The Lumine News

Tag: Ben Ayade

  • Under Gov Ayade, Some Of Us Were Given Clan Heads Seven Years Ago, And We Are Still Receiving Stipends As Village Heads.

    By Elijah Ugani 

    Ikom Traditional Rulers Council has berated Gov Ben Ayade over what they described as abysmal performance, citing the filthy and stinking nature of the once beautiful streets of Calabar and his deliberate attempts to undermine the functions of the traditional institution, and stressed that some of them were given clan Heads seven years ago, but they are still receiving stipends as Village Heads.

    Speaking on behalf of the Traditional Rulers Council, as was delegated by HRM Ntolemang Dr Peter NfuKu, Paramount Ruler of Ikom Local Government Council, the Clan Head of Ekpokpo, HRH Ntun Bassey Okey, during a consultative forum by the People’s Democratic Party PDP Campaign Council, held on the 19th January 2023, at Ikom, the traditional leaders held that “Some of us were given clan heads seven years ago and we are still receiving the stipends of a village head. Village heads have not been certificate.

    “Some of the Village Heads are yet to be issued certificates which makes it very difficult for them to discharge their duties. Their subjects challenge them and tell them that they are not recognized as Village Heads”.

    Speaking further, royal father averred that the once beautiful streets of Calabar has been littered with refuse against the intentions of Gov Donald Duke. “Refuse has taken over the streets of Calabar against the intentions of Gov Donald Duke.

    “Duke did everything humanly possible to put us on global recognition. Our schools are shattered, everything is gone. Very unfortunate that under this present APC government that promised us change, we have seen the change, everything has changed from good to bad. Our children know when they go to school, but don’t know when they will graduate.

    “Nigerian has changed from good to bad. In Cross River State, we don’t have anybody who can revive us apart from what we have seen here today.

    “We would speak to our ancestors and they would listen to us and you would win and succeed with your team. Success is yours from what we have seen. Go in peace”.

  • Arrest Of PDP Supporters In Ogoja: Ayade/APC’s your Plan To Utilize State Security To Intimidate Voters

    Culled From Weetalknaija.com

    A team of Nigerian Police personnel, on Monday, raided Ogoja Urban, arresting over 30 supporters of Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    The team of security men which came all the way from the State Capital, was alleged to be acting on the directives of the State Governor, Ben Ayade.

    Sources have said that the police team was drafted from Ogoja, Ikom and Calabar to effect the arrests on trumped up charges of destruction of billboards and obstruction of public peace. But another source said during the Nortfest (New Yam festival), Ayade ordered that all PDP billboards be brought down in the entire Ogoja Urban, alluding to the fact that indeed the PDP billboards were brought down and under the supervision of security operatives. Some of the people so far arrested are key supporters of Sen. Jarigbe and supporters of other PDP candidates in the north.

    Reacting to the hideous political machination, the PDP Chairman, Cross River State, Mr Vena Ikem Esq, said “I have information on the alleged arrest of our supporters by police authorities, yesterday, in Ogoja. The APC and the boys have been stimulating crisis in the hope of using the police force to clamp down on our supporters, especially in the northern senatorial district.

    “Governor Ayade has lost all semblance of credibility amongst our people, but he is desperate to return to the Senate. So we know his game plan depends entirely on utilizing the state security to intimidate voters. How that will work for him remains to be seen”.

    The PDP State Chairman assured PDP supporters and the general public that “we will use all means at our disposal to frustrate such nefarious plans; Ayade and the APC will exhaust themselves before time because we will follow up all their shenanigans,” avowing that “Nigeria is still a country of law and order.”

    Confirming the arrest, the Police Public Relations Officer, Irene Ugbo, said: “Yes, I am aware of the Police arrests in Ogoja. They arrested them in connection with alleged destruction of APC billboards. When they bring the suspects, we would screen them and fish out the culprits and those innocent would be freed and those found culpable would be charged to Court.

    “The Police frown at destruction of billboards and we have earlier issued a statement about that.”

