahead of any elections in that state. The elite, civilly sound, appealingly democratic and politically sophisticated Nyesom Wike was at Edo State as Chairman of PDP National campaign council that re-elected Governor Obaseki. Edo State did not become a field of war. Again, just last year, the peaceful but resilient Governor Wike was at Lagos State to witness the defection of an APC Chieftain known as Dr. Olajide Adediran aka Jandor. Lagos did not leave its place and relocate into the Atlantic. He was yet again at Bayelsa recently to commission a project. He was welcomed with civility (as it should be). Heavens remained in its place, and peace prevailed in all these states that Governor Wike had visited. Then one visit to Cross Rivers State and toothless bulldogs began cackling, with tales of shame, fear, and timidity.

    It begs the question, what is the precious plan the Governor of Cross Rivers State and his boy Mr. Eba had up their sleeves regarding the by-elections? Why are they uncomfortable with free citizens exercising their God-given fundamental rights? I believe the answers are glaringly undoubted at this juncture.

    Lastly, may we state categorically that Mr. Eba, the now APC Chairman of Cross Rivers, a very unstable politician of no viable repute, who hitherto left PDP in 2010 to ANPP after being denied House of Assembly ticket, returned in 2012, and defected again to APC in 2021, and who is acting the script of his paymaster the Governor, cannot and does not have the capacity to stand Governor Nyesom Wike in all ramifications. The dear PDP members in Cross Rivers State are by this encouraged to fly the Red, white and green flag in high mast, fearlessly and in defiance of toothless barkings of political touts, as they hold no water, and would never hold any, in the grand scheme of things.

  • Cross River State APC’s Position on Governor Nyesom Wike: Hallucinations Of Defeat. – PDP

    PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY CROSS RIVER STATE

    23rd February 2022.

    Press Statement:

    Cross River State APC’s Position on Governor Nyesom Wike: Hallucinations of Defeat.

    Yesterday, 22nd February 2022, we watched with amusement the lamentation treatise sent out by the loquacious factional Chairman of the All Progressives Congress in Cross River State, Alphonsus Eba, in which the cheap braggart inexplicably accused Governor Nyesom Wike of several baseless, tenuous, unsubstantiated imaginations of his not-so-fertile brain of conspiracies to destabilize Cross River State. The utter disrespect which underlines the press briefing granted by the factional Chairman of APC, Alphonsus Eba, establishes, beyond doubt, the pre-election trauma being faced by the failure-ridden APC ahead of the by-election on Saturday, 26th February, 2022.

    Aware that Governor Nyesom Wike’s visit to Cross River State on Saturday 19th February for the PDP by-election flag-off rally ruffled not a few feathers in APC, we understand the pain and agony in the camp of the APC, which has resulted to an expression of schizophrenia and defeatism.

    We challenge the APC chairman to organize a similar event and attract such a personality like Governor Nyesom Wike in his party to attend. We challenge them to invite their party leaders in South-South to Cross River State.

    It is incongruous that Alphonsus Eba in his howler and humdrum ridden press briefing had the temerity to accuse Governor Nyesom Wike of trying to import Political “cannibalism” into Cross River State. Pray someone should please interpret what exactly this means in English language. I thought cannibalism refers to species that feed on their type, in simple language.

    For a green-horn in Party administration that was imposed on the party by Governor Ayade without any experience whatsoever in political party administration, who is only pretending to be running the party because most of the prominent stakeholders have been sufficiently intimidated into submission to Governor/Emperor Ayade, how would such an uncouth fellow be elevated to such a position? That APC Leaders in the state have been reduced to grovelling sycophants is why a greenhorn monster like Alphonsus Eba so enthused in empty, boisterous talk and bitterness over his loss of the Party chairmanship position in PDP can prat around for lack of knowledge as to what to do to win an election and resort to unproductive press conferences.

    Alphonsus Eba should be reminded that at his so called reception in his ward there was bloodletting that remains unexplainable until date because of his alleged predilection to occultism and consequential bloodletting, which he could not even spare his kinsmen in his desperation for power and money.

