The Lumine News

Tag: #Liyel Imoke

  • Duke, Imoke, Onor And Other Party Leaders Pays Last Tribute To Prof Stella Attoe

    Duke, Imoke, Onor And Other Party Leaders Pays Last Tribute To Prof Stella Attoe

     

    In a poignant service held on Friday, December 15th, 2023 at the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria, Hope Waddell Parish, Calabar, the Governorship Candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Prof. Sandy Ojang Onor in company of his dear wife, Barr (Mrs) Gertrude-Manyo Sandy Onor, joined other prominent leaders of the party in a solemn Service of Songs, paying heartfelt tribute to the late Prof. Stella Effa-Attoe.

    The heart-rending gathering served as a reflection on the remarkable contributions of the departed academician to the church, party, academic community and society at large.

    The church resonated with shared grief and fond memories as those present were united in honouring the legacy of the amazon of beauty and excellence, while celebrating a life dedicated to service and knowledge.

    The service witnessed the presence of distinguished individuals, including former governors of Cross River State, HE Donald Duke and Sen. Liyel Imoke, as well as Ambassador Nkoyo Toyo. Among the notable attendees were the State Chairman of the Party and his deputy, Barr Vena Ikem and Hon. Denis Nkiri, respectively. Also in attendance were State Women Leader, Hon. (Mrs) Florence Inyang, and Members representing Ogoja/Yala and Obanliku/Bekwarra/Obudu Federal Constituencies, Barr Godwin Offiono and Hon. Peter Akpanke.

    The gathering further included Commissioner for Youths, Barr Ukam Charles Ijom, former Obudu Council Chairman, Hon. Emma Ugbe, and Dr Richard Omang Ntui, among others. Notably, representatives from the academic community, such as the Dean of the Faculty of Arts at the University of Calabar, Prof. Stella Ekpe, and Dr Dave Imbua of the Department of History and International Studies, also paid their respects.

    Ndifon Joseph

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

    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.

  • Golden Eaglets Begs Ayade To Redeem Pledged House Gifts

    Golden Eaglets Begs Ayade To Redeem Pledged House Gifts

    Culled From The Nationonline

    Seven years after, the FIFA U-17 World Cup-winning Golden Eaglets’ squad of 2013 has yet make a clarion call to Governor Ben Ayade to redeem the Cross River State’s pledge of a house gift to players and officials of the team.

    A feat that made Governor Ayade’s predecessor, Senator Liyel Imoke, during the State’s banquet for the team at Government House in Calabar on Saturday 15th November 2013, announced the house gifts to the 21 players and 10 officials, adding the houses would be located in the State’s new housing estate in Akpabuyo Local Government Area.

    “Frankly, it’s unbelievable that we are yet to be given these houses almost 10 years after we won the FIFA U-17 World Cup and celebrated by everybody.

    “In fact, we were most impressed when Senator Imoke said in the presence of the then Minister of Youth and Sports Development Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi; former NFF President Alhaji Aminu Maigari and members of his cabinet, that he preferred house gifts as a lasting legacy than monetary rewards; but it’s unfortunate that after all these years, we are still waiting for the houses to be delivered to the players and officials.”

    Speaking in the same vein, the 2013 World Cup-winning captain, Musa Muhammed said he was tired of explaining to the players time and time again that the houses were yet to be given: “I don’t think a day has passed without one or two of the players asking me about our houses in Calabar but I want to use this opportunity to beg our father, Governor Ayade, for the house gifts for both the players and officials.”

  • Rt.Hon Jarigbe Agom Hosts Senate President, Ex-Gov, NASS Members And Others

    Rt.Hon Jarigbe Agom Hosts Senate President, Ex-Gov, NASS Members And Others

    By Admin

    The member representing, Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency, Rt. Hon Jarigbe Agom, today, hosted Nigeria’s Senate President ably represented by Sen. Abaribe as well as Former Governor of Cross River State, Sen. Liyel Imoke and Other members of the National Assembly at his Ogoja residence.

    After the burial of Late  Sen Rose Okoji Oko, The MP in his usual nature, decided to host visitors to his federal Constituency in honor of the late Amazon.

    The National Assembly members were led by Sen. Abaribe who represented the Senate President, other members in attendance include, Sen. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Sen. Gershom Bassey, Sen. Sandy Onor and Rt.Hon Etta Mbora amongst others.

    Former Governor of Cross River State, Sen. Liyel Imoke and other dignitaries were also in attendance.

  • Hon. Legor Idagbo Speech During The Factional Flag Off Of PDP Campaign Sounded Like An Anathema; Exposed His Total Disregards To The Sensibilities Of Our People – Jarigbe Agom

    Hon. Legor Idagbo Speech During The Factional Flag Off Of PDP Campaign Sounded Like An Anathema; Exposed His Total Disregards To The Sensibilities Of Our People – Jarigbe Agom

    By Admin

    The member representing Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, has described the speech made by his colleague, Rt. Hon. Legor Idagbo during the factional flag off of the campaign of Dr. Stephen Odey as an Anathema and a huge joke to our democracy.

    Agom took to his verified Facebook page to respond to his colleague who decided to take a swipe on other members of the PDP especially his humble self, instead of embarking on campaigns for the PDP.

    Find the complete response by Hon. Agom:

    “The Factional PDP Flag Off and the Speech by Hon Legor Idagbo:

    “The Speech that sounded like an Anathema, exposed his total disregards for the sensibilities of our people and makes a huge joke of our democracy. Legor and other gladiators chose to take a swipe at other members of PDP, especially my humble self, instead of embarking on campaigns for our Party. They did not Campaign against the opposition, but concentrated on parochial sentiments, that would not add value to the fortunes of the Party.

