CRS Gov. Senator Bassey Otu (left) and AKS Gov. Pastor Umo Eno.
By Amb. Ukorebi Esien
The ongoing debate over the 76 oil wells between Cross River and Akwa Ibom States has regrettably taken a dangerous turn one that threatens the very fabric of unity, friendship, and shared destiny that binds our two sister states.
What began as a legal and administrative process, now before the Presidency and relevant federal institutions, has unfortunately devolved into a dangerous war of words on social media. Youths on both sides are drawing battle lines, trading insults, threats, and divisive rhetoric. Influential voices—some holding public office have added fuel to the fire, either openly or subtly, through inciteful statements and emotive claims.
This must stop!
As someone deeply committed to peace, mediation, and nation-building, I call on all parties government leaders, political actors, media professionals, and especially the youth to step back from the brink and embrace dialogue, understanding, and lawful resolution.
The ownership and allocation of offshore oil wells is a sensitive matter yes. It involves identity, history, economy, and dignity. Cross River and Akwa Ibom States have both presented versions of events, supported by legal documentation, court judgments, and cartographic data. The Presidency, through its relevant agencies, has initiated a structured process to revisit the facts and ensure justice, fairness, and peace prevail.
This is the mature path. This is the lawful route. And this is the only way progress can be made without tearing the social fabric of our people apart.
Let us not forget: before oil, before boundaries, before Supreme Court judgments we were kin. We are still kin. Cross River and Akwa Ibom States share bloodlines, marriages, languages, marketplaces, and religious platforms. Our people school together, serve together, and grow together.
To suddenly suggest that one group of citizens must be expelled from another’s civil service, traditional councils, or political structure is not only unconstitutional it is morally unacceptable.
Peaceful coexistence, not ethnic excommunication, must remain our collective ideal.
Social media has become the new courtroom of public opinion. But when used irresponsibly, it can ignite conflict faster than bullets. Words carry weight. Posts create perceptions. And in today’s digital era, a single tweet or Facebook comment can trigger real-world unrest.
I urge content creators, influencers, and politically exposed persons to remember: we cannot claim to love our people while sowing seeds of hate between our neighbors.
The Supreme Court rulings of 2005 and 2012, the ICJ judgment of 2002, and the recent efforts by the Presidency to reassess the situation through technical and administrative review must be respected. However, this process must be devoid of sentiments, threats, and distortion.
Instead of inflammatory press statements, let both states:
Set up a joint peace and reconciliation committee involving elders, legal experts, and respected civil society actors.
Tone down the rhetoric and prioritize the process led by the Presidency.
Engage youths in dialogue, not digital war.
Peace is not silence. Peace is not weakness. Peace is maturity. And in a time of increasing national polarization, Cross River and Akwa Ibom must rise as a model of interstate cooperation not conflict.
My Final Word:
I stand with every effort towards truth, justice, and equitable resource sharing. But I also stand firmly against hate, incitement, and the tribalism that history has shown us to be destructive.
We can disagree without being divisive. We can seek redress without rejecting our shared humanity.
Let us rise above provocation and choose partnership. For if our future must be built on sustainable development, then peace must be our strongest foundation.
Amb. Esien, FICMC
Peace Journalist | Conflict Mediator | Civic Advocate. Co-Host, Pulse of Unity, FAD 93.1 FM. He writes from Calabar.
