The Governor of Cross River State, Prof Ben Ayade, has
literarily spitted fire over the ceding of the state 76 oil wells to Akwa Ibom
State in 2012 following the ruling of the Supreme Court.
In an apparent frustration with the Federal Government’s
neglect of the state, Senator Ayade asked for the return of its 76 oil wells
ceded to Akwa Ibom, describing the action as unconscionable injustices meted
out to the state by the Federal Government.
Speaking while receiving the Commander of the joint military
task force, Operation Delta Safe (ODS), Rear Admiral Akinjide Akinrinade on
Tuesday in his office, Ayade said the ceding of the oil-rich peninsula was
illegal and therefore, the loss of oil wells was an act of gross injustice.
“Even the implementation of the Supreme Court judgement that
emphasized clearly that Cross River must continue to enjoy stabilization
support in perpetuity for the loss of oil well has since been stopped. We are
tired and so we want our oil wells back,” he declared.
The governor also deplored the refusal by the Federal
Government to admit members of a militant group, the Bakassi Strike Force into
its amnesty programme after the state government facilitated their surrender of
arms to the military.
“It was even at the instance of your own (military) request
that we came to the ultimate conclusion that we needed to grant amnesty, sadly,
shortly after the disarmament and demobilization exercise, the burden there
from rests wholly on the shoulders of Cross River State. Now as you are moving
into the rehabilitation and reintegration phase, here we are being called upon
yet again to provide the financial support for it to be achieved.
“Let me send you a message to the National Security Adviser
and indeed to Mr. President, to tell him that the people of Cross River State
are watching with keen interest how other people who were granted amnesty in
other states are responsibilities of Federal Government and how our own people
have been allowed to gradually regress to where to left to embrace peace.
“Not even one person from the entire lists has been taken by
the Federal Government for any form of amnesty programme nor has a dime been
paid to any of them. What has Cross River done wrong in this country? Please
send this message to Mr. President that we want to know what Cross River has
done wrong, particularly now that you have noticed that some camps are coming
back to live again after the disarmament and demobilization”.
Continuing, he said:
“Ordinary amnesty, Cross Riverians cannot benefit from it.
Have oils well become everything? If it is oil wells, we have also issued a
report showing oil deposits in Cross River both inland and offshore. How can a
state that has a very extensive maritime boundary be told that it is not a
littoral state?
“How can you grant amnesty to other states and give them
international opportunities and exposures, bring them back, engage them and pay
them monthly yet you exclude Cross Riverians? What have we really done wrong?
He asked
“You take our oil wells, take our land, we are not even in
NDDC and ordinary amnesty you cannot provide for Cross River? We have been on
our knees begging that we have found oil, can you give us discretional license
to partner with a third party to do exploration and pay loyalties to
government. Until now we have not gotten any response.”
The governor also expressed unhappiness that the state is
yet to be reimbursed for interventions on federal roads even when other states
have been reimbursed. While pleading with President Buhari to assist the state
survive and realise its deep vision projects including the Bakassi Deep Seaport
and the 274km superhighway, he said that if the state has in any way offended
the Federal Government, then the state should be forgiven.
“Cross River has come under so much abuse recently. Must
they kill us because we are peaceful? If there is anything Cross River has done
to the Federal Government, let the Federal Government forgive Cross River
because these things have been there even before I assumed duty as governor”.
Despite his frustration with the Federal Government, he promised to assist the
Operation Delta Safe with N50 million.
Earlier, the Commander of Operation Delta Safe, Akirinade,
lauded the governor for his commitment to peace, security and development of
Cross River. The Commander, who appealed to the governor for support to ensure
the rehabilitation of and reintegration of the militants in order to prevent
them from regrouping.
“Thanks to the strategic initiative of granting amnesty to
the Bakassi Strike Force. Though the disarmament and demobilization was done
successful, but the rehabilitation and reintegration which is the most critical
phase is yet to be achieved, which is why I appeal to His Excellency to see to
the fulfilment of this exercise.”
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