By BANNERNEWS Reporter, Calabar
The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Cross River State chapter, has called on the state’s representatives in the National Assembly to protect its interests in the ongoing issues surrounding disputed oil wells.
State Chairman of IPAC, Engr. Effiom Edet Okon, made the call in a statement issued on Thursday, stressing the economic importance of the oil wells to Cross River.
Okon urged senators and members of the House of Representatives representing the state to adopt a common position on issues affecting Cross River’s economic interests.
According to him, actions and legislative engagements concerning the oil wells should be guided by constitutional responsibility, equity and the welfare of the people.
The IPAC chairman also called for greater accountability and proactive engagement by the state’s federal lawmakers in matters concerning Cross River’s resources.
He appealed to the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, and other public officials to exercise caution when commenting publicly on issues relating to Cross River’s territorial and economic interests.
Okon said public statements by senior officials carried significant weight and should not create tension between neighbouring states or communities.
He said Cross River’s tradition of peaceful coexistence and hospitality should not be interpreted as compromising its interests or claims over its resources.
The IPAC chairman said the council would continue to support dialogue and peaceful democratic engagement in resolving issues affecting the state.
The statement comes as federal authorities have reopened the verification of disputed and newly drilled oil and gas wells, with a reconstituted Inter-Agency Technical Committee mandated to examine the locations and coordinates of wells drilled from 2017 to date.