    That a man who sleeps with, eats and breathes violence and cannibalism, can have the temerity to accuse his superiors of “cannibalism” is a display of his bad upbringing and unfitness for a public office that entails leading and persuading responsible citizens into believing in his party platform. We find such pedestrian remarks about Governor Nyesom Wike, highly condemnable and unnecessarily inciting and we hereby condemn such.

    We further condemn in strong terms the attempt by APC to stoke the embers of anarchy and violence in the State at every point during the campaigns towards the by election of February, 26, 2022. We call on all security agencies to note the consistent attempt by the APC in Cross River State to incite violence in the belief that they can use the machinery of Government and official security outfits to intimidate the PDP because they are conscious of the fact that they cannot win the by-election in a free and fair contest.

    It is further instructive to say that those who the gods have destined to destroy, they first make mad. For Okadigbo, whose life is characterized by thuggery and criminality to address Governor Nyesom Wike as a “motor park tout” shows the depth of his mental and intellectual ineptitude. We are bemused that a party like APC, with Governor Ben Ayade that superintended over the killing of Cross Riverians at Ogoja and Yala local Government Area during the Northern Cross River Senatorial by-election primaries could have the moral rectitude to talk about Political “cannibalism”. It is on record that a young Cross Riverian was shot and killed inside the house of a serving APC Commissioner in Yala Local Government Area, while Alphonsus Eba ordered the sporadic shooting of his own kinsmen at Echomofona. What else can be more cannibalistic than shooting your own kinsmen for Political relevance?

    As we approach the by-election day, we call on Cross Riverians, especially the good people of Ogoja/Yala to remember the many sins of APC in Cross River State and resist the occultic party by voting overwhelmingly for the people-oriented PDP.

    As a party, we refuse to be intimidated by the unwholesome shenanigans of the occultic cabals in APC, whose god is their belly.

    On the laughable attempt to label Governor Nyesom Wike— a sitting Governor with immunity— a Security threat in Cross River State, we call on the APC to stop embarrassing rational and reasonable Cross Riverians by their show of gross ignorance and pettiness. Who is Alphonsus Eba to declare a sitting Governor a security threat? Must Alphonsus Eba dance naked in the market square always just to ingratiate Governor Ben Ayade before he can qualify for crumbs off Governor Ben Ayade’s table?

    As a party, we sympathize and condole with the APC on the imminent loss awaiting them on Saturday, 26th February, our prayers and thoughts are with them in this trying moment of their political life.

    We call on our party faithfuls to remember our brothers and sisters beleaguered and beguiled in APC, in their prayers for God to open their eyes of understanding.

    We believe in the Cross River Project, and we are solely determined to rescue, restore, reclaim and rebuild Cross River State!!

    God bless Cross River State.

    Signed
    Prince Mike Ojisi
    (State Publicity Secretary)

  • #FBIRandomThoughts – The Wike Alliance With CRS PDP And The APC Obscurantism

     

    One of the weapons of politics is obscurantism and obfuscation. This is the deliberate repainting of lies to look like truth and of truth to look like lies; the doctoring of facts and midwiving of half truths. If you are not very careful, you will be profoundly misled.

    For instance, take Governor Wike’s support for the PDP in Cross River State. The man is a PDP Governor, there is nothing strange in his support for his party and party members anywhere and anytime. He is showing this massive support for his party and friends in Cross River State.

    We have seen him show this support in several fora. Just yesterday, he was in Calabar for the PDP Rally. The mercantile obscurantists in APC have gone into full gear trying hard to sell us a spinned yarn. They are telling the PDP to be ashamed that their support is coming from outside the state.

    Ahn, ahn. Is politics no longer about building bridges and alliances? The first deployment of King Solomon’s wisdom was that he built alliances: 1 Kings 5:12 says, “The Lord gave wisdom to Solomon, just as He promised him; and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a covenant.”

    I heard that Governor Ayade considers himself to be among the wisest men in the world, I don’t know about that and I won’t argue that with him or anyone; however the Governor has proven that his unique kind of wisdom doesn’t incorporate building political alliances. His political wisdom is clearly different from that of Solomon, this is why he woke up one day and found himself in the PDP Political Wilderness and had to run out of the party.

