The Eze Ndi Igbo in Calabar, Cross River State , His Royal Highness, Eze Emmanuel Ezenwenyi, has advised non-indigenes to remain calm and law abiding as the state continues to appeal to the Federal Government to return its ceded 76 oil wells.
It would be recalled that 76 oil wells belonging to Cross Rivers State were ceded to the-sister-state Akwa Ibom State recently, a situation which has attracted a lot of tension between the two states in recent time, each claiming ownership of the oil wells.
Eze Ezeanyi made the call in Calabar when members of the Inter-State Community Relations Organisation, Cross River State chapter, led by its State Co-ordinator, Mazi Uzoma Osuagwu, paid a solidarity visit to the state Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke in his office.
Eze Ndi Igbo regretted the delisting of the state from the oil producing states in the country, adding that this ugly development had affected the economic and social activities in the state.
He called on the Federal Government to amicably settle the issue to avert crisis in the area, but however, advised non-indigenes in the state to ponder over what has befallen the Cross River and pray for God’s intervention.
According to him, “whatever affects the people of this state will surely affect us non­indigenes. Some of us have lived here in the state for over 30 years with our own businesses and houses. If the state is burning, it will surely affect us. If there is development, our businesses will equally grow.”
Eze Ndi Igbo appealed to the state Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke, not to relent in his efforts in ensuring that the state returned to its status quo adding that, “the kind of development witnessed within the past one year is very commendable”.
In his speech, the State Co-ordinator, Mazi Uzoma Osuagwu, denounced the recent handover of 76 oil wells to Akwa Ibom state by the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission and the National Boundary Commission, saying the move has continued to generate tension and negative reactions from Cross Riverians an well meaning Nigerians.
He said, “vexed as the action is, we in the inter-state community relations organization, an umbrella body of indigenes of other states of the federation residing and doing business in the state are most concerned about this unfortunate development and wish to place on record our total solidarity to the position of the state.”
Mazi Osuagwu, said “this is why we see this action of the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission without the commitment of the National Boundary Commission as. ill-conceived, unjust, unfortunate and a calculated poly to put a halt to this on-going process of stamping development to the rural areas of the state and particularly make the state most convenient for all our businesses to thrive in a conducive environment.”
He called on the president to use his good office to direct the authorities of the commission to revert this obnoxious restoration of 76 oil wells to Akwa Ibom State to its rightful owner in the interest of equity, justice and fair play.
According to him, “the Niger Delta region already has too many problems that it is grapping with. Deliberately igniting another imbroglio in Cross River State is unacceptable and condemnable.”
He pledged the unalloyed loyalty to the present administration of Governor Liyel Imoke, and its desire to continually place the state first among the comity of states in the federation, and called on all Nigerians especially those residing in the state to remain law abiding and wait for the resolution of the impasse.
In his response, the State Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke, who was represented by the Commissioner for Information, Hon Edet Okon Asim, commended the organization for supporting the course of the state government.
He assured that government would continue to partner with organization that contributes to the development and growth of Cross River State.