By Isaiah Eka
The Akwa Ibom Government on Monday urged its citizens to discountenance reports alleging the transfer of oil wells to Cross River.
The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Uko Udom, gave the assurance while briefing newsmen on the development in Uyo.
“There is no cause for alarm over reports alleging the transfer of oil wells to Cross River,” he said.
Udom said that no propaganda or sentiments could overturn two valid Supreme Court judgments affirming Akwa Ibom ownership of the oil wells, including the reported 76 oil wells.
He said that Akwa Ibom would not surrender its God-given resources and would not relinquish what rightfully belongs to its people under the Constitution and under binding judicial authority.
He added that the state Governor, Mr Umo Eno, was holding the resources of the state in trust for present and future generations.
The commissioner added that government would defend the state resources responsibly, peacefully, and resolutely.
“All the oil wells in question, whether existing or newly referenced, lie within Akwa Ibom’s recognised maritime and littoral boundaries based on established hydrographic coordinates and legally enforceable boundary adjudications.” Udom said.
He said that all attribution followed due process and relied on empirical geographic data.
“No inter-agency committee, no technical panel, and no institutional process can alter, amend, reinterpret, or sit in appeal over a judgment of the Supreme Court.
“Any action inconsistent with a subsisting judgment of the apex court would be unconstitutional, null, and void.
“Let it therefore be clearly stated, no oil well has been ceded, no Supreme Court judgment has been overturned, and no constitutional provision has been amended.
“To the good people of Akwa Ibom State, we say this with utmost clarity and confidence: your government is vigilant, engaged, and fully committed to protecting the economic interests of our state,” the attorney general said.
He urged all citizens to remain calm, united, and confident.
“The foundation of our position is law. The strength of our case is geography. The shield of our rights is the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Udom said.
It will be recalled that the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has officially refuted reports alleging that the oil wells were ceded to Cross River, describing such claims as false and misleading. NAN
