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Tag: #PDP

  • David Umahi: How Defection Invalidates His Certificate Of Return BY FIRST BABA ISA

    DAVID UMAHI: HOW DEFECTION INVALIDATES HIS CERTIFICATE OF RETURN

    Find attached the Certificate of Return issued to David Umahi before he was sworn in as Governor.

    Get any certificate of any Governor in Nigeria, or any elected official, let’s have this conversation; please, constantly look at the Certificate of Return as we progress.

    Section 75 (1) of the Electoral Act 2010, states that “A sealed Certificate of Return at an election in a prescribed form shall be issued within 7 days to every candidate who has won an election under this Act.” See section 72 (1) of the Electoral Act 2022.

    Without a Certificate of Return there is no evidence that a candidate won an election and he cannot be sworn into office. A Certificate of Return is the gold medal of an election; without it, you can’t lay claim to be a winner.

    Now, let’s look at the Certificate of Return issued to Umahi.

    It says: “I hereby certify that Nweze David Umahi of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been elected to the office of Governor of Ebonyi State…”

    Did you see that?

    “Nweze David Umahi of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)…”

    Let’s look at the meaning of the proposition or the word “of”.

    “Of” is used in expressing the relationship between a part and a whole.

    So, the Certificate of Return made it abundantly clear that Nweze David Umahi (is a part) OF Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) (the whole)…” One cannot exist without the other in governing Ebonyi State. That’s why the Federal Government led by President Buhari is known as the APC Government. This is how it is all over the world that practise partisan democracy.

    You can never divorce your government from your political party. In fact, the president or governor is the leader of his political party at the Federal or State, respectively.

    When the people voted for you, it was your party’s manifesto, aims, objectives and proposed plans that they voted for. They saw the manifestoes of other political parties but chose yours. You are expected to implement your party’s manifesto as Governor. You can’t convince people to vote for one manifesto and then turn round to defect and adopt another one they rejected at the polls. That’s criminally dishonest.

    Back to the Certificate of Return, a new one has not and cannot be issued to David Umahi after his defection. The only Certificate of Return he holds that empowers him to be Governor of Ebonyi State, is the one that reads: “Nweze David Umahi of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)…”

    You cannot hold a Certificate of Return that says you are of the PDP, while you have declared publicly that you have left the PDP. By this singular action, you have invalidated the Certificate of Return, the only document that gives you the power to be Governor.

    As long as David Umahi maintains he has left the PDP, and as long as the only Certificate of Return issued to him by INEC states that: “I hereby certify that Nweze David Umahi of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been elected to the office of Governor of Ebonyi State…”, Umahi cannot continue to be Governor.

    He might be righteous but he has destroyed his foundation. And as the Psalmist lamented in Psalm 11:3, “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?”

    This applies to other Governors, like Ben Ayade of Cross River State, who have also decamped but holding Certificates of Return carrying the name of another political party.

    – By Firsts Baba Isa (FBI)

  • Jarigbe Agom Empowers All PDP Chapter Executives In Obudu, Bekwarra And Obanliku Federal Constituency

     

    The senator Representing Cross River North Senatorial District, Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, has empowered chapter executives of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Obudu, Bekwarra, and Obanliku Federal Constituency.

    The State Deputy Chairman of the party (North), Chief Austin Edibe, while presenting the items urged the beneficiaries to remain steadfast in their services to the party. He said the gesture is one of the ways in which the senator wishes to commend their efforts in supporting the party to grow from the grassroots.

    He further encouraged them to always have the interest of the party while working for the success and progress of the party in the senatorial district and state at large.

    Commenting on the development, Chapter chairmen and members of their cabinet, described the Distinguished Senator as a performer who has always kept his words in delivering the dividends of democracy to the good people of Cross River North, they appreciated the lawmaker and further pledged their unalloyed loyalty and support to ensure that the party moves to an enviable position in their respective local government areas.

  • 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.

  • PDP Appoints Jarigbe Agom Secretary, Lagos State Congress Appeal Committee

    The senator representing Cross River Northern Senatorial District, Sen Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe has been appointed alongside six others to serve in the Appeal Committee for the Lagos State Congress.

    In a release signed by the National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Hon Debo Ologunagba and sighted by TheLumineNews, indicates Sen Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe is to serve as Secretary while Aldophus Wabara PhD is to serve as Chairman of the committee.

    The release reads in full *March 2, 2022 Press Statement PDP Constitutes Lagos State Congress Appeal Panel.

    “The National Working Committee of our great Party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has constituted the Lagos State Congresses Appeal Committee to consider appeals arising from the conduct of the State Congress in Lagos State. The members of the Committee are:

    “1. H.E. Sen. Adolphus Wabara, PhD.- Chairman.
    2. Dr Akilu Indabawa – member
    3. Hajiya Inna Maryam Ciroma – member
    4. Chief Emmanuel Ogidi – member
    5. Hon. Aro Bamidele – member
    6. Barr Oji Zawo member
    7. Dist. Sen. Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe – Secretary.

    “The exercise is scheduled to hold on Thursday, March 3 to Friday, March 4, 2022 at the PDP National Secretariat, Wadata Plaza, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja. Signed: Hon. Debo Ologunagba National Publicity Secretary”.

  • Ogoja/Yala Bye-election: Cross River PDP Rejects Result, Alleges Rigging

     

    The Peoples Democratic Party in Cross River State has rejected the result of the February 26 bye-election for the Ogoja/Yala Federal House of Representatives seat.

