Why Senator John Owan Enoh Will Not Win As Governor [Part II]

By Leonard Akwo 

Speaking from the political chessboard, there is practically no strategy, no logic whatsoever that favours the candidacy of Senator John Owan Enoh in this gubernatorial Campaign. Here is a man who hails from a senatorial district which just concluded two express terms in the number one seat of the State. Here is the same man who has failed to put his own house in order. To this moment that I write, the APC candidacy still lies in contention. As a matter of fact, he is not even positioned from a favourable end, as his only lifeline is Tyrant Adams Oshiomole – the APC National Chairman. Away from him, his candidacy is as dicey as it is fragile. He has lost his legs with the law and with the people. And for heaven’s sake, why are all the people gunning for the governorship position in APC from the Central Senatorial District? Usani like Owan – such a terrible precedent for a party clamouring to set things right.

The implication of Owan Enoh’s aspiration is that; even if he wins, like the “monkey”, he will only be forerunning for the "baboon”, as it was in the case of Omehia and Amaechi.

SEE ALSO: Gov. Ayade remains the best choice for Cross River State in 2019, Code 888 maintains

 In Boki Local Government, Owan as a candidate and APC as a political party have no stronghold at all. The only kingpin happens to have trailed his way back to his first love. In fact the very essence of his defection according to him is to contend with Owan Enoh for bidding to botch the very flow he had fought to sustain while a State Party Chairman. Until now, the party has continually been wrecked with a horribly massive defection from Beebo to Abo to Njua up to Okundi. For Boki, I know it as I know my name, that APC is a sunken boat.

Gone are the days when he stood all alone as the only cock that crowed in Etung where he hails from. As lofty as he portrays himself, there are several other bulldogs like him there. Sandy Ojang Onor for example is a PDP Senatorial candidate – one formidable, one indomitable titan, who like the children of Issachar, understands timing and strategy to every minute detail. He is influential as he is adorable. A friend from the APC stock once told me that; put all candidates together from every party, including Owan, Sandy remain resplendent. I don’t know how Owan intends to outwit a man with such sublime clout in this age. I don’t know. To add to the horror, Ayade, in his wisdom and inclusive leadership style has raised other Sandys and Owans all over Etung. As the smallest Local Government in Central, it has the highest number of appointees littered around every household. Truth is, no matter how weak an appointee is, he has at least his wife and children’s votes to submit to his paymaster. The likes of Col. Pam Ogar Rtd., Asu Okang, Chris Njar Mbu Ogar, including his very brother, Prof. Owan Enoh, are some obnoxious nightmares to his future. That’s heartbreaking, I am sure. But it is reality starring at him with white eyes. So you see, even in his own house, he will fail woefully.

Ikom is just another walkover. Chris Ngoro Agibe, Fred Osim along with several other appointees of Prof. Benedict Ayade will space ten Ndoma Egbas put together by ten thousand miles. Though not his constituency, I know Owan also has his share of stronghold in Ikom. Sandy Onor has as much structures there, if not more. At worst, it will be fifty-fifty. I can tell little of Obubra. But I know that with the likes of Mike Etaba, Friday Okpechi (catch fire, as he is fondly called), and the appointees there PDP, can claim a stake in the Local Government. 

Yakuur is where his party rival comes from. Following the APC politics recently, Pastor Usani and his cronies will press their thumb for anyone else but Owan Enoh. Even if there were to vote for him, one Eteng Williams is equivalent to five Usanis. A case study is in the House of Assembly by-election conducted some months ago upon the nullification of Eteng William’s victory in the tribunal. Usani, Okoi Obono Obla, including the Naval Chief, were all on ground. What was the result in the end? The same feat will be replicated few weeks from now.

Alex Egbonna alone, lacks the wherewithal to gather even 10% of the Abi votes for Owan, with John Gaul - Speaker of the House of Assembly and the Avatar himself (Senator Liyel Imoke) in the arena. There are moments when a father needs to teach a son some straight lessons, and I think it is about time. What Liyel CANNOT do (I can bet my life) is betray the People’s Democratic Party. Not for any good reason in heaven.

It is important to state categorically, that the Southern Senatorial District have not produced a governor since 2007, and that is twelve years now. They are willing to resist anything capable of denying them the chance to produce a governor in four years’ time. Promise them the whole world if you care, they will not risk this glaring chance. They will prefer to wait for four years than wait for eight years, or for an uprising. It doesn’t matter who has been fielded as a Deputy Governor. As a matter of fact, the greatest mistake Ekpo Okon has made in his whole political life, is to have accepted to deputise for Owan Enoh, when he probably had a chance to be Governor in four years. Well I guess his eviction from the PDP has beamed a ray of hope for some budding chieftains like Dan Asuquo, Ekpenyong Asuquo and the likes. Let no man in his wildest imagination think that Ekpo Okon, despite his sway has the capacity to own up all the votes in the senatorial district as against all the warlords from the PDP there. I must have skipped another demigod – Sweet Prince. Edem Duke too. That notwithstanding, Prince Otu, Eden Duke and Ekpo Okon merged, along with other fragments of stake holders from the APC in the South, cannot withstand all the Dansukis, all the Etta Mboras, all the Essien Ayis, all the Ita Giwas, all the Nkoyo Toyos, all the Gershom Basseys, all the Commissioners, all the SAs and all the minor appointees from that Senatorial Zone. It is not possible! 

The northern senatorial zone, already have their grouses for losing the chance to field in a candidate in APC. Of course, what would you expect from a party that cannot simply resolve a State Executive fracas? This is exactly what happened when Gideon, with just 300 warriors could defeat tens of thousands of Midianites without laying a finger on any. They just succeeded in making a Gideon out of Ayade. It’s funny to me too, how some northerners can still stand in public to horn their supports for these two directionless rivals – Usani and Owan. As much as it is democratically and constitutionally correct for them to do so, they have their ancestors to answer for betraying them in public glare. If Owan, even in the tiniest form still believes that any APC chieftain from the Northern Senatorial District will cast a vote for him (not campaign for him), then he needs to arise from his sleep. Having nobody to look up to, they will all swim and sink with Benedict Ayade. It’s a statement of fact. Not Jeddy Agba who was part of the funding committee in Ayade’s first Campaign. Not even John Upan Odey who is probably in court already for being breezed out of the race. Nobody, among the Northern APC chieftains will not canvass support then vote for Ayade subsequently.

Don’t get me wrong. I have nothing against Senator John Owan Enoh, but I have everything against his decision to run for governorship now. I still admire his personality. I still respect his relational style. I still like him. But most times, the truth needs to be told black and white. I am a full fledge citizen of Nigeria, and I reserve the right to my opinion. It is called; Freedom of Expression.