By NDARAKE EBE-NADAEYO

IT is always good that information passed on to the public by top government officials should be factual, sincere and with the right motives, since the masses rely on government pronouncements. Many utterances, reeking of truths, half-truths, and outright falsehoods (borne out of politics), have been made about the issue of how the struggle for the abrogation of the obnoxious onshore-offshore oil-dichotomy was carried out and the ‘war’ eventually won. Crude oil drilled in the waters is referred to as “offshore” and the one on land as “onshore”.

The offshore oil was claimed 100 per cent by the Federal Government, without any percentage derivation payment to the affected states. It was a fact that Akwa Ibom State became worst hit because all its oil wells are located offshore.

The true story is that the fight for the abrogation of the onshore/offshore oil dichotomy has been long-on and fought by many individuals and groups of people from the affected areas, even before the creation of Akwa Ibom State, but providence could not grant the request until the military regime of General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida. The abrogation got its tacit approval at the Ibom Hall, Uyo, on September 22,1992 at one of the occasions (Command Performance) marking the fifth anniversary of the creation of Akwa Ibom State.

The then Akwa Ibom State military governor, Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga, had employed the persuasive posture of Obongawan Christy Essien-Igbokwe, MFR, (popularly known as “The Lady of Songs”), in appealing to Babangida whose regime actually created Akwa Ibom State five years earlier. Christiana, believed to be close to Babangida, when called on stage at the occasion, which had IBB, the late MKO Abiola and wife (Simbat) in attendance, knelt down and told IBB that unless he promised her people the abrogation of the obnoxious oil dichotomy before leaving office, she would not get up on her knees. After a lull, IBB, to the admiration of all present, voiced the assurance with military fiat. There was a long and loud ovation.

The action leading to the abrogation was, from that spot, put in motion; but the actual instrument became ready at the period the late Obong Akpan Isemin was governor of Akwa Ibom State and while making a broadcast to the effect of the receipt of the instrument, Isemin acknowledged the efforts of all.

There is also something spiritually inherent in the song entitled Akwa Ibom Mi, composed and rendered in an album by Christy Essien Igbokwe and surely nothing better could go for the state’s anthem; it summarized our (state) desires and she also sang it on stage that eventful evening. Ironically, sometime last year, the present government of Akwa Ibom State deployed its arsenal against Christy Essien-Igbokwe, taking her as a special project that must be destroyed; attempted to run her out and her family business down for reason many could still not understand. I doubt that the government has (even) shown any remorse for the misadventure.

Yet this is the same lady, but for her additional (final) effort and ease of passage, which was provided by IBB, the abrogation of the oil dichotomy that is largely benefitting our (Akwa Ibom) State now, would have remained a mirage. We thank God for His disposition towards us; which He eventually and finally made manifest through Christiana, Idongesit Nkanga and IBB.
Many eminent people were at the Ibom Hall that day.

They include the late governor, Obong Akpan Isemin; the late Dr. Clement Isong; former military governor, Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga; the minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Obong Ufot Ekaette (who was civilian deputy governor to Nkanga), and former governor, Obong Victor Attah, who later fought President Obasanjo as he (Obasanjo) tried to reverse our fortune. I decided to come up with these facts to enable all exhaust their thoughts or otherwise; and I believe with this correct, undiluted, truthful information, the issue of contributors to the abrogation of the oil dichotomy, which now benefits all the littoral states in Nigeria, should be put to rest.

Ebe-Ndaeyo is of Plot 209 Park Road, Eket, Akwa Ibom State