Ndoma-Egba Defends Position On Bakassi, Oil Wells

Former Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba has responded to attempts to misrepresent his contributions on the floor of the 6th Senate concerning the Bakassi Peninsula and the loss of 76 oil wells by Cross River State.

He gave the response while reacting to attempts by his detractors to misrepresent his contributions on the floor of the 6th Senate concerning the loss of 76 oil wells by Cross River State yesterday in Calabar.

“These misrepresentations, achieved through selective quotation and distortion of context, are aimed at blackmailing my person and creating a false impression of disloyalty to the government and people of Cross River State,” he said.

He rejected these insinuations in their entirety stressing his firm support for the Cross River State Governor Bassey Otu, and efforts to protect the state’s legitimate interests in relation to Bakassi, the 76 oil wells, and other hydrocarbon assets.

“I stand firmly and completely with His Excellency, Governor Bassey Edet Otu, the government, and the good people of Cross River State in all lawful, constitutional, and institutional efforts to protect and advance our state’s legitimate interests,” he said.

He described the Bakassi matter as a deeply sensitive, historical, territorial, humanitarian and economic issue affecting Cross River State’s dignity, livelihoods, maritime access, security and development.

“The loss of Bakassi resulted in the displacement of communities, contraction of our maritime frontage, loss of access to fishing grounds and navigational corridors, and severe economic dislocation,” he noted.

Ndoma-Egba said his Senate interventions on Bakassi and resource derivation were guided by fidelity to the Constitution, respect for Nigeria’s international obligations, national unity, and equity.

“My record shows consistent advocacy for fairness in revenue derivation, transparent boundary demarcation, and the protection of sub-national interests within the limits of the law,” he added.

He explained that any perceived difference between his past Senate contributions and present position reflects advancements in scientific, geological, maritime and geospatial knowledge.

“Nigeria’s continental shelf geological rights have been further clarified and extended, with scientific delineation recognising the elongated continental shelf architecture across Nigeria’s estuarine systems,” he said.

He averred that hydrocarbon accumulations are controlled by geological factors, not political labels.

The former Senate leader averred that the 2002 ICJ judgment on Nigeria-Cameroon boundary delimitation did not determine oil wells, derivation entitlements or hydrocarbon ownership.

“It is therefore legally untenable to extend the ICJ judgment to extinguish Cross River State’s geological rights or petroleum interests within Nigeria’s sedimentary basins,” he stated.

He also noted that the transfer of oil wells from Cross River to Akwa Ibom State was administrative, not judicial, and lacked conclusive scientific verification.

He lauded Governor Otu for pursuing lawful, evidence-based processes to safeguard Cross River State’s interests.

Ndoma-Egba called for unity and strategic discipline in pursuing Cross River State’s claims.