BY TAIWO FAROTIMI
The governor of Cross River State, Professor Ben Ayade has appealed to president Muhammadu Buhari to compensate his state for two losses they suffered in the past. He itemised the incidents as the loss of the 76 oil wells to the neighbouring Akwa Ibom state and the ceding of the oil rich Bakassi to Cameroon in 2002.
He said the two incidents had negative effect on the economic well being of the state. Speaking after he took oath of office for his second term he said, “I call on President Muhammadu Buhari to please hear the cries of Cross River. We have shown so much calm and understanding because we believe that in the fullness of time, justice will be done.”
The governor lamented that despite admonition by the Supreme Court that the authorities should find ways of assuaging the feelings of the state for the losses, it had been difficult engaging the federal government on the issue. This he had to employ the occasion of the beginning of his second term in office to make the appeal. He said, “But let me use this occasion of my inauguration to tell the federal government that Cross River feel highly disappointed and hunted, and this makes me to wonder if truly we are loved”.
Ayade hinted on the issue of federalism when he said that the state should be given the opportunity to harness its resources and pay royalty to the central government.
