Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, has praised the Supreme Court’s decision on the rightful ownership of oil wells in the communities of Akiri and Mbede in the state’s Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni local government areas.
He stated that the state government did not drag its neighboring Imo State to court to claim victory, but rather to defend its ownership rights to oil wells in the communities of Akiri and Mbede.
Wike spoke in Port Harcourt, the state capital, in response to the Supreme Court’s decision on Friday on the two states’ boundary dispute over the affected oil wells.
“It bears repeating that the quest to defend our ownership rights over the Akiri and Mbede oil wells through the courts was not intended to claim victory over Imo or any other State,” the governor said.
“We also condemn the NBC’s collusive actions, which have unfortunately become notorious as one of the most corrupt national agencies, serving more to cause confusion than to resolve boundary disputes.”
He claimed that while the dispute was ongoing, the National Boundary Commission (NBC) did nothing to establish the proper location and title to the disputed oil wells.
Instead of ensuring that NBC completed its work, Wike claimed that the former governor of Imo State, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, rejected the agreed-upon 50:50 sharing formula and made provocative claims as the sole owner of the oil wells.
“In order to actualise these fictitious claims, he (Ihedioha) stealthily wrote a letter dated 9th August 2019 to President Muhammad Buhari and requested the refund of the sum of N15 billion from Rivers State to Imo State as backlog of accrued proceeds from the 13 percent derivation revenue of the said oil wells,” the governor said.
“Acting on Governor Ihedioha’s letter, Mr. President authorized a letter to be written to the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMFAC) through his late Chief of State, Mr. Abba Kyari, to alter the status quo in favor of Imo State without reference to the two States’ existing dispute and agreement.”
He stated that the Rivers State government was taken aback by the action because, since 1999, Dr. Peter Odili and Chief Achike Udenwa, both former governors of their respective states, had agreed to split the derivative proceeds from those wells 50:50.
“Accordingly, we first applied to the Federal High Court in Abuja and successfully challenged, among other reliefs, Mr. President’s powers and authority to give directives to the RMFAC and or interfere in any manner whatsoever with the distribution of public revenues from the distributable pool account, including the Federation Account,” Wike said. When we approached the Supreme Court in this matter, we believed that the dispute between the two states and the contentious issues were such that the Court could determine them judicially, justly, and expeditiously using the available facts and supporting evidence, including valid administrative maps, existing judgments, and other relevant documents.”
The governor expressed delight that the Supreme Court had spoken and expressed hope that Imo State governor, Senator Hope Uzodima, would accept the outcome in good faith.
“This, we can readily oblige, despite the betrayals and backstabbing by Emeka Ihedioha, who led the onslaught and created a schism between two brotherly States that have been living at peace and in friendship with each other despite the extensive support and goodwill he received from the Government and people of Rivers State to become Governor.”
Wike, who thanked the lawyers who prosecuted and secured Rivers State’s landmark judicial victory, announced the awarding of State honours to each of them as Distinguished Service Stars of Rivers State.
Dr. Ipalibo Harry Banigo, Deputy Governor of Rivers State, said in a goodwill message that Rivers people were relieved that Governor Wike had secured another victory for the state by legally protecting its oil assets.
In his response, Rt. Hon. Ikuinyi-Owaji Ibani, Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, stated that a good leader like Governor Wike creates history from which useful lessons can be learned, such as defending Rivers interests and extending hands of fellowship to Imo State.
Chief Ferdinand Alabraba, chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Elders’ Forum, described Governor Wike as a useful instrument God has used to propel Rivers State to greater heights of success.