    As a PDP Governor, he had no friends, refused to attend party functions or functions of the Governors Forum and he ended up with the ugly record of the being the first sitting Governor in the recent political history of Cross River State to have the party structures taken away from him while he rode alone in his long and loud convoy.

    Today, he is in APC, with little or no difference: no friends, no alliances and his horde of political hallelujah boys are daring to laugh at a group of politicians building bridges and alliances. Dry joke.

    Even the kings of Isreal asked fellow kings for help. 2 Chronicles 28:16 says, “At that time King Ahaz sent to the kings of Assyria for help.” Kings David, Solomon and others build alliances, asked and received help when the situation warrants it. This didn’t make them slaves to these kings. This is why the picture of master-servant or slave the APC is trying to paint between Wike and Cross River State PDP is pathetic.

    But it is not just pathetic, it is irony. When Wike came to Calabar we didn’t see anyone bowing or prostrating to him; but we all remember the picture of a man who prostrated and worshipped Governor Ayade at the UJ Esuene stadium when the said man was purportedly elected the APC State Chairman. Pray, tell, which party has a god and master and which one has a friend and supporter?

    Don’t let anyone fool you, building alliances is always a political masterstroke. The friendship between Governor Wike of Rivers State and the stalwarts of the PDP in Cross River State is a masterstroke. Of course, the APC knows this, that’s why they can’t sleep well. The thing dey pepper them for body.

    To succeed, build alliances; at times even with enemies. The Isrealites did this. Judges 3:13 “And he gathered to himself the sons of Ammon and Amalek; and he went and defeated Israel, and they possessed the city of the palm trees.”

    – By First Baba Isa (FBI)

  • N210Million Budget For Bye-election: PDP Clears The Air On The Intertwine Of Propaganda And The Sacrosanctity Of Truth

    PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY CROSS RIVER STATE

    18th February 2022.

    Press Statement:

    N210Million Budget For By-election: The Intertwine of Propaganda and the Sacrosanctity of Truth

    The Attention of our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party Cross River State, has been drawn to a cheap, frivolous and scandalous ploy by the unproductive broom-wielding All Progressive Congress, aimed at arm-twisting facts and hoodwinking unsuspecting Cross Riverians into believing that the Peoples Democratic Party budgeted the sum of 210million Naira for the Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency and Akpabuyo State House by-election, when in essence, it is the APC that actually budgeted such humongous amount for a mere by-election. Aware that, with the by-election underway and the APC sensing her imminent failure, a lot of intrigues, manuvering, propaganda and intricacies are bound to emanate from the cocoon of the APC and with the information about the 210million naira now in Public domain, we understand this act of desperation by the APC to cover their heinous crime and rigging plan. It does appear once again that the days of lies, confusions and deceptions are back, as such we are not perturbed by the propaganda and distortion of facts coming from the APC and their faceless hirelings as they are known to be unapologetic liars and pathological rabble-rousers.

    Arising from the above, it has become apparently instructive that we address this issue squarely and puncture the many lies of APC and its fifth columnists. We have it on good authority that the Governor, through the Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, deducted the sum of 20million naira from each Local Government Account which is in excess of the sum of N210million, hence making it logical that they are capable of budgeting such amount for the purpose of rigging the February 26th by-election.

    Aware that it amounts to electoral breach to budget such humongous amount solely for election rigging, we invite the Security agencies to inspect our account and see if we have such money as opposition party. We call on all Cross Riverians to remain vigilant and resist any attempt by the APC to rig the by-election and truncate democracy in Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency and Akpabuyo Local Government Area. As a people-oriented Political Party, we will continue to stand with the people against the whims and caprices of the All Progressive Congress. We remain confident that there Shall be light at the end of the tunnel.

    God bless Cross River State!

    Signed
    Prince Mike Ojisi
    (State Publicity Secretary)

  • Court Orders C’River Assembly To Pay Withheld Allowance To PDP Lawmakers

    Culled from the Parchment

    Justice Nnang Isoni of the Cross River State High Court, Calabar has ordered the Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly and the Clerk of the house to immediately pay the allowances owed some members of the state assembly who refused to defect to the All Progressives Congress, APC.
    In a consent judgement, Justice Isoni submitted that the lawmakers being elected members of the state house of assembly, were entitled to their allowances and therefore directed that their allowances be paid to them.
    The Court also restrained the leadership of the house from suspending or attempting to suspend the lawmakers until the expiration of their tenure in office.

