The House of Representatives Committee Chairman on Appropriations, John Owan Enoh and his entourage were denied access to Akparabong Local Government Area in Cross River State by Senator Ndoma Egba supporters, who barricaded the road leading to the venue of the New Yam festival the former was duly invited to.
According to eye-witness, Enoh’s convoy of about 100 cars were forced to detour after running into a blockade allegedly initiated by Egba. The development is not unconnected to the forthcoming senatorial election in 2015, which Egba and Enoh are vying to represent Central Senatorial district in the fifth Senate.
Enoh sources said possess a threat to Egba’s fifth Senate ambition in the Central Senatorial district in Cross Rivers State. The Central Senatorial District comprises Ikom, Oki, Etun, Obubra, Abii and Yakaau.
Eye-witness said tension mounted immediately Enoh’s convey ran into a blockade and was subsequently denied access by Senator Egba’s security aids to Akparaobong and Ikom where the new yam festival was being celebrated.
“It was just a matter of second before both security aids of Egba and Enoh to engage in a fisticuffs” however, he said the intervention of re-enforcement unit saved the day.
On a telephone chat, Enoh said the development potents a grave danger for democracy and called on politicians to be guided by the law but not desperation.
“I was invited by friends to attend new yam festival in Akparaobong and Ikom not on political campaign but I was denied access to the place by those loyal to Senator Ndoma Egba. My friends and I were denied entry into the town but the intervention of security men eventually saved the day as I was the only one allowed driving to the town.”
According to him, the action of those behind this shameful act is unnecessary because it is not yet time for electioneering campaign.
“The same man who stops me from entering his local government was voted for by my local government in the last election and he still has the right to come to Etun to campaign when the time for that is right.”
Enoh said he was encouraged by the way the aged and women trooped out to welcome him.
His words: “We should not be desperate when we have the opportunity to serve people; we should do it well.”
He called on politicians to be tolerant and discourage the use of tugs to grab power by all means. However, efforts to reach Senator Egba proved abortive as he was not available for comment as at press time.
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