Profile
John Owan Enoh was the Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, who represented Cross River Central Senatorial District between 2015 and 2019, under the platform of the People’s Democratic Party. He decamped to All Progressives Congress in May 2017 and became the party’s candidate for the Cross River gubernatorial elections of 2019.
Personal Life
He was born on the 4th of June 1966, to the family of Chief Louis Owan Enoh and Helen Ayu Amba Enoh, in Agbokim Waterfalls Community, Etung Local Government Area of Cross River State. He is married to Rachel Owan-Enoh with children. He is a farmer and philanthropist. He runs a foundation called JOE (John Owan Enoh) Foundation, where he provides help to people living with diabetes in Nigeria.
Education
| School | Qualification | Year |
| University of Calabar, Cross River State | M.Sc Demography | |
| University of Calabar, Cross River State | B.Sc Sociology (Hons) | 1984-1988 |
| St. Augustine Junior Seminary, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State | Secondary School Leaving Certificate | 1978-1983 |
| St. Gregory Primary School, Agbokim Waterfalls, Cross River State | First School Leaving Certificate | 1972-1978 |
Work History
| Place | Position | Date |
| Sociology Department, University of Calabar, Cross River State | Lecturer | 1991-1997 |
| Governor’s Office, Abeokuta, Ogun State | Assistant to the Director-General, Government Administration (National Youth Service Corps Member) | 1989 |
JOE
Agbokim Waterfalls, Etung Local Government Area of Cross River State
4 June, 1966
Cross River State
All progressives congress (APC)
Christianity
Senate Member, Representing Cross River Central Senatorial District (2015-2019)
Federal House of Representatives Member, Representing the Etung/ Obubra Federal
Constituency (2003-2015)
Political History
In 1997, Enoh contested and won the election to represent Etung constituency in the Cross River State House of Assembly, under the platform of Grassroots Democratic Movement (GDM). However, upon the cancellation of the Sani Abacha Political Transition Programme in the aftermath of his demise, Enoh lost his seat. In 1999, Enoh ran to regain his seat in the Cross River State House of Assembly under the All Peoples Party ( APP). He won and continued representing the Etung Constituency in the Cross River State House of Assembly. During this time, he served as the Minority Leader and Chairman of, the Committee on Information.
In 2003, he contested for a seat on the Federal House of Representatives, to represent the Etung/Obubra Federal Constituency, under the banner of the People’s Democratic Party. He was elected and served in these capacities: Vice Chairman of the House Committee on Finance, the Deputy Chairman, Culture & Tourism, and the Deputy Chairman, Appropriation Committee of the House. Enoh was re-elected in 2007 and became the Chairman of the Finance Committee. Upon his return to the House of Representatives in 2011, he was made Chairman, of the Appropriation Committee of the House.
In 2015, he contested for the Senatorial seat, representing the Cross River Central Senatorial District, on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party. He emerged the winner of the elections, to become the Senator for Cross River Central District. Enoh was a member of PDP until May 2017, when he defected to the All Progressives Congress. He thereafter contested for the governorship of Cross River State in the 2019 general elections but lost to the incumbent governor, Benedict Ayade of PDP.
Leadership Style/Philosophy
Quintessential Leader
- He is dedicated to serving humanity and the downtrodden in the society.
Awards & Honours
- 2021 Momento Award of Excellence from the Senate Students’ Union Government (SUG), University of Calabar.
- 2011 Obafemi Awolowo African Hero Award as Grand Advocate of the Masses by Africa Centre for Legislative Development
- 2009 Most Resourceful Legislator of the Year conferred by the Leadership & Business Development Institute
- 2009 Media Merit Award for Legislative Excellence
- 2009 National Think-Tank Award by the Living Legends International Magazine
- Honorary Fellow, Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Ibadan
- 1988 Best Graduating Student Award, Sociology Department, University of Calabar
- Distinguished African Gold Award for Excellence by the African Choice International News Magazine
Project
- During his service as Chairman of the Appropriation Committee, he spearheaded the establishment of the Budget Office and the setting up of the Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC) through an Act of parliament.
- Developed an education scholarship scheme to bring financial assistance to students in the Etung/Obubra Federal Constituency
- Established the Senator Owan Enoh Vocational Empowerment Scheme, through which constituents have received vocational training and empowerment items such as cars, motorcycles, serving machines, barbing salon equipment, tiling machines, computer repair kits and start-up capital for business growth
- Influenced the employment of hundreds of his constituents in several Federal Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
- The sinking of boreholes in some rural communities in the Etung/Obubra Federal Constituency
- Developed an Out-grower scheme in communities where his farms are located (most communities in Etung LGA). The scheme empowers local, small-scale farmers with arable and livestock to grow on their farms, and provides them with the market to sell these products
- Attracted several projects to the Etung/Obubra constituency (Health Centre, Osopong II, Obubra LGA; Comprehensive Cottage Hospital, Ovonom, Obubra LGA; Mini Water Scheme, Etomi, Etung LGA; Rehabilitation of Agbokim Waterfalls Water; Motorized Borehole, Ekugatai; Construction of Divisional Police Headquarters, Effraya)
Criticism/Controversy
Enoh approached the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in March 2019, citing the unlawful exclusion of his name from the ballot paper by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. He added that the certificate of return issued to the incumbent Governor, Benedict Ayade, be withdrawn and a fresh election conducted. However, the Tribunal dismissed the petition stating that the petition was incompetent.