    The seven (7) PDP lawmakers who refused to defect to the APC had dragged the leadership of the house to court for refusing to pay their allowances.
    The members, Rt Hon Efa Esua, Calabar municipal State constituency, Rt Hon Friday Okpechi, Obubra 1, Hon Francis Ovat, Obubra 2, Rt Hon Fredrick Osim, Ikom 1, Rt Hon Itam Abang, Boki, Rt Hon Nelson Ofem, Yakuur 1 and Elizabeth Ironbark, Akpabuyo state constituency had prayed the court to compel the house leadership to pay them their allowances.

    Hon. Elizabeth Ironbar later died in October 2021.

    Findings by The Parchment reveals that the judgement which was delivered on February 7, 2022, is however yet to be implemented. One of the APC lawmakers who pleaded not to be mentioned, told our reporter that, despite the rulling, the state governor, Ben Ayade has ordered the house leadership never to pay the lawmakers until they defect to the APC.

    In May 2021, Cross River State governor, Ben Ayade abandoned the People’s Democratic Party for the All Progressives Congress. Few weeks after, 18 lawmakers joined the governor and defected to the APC, while the other 7 out of the 25 member house remained in the PDP.

    For refusing to defect to the APC, the Eteng Williams led house of assembly refused to pay the PDP lawmakers their statutory allowances, allegedly on the orders of the State governor, Ben Ayade.

    In a special interview with the The Parchment last September 2021, leader of the house, Hon. Peter Odey had denied that the PDP members were refused their allowances.

    “As far as I am concerned, I know that all what is due them, still gets to them as members of the state house of assembly” Odey told our reporter.

    The recent rulling now exposes Hon. Odey and the house leadership as liars.

    One of the affected PDP lawmakers who spoke with our reporter on the implication of the court ruling said.
    “ The important thing is that we sued them individually, we only Joined the house of assembly because they are members of the house. So what that means is that, in implementing the judgement, we can begin to sieze their properties individually”

    The house leadership led by speaker Eteng Williams had been accused of sharing among themselves over N15 million monthly allowances meant for the seven lawmakers who refused to defect to the APC since May lasted year.

  • Gov Ayade Showers Encomiums On Edem Ekong, Describes Him As A Seasoned And Honest Administrator

    The Cross River State Governor, Sir Ben Ayade, has described Edem Ekong Esq. as an
    honest and seasoned administrator following a courtesy visit by the latter to formally declare his intention to run for the highest position in the State under the platform of the All Progressive Congress.

    Receiving him and other party faithfuls at the Governor’s office, Ayade expressed his
    satisfaction at the quality of sportsmanship whilst noting that Edem Ekong is not just the first person to notify him of his intention to vie for the Office of the Governor in the forth coming general election, but also the first from the South to declare interest, since the
    Governor’s commitment to return power to the Southern Senatorial District in 2023.

    “When I won my reelection bid, I made a promise that my successor must come from the south. I gave my word and will give my right eye to keep it. The south has always stood by my government, they were the first Senatorial District who asked me to run for a second term. It is only natural that I do.

    Edem is someone who is very honest and someone I have worked closely with; a seasoned administrator with the maturity and temerity to follow through with decisions he believes in”. Governor Ayade asserted.

    Responding, Ekong thanked the governor for his kind words and camaraderie towards
    his gubernatorial aspiration. He indicated his readiness to engage the electorates across the state with a view to conscientise them about his ambition and choice of APC as the preferred vehicle for progress in the state.

    Other party stakeholders in the entourage took turns to speak at the event and opined that Ekong’s wealth of experience gathered over the years from working as Commissioner for Lands and Housing and Local Government Affairs respectively, Special Adviser, Departmento Public Transportation (DOPT) and others, make him an ideal candidate for the job.

  • If Not That Shamelessness Is A Key Ingredient In Nigeria Politics, APC Cross River State Cannot Be Talking About Zoning Now BY FIRST BABA ISA

     

    #FBIRandomThoughts – Zoning

    1. As elections approach you will hear a lot about zoning and “it is our turn”. Even if you never kn what the hoopla about zoning entails, you will have a fair grasp this period.

