- Entreats President Tinubu on Ministerial position
- Praises Gov Otu’s development strides
- Task journalists on investigative reporting
BY COBHAM NSA – Almost two decades after the Bakassi Peninsula was ceded to Cameroon, a Federal Lawmaker from Cross River State, Hon Peter Akpanke says the pain from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling still runs deep, given its adverse consequences on the State over the years.
Similarly, Akpanke also decried the subsequent judgment by the Supreme Court that awarded 76 oil wells hitherto owned by Cross River to the neighbouring Akwa Ibom State.
In its 2002 ruling, the ICJ awarded the Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon, citing a 1913 Anglo-German agreement, and Nigeria formally ceded the territory in 2008, after a transitional period.
According to Akpanke, who represents Obanliku/Obudu/Bekwarra Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, based on technical or constitutional grounds, the current situation demands a judicial review of the Supreme Court’s judgment to help heal the continuous distress being suffered by the people.
Speaking during an interactive session with Cross River Journalists Forum (CROSSJOF), FCT chapter, in Abuja, the Lawmaker described both rulings as unfortunate, noting that they have economically choked the State and its peace-loving people in the last 17 years.
Akpanke, while reflecting on the judgments, said, “Sincerely, we are a very small state struggling to survive. And then, from nowhere, they ceded Bakassi to Cameroon and took our oil wells. Our other oil wells were given to Akwa Ibom State. So, how do they want us to survive? Nigeria must revisit and discuss this issue”.
He lauded the efforts by Governor Bassey Otu and the National Assembly members to seek redress, saying, “I support what the governor is doing to resolve the matter. I also support what the National Assembly is doing. The law cannot exist without exceptions, there must be mechanisms to resolve such issues.”
Noting that the apex Court has, in the past, reversed itself based on some compelling reasons, Akpanke pleaded that the Cross River State case should not be different.
“So, the Hague and the Supreme Court should reconsider their decisions and see how to help Cross River and Nigeria as a whole. We are very supportive of the Nigerian nation, we are patriotic, loyal, and committed Nigerians. We shouldn’t be punished for coming from a minority area or from Cross River State,” he said.
On the political scene, Akpanke pleaded with President Bola Tinubu to consider appointing another substantive Minister from Cross River State, following the indefinite suspension of former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu.
The Lawmaker said, “When we came on board, the President was magnanimous to us, we had two substantive ministers: the Minister of Sports and the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs.
“However it played out, we are still appealing to Mr. President to consider us. It’s his prerogative to appoint whoever he wants, but we appeal for a substantive Minister from Cross River State. It’s a collective appeal from all of us.”
On his scorecard, Akpanke proudly listed the building and renovation of schools, installation of solar lights, on-going road construction and renovation of health centres in the last two years.
According to him, “In just two years in the National Assembly as a first timer, I have moved quite a number of bills and motions that will benefit my constituency and Nigeria at large. Some of the motions and bills include; rehabilitation of Obudu Dam Resource, a motion against the incessant kidnapping in the University of Calabar Staff quarters, co-sponsored a motion on not ceding parts of Obanliku and Boki Local Government Areas to Cameroon, brought a petition about some students who were illegally rusticated from UNICAL and a bill to establish the Federal University of Agriculture, Bendi.
Explaining the huge investment in education, Akpanke said, “Education is the bedrock of any society. Without education, you cannot be sitting here interviewing me. So, we need to educate our young people.”
He however urged journalists to always be prudent in their reportage by embarking on fact findings missions to verify and report accurately on situation of things rather than being speculative and relying on rumours.
The Lawmaker said besides education, the general well-being of his constituents is receiving priority attention, even as he urged all well-meaning Cross Riverians and stakeholders to join hands with Governor Bassey Otu in moving the state forward.
For him, the governor, within two years in office, has through his “Peoples’ First” agenda brought dividends of democracy to the people with impactful governance.
On the need to robustly promote the State tourism potential, the lawmaker said all hands must be on deck to attract tourists and investors to the State, noting that the Obudu Cattle Ranch is almost 80 percent completed.
He added that on completion, the Ranch will seriously boost the State’s economy given its huge potential as an attractive tourism destination in the country.
Also offering his thoughts on the creation of new states, he maintained that Ogoja remains the oldest province in Nigeria and if states are to be created, then Ogoja State must be one of them.
He urged Cross Riverians to disregard any fake list making rounds on social media and indicating that Ogoja State is not captured among proposed states to be created.
