Amidst growing concerns over alleged renewed efforts by the Cross River State Government to reclaim the 76 oil wells ceded to Akwa Ibom State in 2012, Governor Umo Eno has dismissed the insinuations, assuring that the matter was already “dead and buried.”
LEADERSHIP learnt the matter has been generating anxiety with Cross River Governor, Senator Bassey Otu reportedly planning to revisit the case, following the remapping and adjustments of boundaries, especially around the litoral local government areas of Ibeno, Eastern Obolo, Mkpat Enin, Ikot Abasi, and others during the administration of former Governor Udom Emmanuel.
According to government sources, the Cross River State government was making the moves following boundary lines redrawing by former Governor Emmanuel due to his belief that the creation of Akwa Ibom State in 1987 by former military president, General Ibrahim Babangida (retd) never had a truly acceptable map.
But Governor Eno has urged the people to remain calm, assuring that everything was under control as the case in question had already been determined twice and put to rest by the Supreme Court.
Clearing the air on the matter during the March edition of the Government House Monthly Prayer Service held at the Government House in Uyo, the Governor recalled that “the issue had been to the Supreme Court twice and both ruled in favour of Akwa Ibom State government.”
He allayed the fears of the people, saying there was no cause for alarm, as the case had been previously handled, but urged everyone to remain in the place of prayer for God to guide leaders to take the right decisions at all times in the interest of the people.
It would be recalled that the Supreme Court of Nigeria in 2012 ruled in favour of Akwa Ibom State in the dispute involving the rightful ownership of the oil wells, dismissing Cross River’s appeal.
Justice Olufunlola Adekeye, who delivered the lead judgment, stated that Cross River lost its status as a littoral state following the ceding of the Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon in 2008, consequently making the state ineligible to claim offshore oil wells.
The Governor Eno also called on Akwa Ibom people to desist from disparaging leaders at any level, stressing that such was discouraging and could make leaders not to put in their best.
He advised the Akwa Ibom people to avoid meddling into matters that they do not have full understanding, adding that “such could be disastrous both to the individual, and the State as a whole.”
Eno said, “Let us respect our leaders, and we must not kill our Prophets. I think we should be able to encourage those that God has raised to lead us; and let them have that respect after they served us.
“About the oil wells, let’s keep praying, let’s keep trusting God. Keep praying to God, keep praying for the success of our President and that God will continue to grant him the wisdom to do the right thing. Let’s take it easy and go to God. “He has not lost any battle and I know He won’t start with Akwa Ibom. What God has given to us belongs to us. So these are our fundamental beliefs”.
