Following Tuesday's landmark ruling by the Supreme Court which declared that Cross River State is a non-littoral state, the Akwa Ibom State Government Wednesday debunked insinuations that tension was brewing between indigenes of the state and Cross River State.
While the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) commended Akwa Ibom and Cross River States for resorting to legal action to resolve the ownership of the disputed 76 oil wells between both states, the Head of the Department of International Law and Jurisprudence and Chairman, Office of International Relations and Partnership, University of Lagos, Prof. Akin Oyebode, said the judgment would have far-reaching implications on the country.
The Supreme Court had in its ruling ceded the 76 disputed oil wells to Akwa Ibom State, a development which meant that Cross River State, which had been in court over the ceding for four years, had lost its status as a littoral state.
Speaking with journalists in Abuja, the state Commissioner for Information, Mr. Aniekan Umannah, denied insinuations making the rounds to the effect that some persons were instigating tension between indigenes of the state leading to a possible mass exodus from either side, saying that such a development would be disingenuous.
He said: "You listened to the governor after the Supreme Court ruling when he said the people are one and that there is no tension. Nothing will keep the people divided because they are one. Why would the governor be moving indigenes of Akwa Ibom State from Calabar because of the ruling? What will he be doing with them? Is he to be building houses for them or what?"
Umannah noted that these are people, who are living peacefully in their places of abode, saying: "Nobody should do anything to divide our people as the issue of oil well is something between two governments."
Sources had said in Abuja that some forces appeared to be stoking tension between indigenes of the two states over the apex court ruling but it was also gathered that the long history of togetherness between the people would make it difficult to create a big wedge at this time.
"Over 45 per cent of landlords in Calabar are from Akwa Ibom and the University of Calabar is highly populated by indigenes of Akwa Ibom and the South-east. So, there is no basis for decision between the people of the two states," an elder from Akwa Ibom stated.
Reacting also, the PDP in a statement after its NWC meeting Wednesday, said the resort to legal action over the ownership showed a great sense of maturity by the two states.
The statement, which was signed by the party's National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, said: "The PDP wishes to commend the Governors and governments of both Cross River and Akwa Ibom States for the maturity in which they have handled the dispute from its beginning up to this time.
"The resolve of the two PDP Governors to seek legal interpretation and adjudication on the matter instead of resorting to other unconventional means is worthy of commendation."
Also, the party commended the people of the two states for following the footsteps of their worthy governors by resisting the temptation to resort to self help which have the potentials to erode the peace and brotherly relationship existing between the two governments and their peoples.
"We make bold to declare that Cross River and Akwa Ibom States are one and the same. The brotherly relationship existing between their peoples are as historical as they are biological.
"It is on the strength of this therefore that the leadership of our Party is appealing to the Governments of the two States to accept the Supreme Court judgment in good faith and encourage activities that would lead to greater cooperation amongst them," the statement said.
Meanwhile, Ojebode while reacting to the judgment, said though he was yet to see or read the judgment to know the circumstances upon which the decisions were reached, it would certainly have far-reaching implications on the country.
"Until I see the judgment, so I cannot make any comment now. But on the face value, I think the judgment would have seriously implications on the country," he said.
Arguing that while the loss may not be that of the state as it were, Oyebode said the development would have severe security implications for Nigeria.
He said once a state within a federation loses its littoral status, the security burden was no longer that of the federating state but that of the federation as a whole.
According to him, "The right of Egress and Ingress by the Nigerian Navy into the international waters would have been curtailed. In other words, Nigeria would need to seek clearance from Cameroun for its naval ships to patrol the coastal waters formerly in the territory of Cross River State."
He further hinted that "with the issue of Green Tree Agreement yet to be fully resolved, the loss of the state's littoral status would have serious security consequences for Nigeria should Cameroun decide to play god over the coastal territory ceded to it by the International Court of Justice."
Oyebode said he did not think, however, that Cameroun would attempt to deny the Nigerian Navy access to the coastal waters under its sphere of control, as according to him, "to do so is to dare Nigeria to unleash it military might, an outcome that might not be palatable Cameroun."
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This is really disgusting and unfortunate, not because the 76 Oil wells are allocated to Akwa Ibom state, but because a Cross River state territory, which was administered by the Obong of Calabar for over 500 years, has been dishonestly given to Cameroon, using a corrupt minded ICJ mechanism and forgery. Even the court sitting in France was already a signal, that the ICJ will not be neutral in the case. Russia has been in land log with Japan since 1945 over the 4 Kuril and Sakhalin Islands, Britain and Argentina over an Island, and many other cases, even longer, but no one hurried to resolve these cases. Gen. Gowon was in power for 9 years and even after the civil war, he did not give the peninsula to the Cameroonians, as he was allegedly accused of promising. Accusation he denied several times. The Bakassi people defended their peninsula for centuries, but western democracy has become devastating to the people of Cross River State and the Bakassi people in particular. How can you enter somebody’s house in a broad day light and forcefully take over his land and properties? This is a 21st century injustice No1. 76 oil wells to Akwa Ibon is just a drop of water in the ocean, compared to the damages done to the Nigeria’s image, security and most especially, the pains inflicted on the weak, defenseless people, who rightfully inherited the peninsular from their forefathers. If Cross River State had nuclear weapons, a western court will never try this. This ICJ decision stinks and should be unacceptable by the Nigerian parliament. Personally, I will recommend the Cross Riverians not to give up, with the Peninsula, because I strongly believe that the real justice is still on the way. On the other hand, the administrations of both Akwa Ibom and Cross Rivers states, to act wisely, as brothers engaging in mutual beneficial joint ventures in infrastructural development for their citizens. Finally, I will plead with the Government of Akwa Ibom state to join hands with our brothers in Cross River state to fight and dismiss that ICJ decision in the National Assembly. The 76 Oil wells are nothing to compare and we should not be bought so cheap. God bless Nigeria!
D decision of NWC & D COURT is arrant nonsense. Wer in d genesis of chronicle hav de bin a time dat a child wil forcefully cease legacy 4rm d parent? This is a pure case of higgledy-piggledy & a big slap 2 d goverment of CRS. On d contrary, d transfer of aggression 2 d citizen of AKS due to d ruling of d court is absolute cockeyed because d citizen has no role on d court's decision. Therefore, i urge d government of CRS to allow d people of AKS to go about dia lawful duties so as to enhance unity. But if i must confess, d administration of CRS goverment are notin but a quiescence infant & of a 2ruth: NWC & d COURT are 'RAT'; infact, d whole tale is just RILE.
My name is MONTOL GAB-COLLINS MOSHE, am from Ogoja in Cross River State. I wish to react to the ceding of the 76 oil wells from Cross River to Akwa-Ibom. First I wish to ask this questions: What are the resons behind this rulling? Is it political, favouritism or truth, what ever the answers to this quesions, I think there is some unfairness in this judgment. First it was International Court of Justice now the the Country's Apex court. How can a right thinking individual believe that the cordiality of the relationship enjoyed by the two states will remain thesame when soneone who was siting comfortably among the oil producing states has been delisted by ceding all it wells. No matter how brotherly you may be, there will be no happiness living in starvation while your so called brother lives in abondance. The apex Court in its Wisdom should Have atlest sheared The wells in to two and the Akwa-Ibomit should in the spirit of a brother accept for peace to flow. I sugest finally that this matter be revisited by the Court.