    2. I love the concept of zoning. It is the very essence of democracy and the foundation on which participatory democracy is built on. Anyone who doesn’t know this yet, is still a far cry from understanding the concept of democracy as it were or the person is just pretending, to serve ulterior motives. I will come to the deployment of zoning using ulterior motives, presently.

    3. Our present constitution contemplated and enshrined the concept of zoning in several sections; like the sections dealing with Federal Character or the ones mandating the president and governor to make sure their ministers and commissioners come from each state or local government as the case may be.

    4. Clearly, the constitution did not outline a framework for zoning elective positions but the point I’m making is that zoning as it were is not a foreign concept to both democracy in general and our constitution in particular.

    5. Now, the constitutional provision that mandates the President to pick at least one minister from the 36 States of the Federation makes comedy of the thinking that zoning begets mediocrity. Again, this argument is only wielded by folks with a self serving motive. Zoning is not the opposite of competence. This is 2022, there is no state, local government, ward or even village without someone competent to fill an elective position.

    6. If the electorate is ignorant or gullible, they will always elect someone incompetent; if the president or governor is incompetent and ignorant, he will always appoint incompetent people even if he picks them from every village or just one village. Zoning is not to blame.

    7. So, whenever you hear someone say, “we don’t want zoning, we want competence”, that’s the voice of deceit or ignorance talking. Zoning and competence can exist together and there is absolutely no reason why they shouldn’t. Zoning is simply an agitation for equal and fair participation. No more, no less.

    7. If you all agree that it is the turn of my family to produce the next village chief and the kingmakers or voters decided to pick the most incompetent in my family to crown chief, how is that the fault of zoning?

    8. However, we have two major problems with zoning in Nigeria; no clear cut guidelines for its implementation and the insincerity of those who mouth it. I have not seen anyone who truly believes in zoning. It is always a tool of political shenanigans to them.

    9. Let me give you just one example; the Governor of Cross River State. He recently declared that the Governor must come from Southern Cross River State based on the principle of zoning. He has been applauded as an advocate of zoning. But is he? No. Definitely not. Why? The man has a presidential ambition. He confirmed that himself.

    10. If the two major political parties are zoning their presidential ticket to the south, then it should go to the South East. An Igbo man or woman should be president. The South West has taken before, the South South has taken, so it should go to the South East. But here is a South South Governor, who is being touted as an apostle of zoning, being asked about his presidential ambition, and instead of him to say “No, I’m an advocate of zoning, so it is the turn of the South East…” But, my guy said, “I’m ready if my party wants me.” Can you imagine the insincerity.

    11. His aides and supporters in Cross River State are busy sharing his posters for president and shouting #BackToSouth for the governorship position. If double standard had a face. Even in their back to South campaign, it is the Efik, who had produced a Governor that are angling for it. Is that the spirit of zoning? No. It should go round the local governments, wards and tribes.

    12. It is even laughable that the APC, the Governor’s party today, is talking about zoning. In the last election, the Governor who is from the North was running for reelection and the APC fielded two candidates from two factions and both were from the Central! If not that shamelessness is a key ingredient in Nigeria politics, APC Cross River State cannot be talking about zoning now.

    13. So, you see, the concept of zoning, without watertight guidelines for its implementation, will remain good as an ideology but wobbly in practice. So, as much as I love the concept, it is difficult to practice. You don’t even know when someone is using it to hoodwink you.

    14. I have, therefore, resolve to promote this as much as I can but not to split unnecessary hairs about it. I will always consider it but I will not put it first in my consideration for choosing someone for an elective position. That’s why you might see me rooting for someone from the North or Central of Cross River State for Governor if they meet other terms and conditions far above the person from the South.

    15. Look out… Make person no use your head. Zoning has conveniently become a tool of political yahoo yahoo.

    – Written By Firsts Baba Isa (FBI)

     

    Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are strictly that of the author, First Baba Isa Esq and does not represent TheLumineNews or the organization the author works for.

