By Asuquo Cletus
Leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River State have credited President Bola Ahmed Tinubu with playing a key role in efforts to resolve the long-standing oil well dispute involving the state.
The claim was made during a mega endorsement rally held at the Ikom Township Stadium on Saturday, where party stakeholders and supporters gathered to declare support for the President and Governor Bassey Otu.
Speaking at the event, the Deputy Governor of Cross River State, Peter Odey, said the intervention of the President helped to address issues surrounding the ownership and delineation of oil wells between Cross River and neighbouring Akwa Ibom State.
According to him, past disputes over maritime boundaries and oil assets had placed the state at a disadvantage, but recent engagements facilitated by the Federal Government were yielding positive outcomes.
“When they tried to take what belongs to Cross River, Mr. President said no. He directed that all parties should return to the table and resolve the matter,” Odey told the crowd.
He expressed optimism that the state would regain its oil-producing status, describing the development as a potential boost to its revenue base and economic prospects.
The deputy governor also used the occasion to rally support for the President, urging residents to reciprocate what he described as Tinubu’s commitment to the state by backing him in future elections.
The APC leaders maintained that sustained collaboration between the state and the Federal Government would be crucial in securing favourable outcomes in the dispute and advancing development in the region.
The event, tagged a “1.5 million-man endorsement rally,” drew a large turnout of party faithful from across the state, with calls for unity and intensified grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Recall that Cross River lost its oil-producing status following a Supreme Court judgment that ceded several oil wells to Akwa Ibom State after the ceding of the Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon. However, state officials insist ongoing negotiations and federal support could alter the situation.
