In their pursuit of reclaiming the 76 oil wells that are the subject of controversy and safeguarding the hydrocarbon interests of Cross River State, Governor Bassey Otu and Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba have received his unwavering support.
Speaking from Calabar, Ndoma-Egba denounced what he saw as an effort at extortion and factual distortion by certain individuals to misrepresent his stance on the Bakassi Peninsula and the loss of the oil wells.
Defending Cross River State’s legitimate territorial and economic interests through legal and institutional means is an issue he has voiced his unwavering support for, alongside Governor Otu, the administration, and the people of the state.
He emphasised that his interventions at the time were guided strictly by constitutional provisions, national interest, and respect for international obligations, and the former Senate Leader claimed that attempts to selectively quote his past Senate contributions were meant to create a false impression of disloyalty.
According to Ndoma-Egba, the Bakassi problem is a highly delicate historical, territorial, and economic one. She pointed out that Cross River State suffered greatly economically after losing the peninsula, which displaced many residents and cut off their access to the sea.
He stressed that his long-term advocacy has always centred on three main points: equitable revenue derivation, clear boundary demarcation, and legal protection of sub-national interests.
Ndoma-Egba, when asked to explain the apparent change in his posture from his previous position in the Senate to his current one, stated that improved scientific, geological, and geospatial data has given Cross River State more evidence to back its claims to hydrocarbon assets.
He pointed out that administrative and political classifications like littoral status do not define petroleum systems, but rather sedimentary basin structures and reservoir continuity, as shown by contemporary geological mapping and basin analysis.
In addition, the senior lawyer clarified that the ICJ’s 2002 ruling solely dealt with the delimitation of the border between Nigeria and Cameroon; it failed to resolve any matters concerning the ownership of oil wells, derivation rights, or the attribution of internal petroleum resources within Nigeria.
He went on to say that the 2008 Oil Dichotomy Model Map’s administrative reallocation of some oil wells to Akwa Ibom State was not predicated on a court ruling but rather on administrative reallocations that necessitate more institutional and scientific scrutiny.
Ndoma-Egba applauded Governor Otu for protecting Cross River State’s interests through legitimate and evidence-based processes, like as geodetic surveys, scientific verification, and inter-agency technical assessments.
His unfaltering dedication to the administration and people of Cross River State in seeking justice through constitutional and legal methods was reiterated, and he urged stakeholders to stay united and resist political manipulation and disinformation.