Exclusive: Otu Battles Owan, Ayade Over Ministerial Slot As Tinubu Submits First Set Of Names To Senate

By Ukorebi ESIEN and Dominic OKOH

As President Bola Tinubu prepared his list ministers, Cross River seems to be enmeshed in power tussle between Governor Bassey Otu and some powerful interests groups of Sen. John Owan Enoh, and former Governor Ben Ayade over state's slot. 

Constitutionally, President Bola Tinubu is expected to pick at least one person from the 36 states of the federation and one for FCT. Except the Presidency has a soft spot or an interest in a state, he can nominate two persons.

These various personages and interests are all over Abuja reaching out to their contacts in a bid to outsmart one another on the slot given to the state.

Others said to be interested in the ministerial position include former Senate Leader, Ndoma Egba, APC National Women Leader and immediate past commissioner for health Dr. Beta Edu, Soni Abang, former party chairman and Ambassador and Akin Rickets, immediate past Board chairman of Nigeria Ports Authourity and Ben Akak.

All of them not resting on their oars to get nominated. While Edu is using some party heavy weights and the office of the First Lady of the federation and other women cliques to lobby her way through, Ayade is said to be banking on his influence and connection with some former governors to push his way, while Ndoma-Egba is said to be banking on his experience and exploring his contacts with his colleagues in National Assembly to pull through.

Akin Rickets is banking on some powerful group he met in NPA to get another opportunity to serve at higher level and Amb. Abang is looking up to Otu as his Director General during electioneering.

But the real battle seems to be between John Owan Enoh and Governor Otu as both of them are said to be engaged in a subtle power play.

Own Enoh is said to have intensified his lobby for the plum seat based on the premise that he withdrew his Court case against Otu and therefore it is his prerogative to be given the choice of first refusal.

Recall that during Presidential Tinubu campaign visit to Calabar, he openly appealed to Owan Enoh to withdraw that litigation against Otu so as not to jeopardise the chances of the party at the polls.

Owan Enoh's camp therefore insists that this is pay back time and Otu should just nominate Owan and let the party move forward.

Initially, it appeared that Owan Enoh and Bassey Otu would have forged a strong alliance after Owan withdrew his legal action against Otu just weeks before the gubernatorial elections. 

However, an impeccable source hinted that the duo are constantly working at cross purposes rather than cooperating for the greater good of Cross River.

The further hinted that there was an unwritten agreement that led to Owan's withdrawal of the litigation, adding that Owan expected Otu, in the event of his victory, to recommend him for the ministerial slot, a position well-suited for his abilities.

To fulfill his end of the agreement, Owan campaigned vigorously for the party's success, even betraying his fellow kinsman, Sen. Sandy Onor, in the process, even when Owan and Sandy agreed at the one of the community's meetings not to fight against each other. 

However, what broke the camel's back is the alleged omission of names of John Owan Eno among the names of minsiterial list Gov. Otu took to Abuja a few days ago for submission to Presidency. 

This unexpected exclusion has left Owan both disappointed and infuriated, as he had already been called upon to submit his credentials, indicating that his name may have been accepted by influential forces.

The source expressed concern over the emerging conflict within the party in the event that Owan secures the highly sought-after ministerial position and begins empowering his political structure for future campaigns.

Supporters of Owan said Otu's appointment of Prof. Anthony Owan as SSG was a deliberate move to spite Owan Enoh by ensuring that a member of Owan's immediate constituency and family occupies a significant role in the state, thereby whittling down his power.

The Beagle News gathered that Sen. Victor Ndoma-Egba, a longstanding supporter of Governor Otu, Hon. Suni Abang, the Director General of Otu's gubernatorial campaign, and Betta Edu, who played a crucial role at the national and state level in delivering victory to the party all made the list submitted by Otu.

 A party stalwart, Asuquo Ene, has called for caution as the new administration is in still very young to be engaged in an intra party fight.

Ene said if there was any gentlmanly agreement between Owan and Otu it should be honoured to avoid internal wranglings and discordant tunes.

He also advised all those interested in ministerial position to pursue their ambition with sterner stuff for the interest of the state and party.