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Fear Of Imprisonment May Destroy Apc As Implosion Looms In Cross River
“PAUL MAY SORE, APOLLOS MAY WATER THE CROPS, BUT THE FRUITFULNESS COMES FROM THE LORD OF HOST”.
By OBI OJAGE.
TODAY happens to be my birthday, being the 12th day of April, and I am exceedingly glad that I saw this day in one piece with all I go through daily in the medley hands of human devils on my trail. But sadly none except one person amongst many of the highly successful so-called rich friends I know sent me a gift. And in doing so he cautioned that I should keep it secret. And I have been wondering why despite the number of highly influential persons I have on my WhatsApp list which includes Governors both serving and none serving; some of whom I have had conversations with here on WhatsApp calls including serving cabinet ministers, senators et all, both on my Facebook and WhatsApp respectively who read my stories, but none sent me any gift to celebrate the occasion with, be it in a monetary form or otherwise.
IT COULD be; I guess because I didn’t herald the day loud enough or make a formal request for that maybe or because I am not in their category or class of men? I better not be. I now seem to place too much value on my Soul they say. Yes because, after the troubles, I am encountering here in this present life’s journey, I wouldn’t want to be made to go through this again when I am dead and my soul stocked down in the grave without transcending. A situation where a worthless herbalist from nowhere would not allow me to rest in the grave peacefully because he now finds the raw material suitable for his job and would be using my Soul to run errands for him day and night, rain or shine where I would be invoked from the grave and sent to harm other fellow humans as a ghost, night or day without rest or holiday until I become ripped for upgrading from a mere human ghost into a full-fledged Demon from where I would now be qualified to be hired by Sorcerers and Necromancers in a more classy and dignified manner to carry out bigger assignments of evil proclivities.
ALL these would take place due to indolence and if I accept to digress from living under the supervision and control by the dictates of an in dueling spirit of the lord in me to that control by forces beyond and out of me in the quest for a forcefully acquired power and fame through inducement, deceit, and blackmail over that which are ephemeral.
NONETHELESS, times are fierce presently in our country, and therefore whoever is bogged down with many thoughts of what way to go needs the right consultation from inspired humans who are less ambitious to offer them solutions that are unbiased, factual, impactful, and result-oriented.
I HAD always said and I am going to repeat it here again, that I joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a political party of choice all because of President Mohammadu Buhari’s chasteness at the time. I owe no one an explanation of whether or not I have been rewarded in the process. And to have a say politically over what goes on around my environment especially concerning who becomes the Governor of my state and the President over whom I will be ready to pledge my total loyalty in the onerous task of building a worthy society of egalitarianism and where “might” cannot be “right”. And where “right” can only be justified when the truth is made bare in all circumstances. And where integrity and empathy go hand in hand and become the nom upheld by those in leadership positions all across. And I had not relented literally on this opium since then. And I wouldn’t relinquish that now for anything’s sake.
HOWEVER, the evolution of history as a past event is about to rehearse itself again in my state of Cross river thankfully; pronto: “the Governorship contest that took place some time ago between His Excellency Mr. Donald Etim Duke from the South versus Dr. Joseph Okpo from the Northern Senatorial Districts of the state which I also played a role is about to repeat itself”. This is what we are about to witness in the forthcoming gubernatorial elections which are billed to take place next year, the Lord willing. And the make or break contest is going to be between the two rival parties namely, the APC and PDP as the preamble now seem to play out itself with palpable indices pointing to that scenario.
THEREFORE those who are to handle the various party primary election within the two parties must do so diligently and with caution against what we hear of some underhand inducement taken place from those with an unquenchable drive to become what nature has not destined them to be.
IN the midst of all that, we, members of the old APC were quite shocked and bewildered when an irresponsible statement took a center stage on the social media recently to incite unnecessary delirium credited to the present imposed state chairman of our great party the APC known for his choruses which comes with syncopation and glim to attract concern meant to exude vague power often to herald his presence and centrifugally which were intended in this case to obliterate the popular and public pronouncements of the state Governor done in good faith aptly presented over an issue that tickled the sensitivity of a plurality of people incognito who are battle-ready to resist the temptation of having their rights vanquished over that which was inspirationally issued out by the party headship in respect of where the successor of the incumbent should come from in line with the agreed pattern.
THE counter proclamation of our new master of ceremony in the person of the imposed state chairman sounded incredulous to the ears to have anyone toy with such a highly hailed inducement stunt meant to amass massive public support championed by the Governor in readiness for an election that demands stratagem, persuasiveness, and the sentiments expressed in response thereto by denizens gives chimney to its efficacy.
