By Nsan Ndoma-Neji, Calabar
Ahead if the 2023 governorship election, the Cross River State chapter of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, on Saturday played host to one of its chieftains and governor hopeful, Senator John Owan Enoh, the former lawmaker who represented Cross River Central senatorial district at the National Assembly.
Senator Enoh was on a consultation visit to the party secretariat in Calabar, the capital of Cross River State.
Enoh stormed the APC secretariat along the Murtala Mohammed Highway, in company of the Director General, DG, John Owan Enoh, Campaign Organization, Mr. Gibert Ogar and other supporters to consult the party hierarchy, ahead of his declaration to run for the state governorship on the APC platform.
He was received in audience by party excos, led by the state Deputy Chairman if the APC, Prince Eka Williams.
The one-time Chairman, Finance and Appropriation Committee of the House of Representatives when he represented the peopel of Obubra/Etung federal constituency at the lower chamber of the National Assembly, told the APC that his mission to the APC secretariat was to provide him with the rare privilege to inform the hierarchy of the party of his intention to run for the seat of governor of the state in 2023.
Enoh, who is also the President of JOE Foundation, and former Chairman Senate Committee on Finance, commended the Barr. Alphonsus Eba Ogar-led exco of the APC for its decision on zoning.
Insisting that it is one of the wisest decision taken by the party, Enoh stressed that with the decision to throw the aspiration for position of governor open, the consultation to the party secretariat would have been impossible.
The former parliamentarian charged the party to go for candidate that has content and capacity to match whichever candidate is fielded by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Senator Enoh maintained that because the PDP had been in power for decades, it is likely that PDP would not field a candidate that lacked capacity, calling on the APC to give him the opportunity to lock horns with whoever the PDP is presenting for governor.
He added that he is the only aspirant that the PDP would never want due to the stuff he is made of.
He said, “I am the only one who can match the PDP when it comes to matching the PDP.
“I know the PDP would never want me in the contest because they know that I am the only one who can overrun their candidate as far as this contest is concerned.
“I am calling for the fielding of a strong and independent candidate, who can slug it out with the candidate of the rival PDP, who would definitely be a solid individual who will at the end of the day contest against the APC candidate in the 2023 governorship election.
“I congratulate the party for taking a decision on zoning as this frees up everyone and the party.
“Parties are beginning to be more interested in candidates that will make them win.
“As a party, we need to be very competitive as we prepare for the governorship and field a candidate that has competence, capacity, competitiveness and can better the party.”
The former University of Calabar, Unical, lecturer-turned-politician stressed that he fits this criteria and does not come with any baggage.
He further added that with the recently signed Electoral Act, the power of incumbency is diminishing, stressing that the margins will be very narrow as seen in the recent by elections.
The former member of the Cross River State House of Assembly under the platform of All Peoples Party, APP, when he represented Etung state constituency in the state House if Assembly maintained that he has the passion for success, wide publicity across the state and also the capacity to run an independent campaign.
He said for now what the APC needs for the contest is a safe choice, and complete unity of the party where everyone would be considered as one with a candidate who can provide access to all notwithstanding the senatorial district that the candidate hails from.
The former Unical lecturer added that he is ready to unveil a manifesto of great reality for the benefit of Cross River State to consolidate for the good of residents of the state.
In his welcome remarks, the state APC deputy chairman, Prince Williams, who spoke on behalf of the party chairman said that the party wholeheartedly welcome Senator Onoh and with all the love they have.
Prince Williams stated that the party took a position on zoning because constitutionally, everyone has the right to contest.
He said, “On behalf of the state executive of the party, I wish the governorship hopeful well in the pursuit of his ambition.”
