Owan Enoh's viral video has led to death of several youths, says group

Group condemns killings, faults Owan Enoh's viral video vowing to stop opposition activities in Etung

The killing of 5 persons during political rallies in Obudu and Boki especially the recent crisis in Etung Local Government Area has has been attributed to a video that had since gone viral where the APC gubernatorial candidate, Owan Enoh's was heard vowing to stop opposition activities in Etung. 

This was revealed a group of religious leaders, activists and people from the academia under the auspices of National Youths For Governance, a Civil Society Organization operating in Cross River State has expressed concern over these preelection killings ahead of the governorship and state assembly election in the State.

Addressing the press yesterday in Calabar, Acting State Secretary of the group, Ikona Ikona blamed the governorship candidate of the APC in state, Sen. John Owan Enoh over a viral video where he vowed never to allow appointees of the state government and opposition politicians hold any political activities in Etung local government where he hails from.

He regretted that "It is so sad that in times like this where leaders from other climes are warning against political thuggery and violence, our supposed leaders in the state seems to  have adopted violence as the only too for winning elections".

Continuing he said that "As an organization committed to promoting and enhancing good governance in the state and beyond, we have watched with utter dismay how a once peaceful state has been converted in the past few months into a theatre of killings and properties destruction because of the struggle for power. It's appalling that a state which just recently was regarded as the most peaceful in Nigeria has degenerated into this level".

While cautioning politicians to avoid making statements capable of inciting violence, he said that the recent crisis in Etung is not unconnected to a viral video of APC Sen. Owan Enoh who has vowed to his supporters not to allow appointees of the state government as well as opposition politicians to carrying out any political activities in the state.

"Last year, around September during APC governorship rally in Obudu, one Wilson Osang, a PDP member was shot at closed range. This follows another killing of Mr. Gabriel Kibe believed to be a leader of PDP during another APC governorship rally in Boki.

"Recently during a peace accord meeting in Etung, Chairman of PDP in Bendeghe-Ekiem ward, Mr. Ayuk Ogar and Kingsley Tangban were gruesomely murdered. The crisis left many others injured.