THIS was incredibly so preemptive because it is in line with where the party enjoys wider acceptability especially when it has in its fold a leading and unbending aspirant who also enjoys a cosmopolitan endorsement in the person of Senator (Prince) Bassey Otu whose candidacy towers far above those now vying for the same position in both parties who are from the same Efik ethnic group of the Southern hemisphere, same like the Prince.
The state chairman, therefore, has no right whatsoever to differ from the position held or pronouncements made by the Governor regarding the zoning preferences of the party uniquely suited and articulated rightly, which was categorical and peculiar to its circumstances simply because some underhand inducements had taken place as alleged followed by the expression of discontentment by some party members including stakeholders out there.
THOSE party members especially from the Central Senatorial District of the state are now using the outcome of the recently concluded by-election where our candidate who is now in the National Assembly, chief Ngaji defeated his counterpart of the PDP at the Ogoja elections as the yardstick for measuring the organizational structure, functions, strength, and readiness of the party as well as the individuals from the area in question in the light of that event, which they now claim is a representation of the ability of their zone in gaining victory for the party in future elections owing to that singular incident ab-initio, are not only elusive to contemplate but has all the entrapment hollowing discontent driven by mischief.
AND such assertions are baseless and watery especially so, as most of those trumpeting this falsehood didn’t have any role to play nor did they play any at all to the best of my knowledge. Whereas, everything the party had in the state was deployed to see to the success of that particular election. And in addition, you had the entire stakeholders of the party converged at Ogoja all for just that particular election to the detriment of the other elections that were to take place in the state, especially in the Southern Senatorial District of Akpabio, Bakasi, and Calabar South simultaneously.
THE argument to consider in the whole scenario in practical terms here in my opinion is this, that a candidate from either the North or Central Senatorial District of the state can defeat someone from the South in a general election that involves the entire state such as the Governorship race only when that particular candidate in issue is a product of a consensual arrangement of both the North and Central in support of the party from which the fellow emerges from to give such a person the overall confidence needed to run against a Southern candidate, otherwise, it will be highly competitive or near impossible to win.
THESE include and are not limited to a candidate from the Ejagham tribe with headquarters at Efraya, the local government headquarters of Etung, which is said to command the largest single ethnic majority in the state and cuts across the three Senatorial Districts that speak Ejagham being a tribe to which I belong paternally. This is so owing largely to disunity prevalent in and around the various ethnic cleavages or tribes down there.
WHILE a candidate from the South of the same status and disposition especially an Efik person of either from Calabar Municipal, Odukpani, Akpabio, Calabar South, or Bakassi can run against anybody from both the Central and North and win based on his or her disposition and popularity without going into any consensual arrangement apart from a cosmopolitan endorsement gotten on account of their acceptability of those around. Such a person can run on his or her merit against anybody with or without consensual interferences and win against a candidate coming from these two zones comfortably. Do you know why?
THIS is so because whoever is popular and known by everyone that lives in the capital city of Calabar and its environment and had risen to the level of a Senator, Minister, or a highly respected business Mongol especially an Efik or Qua person born and bred in between Odukpani, Akpabio, Bakassi, the Municipal and Calabar South, Biase or Odukpani such as Senator Bassey Otu (Sweet Prince) is, a consensual arrangement is unlikely to be stricken in such cases either with the Quas/Ejagham of the municipality, those in Akamkpa or the Biase people compulsorily if the person has a cosmopolitan appeal which Senator Otu has in abundance coupled with his generosity.
THE stranger elements within the municipality and its environs, with a greater number of Akwa Ibo-mites around, in this case, would prefer to vote an Efik as their first choice before any other tribe appealing for their votes. So too; is an Igbo person resident in the South. In short, the entire stranger elements residing in and out of Calabar and the adjoining local government within the pricing of Calabar would vote an Efik to any other tribe here in cross river state in an election between those from other areas, I bet you on that. And the number is usually huge.
SO any attempt to short change the old members for those coming into the party newly no matter their pedigree and financial power will spell doom for APC. And among the old members vying for governorship positions between those from the two senatorial Districts of South and Central, the Efik in the quality of Prince Bassey Otu will serve the party better. The other Efik person who could’ve given Senator Otu a fight from where we would have had a choice if he was deeply involved in this race, is no other than my great compact friend, Etubom Architect Bassey Eyo Ndem. He is a highly consummate entrepreneur and a monoqueen of the sort who is an asset to our dear state.
