Efio-Ita Nyok|1 April 2017
The Senator representing Cross River Central Senatorial District at the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mr. John Owan-Enoh, has indicated his intention to see to it that the Ugep-Ogoja road, which is in a grossly dilapidated condition, is fixed.
Owan-Enoh made his intention known recently in a phone discussion with a Cross Riverian, Mr. Simon Utsu, in reaction to a scandal bordering on an alleged ineffective representation while occupying elective office heaped on Sen. Victor Ndoma-Egba by Utsu. The Egba-gate which rattled and ruffled Sen. Ndoma-Egba, his allies and aides judging by the uncoordinated vitriol targeted at the latter and disappointedly lacking in content began early this week.
According to Utsu, Owan-Enoh informed that he had already started the process of lobbying the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udo Udoma, to capture the road in the subsequent budget.
In Utsu's words, 'Yesterday evening, I got a call from the Senator representing Cross River central senatorial district, John Owan-Enoh. Somehow, word had gotten to him that a young man had been grumbling bitterly for days on the internet on a number of issues bothering Cross River state which included the decrepit state of the Ugep-Ogoja road.
'Hitherto, I had never interacted with him. Senator John took out time to elaborate on the several interventions his dispensation had made so far in that regard. He also told me how far he went to secure the contract for the total rehabilitation of that road during the last dispensation when he was the Chairman of the House committee on Appropriation and also Finance. How he met with Ngozi-Iweala and Mike Onolememen (Former Minister of Works) to ensure it was captured in the budget back then and also how he followed through to make sure it was awarded and executed.
'Administrative bureaucracies and the incompetence of some Federal agencies ended up frustrating that effort. But as a Senator and the Chairman of the influential Senate Committee on Finance, he has assured me he isn't going to sleep till something is done about that road for good. He told me how he and Dan Agbor (one of the most sought after commercial lawyers in Nigeria) have approached and lobbied Buhari's Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udo Udoma to ensure that the road is captured in the next budget'.
Utsu further said that during the phone call between himself and Owan-Enoh he could discern the connection which the distinguished Senator had with his constituents and their plights as well as what he referred to as 'political maturity and humility'.
Hear him out: 'Throughout the duration of the call, I could feel the connection with the masses and their plight in the voice of Senator Owan-Enoh. I also noticed and admired his political maturity and humility.
'He took out good time from his busy schedule to interact extensively with someone from outside his constituency/senatorial district.
'If you ask me, that is exemplary and commendable. I believe the people of Cross River state Central senatorial district are in for a good time'.
Cross Riverians will hold Sen. John Owan-Enoh by his words.
Efio-Ita Nyok
Is a Blogger, the Editor & Publisher of NegroidHaven.org