  • The Impending Battle For The Soul Of Cross River North BY DOMINIC KIDZU

     

    This is by far, the most expected battle ground in the elections of 2023, more than the FIFA World Cup in Qatar after, ofcourse, the Governorship itself. And the reasons are quite simple. It is already shaping up to be the contest between the Leviathan and the people, the monstrous influence of government and the convinced resolve of the citizens. The dramatis personae are also both equally determined to win the diadem and bring the trophy home either as a personal memento or the carcas of a slain elephant to be shared amongst all, at the village square.

    Who would have thought that the day will come when someone will look a sitting Governor in the eye and stake a similar claim to his cherished fancy. But that day has already come in the Northern Senatorial Zone because the Governor dropped the ball. And now the die is cast! And the man of power and means, the gorgon medusa, finds himself standing bare nockled in the ring with the man of the people, who he has driven to become his nemesis, poised for battle in Philipi.

    If only Professor Ben Ayade had heeded to the often repeated cliché that “a stitch in time saves nine” , Napoleon’s Waterloo may well have been averted. But he did not. He spent too much time listening to the sound of his own voice and dancing trendy steps to the singing and clapping of his appointed choir. No wonder Oscar Wilde wrote that “education is an admirable thing, but it is well to remember from time to time that nothing that is worth knowing can be taught.”

    In the sunset of 2014, Senator Jarigbe Agom was as excited about an Ayade Governorship as Ayade himself is now inebriated by the pomp and circumstance of his own reign. It was he who broke the news to me in Ikom with excitement, that Governor Imoke has asked Senator Ayade to go ahead and pick the Governorship form. Jarigbe thereafter pulled all the stomps to help put him in office, buoyed such as he was with the idea of a Northern Governorship at last, and his ironclad belief in the ability of the then Senator to positively come through for the North and for the state.

    Alas, no sooner did Ayade ascend the apogee than he looked down from Olympus cursing the base degrees upon which he recently ascended. (I’m sure Shakespeare wrote something of the sort). And then he kicked away the ladder, sending it cantering unto the ground. Oh, what a tragic fall that was! Out of the ashes, however, Jarigbe rose like the phoenix in classical mythology putting on an iron coat to become not even a third term Congressman, but a Senator of the federal republic.

    As Senator, Jarigbe has reset the standard for that office and carved a broad new spectre for himself where even angels will fear to thread without his express permission. He has been creative, resourceful, caring and generous. He has shown the people of the North that it is possible to bring the dividends of democracy to them from Abuja and the people believe him. They believe him because they have seen his work and felt his impact both personally and in their communities. The even call him “the Governor of the North”.

    Governor Ayade is by all means also a worthy son of the North and a scion of Obudu. With his government left with only a few months to put to shore, he has appointed thousands of people into nonexistent offices to help him win back the Senate. For him it is an existential threat and failure is not an option to contemplate because his pride, his future safety and happiness are all at stake. For Ayade the senate is both his life and his future.

    As government appointees prattle and rattle with irreverent pomp and bombast, gushing out expletives and adamant Facebook posts, the word on the street is saying otherwise and every signal continues to point irrevocably in the direction of the Unconquered Generation and its army of self-convinced, self-propelled combatants. Welcome to the Kingdom of BIVAS, the boogeyman of the men in power and of power.

     

    

  • Sen Jarigbe Agom Replies Gov Ben Ayade, Says He Has Never Been Ayade’s Boy, And That God Rules Over The Affairs Of Men

    PUTTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT AND EXPOSING THE LIES OF GOV AYADE:

    GOV AYADE HELD A MEETING WITH APC PARTY STAKEHOLDERS AND STATED THIS;

    1. That I, Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe was his Boy.

    CORRECTION:

    I am in my 50s and Ayade is in his 50s, from the records in his preferred Age Declaration. I never heard of the name, Ayade, in Cross River State, until I turned 36, when he came to run for the Senate Primary Election against Senator Greg Ngaji and I was running for the House of Representatives. He was asked not to run, because he was a political neophyte and could not stand the storm of going against Sen Greg Ngaji. I took part in that House of Reps Primary Election and it was skewed for Hon Gabe Edi. I came after Gabe in that Primary Election. It was later, I got to know that Ben Ayade, was the young man who was Hon Emma Ibeshi’s boy, when Hon Emma Ibeshi was running for the House of Representatives in 1992.