THIS is why the zoning arrangement by the Governor most peculiar to APC sounds logical because of the quality of aspirants here, especially Senator Bassey Otu’s candidacy amongst others. That’s not so with every Efik person seen in the race especially those aspiring from our rival PDP conglomeration yonder except for an infinitesimal few such as Sir Arthur Jarvis Achibong and His Excellency Barrister Efiok Kobom, the rest pretenders in the race are paperweights.
WHICH is why the choice of having Senator Sandy Onor on the other side of the divide heightens the stakes and makes the game highly competitive. He is the only PDP person to reckon with that could be said to be in the race for Governorship against APC. Any other person chosen would be a walkover for our party with Sweet Prince Otu at the saddle. I am sorry for the digression. I hope those parroting around with disjointed English would not accuse me again here of being a PDP sympathizer simply because I mentioned my friend who is also their friend at night hours, Professor Sandy Onor. Why won’t I say something about our opponents while at the same time advising my party on the right decision to make and the person to choose who will give us victory by sticking to her earlier zoning arrangements?
To do otherwise would spell doom for APC as the sentiment of ignoring any Calabar candidate for someone elsewhere at this material time especially when the zoning arrangement has been made to sink deep into their subconscious, will not augur well however you preach the sermon, they’ll be an implosion of that tribe to join the PDP or the entire Calabar person over such blunders, quote me on that. I speak as an Oracle and I say the truth before the Holy Spirit and I fear not nor lie.
BUT if you ask me for my predictions of who the possible candidates of both parties may be, I will tell you right away here that, and this is if both parties are willing to put their very best material out from those presently vying for the position of Governor. Then the contest should be between High Chief Senator Bassey Otu (Sweet Prince) of the APC, against Prof. Senator Sandy Ojang Onor (Ntufam) of the PDP, for the entire Cross River people to decide who becomes their Governor.
PLEASE, do have a wonderful Easter Celebration with gusto, Amen…!
IF the Lord does not protect the house, the watchman, whoever he or she may be, watches in vain.
End Time Message.
GOD WITH US…..
The Director of the Enugu State Fire and Rescue Service, Chief Okwudili Ohaa, has said the swift mobilisation of emergency resources by Governor Peter Mbah led to the rescue of five occupants trapped in a collapsed building in Enugu metropolis.
The uncompleted four-storey building, located along Ogbaru Street, by Alvan Ikokwu Street, Independence Layout, Enugu, collapsed in the early hours of Sunday.
Ohaa told newsmen on Sunday that all five occupants of the building, as confirmed by the security guard on duty, were successfully rescued.
Ohaa
He said four of the occupants were rescued alive and conscious, although they sustained injuries, while the fifth person was rescued unconscious.
Ohaa commended Governor Mbah for his swift mobilisation of emergency response agencies, including the Red Cross, Enugu State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Enugu State Ambulance Services, the police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
Other agencies and organisations at the scene included the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Enugu Capital Territory Development Agency (ECTDA) and a Chinese construction company, which provided four heavy-duty cranes.
According to Ohaa, the governor alerted him about the incident early Sunday morning, prompting the immediate mobilisation of officers of the Enugu State Fire and Rescue Service to the scene with extrication equipment.
“His Excellency, Dr Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, must be commended for also mobilising adequate rescue equipment such as heavy-duty cranes, bulldozers and excavators, which ensured the rescue of the five persons,” he said.
Ohaa explained that rescue officers initially relied on information from the security guard to determine how many people were trapped in the building.
“As rescue officers, what we did was to ask the security man how many people were here. He said there were supposed to be six. One person had left before it happened.
“So, we were able at that initial time to rescue four persons. Out of the four, two sustained minor injuries and they were all rushed to a health facility for proper checks,” he said.
The Chief Fire and Rescue Officer said the fifth person was eventually recovered unconscious and taken to a health facility by the Enugu State Ambulance Services.
The NEMA Information Officer in Enugu, Mr Nnanyelugo Ezeani, also confirmed that five people were rescued.
He said the situation could have been worse because the state government had earlier sealed the construction site.
“One person among the six residing in the collapsed building was not on the site at the time of the incident, while five others were rescued and taken to the hospital,” Ezeani said.
Speaking on the incident, the Executive Chairman of the Enugu Capital Territory Development Agency (ECTDA), Mr Uche Anya, described the developer as one of those who failed to comply with building regulations.
