The Governor of Cross River State, Bassey Otu, has called on political leaders and critical stakeholders in the state to unite in the effort to reclaim its oil-producing status.
He described the move as a fight for justice and economic survival.
Otu made the call during a high-level stakeholders’ meeting in Calabar, where he delivered what he termed a “State of the Union” address, urging elders to close ranks and support his administration’s push to restore the state’s place among oil-producing states in the Niger Delta.
The governor lamented what he described as the wrongful removal of Cross River from the oil-producing bloc, insisting that his government remained committed to reversing the situation through legal and constitutional means.
“We are determined to right the wrongs and injustice occasioned by the malicious deletion of our state from the oil-producing bloc,” Otu said, adding that ongoing engagements would yield positive results.
While appealing for patience, the governor acknowledged concerns among some stakeholders over the pace of progress but assured that his administration would remain resolute in pursuing the state’s interest.
“We shall not surrender, not because we won’t, but because the people will not allow it,” he declared.
Otu also highlighted strides recorded by his administration in key sectors, including infrastructure, agriculture, education, tourism, and social welfare, noting that security across the state had remained stable.
On the protracted oil well dispute with Akwa Ibom State, the governor maintained that Cross River’s exclusion was based on faulty premises, stressing that the state still possesses a valid littoral status linked to the Calabar estuary.
According to him, recent hydrographic findings and inter-agency reviews have reinforced the state’s claim to offshore resources along the Nigeria-Cameroon maritime boundary.
“Nature does not lie. Seaward coastlines speak. Oil is not stagnant,” he said.
The governor warned that disunity among stakeholders could undermine the struggle, urging leaders across political divides to prioritize the collective good of the state over personal or partisan interests.
“We must rise and seek justice through truth. We cannot accommodate injustice disguised as diplomacy or technicality,” he added.
Otu further called for sustained support, prayers, and cooperation from stakeholders, stressing that reclaiming the state’s oil wells would significantly boost its revenue base and overall development.
“If we don’t stand for Cross River, who will? If not now, when?” he asked.