    At what point would I have been his boy, when I had already established a business in 1995 and bought my first Car in 1996, during the Military ? At that time, did Gov Ben Ayade own a bicycle ? At what point did I become a boy to someone in my age bracket? I grew up from a proper home and was brought up to work hard, so I will not carry hand bags for my peers. Ayade’s fantasy of being in a position to suppress and Lord over people, has do with his psychology. God has made it impossible for me to belong to the group of people that will be subservient to him, even as Governor. Foreg, he could not stop me from becoming a Senator of the FRN. God rules in the affairs of men.

    Gov Ayade was in the Senate between 2011 and 2015, but did not see me in his Office or Home, asking for a favor, nether did he get a Call from me, soliciting for help. We all supported him to go to the Senate. In 2015, when he came to run for Governor, I was in the forefront of the agitation, because I felt he was the highest political office holder from Cross River North. He was skeptical because there were no clear signals, but I urged him on, because I was in a position to appreciate the issues, better than he did. When he emerged as Gov, he always asked me, how I knew he was going to be Governor. He always wondered if I had a crystal ball, LOL. Today , out of puerile excitement and superiority complex, he has the effontery to refer to a Serving Senator as his Boy. Why should a man lie to himself ?

    Ayade has asked that Water Boreholes be drilled in Communities across the North, leaving out other Senatorial Districts, because he wants votes from the North, to win the Senate Seat. This is because I have provided Water for our people and I have become his ROLE MODEL. He will soon Constuct Street Lights, because I have done so. I have also completed the Construction of some roads in Cross River North. He should also complete the only one he started in 2016, from Mfom to Obudu. It’s 6 years and running. It is simple logic that, your Role Model cannot be your Boy.

    Ayade has come to fool us again, in an attempt at getting the Senate Seat, because our people are vulnerable and most of us are impecunious, but I know that God will reveal the truth, make our people strong and resilient, so that Ayade will never happen to us again, as a people.

    Finally, Power comes from God and He should choose between Ayade and I, who will best serve the interest of our People. Getting paranoid, because of just food will not help us. Ayade has made a lot of you guys, build castles in the air for the past 12 years and it should be clear that you have been basking in the euphoria of an optical illusion.

    Happy Sunday.

    Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, Senator Representing Cross River North Senatorial District.

  • N500m Stabilization Fund: The Lie From Abuja And The Silence From Calabar BY AGBA JALINGO

     

    Barely forty days to the end of former Cross River Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke’s administration, in a petition dated April 16, 2015, Cross River lawyer and former presidential aide, Okoi Obono Obla, petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, to investigate the expenditure of allocations to the 18 local governments in Cross River State from the federation account, under Imoke’s watch.

    The petitioner, Obono Obla, amongst other demands, asked the EFCC to investigate the expenditure of the sum of N15 Billion by Governor Liyel Imoke approved by the Federal Government of Nigeria to ameliorate the economic losses suffered by Cross River State as a result of the judgment of the Supreme Court that led to the loss of 76 Oil Wells to Akwa Ibom State by Cross River State and the transfer of the sovereignty of Bakassi Peninsula to the Republic of Cameroon.

    And to also investigate the expenditure of a monthly augmentation of N500m (Five Hundred Million Naira) from the Stabilization Fund paid to the Cross River State Government in 2013 by the Federal Government of Nigeria for two years at the first instance.

    Obla’s request was sequel to information disclosed in a leaked letter dated April 12, 2014 which the RMAFC sent to Imoke, requesting to visit the State to monitor and evaluate what the Bakassi intervention fund had achieved. The letter also disclosed that a lump sum of fifteen billion naira was released from the Stabilization Fund by RMAFC, to the Cross River State government, plus five hundred million naira monthly augmentation for two years, amounting to 6 billion naira, which was also paid in bulk in June 2013. In addition to another N400million Naira every month. (The letter is attached here.)

    Then in May 2017, a former Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Aliyu Mohammed, during a visit to the State to see Governor Ayade, said as part of efforts to assuage the pains caused by the loss of Bakassi, about N38billion has been paid as special allocation to the State by the Federal Government over a period of 11 years, as compensation.

