Former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Obong Victor Attah, has come out swinging against renewed claims by Cross River State over ownership of 76 oil wells, declaring unequivocally that Akwa Ibom owes its neighbour nothing.

Speaking on Arise Television in Abuja, which was monitored in Uyo recently, the elder statesman stated that both geography and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) judgment on Bakassi leave no room for ambiguity.

“The only reason Cross River was ever regarded as a littoral state was because it had direct access to the Atlantic Ocean through Bakassi,” Attah said.

“But with the ICJ ruling and the Green Tree Agreement, Cross River became landlocked with only a few islands, and therefore no longer a littoral state.”

He stressed that ownership of oil wells is determined strictly by territorial boundaries, not sentiment or political sympathy.

“Being on a river does not make a state littoral. Littoral status depends strictly on access to the sea. Therefore, Akwa Ibom does not owe Cross River any 76 oil wells,” he asserted.

Reacting to reports that Akwa Ibom was compelled to pay Cross River ₦500 million, the former governor said it never happened under his watch.

“If such an agreement was reached, it was after my tenure. During my time, Cross River went to court, but when the judgment went against them, they withdrew. I countersued and obtained a ruling affirming that Cross River is not a littoral state,” Attah explained.

He further dismissed calls for a so-called “political solution,” reminding that Cross River itself once rejected compromise.

“To now suggest that Akwa Ibom should ‘dash’ Cross River oil wells is like asking Zamfara to give away its gold mines. Oil wells are not gifts, they are tied to land,” he fired back.

Attah concluded firmly that unless Nigeria’s territorial boundaries are redrawn which is even “an unthinkable option”, there is no legal or political basis for transferring Akwa Ibom’s oil wealth to Cross River.