Anya said the ECTDA had earlier taken regulatory action by sealing the site, which was originally approved in 2021.
“This property was approved in 2021 before the advent of this administration. But usually, we have a habit of stocktaking and checking on every construction at every stage.
“When I personally led the team that inspected here, we found out that there were serious integrity issues and non-compliance with their 2021 approval.
“I personally issued the first ‘stop-work order,’ which, due to the violation, resulted in our sealing the place over the last six months outrightly.
“So, I think within the last 30 to 40 days, the representative of the owner, whom they say lives abroad, has been interfacing with us to remedy the situation. This is the process that we are still trying to interface on, and it came down.”
Anya added that he had handed the owner’s representative over to the police to assist with the investigation.
“This is really a very unfortunate situation,” he said.
A four-storey building under construction in Enugu has collapsed, killing at least one person and trapping several construction workers beneath the rubble.
The incident occurred on Sunday morning at the uncompleted structure, reportedly being developed as a hotel, causing panic among residents and passersby.
According to authorities, six workers were believed to have been sleeping inside the building when it collapsed. Four workers have so far been rescued, while the body of one victim has been recovered.
Authorities said one of the six workers reportedly left the site shortly before the collapse, raising hopes that fewer people may be trapped beneath the debris than initially feared.
The rescued workers were taken to the Enugu State Teaching Hospital for treatment.
Emergency responders, including the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Nigerian Red Cross Society, Enugu State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Enugu State Capital Territory Development Authority and the police, are participating in the rescue operation.
The cause of the collapse has not yet been established, while rescue efforts continue at the scene.
The member representing Ikwo/Ezza South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Chinedu Ogah, has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other anti-graft agencies to investigate the financial activities and source of wealth of socialite and businessman, Paschal Okechukwu, popularly known as Cubana Chief Priest.
Ogah, who is Chairman of the House Committee on Reformatory Institutions, made the call on Thursday at a press conference in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.
The lawmaker said the businessman’s financial dealings should be subjected to scrutiny regardless of his public profile.
“I am urging the EFCC to thoroughly investigate him, investigate his bank accounts, investigate all the things he does,” Ogah said.
He also accused Cubana Chief Priest of undermining President Bola Tinubu’s political fortunes in the South-East ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Ogah questioned the socialite’s claim to political influence in Ebonyi State and challenged him to make his membership card of the All Progressives Congress (APC) public.
The lawmaker further criticised recent comments attributed to Cubana Chief Priest on social media in which he reportedly called for the resignation of Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru.
Ogah demanded that the comments be withdrawn and followed by an apology, warning that legal action could be taken if the businessman failed to comply.
“Who is Cubana Chief Priest? What is his address that gives him the impetus to speak against our governor, the most performing governor in Nigeria?” he asked.
According to Ogah, Cubana Chief Priest had no electoral mandate to speak on behalf of Ebonyi State or demand the resignation of its elected governor.
He also questioned the businessman’s political influence, noting that he had previously contested an election in Imo State but failed to secure the party’s primary ticket.
Ogah alleges plot against Nwifuru
The lawmaker further alleged that unnamed political actors were sponsoring campaigns aimed at discrediting the Nwifuru administration and weakening the APC ahead of the 2027 elections.
He defended the state’s security architecture, particularly the Commissioner of Police, Hope Okafor, against what he described as an orchestrated campaign for her removal.
Ogah urged the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS) and other relevant agencies to investigate those behind the alleged campaign and determine whether any law had been breached.
“All of us can attest to the peace and security we enjoy in Ebonyi State. The Army, the police, the Civil Defence and the DSS are doing marvellously well in Ebonyi State,” he said.
Lawmaker accuses Otu of mobilising protesters
Ogah also accused another critic of the state government, Charles Otu, of allegedly mobilising people from outside Ebonyi State to participate in a protest against the government in Abuja.
He claimed that some of those involved were presented as Ebonyians despite allegedly coming from other states.
Ogah said his lawyers had previously petitioned the DSS over allegations involving Otu and urged the agency to investigate the matter.
He also challenged Otu to substantiate allegations he allegedly made against him during an appearance on Arise Television.
“My own is that whosoever defaults the law, we take it legally. I cannot mention who I have not known. But when we get there, it is for the security agencies to investigate,” Ogah said.
Ogah lists Nwifuru’s achievements
Defending the Nwifuru administration, Ogah cited the state government’s scholarship programmes, school construction, road projects and other development initiatives as evidence of the governor’s performance.