    CrossRiverWatch has been tracking this development since 2012. So when the incumbent Chairman of RMAFC, Mr. A.M. Shehu, mentioned $500million, it conflicted with all I have heard previously about this matter and created doubts in my mind. While it is clear that A.M. Shehu, told a lie about the currency they send to Cross River State and replaced Naira with Dollars, it is even more worrisome that Calabar is silent on the whereabouts of the money. Calabar is more anxious to tell us it wasn’t Dollars but reluctant to tell us what the Naira they accept they have been collecting has been utilized on.

    After joining their political party, Obono Obla, abandoned the petitions he wrote against Governor Imoke and the press statement from Governor Ayade’s office on Friday, though conceded that they get N500m every month, still didn’t not tell the public what exactly the money has been used for. That exactly should be our bone of contention. It is our right to know and we need to know and we actually need to know NOW!

    Meanwhile, I was abruptly corrected yesterday during an interview with a relevant source. A top source in RMAFC, who pleaded anonymity, told yours sincerely that, contrary to what people are saying, the Bakassi augmentation fund is meant for the entire Cross River State and not one LGA alone.

    The source said: “Before Cross River lost the Bakassi oil wells to Akwa Ibom, money for the 76 oil wells was not sent to Bakassi LGA alone. It was part of the Cross River State share from FAAC for the development of all the LGAs. Bakassi LGA has its own share from the center like the other 17 LGAs. The augmentation is to serve the same purpose that the oil revenue was serving and I am sure the revenue was not used in Bakassi alone. It is for the whole of Cross River State to augment her allocation for the lose of revenue following the ceding of Bakassi to Cameroon. I need you to correct that impression out there please.”

    Yours sincerely,
    Citizen Agba Jalingo.

  • Matters Arrising From That 500M Monthly Manna From Heaven BY DOMINIC KIDZU

     

    As a leading member of PANDEF in Cross River State and the All Cross River Nationals Forum, together with Honourable Bassey Ekefre, Eric Ani Esin, Dr Joe Edet, Col. PAM Ogar Senator Bassey Henshaw, General Ennang, late AVM Osim, among others, we have severally discussed strategies to engage the Federal Government on the necessity to provide adequate compensation to Cross River State for the loss of the notorious 76 oil wells to Akwa Ibom State. Little did we know that the Federal Government was already providing such necessary assistance to the state on a consistent basis.

    There had been a flurry of activities on the back of that loss in the form of compensation to the people of Bakassi and provision of living homes for those who relocated back to Nigeria back then, but regrettably, neither Governors Liyel Imoke nor Ben Ayade has told Cross Riverians the true facts and figures thereof. It would take the Chairman of RMFC (who himself could not distinguish the difference between Naira and USD) to bust open the Pandora box.

    What is clear to the people right now is that the N500m monthly payment is not lumped into the monthly allocation to the state, but rather paid alone, or perhaps under the table. Therefore when figures of income accruing to Cross River State are advertised by the Governors freely to underscore the poverty of the state, the regular and consistent payment of the N500m to shake off our sterile and mendicant curse is never mentioned.

    In the present dispensation, the question to ask is whether that sum is reflected in the budget of
    QUANTUM INFINITUM, or its mouth-filling predecessors in the last seven-plus years, or not. If it has not been captured in all these budgets, then where and how has the money been expended? Again, why have Governor Ben Ayade and his predecessor, Liyel Imoke been so close-lipped about these payments?

    I was bemused by the Press Release from the Governor’s Office in which the use of the wrong currency was sufficiently belaboured, followed by a tortured admission of the receipt of the invisible monies. Even if the entire windfalls have dissolved into debt repayment should the people on behalf of whom Government collects these monies not know about it? Why should it take one Fulani man who could not tell the difference between the Naira and the greenback to make the great announcement on national television for Cross Riverians to know and for government to finally admit the fact?

    The very idea of democracy is coterminus with transparency because it promises a government of the people, by the people and for the people. That being the case, the people reserve the right to know about their money and the use to which it has been put even as they continue to endure an electoral authoritarian regime in the hands of people who may have come to town without a stitch of moral fibre or a whif of political philosophy.

  • Ayade Signs Law Increasing Jurisdiction Of Magistrate Court In Cross River

     

    Cross River state governor, Professor Ben Ayade Thursday signed the state’s Magistrate Jurisdiction Law 2022.

