Oil well: Otu says C’River deserves fair treatment

Bassey Otu of Cross River has said that the state deserves to be treated fairly in the ongoing process of relisting it as an oil processing state.

Otu who made the statement while addressing supporters at the Margaret Ekpo International Airport, Calabar, said that Cross River had made remarkable sacrifices in the interest of national unity and peace.

It would be recalled that a report of the Federal Government’s Inter-Agency Committee on Nigeria’s oil-producing states projected Cross River to be re-listed as an oil-producing state.

The development has left Akwa Ibom and Cross River bickering over suggestions that the 76 oil wells ceded to Akwa Ibom through Supreme Court judgments may be returned to Cross River.

In an interview with newsmen, the Akwa Ibom Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Uko Udom, said that the 76 oil wells legally belonged to Akwa Ibom.

Meanwhile Otu has said that Cross River would continue to follow legitimate processes in order to regain its status as an oil producing state.

“Cross River has made sacrifices for Nigeria’s unity and peace, it deserves fairness, justice and full recognition as an oil producing state.

“We are full-fledged Nigerians, our rights cannot be denied, the time has come for us to take what belongs to us,” he declared.

The governor thanked Cross River people for their support to his administration, saying, ”your solidarity is the strength behind our performance.

“Let me reaffirm the commitment of my administration to putting the people first at all times, our state shall continue to move forward,” he said.