In apparent frustration with the federal government
alleged neglect of the state, Cross River Governor, Senator Ben Ayade, has
asked for the return of its 76 oil wells ceded to Akwa Ibom State in 2012
following the ruling of the Supreme Court.
Cataloguing what he described as unconscionable
injustices meted out to the state by the federal government, Ayade listed the
ceding of Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon; the ceding of the state 76 oil wells and
the non-reimbursement of what the state has spent on federal roads as some
instances of unfair treatment to the state.
The governor made his feelings known during a
courtesy call on him by the commander of the joint military taskforce,
Operation Delta Safe (ODS), Rear Admiral Akinjide Akinrinade.
He 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 emphasised clearly that Cross River State must continue to enjoy
stabilisation support in perpetuity for the loss of oil wells 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.
According to Ayade, “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 demobilisation
exercise, the burden therefore rests wholly on the shoulder of Cross River
State. Now as you are moving into the rehabilitation and reintegration phase,
here we are being called upon again to provide the financial support for it to
be achieved.
“Let me send you a message to the National Security
Adviser (NSA) and indeed President Muhammadu Buhari 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 the federal government
and how our own people have been allowed to gradually regress to where they to
left to embrace peace.
“Not even one person from the entire list 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 State done wrong in this
country? Please send this message to the president that we want to know what we
have done wrong, particularly now that you have noticed that some camps are
coming back to life again after the disarmament and demobilisation.”
Continuing, he said: “Just an amnesty, Cross
Riverians cannot benefit from it. Have oil wells become everything? If it is
oil well, we have also issued a report showing oil deposits in the state both on
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 River people? What have
we really done wrong?
“You took our oil wells and land; we are not even
in Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), and ordinary amnesty you cannot
provide for Cross River people? We have been on our knees begging that we have
found oil in our area, can you give us discretional licence to partner a third
party to explore and pay loyalties to the 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 to survive and realise its deep vision projects, including the Bakassi
Deep Seaport and the 274kilometre superhighway, he pleaded that if the state
has in any way offended the federal government, the state should be forgiven.
He said: “Cross River State has come under so much
abuse recently. Must they kill us because we are peaceful? If there is anything
the state has done to the federal government, let it forgive us because these
things have been there even before I assumed duty as governor.”
He disclosed that the state was building an estate
for the displaced people of Bakassi. The estate, he said, would be ready in a month
time.
Earlier, the Commander of Operation Delta Safe,
Akirinade, lauded the governor for his commitment to peace, security and
development of the state.
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, said: “Thanks to the strategic
initiative of granting amnesty to the Bakassi Strike Force. Though the
disarmament and demobilisation were done successfully, the rehabilitation and
reintegration which are the most critical phase is yet to be achieved, which is
why I appeal to you to see to the fulfillment of this exercise.”
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