  • Concerned Constituents Writes Governor Ben Ayade, Insists On Level Playing Ground For Obubra/Etung Federal Constituency

    *OPEN LETTER TO*:

    1. His Excellency, Senator Prof Ben Ayade (Leader of APC South South)

    2. Barr. Alphonsus Eba
    (Indefatigable Chairman-elect, Cross River State APC)

    3. APC Leaders and Stakeholders Obubra/Etung Federal Constituency.

    *BEFORE THIS SHIP SINKS*

    *Preamble*:
    We are foundation members and concerned card carrying members of the All Progressive Congress (APC) drawn from Obubra/Etung Federal Constituency. In view of the forthcoming general election and in furtherance of our resolve and commitment to the party towards winning the general election in Obubra/Etung Federal Constituency, we are constrained to bring to your attention an imminent political danger and a seeming harbinger of doom, should the party continue to steer her ship towards the precipice in Obubra/Etung Federal Constituency. As Patriotic and Passionate Party Faithfuls, we owe our party a duty to draw her attention to situations capable of jeopardizing the Party’s chances of winning the next election in Obubra/Etung Federal Constituency and to forestall an apparent act of anti-party activities amongst party faithfuls.

    *OUR OBSERVATION*
    We find it very worrisome that the leadership of our great party, appears to have ceded the party ticket to Hon. Mike Etaba for a 3rd term in the Obubra/Etung Federal Constituency against the interest and wish of Obubra/Etung Federal Constituency. As Party members, we understand that Hon. Mike Etaba has shown immense loyalty and support to the leadership of our great party, which has fetched him a 2nd term into the National Assembly, even against the wish of the people. For his show of loyalty, we dare say that 8years in the house of Reps is already a good compensation for him and the people of Obubra/Etung Federal Constituency do not intend to extend his stay in the National Assembly with another unfruitful 4years. For the Obubra People, specifically, the 8years spent by Hon. Mike Etaba at the National Assembly appears to be a total waste as there is no commensurate effort or democratic dividend from his part to his people, and we do not intend to continue in this style of retrogressive Politics. For almost 8years in the National Assembly, Hon. Mike Etaba has not contributed meaningfully to any debate on the floor of the National Assembly. He appears to be too elusive on the floor of the National Assembly, and we do not intend to continue in that trajectory, as Obubra/Etung Legislators are known to be quintessential on the floor of the National Assembly.

    Furthermore, we wish to warn that should Hon. Mike Etaba or any other lackey be given the ticket of our party, we stand a chance of losing outrightly to the opposition, and we do not pray for such to happen. Presently, the opposition Party, PDP parades formidable aspirants for the position of House of Reps and we make bold to say that, should our party decide to fly Hon. Mike Etaba, we are cocksure that even as a sitting House of Reps member, Hon. Mike Etaba cannot withstand any of the PDP’s Aspirants. It is on record that in 2019, he lost woefully on the field.

    Emphatically, PDP has the following Persons as frontline Aspirants,
    1. Rt. Hon. Fabian Okpa
    2. Mr. Ken Egbas
    3. Barr. Innocent Chima
    4. Rt.Hon. Friday Okpechi.
    It is therefore apparent to say that we need a new face to fly our party ticket. The people are tired of Hon. Mike Etaba.

    *OUR PRAYERS*
    We humbly solicit for a level playing ground for all aspirants; and we make the following submissions.

    1. That the Obubra/Etung Federal Constituency leaders be allowed to choose their Candidate.

    2. That Hon. Mike Etaba should not be forced on the people.

    3. That, the inactivity of Hon. Mike Etaba on the floor of the National Assembly has adversely affected our chances on the floor of the National Assembly, and so should not be encouraged by bringing another person who is of the same stock or even worse.

    4. That we need a man with a strong voice on the floor of the National Assembly. Someone with massive goodwill and grassroot support.

    We make this prayers in the best interest of our party in Obubra/Etung Federal Constituency, believing that if our prayers are granted, this sinking ship will be restored.

    Signed:
    Hon. Ntui Victor Omang
    (For: Etung Local Government)

    Chief Okimba Edim
    (For: Obubra Local Government)

    On behalf of the entire members of Concerned APC faithfuls Obubra/Etung Federal Constituency.