By Juliet Ezeh
Governor Bassey Otu has made one thing unmistakably clear: Cross River State is not asking for favours. It is demanding fairness.
Speaking in Calabar amid renewed national attention over the relisting of oil-producing states, the governor framed the issue not as a territorial dispute but as a matter of justice, equity and constitutional rights. For Cross River, this is not merely about oil wells. It is about recognition, dignity and economic survival.
For years, Cross River has watched from the margins of Nigeria’s oil revenue structure following the Supreme Court rulings that ceded 76 oil wells to Akwa Ibom State. Those judgments effectively stripped the state of its oil-producing status, reshaping its fiscal reality and limiting its access to derivation funds.
Now, with the Federal Government’s Inter-Agency Committee reportedly projecting a relisting of Cross River as an oil-producing state, the long-standing debate has resurfaced. Predictably, tensions have risen between Cross River and Akwa Ibom, with the latter maintaining through its Attorney General that the 76 oil wells legally belong to it.
But Governor Otu’s position is measured, strategic and rooted in process.
Cross River, he insists, will follow legitimate and constitutional pathways. There will be no reckless confrontation. There will be no political grandstanding. There will only be lawful pursuit of what the state believes rightfully belongs to it.
“Cross River has made sacrifices for Nigeria’s unity and peace,” the governor declared. “It deserves fairness, justice and full recognition as an oil-producing state. We are full-fledged Nigerians. Our rights cannot be denied.”
This is more than rhetoric. It is a reminder of the state’s historical posture. Cross River has consistently maintained a relatively peaceful political climate, prioritised national cohesion and refrained from inflammatory regional agitation. Yet, in doing so, it has paid an economic price.
The oil derivation formula remains a critical pillar in Nigeria’s federal allocation structure. To be excluded from that framework is not a symbolic loss; it is a fiscal handicap. It affects infrastructure development, healthcare, education and social services.
Governor Otu’s message, therefore, speaks to both identity and economics. Recognition as an oil-producing state would not simply boost revenues. It would recalibrate Cross River’s developmental trajectory.
At the same time, the governor’s emphasis on lawful processes sends a stabilising signal to the federation. In an era where disputes can quickly escalate into ethnic or regional flashpoints, his commitment to due process reinforces institutional resolution over emotional confrontation.
This unfolding situation presents the Federal Government with a delicate balancing act. Any decision must be anchored in verifiable data, legal clarity and transparent administrative procedure. The credibility of the relisting process will depend not only on the outcome but on how that outcome is reached.
For Cross River, the demand is straightforward: equity within the federation.
Governor Otu’s stance reflects a broader conversation about resource control, federal justice and economic inclusion. It raises fundamental questions about how Nigeria defines and protects the rights of its constituent states within an evolving energy landscape.
As discussions continue, one principle remains central. Fairness must not be selective. Justice must not be political. And recognition must be grounded in law.
Cross River’s case is not simply a regional contest over oil wells. It is a test of how the federation resolves disputes when identity, economics and legality intersect.
Governor Otu has drawn the line clearly. Cross River will seek its rightful place, not through noise, but through law.
Juliet Ezeh is the founder and chief reporter at Westbridge Reporters with over 7 years of experience in journalism. She covers crime, industry, policy, and social developments, delivering timely and accurate reporting.