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From Isaac Job, Uyo
Former governor of Akwa Ibom state Obong Victor Attah has berated Cross River State over claims of 76 oil wells awarded to Akwa Ibom state by the Supreme Court landmark judgement saying Akwa Ibom people are not owing Cross River anything .
Attah popularly known as the captain of Resource Control Advocate for Akwa Ibom and Niger Delta said the only reason Cross River State was regarded as littoral state was their direct access to Atlantic Ocean through Bakassi which was terminated by the International Court of Justice ruling and the Green Tree Agreement as Bakassi was ceded to Cameroon.
Speaking on Arise TV programme at the weekend monitored in Uyo, Obong Attah explained that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) judgement left Cross River state landlocked with only few islands and therefore no longer maintain the littoral state status.
Attah maintained that the claims of Cross River state over 76 oil wells rightly and legally owned by Akwa Ibom is baseless contradicting the world Court ruling.
His words “The only reason Cross River was ever regarded as a littoral state was because it had direct access to the Atlantic Ocean through Bakassi.
“But with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling and the Green Tree Agreement, Bakassi was ceded to Cameroon. That immediately left Cross River landlocked, with only a few islands, and therefore no longer a littoral state.”
“Consequently, all oil wells in Bakassi were lost.
“From the official maps, it is clear that the Nigeria–Cameroon boundary meets Akwa Ibom’s boundary before reaching the sea. By law and geography, Cross River no longer qualifies as a littoral state.”
Attah disclosed that the proximity of Cross River state to the river does not give them littoral status adding that Akwa Ibom people do not owe Cross River anything .
“Being on a river does not make a state littoral.
“Benue sits on the Benue River, Niger on the Niger River, Kogi at the confluence of the Niger and Benue, and Cross River State itself on the Cross River, but none of them are littoral.
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” Littoral status depends strictly on access to the sea, not rivers or naval bases. Therefore, Akwa Ibom does not owe Cross River any 76 oil wells.”
Attah , widely respected as the father of modern Akwa Ibom also spoke on the report of N500m payment to Cross River State saying such agreement was not reached during his tenure as governor of the state .
He said Cross River went to court during his tenure with high hopes that they would claim the oil wells based decision of the ICJ but when the table turned against them in that judgement, they ran away and withdrew the case .
Attah said he countersued them and insisted that the Supreme Court and Federal Government should uphold the ICJ’s decision adding that the upheld decision of ICJ and confirmed non littoral status of Cross River
“Oil wells belong strictly to the state in whose territory they fall. If they lie within Akwa Ibom boundaries, they belong to Akwa Ibom. Nobody has ever provided proof that Akwa Ibom is drawing revenue from Cross River oil wells. Boundaries decide ownership, not sentiment.”
Attah dismissed the ongoing call political solution to the issue saying that he first initiated the political solution but Cross River rejected it and choose to rely on the court adding that it is late for them to call for political settlement as the court has already decided.
“I once suggested a political compromise, even proposing that portions could be shared, but Cross River rejected it and chose to rely on the courts.
“When the Supreme Court judgment did not favor them, they withdrew, and I obtained judgment in Akwa Ibom’s favour.
“To now suggest that Akwa Ibom should “dash” Cross River oil wells is like asking Zamfara to give away its gold mines.
“Oil wells are not gifts, they are tied to land. Unless Nigeria’s boundaries are to be redrawn, which is unthinkable, there is no basis for negotiation.”
