By Adesina Soyooye
The Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has declared that the National Boundary Commission, NBC, is one of the most corrupt Federal Agencies in Nigeria. In his words, the NBC is notorious for its corruption.
Governor Wike made this assertion in a State broadcast to the people of Rivers State in the wake of the State’s victory at the Supreme Court against Imo State over 17 disputed Akiri and Mbede Oil Wells.
The two States had been in Court over the ownership of the Oil Wells, but on Friday, May 6, the Supreme Court ceded the Oil Wells to Rivers State.
While tracing the origin of the dispute, Wike put the blame on former Governor of Imo State, the Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, who he accused of discarding the gentleman agreement between the two States to share the Oil Wells 50 per cent apiece, and the NBC. He said the agreement to share 50-50 was reached between the former Governors of the two States, Dr Peter Odili of Rivers Stare and Chief Achike Udenwa of Imo State.
That, Wike said, subsisted until Ihedioha came, discarded the arrangement, and “surreptitiously” wrote to President Muhammadu Buhari that the Oil Wells belongs to Imo State alone, and asked that Rivers State returns the sum of N15b which it already collected, based on the gentleman agreement, to Imo State.
The President, Wike said, approved that the Oil Wells were Imo State’s, prompting him, Wike, to head to the Courts.
He said it was the delay by the NBC in marking out the boundary between the two States that caused the trouble because it chose to scandously connive with Imo State instead of doing its job which was simple: Mark out the boundary between the two States.
“We also deplore the collusive actions of the NBC which, unfortunately, has become notorious as one of the most corrupt National Agencies, which has functioned more in causing confusion than resolving boundary disputes.”
Rivers State’s victory notwithstanding, Wike said:
“It bears repeating that the quest to defend our ownership rights through the Courts over the Akiri and Mbede oil wells was not intended to claim victory over Imo or any other State.
“We are open to further discussions with the Government of Imo State on the best way forward without prejudice to the outcome of today’s judgment.”
Ironically, some people in Imo State are celebrating the victory of Rivers State over Imo State, thinking it is a victory over Uzodimma, who, incidentally, had no hand in the case, but continued with a case he inherited.
