Senator representing Cross River Central Senatorial district in the National Assembly, John Owan-Enoh has described as false and misleading media reports that he joined forces with his colleagues at the Senate to scuttle the Special Adviser on Prosecution to the President, Okoi Obono Obla’s confirmation as a non-executive commissioner in the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC)
Owan-Enoh who stated this at Ikom on Monday during his educational support programme for people of the central senatorial district said those peddling such reports were doing so out of ignorance.
It will be recalled that Obono Obla’s name was among the list of nominees sent to the Senate by President Muhammadu Buhari for confirmation as members of the NCC board.
Obla’s name was, however, excluded in the final list of those confirmed by the Senate, a situation which has generated controversy and bad blood in some quarters.
Owan-Enoh who is the chairman of Appropriation in the Senate said he was at Ikom, his country home, when the list of nominees for the NCC job was sent to the Senate for confirmation, insisting that he had no hand in Obla’s ordeal.
Owan-Enoh said that he would never witch-hunt anyone but rather work for the overall interest of Nigerians.
He said, “Those spreading the news that I stopped Obono Obla’s confirmation as a non-executive commissioner in NCC are doing so out of ignorance. This is cheap blackmail because I don’t play dirty politics.
“I cannot stop anybody from benefitting or getting whatever he deserves. I have visited Obla in his office thrice which means that we have a cordial relationship.
“Obla had called me on the issue and I told him I am going to find out what happened when I return to Abuja, but I was surprised when he also called my liaison officer and was saying that I stopped his confirmation. I don’t play dirty politics.”
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