OVER the past few weeks, the governments, people and stakeholders of Cross River and Akwa Ibom states have been engaged in a riot of media campaign and altercation over 76 disputed off-shore oil wells. Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River fired the first salvo when, several weeks ago, he raised an alarm over the precarious finances of the state government. The state, ordinarily a marginal oil producer, had zero allocation from the derivation formula, because its 76 oil wells had been reallocated to neighbouring Akwa Ibom.
The ensuing passion, claim and counterclaim underscore the gravity of the problem. Although tempers have been kept in check, there is a high risk of an eruption of conflict between the peoples of the two states who share kinship and other cultural affinities. When the 12-state structure was first created in 1967, the area was known as the South-Eastern State. In 1976, it became Cross River State, which was further split into Akwa Ibom State in September 1987. The commercial and cultural exchanges between the two states go back a long way. That now, is at risk, because of oil revenue.
The primary cause of the raging dispute is as much political as it is legal. Acting on the advice of the National Boundary Commission, the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission had proceeded to credit Akwa Ibom with 76 oil wells which only in 2004 had been allocated to Cross River by the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo. The government had taken the step at the time in response to one of the major consequences of the implementation of the decision of the International Court of Justice directing that Nigeria cede Bakassi to Cameroun.
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