    Speaking at a news conference in Calabar, on Tuesday, the state Chairman of the party, Venatius Ikem, said the election was marred by malpractices and violence, insisting that the Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Mike Usibe, won the election.

    He accused some officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission of compromising the electoral process in favour of the All Progressives Congress, whose candidate, Jude Ngaji, was declared winner by the returning officer, John Edor.

    According to him, “We reject in totality the results announced by the Returning Officer in the Saturday, February 26, bye-election for the House of Representatives seat for Ogoja/Yala, in which the APC candidate was wrongfully declared a winner, because he did not score the majority of valid votes cast in that election.

    “The bye-election was characterised by massive irregularities, including violence, orchestrated by the APC-led government and her officials who snatched ballot boxes and other election materials at will at gun point and manipulated the results to their advantage.”

    He also alleged and demanded “as a matter of urgency the disbandment of the Special Police units under the Chief Security Officer of the Governor, which he is using for thuggery and political purposes, raining mayhem on innocent voters, contrary to all expectations of a neutral state security outfit.”

    Ikem also made other demands, among which is “that the Independent National Electoral Commission investigates its staff, especially one Mr. Toyin, an Assistant Director or Deputy Director in the Commission’s office in Calabar in charge of the IT unit, with a view to unravelling his interference with the BVAS machines deployed for the election, which he claimed that 5 units were missing
    before the election, and which were alleged to have suddenly emerged at election centres.

    “We demand that Mr. Festus Okoye (National Commissioner) be equally investigated and never again posted for election duty to Cross River State, because he has shown clearly that he comes
    here at the behest of Governor Ayade and to do his dirty work of subverting the will of the electorate in the state.

    “Most importantly, we demand that INEC should produce all BVAS machines used for the election to ascertain if the accreditation recorded in the machines corresponds with the number of votes declared by the Returning Officer in the February 26 bye-election.”

    He said the party has evidence to prove that the election was rigged in favour of the All Progressives Congress and hoped that the result will be upturned through legal processes in favour of the PDP.

    Video clips of the alleged violence and ballot box snatching by the APC officials were shown to journalists at the venue of the event.

  • Ayade’s Plan To Use Military And Police To Disrupt By-election: An Act Of Political Banditry – PDP

    PEOPLES DEMOCRATIC PARTY CROSS RIVER STATE

    24th February 2022

    Press Statement:

    Ayade’s Plan to Use Military and Police to Disrupt By-election: An Act of Political Banditry

    We have received intelligence information about the plan by the failure-ridden APC to collude with the military and some Units of the Police Force to disenfranchise voters and cause mayhem in Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency and Akpabuyo Local Government Area. We have it on good authority that the Governor is currently mobilizing the military, Operation Akpawu and the Sting Unit attached to the Governor’s office to militarize the by-election and dissuade eligible Voters from coming out to vote.

    Aware of the imminent failure awaiting the APC, the Governor and his bloodthirsty party has resorted to Political banditry against the good people of Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency and Akpabuyo. To this end, we call on the Security agencies, especially the Army and the Police to show high level of discipline and professionalism in the discharge of their duties and resist any attempt to be use by self-serving Political bandits to carry out anti-people and anti-democratic electoral malpractice. We call on the good people of Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency and Akpabuyo Local Government to resist any attempt by the broom-wielding bandits in APC to disenfranchise them or rig the election.

    As a party, we are confident that power revolves around the people and we call on the people to come out and vote massively for the people-oriented PDP. Cross River State belongs to all of us and together we shall rescue, reclaim, rebuild and restore it.

    God bless Cross River State.

    Signed:
    Prince Mike Ojisi
    (State Publicity Secretary)

  • 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)

  • Wike, Udom Leads Campaign Council For Ogoja/Yala Federal And Akpabuyo State Constituencies Bye-election

    February 22, 2022

    Press Statement

    PDP Constitutes Campaign Council for Cross River Bye-Elections

    The National Working Committee (NWC) of our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has approved the nomination of the following party members as members of the National Campaign Council/Election Management Team for the Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency and Akpabuyo State Constituency bye-elections scheduled for saturday, February 26, 2022 in Cross River State

    The members of the committee are;
    1. H.E Chief Nyesom Wike – Chairman
    2. H.E Emmanuel Udom – Co. Chairman
    3. Rt. Hon. Ndudi Elumelu – Member
    4. H.E Sen. Liyel Imoke – Member
    5. H.E Donald Duke – Member
    6. Prof. Stella Effah-Attoe – Member
    7. Rt. Hon. Patrick Nathan Ifon – Member
    8. Chief Ferdinand Alabraba – Member
    9. Sen. Gershom Bassey – Member
    10. Sen. Prof. Sandy Onor – Member
    11. Sen. Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe – Member
    12. Hon. Daniel Asuquo – Member
    13. Hon. Essien Ekpenyong – Member
    14. Hon. Friday Okpeche – Member
    15. Hon. Effa Esua – Member
    16. Hon. Aniekan Akpan – Member
    17. Hon. Solomon E. Agwana – Member
    18. Hon. Ikem Venatius Ayabie – Member
    19. Hon. Barr. Kingsley Esiso – Member
    20. Dr. Tony Aziegbemi – Member
    21. Amb. Desmond Akawor – Member
    22. Chief Dan Orbih – Secretary

    The Directorate of Organization and Mobilization shall serve as Secretariat for the Council.

    Signed:

    Hon. Debo Ologunagba
    National 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)