    The law increases the jurisdiction of magistrate courts in the state on civil matters.

    The signing ceremony which was witnessed by the state Deputy Governor, Professor Ivara Esu, State Chief Judge, Justice Akon Ikpeme, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Willams Eteng Jones among other top government functionaries, held at the Executive Chamber of the Governor’s Office, Calabar.

    Speaking at the event, the governor said with the law in place, the administration of justice is now closer to the people.

    “The social import of this exercise is that we are taking the administration of the law closer to our people so that those who have need to approach the courts will not have to look for a High court, but can now access justice anywhere there is a magistrate just because of the increased jurisdiction.

    “With this, access to law, access to legal services, access to justice is now closer to our people” the governor said.

    According to him, “It is in my exercise of the powers conferred on me as Governor by section 31, sub section 1 of the Magistrate Court Law of Cross River State of Nigeria 2004, that l hereby sign to law, an order which will increase the jurisdiction of Magistrate Court in civil matters. The order shall come into effect on the 3rd of November, which is today.”

    Ayade commended Justice Ikpeme “for being very very balanced in all the recommendations that have come before me.”

    Earlier in her remarks, Justice Ikpeme noted that the last time the jurisdictions of Magistrate Courts were increased in the state was on July 25th, 2005.

    Commending Ayade for signing the law, the Cross state Chief Judge said: “Today, 17 years after, the digital governor has signed into law, an increase in the jurisdiction of magistrate courts in civil matters, and it is to the following effects: Chief magistrate court 1; The limit before now was 7 million Naira, it has now been raised to 10 million Naira, Chief magistrate court 2 has been raised to 7 million Naira, senior magistrate grade 1 is now 5 million Naira, senior magistrate grade 2 is now 3 million Naira and magistrate grade 1 is 2 million Naira”

    According to her, every local government area of the state now has a Chief magistrate court where cases can be filed.

    “I want to congratulate our Governor for doing this. When l suggested it to him he immediately agreed and l want to say today, the judiciary appreciates you very much”, the Chief Judge stated.

  • C’River PDP Northern Stakeholders Berates Ayade Over Wike Visit

    BY Judex Okoro, Sunnewsonline

    The Director General of Sen Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe Campaign Organisation, Dr Don Cklaimz Enamhe, and Cross River North People’s Democratic Party (PDP) stalwarts have blasted Governor Ben Ayade over his visit to Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State.

    They characterised Ayade’s as not only a mark of desperation to return to the Senate but a calculated attempt to woo Wike over to his side ahead of the 2023 polls.

    Since late yesterday, a group picture of Governors Ben Ayade, Dave Umahi and Wike during their visit to Port Harcourt have been trending, fuelling speculations that Ayade, the APC north senatorial candidate, is up to some political gimmicks.

    Describing such moves as the last kick of a dying horse, the Director-General of Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe Campaign Organisation, Dr Don Cklaimz Enamhe, stated that it is possible that Governor Ayade had discreetly gone there to negotiate for his senate seat not minding his public utterances against Wike.

    Enamhe recalled that on several occasions the Cross River governor has, since his defection to All Progressives Congress (APC) in June 2020, lampooned the state chapter of PDP and its leadership of being a surrogate to the Rivers governor just as he has declared total war against the party.

    The university of Calabar don, also alleged that Ayade is discreetly and desperately making moves to reach out to the PDP’s presidential candidate, Alh. Atiku Abubakar, to negotiate his way back to the Upper Legislative Chamber, adding that Jarigbe’s campaign organisation is keeping a tab and would do everything possible to scuttle any further attempt to undermine north’s interest in 2023.

    Enamhe, a foundation member of PDP, said: “Going by past antecedents, Governor Ayade has no right to visit Governor Wike because he (Ayade) has been making comments deriding Wike and PDP in the state.

    “It seems he has eaten his vomit or shall we say he is also trying to mortgage the state to Rivers as he accused the party a couple of months back while soliciting support for APC.

    “However we assure all that all discreet moves by Ayade would come to nought because we have declared total and unalloyed support for Sen. Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe. Besides, the north knows their true sons and leaders and we would speak during the general elections as no amount of tricks and genuflecting would change our focus to re-elect Jarigbe.”

