Gov Eno accuses Cross River of propaganda Over 76 Oil Wells dispute

Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has accused the Cross River State Government of engaging in propaganda in an attempt to overturn Supreme Court judgments affirming Akwa Ibom’s ownership of 76 oil wells.

Eno made the remarks in Uyo amid renewed claims by Cross River authorities to the disputed oil wells, despite the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) distancing itself from reports suggesting it planned to implement recommendations ceding some wells to specific oil-producing states.

Chairman of the commission, Mohammed Shehu, had earlier clarified that the commission’s attention was drawn to a “purported report allegedly issued by the Inter-Agency Committee on the Verification of Coordinates of Disputed Crude Oil and Gas Wells between States.” He described the document as misleading and premature, stressing that it did not reflect the position of the RMAFC.

Amid rising expectations in Cross River over a possible recovery of the oil wells, Eno expressed confidence that President Bola Tinubu would uphold the rule of law and respect the decisions of the Supreme Court.

“There are two Supreme Court judgments that give Akwa Ibom the right to those oil wells. We are not sharing maritime boundaries with Cross River State but with the Republic of Cameroun, and the Supreme Court has said so twice to establish this fact,” the governor said.

He dismissed the renewed claims as baseless, insisting that the court’s rulings remain binding and cannot be overturned by what he described as propaganda.

“There is no cause for alarm. The people on the other side may cook up any story they want, raise propaganda, but this propaganda has no effect in the face of the two Supreme Court decisions establishing our ownership of the oil wells. This is not about sentiments,” Eno added.

The governor urged residents to remain calm, reiterating his belief in the president’s commitment to the rule of law.

The dispute over the oil wells has long strained relations between Akwa Ibom and Cross River states, given its significant revenue implications for both governments.