Duke demands return of oil wells to Cross River

Mr. Donald Duke

By Nicholas Kalu

Former governor of Cross River State, Mr Donald Duke, yesterday, used the occasion of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential rally in Cross River State to demand the return of the oil wells the state lost to neighbors Akwa Ibom as a result of the loss of Bakassi to Cameroon.

The demand elicited wild cheers from the crowd at the UJ Esuene Stadium, venue of the rally.

The feeling in the state towards the Federal Government has been that of repressed anger, as it is felt that what they had have been taken from them.

Duke begged that at worst, a political solution should be applied to solve the problem which has put the state in a very precarious economic situation.

The former governor also pointed that the federal roads in the state were in deplorable conditions, and urged the Federal Government to urgently attend to these problems.

He promised Jonathan of the state’s support towards his re-election bid.

Jonathan, who later spoke, avoided a direct response to the issue of the oil wells and poor state of federal roads.

He said his administration would focus on young people.

He promised the extension of the East-West road to Calabar and a rail line that would run from Lagos to the Obudu Ranch in Obanliku Local Government Area of the state.

The president also promised to encourage manufacturing in the state, as well as ensure the dredging of the Calabar channel to enable Tinapa and other businesses to flourish.

“God willing, when you send us back, we will sit down with you and look at the priorities of the state and how we would go about it,” President Jonathan said.

He thanked the state for their support to him.

Also speaking, Governor Liyel Imoke said the president did not need to come to the state to campaign, as they were already behind him.

Jonathan commissioned the Margaret Ekpo Airport by-pass, a 6.8 km road with an interchange bridge designed to ease traffic within Calabar.

Culled from The Nation