Abang, Edu, Owan, Obun Top Tinubu's Ministerial List

By Dominic OKOH and Mark IDRAH

The battle over who takes Cross River state ministerial slot have continued to gather momentum as the quartet of Amb. Soni Abang, Dr. Beta Edu Sen. John Owan Eno and Hon. Cletus Obun are top leading contenders for the plum seat.

Governor Otu is said to have submitted the state's list for ministerial nomination and other federal appointments including Sen. Victor Ndoma Egba, Soni Abang and Edu and allegedly omitting Owan Eno and Cletus Obun.

Otu is said to be rooting for Abang, the Director General of his campaign organisation and a trusted ally who assisted to deliver Boki in all elections to APC.

Edu, the APC National Women Leader, is also somewhat a close ally of Otu and has the Governor's ears too. She is banking on her contributions to the party and roles played by mobilising women for Otu during electioneering.

But sources close to the seat of power in Abuja had confinded in The Beagle News that Owan Enoh and Cletus Obun names are allegedly on the Aso Rock list and their inner circle team as their preferred men Friday.

The duo are being fronted by some Aso Rock power brokers, who are hell bent on making sure they are accommodated in this administration because of their individual contributions to the growth and survial of the party as well as emergence of President Tinubu.

Owan is said, to an extent, have the ears of President Bola Tinubu and some of his aides, who were with him at the National Assembly.

 Besides, Owan's heeding the advise of Tinubu to drop the case against Governor Bassey Otu warmed him into the hearts of the Presidency, who see him as a loyal party man to the core. Therefore, he needs to be settled for his sacrifice.

On his part, Obun has been a die-in-wool supporter of Tinubu right from their AC, ACN and APC years. Besides, Obun was the pioneer Cross River State Chairman of ACN and later the Vice Chairman of APC central, and was instrumental to the Defection of some stalwarts to the party between 2015 and 2017.

Checks by The Beagle News showed that Obun remains one of the oldest ACN and APC members that has not been given any serious appoinent. 

It was gathered that Obun has been the unofficial spokesperson of APC appearing in national televisions defending APC programmes and policies but always pushed aside when they are sharing political offices and rather see him as a radical.

A source close to APC Presidential Campaign Council told The Beagle News that Obun was up and about defending Tinubu and projecting APC and therefore deserves to be compensated.

An APC stalwart, who does not want his name mentioned, said he foresee a minister emerging from the above- listed four names, adding that any of them that is finally picked would make a good representation.

The party chieftain advised the Presidency and the party to give consideration to Governor Otu's list to avoid creating much bad blood in which those who clinched it outside his list would not see themselves as super breed politicians.

However, all the ministerial hopefuls have shifted the battle to Abuja and are said to be exploring all contacts at their disposals to get their names listed.