Dispute over oil wells: I stand firmly with Otu, Cross Riverians - Ndoma-Egba
Erstwhile Senate Leader, Distinguished Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, SAN, has applauded Governor Bassey Otu for the courage, vigour and institutional discipline, with which he is pursuing lawful and evidence-based processes to
Erstwhile Senate Leader, Distinguished Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, SAN, has applauded Governor Bassey Otu for the courage, vigour and institutional discipline, with which he is pursuing lawful and evidence-based processes to safeguard Cross River State's interests in the dispute over the 76 oil wells Cross River State lost to Akwa-Ibom State following a 2012 Supreme Court judgement.
Ndoma-Egba, a one-time Board Chairman of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), gave the applause in a statement he issued in reaction to the deliberate misrepresentation of contributions he made on the floor of the Seventh Senate, regarding the ceding of Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon and Cross River's loss of 76 oil wells to Akwa-Ibom.
The statement reads: “My attention has been drawn to recent attempts by certain individuals to deliberately misrepresent my contributions on the floor of the 7th Senate concerning the Bakassi Peninsula and the consequential loss of the 76 oil wells by Cross River State.
“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.
“I reject these insinuations in their entirety. Let me state clearly, unequivocally, and without any ambiguity that 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 in relation to Bakassi, the 76 oil wells, and all other hydrocarbon assets that are scientifically, geologically, and legally attributable to Cross River state.
“The Bakassi matter is not one for political manipulation, cheap propaganda, or media sensationalism. It is a deeply sensitive, historical, territorial, humanitarian, and economic issue that has profoundly affected the dignity, livelihoods, maritime access, security, and long-term development prospects of Cross River state.
“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. These realities continue to shape the developmental challenges of our state and must be addressed with seriousness, empathy, and institutional responsibility.
“Throughout my years in the Senate, my interventions on Bakassi and resource derivation were guided by fidelity to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, respect for Nigeria's international obligations, the imperatives of national unity, and the pursuit of equity and justice within our federal system.”
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The Pro-Chancellor/Chairman Governing Council of Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) added that “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. I will not be distracted by politically motivated narratives designed to sow division among our people.
“It is important to clarify that any perceived difference between my contributions in the Senate at the time and my present position does not arise from any inconsistency of principle. Rather, it reflects significant advancements in scientific, geological, maritime, and geospatial knowledge that now provide a stronger evidentiary basis for Cross River state's claims.”
The former parliamentarian who represented Cross River Central in the Red Chamber between 2003 and 2015 further noted that “The current efforts to rely on scientific verification of coordinates, geodetic surveys, bathymetric data, reservoir mapping, and inter-agency technical review represent the appropriate pathway for resolving complex derivation disputes in a modern, rules-based state.
“I recall with pride my participation in the historic struggle for the creation of new states from the old Cross River State under the leadership of the late Dr. Okoi Arikpo, SAN. The creation of Akwa Ibom state was conceived as a framework for administrative efficiency, political inclusion, and shared prosperity.