He said hundreds of Ebonyi indigenes had benefited from postgraduate scholarships in Nigeria and abroad, while roads and schools were being constructed across the state’s 13 local government areas.
Ogah also praised Nwifuru for what he described as political tolerance, saying opposition parties had been allowed to operate freely in the state.
He argued that the people of Ebonyi should determine their political leadership through the ballot rather than through media campaigns and protests.
“Ebonyi people will choose who is their leader. They should stop using the media to castigate the governor,” he said.
Questions Nwifuru’s omission from Tinubu campaign council
The lawmaker also questioned the reported omission of Governor Nwifuru from President Tinubu’s campaign council, describing it as an error that should be corrected.
“How can a governor that has done much in APC not be included in the campaign council? How can a governor that is elected under the APC not be included?” Ogah queried.
He maintained that Nwifuru’s political influence and the APC’s electoral performance in Ebonyi made him an important stakeholder in Tinubu’s 2027 re-election campaign.
Ogah warned political actors against using the media to destabilise the state and urged all parties to pursue their grievances through legal and democratic channels.
The lawmaker, who is also the Ebonyi State Coordinator of the Tinubu Support Group (TSG), was accompanied by other members of the group at the press conference.
He reiterated his call for security agencies to investigate the various allegations raised and take appropriate action against anyone found to have violated the law.
The Federal Character Commission (FCC) has urged youths in Enugu State to disregard the belief that federal government jobs and other opportunities are already allocated before they are advertised.
FCC Executive Chairman, Hulayât Motunrayo Omidiran, gave the charge on Thursday at the International Conference Centre, Enugu, during the Peter Eze Enugu Youth Connect 2026.
Omidiran urged the youths to acquire relevant skills, embrace technology and actively pursue legitimate opportunities, stressing that federal character should promote both equity and merit.
She also warned against fraudulent recruitment schemes and advised applicants to authenticate employment opportunities before applying.
The Enugu State Deputy Governor, Ifeanyi Ossai, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, challenged young people to prepare themselves for available opportunities.
Onyia said government could create opportunities, but individuals must develop the capacity to take advantage of them.
The FCC Commissioner representing Enugu State, Peter Ogbonna Eze, said the programme was designed to bridge the information gap preventing young people from accessing federal employment, scholarships, grants, fellowships and training opportunities.
Eze said many youths were discouraged from applying for federal jobs because of the misconception that such positions had already been shared among influential individuals.
He urged them to apply whenever legitimate opportunities were advertised, warning that nobody should pay money to secure a federal government job.
He also disclosed that five participants in the programme would be selected for a full scholarship opportunity.
Eze said the initiative would continue as a platform for connecting Enugu youths with credible opportunities and urged participants to become “ambassadors of opportunity” by sharing useful information with others.
The event brought together youths and stakeholders from across Enugu State to discuss federal representation, employment, education, skills development and other opportunities.
By Chinedu Sabastine
ENUGU — Umuchigbo Iji Nike Autonomous Community in Enugu East Local Government Area of Enugu State has fixed Sunday, September 13, 2026, for its annual New Yam Festival.
The cultural celebration, which is scheduled to commence at 3 p.m., is being organised under the leadership of the Executive Chairman of Umuchigbo, Hon. Chief Afam Joseph Ogbene, popularly known as Akirika Chioku 1, Na Nike Kingdom.
The festival is expected to showcase the rich cultural heritage and traditions of the people of Umuchigbo and Umuenwene in Iji Nike Autonomous Community, while promoting unity and communal bonding.
Ogbene, in an invitation to the festival, described the celebration as an opportunity for the people to preserve their cultural heritage, strengthen community ties and give thanks for the year’s harvest.
He said, “Our New Yam Festival is more than a cultural celebration. It is a time for us to come together as one people, appreciate our heritage and give thanks for the blessings of the year.”
According to him, the event will also provide an opportunity for sons and daughters of the community, as well as friends and well-wishers, to reconnect and celebrate together.
“We are inviting everyone to come and celebrate with us. It is a celebration of our culture, our community and thanksgiving for the new yam season,” he added.
According to the invitation, activities will commence at Ogbene’s residence on Akirika Chioku Avenue, Nome Ogba Aniji Road, Umuchigbo, before proceeding to Obodoeze Iji Village Square, Odangene, for the New Yam rites and masquerade display.
The event will also feature traditional cuisine, music and other forms of cultural entertainment.
The organisers urged sons and daughters of Umuchigbo, friends, well-wishers and members of the public to join the community in celebrating the festival.
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