Oil Wells: Cross River turns down N250m monthly largesse from Akwa Ibom

The Cross River state government has rejected the N250 million monthly payments from akwa Ibom state saying that it was a degrading offer which portrayed the leadership of Cross River as opportunistic and irresponsible. This was made public by the Cross River state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Mr Attah Ochinke at a press conference. Ochinke said it was not correct to say that Cross River rejected overtures for amicable settlement with Akwa Ibom rather the Cross River government went to court to enforce the settlement that had already been reached.

According to him, "The matter had been settled and agreement written and it was implemented for three years, so what has happened for the parties to now withdraw from that agreement?
The government of Akwa Ibom said they offered us when the matter was in court, N250 million a month as a peaceful settlement on the matter. I do not know when the matter will be settled but I am very certain of one thing, if we do not recover the territory it is not because it does not belong to us, but because we are unable to recover the territory”.

It would be recalled that the Supreme Court had in recent judgement ceded 76 oil wells which Cross River laid claims to Akwa Ibom. In the aftermath of the judgment, Gov. Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom had offered to pay Cross River N250 million as grant to cushion the pains of the loss.