    “He qualified the former Governor, Donald Duke, as a TYRANT and that his approach to governance was brutish. That was not kind to the former Gov at all. He celebrated the fact that Obi Odu and Ugba Morphy were chased out of Cross River State by Donald Duke. He assumes that Governors are invincible and other people’s lives do not matter.

    “Legor Idagbo is among those who instigated the shooting and killing of our young men during the last Senate Primary Election, in Ogoja. We can clearly see that his approach is very barbaric and that’s what they mislead the Governor with.

    I want to remind you that, we are in a Democracy and I am a Parliamentarian. I am not oblivious of my rights and privileges. The right to life is one of them and I can never be intimidated by mere mortals.

    “You can have whatever positions, but do not forget that I am a Parliamentarian, that is also protected by the Constitution and the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    “I know Legor as a Christian, but he is beginning to sound like one of those basking in the euphoria of the moment and assuming the position of super humans.

    “Legor is always struggling to tell people, he is close to Gov Imoke. Who asked him? What is he struggling to correct? Conscience is an open wound and the only thing that can heal it, is the TRUTH.

    “I have never used the name of Gov Imoke to Campaign. I have nothing to say about his relationship with his Successor and I will not record Gov Imoke to play for Ayade, so Ayade can trust me. I am not a meddlesome interloper.

    “Legor and Ayade are Liyel’s political boys, just like me. I am not competing for closeness to Gov Imoke. As his
    mentee, I will rather do things that would make him proud, just like I am doing in my Constituency(without sounding immodest).

    “Legor’s Primary Election to the House of Reps in 2015 was conducted outside of his Constituency because he was not on ground with his people. It was conducted in Ogoja( my LGA) and I had to send my boys to help him. He has still not learnt his lessons. He is still looking for a Governor that will spoon feed him, like its always been.

    “Legor had described Ayade as “a bull in a China shop” and we should escort him out carefully, so he doesn’t cause so much damage. My Colleagues in the National Assembly can attest, if they want to state the truth. Today, he claims to be the most loyal because he has been promised a third term to the House of Reps. God will deliver that Federal Constituency from the hands of Oppressors.

    “He used the name of the Holy Ghost/in vain as he made his very demeaning speech, but may God forgive us. I would have thought that, our upbringing should manifest even in our politics, but its unfortunate that desperation has made us to let go, all our values.

    “The Rt Hon Legor said, he passes through Stephen Odey, to get favors from Gov Ayade. Those favors are personal because I cannot see any Infrastructure at his instance. Does that statement not indict our highly revered Governor? Legor’s attempt at laundering the Gov’s image was counter productive. As a member of Parliament, you should have unfettered access to your Gov , if you do not belong to a Conquered Generation.

    “Finally, I want to humbly appeal to Cross Riverians, especially the people of the North, to stay Civil but join this political revolution, that requires no mobilization. The facts Speak, in spite of the failed attempt at embellishment.

    “A happy Sunday to you all”.

    Rt Hon Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe( Rep of the Masses)

  • Senator Imoke Constructed Interlocking Kerbs To Safeguard Other People’s Lives, God Used His Good Work To Save His Life – Eko Atu

    Senator Imoke Constructed Interlocking Kerbs To Safeguard Other People’s Lives, God Used His Good Work To Save His Life – Eko Atu

    God rewards good works.

    I need to tell this story especially for those of us who find ourselves in position of authority, or hold one office or the other in trust for the people.

    I recall when Imoke came onboard as governor, he awarded the contract for the interlocking kerbs from the bottom hill to the summit of the Obudu ranch resort.

    This was to further secure the lives of visitors to the ranch who use their cars up the ranch. It could be recalled that so many lives have been lost on the Obudu ranch mountain road either due to break failures or other mechanical faults.

    So it became necessary to assure visitors of their safety while commuting up and down the ranch.

    H E, then Senator Ben Ayade had lost the Mum and as usual with Imoke, went to Obudu to first attend the vigil night and the church service the next day.

    We left Calabar a little late for Obudu. I drove with H E, the Deputy Governor in his car; while Senator Ndoma Egba drove with H E Imoke.

    We had a good time out with H E, then Senator Ayade who given his sociable nature ensured everybody on the convoy was well taken care of.

    We departed Obudu a little late that night to sleep over in the ranch so we could come for the church service the next day.

    For some of us who have visited the ranch especially going up the ranch at night will attest to the fact that the ranch at night becomes foggy. Midway on our journey up the ranch, H E, the deputy governor looked back in the foggy weather and said to me that he can’t sight the headlights of H E cars.

    He then asked his driver to make a U turn, but it was dangerous given that the whole place had become so foggy. We got down and started trekking back to see if we could sight the headlights of H E’s convoy.

    We had trekked for some 30min down the hill, when we sighted the headlights of the convoy. When we reached where the cars were, we realized there had been an accident involving H E. Apparently, the driver had slept off and the car was going into the ditch. The CSO who was Infront manuvoured the steering and the car came crashing on the kerbs.

    H E had a fracture on his right hand which kept him away from work for several weeks because he needed an operation.

    I just remembered that incident and I ask myself, if those kerbs were not in place; the obvious may have happened.

    So when you are in office or position of authority, build that health centre, because you may never know if the first aid you need to survive in an emergency would be provided by that facility. Build that school because the child who goes to that school, might become a medical doctor tomorrow who might save your life.

    God rewards good works, and because Senator Imoke had constructed those interlocking kerbs to safeguard other people’s lives, God used his good work to save his life.