    Wondering what took Ayade to Rivers, four months to the general election, a party stalwart from Yala, Chief Emmanuel Ogbeche, 53, said the party leaders in the north would meet to review Ayade’s recent moves, cautioning the national leadership of PDP to be wary of hobnobbing with politicians from Cross River engaging in anti-party activities.

    On his part, Ntufam Justine Abang, from the Ogoja chapter, expresses surprise that after Ayade had declared PDP dead in the state and that APC would sweep all the seats, he surreptitiously visited Wike, a PDP governor, and his arch-enemy, to curry favour.

    Describing Governor Wike as an old political war horse, Abang said the visit would not change the good works Rivers governor is doing to ensure the survival of the PDP in Cross River and assured that the party would deliver Sen. Jarigbe and other PDP candidates in the north.

  • Gov Ben Ayade And The Challenge Of Politics With Ethics BY DOMINIC KIDZU

     

    It will be difficult to count the number of times that Governor Ben Ayade has told the public that he plays politics with ethics. Although the claim has remained largely nebulous, since he has never offered a detailed explanation of what the ramifications and parameters are, the general assumption has been that he was going to level the playing field and allow the voting public to make its choice. With virtually nothing to leave behind as legacy outside the signature nepotism, corruption and under performance in office, one thought that like his senior brother, Buhari, he was going to at least allow Cross Riverians to freely make their choice about who should come and clean the miasma and stench of his ill – fated adventure.

    Unfortunately, it now appears that those hopes were merely a pipe dream seeing as the Governor is pulling all stumps to ensure that the opposition is denied legitimate constitutional liberties that are the bedrock of free and fair elections, which also could have in some manner aggregated to any semblance of ‘politics with ethics’. One hopes that the claim of Politics With Ethics does not go the way of most of the miracle projects which the Governor has began and completed in the air, and which the citizens are not likely to ever see let alone enjoy or benefit from?

    Only yesterday, the Caterpillar Movement, which is the advocacy arm of the People’s Democratic Party Governorship campaign framework wrote an open letter to the Governor outlining the frustrations and denials of their right to place their billboards and other publicity materials in the public space, even after they have made due payments and completed documentation with the public agency responsible for that purpose in the state. Ironically, the same agency has allowed candidates of the ruling party to place their advertisement all over the city with pomp and pageantry.

    The Governor has a responsibility to ensure that all political parties and their candidates enjoy the same rights and privileges as the ruling party if he still remembers that he has always bragged about practicing Politics With Ethics. He has a responsibility to call the government agents at CRISA to order before they make him and his ruling party appear frightened by the momentum of the PDP candidate and lily- livered about the prospects of a fair contest. For CRISA to collect monies and revenues from the PDP and then block the party from enjoying the benefits of that expenditure is shameful to say the least and criminal by all standards.

    The jury on Ben Ayade’s government returned with a guilty verdict since morning and clearly there is no official arm – twisting and village tactics against the opposition that will come anywhere near to changing that verdict. The part to honour open for the Governor is to play according to the rules and attempt to supervise a fair process leading to a credible election in 2023. Let me state here for clarity that the underhand manipulation being implemented right now even if they were to get away with it can still not ensure that Governor Ben Ayade will succeed in putting a cloned administration in his image and form in office in the year 2023.

  • Caterpillar Movement Writes Gov Ben Ayade, Demands Him To Call Effiwat And Other Appointees To Order Over Destruction Of Billboards

    The Caterpillar Movement, the Campaign Organization for Sen.(Prof.) Sandy Onor, the Cross River State People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Governorship candidate, through its Director General, Chief Joe Obi Bisong, in an open letter has called on the Cross River State Governor to caution his overzealous appointees.

    In a letter signed by the DG and made available to TheLumineNews, Obi maintained that the organization had met all the financial obligations and other requirements stipulated for outdoor advertisement in the State by the State Director General of CRISSA, but that Effiwat has continually denied the Opposition party and its candidates access to outdoor advertising in the state’s capital, Calabar.

    The letter further stated that Senator Sandy Onor and other PDP candidate’s billboards were pulled down.