Former Rivers State Governor and African Democratic Congress (ADC) vice-presidential candidate, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, has accused Senate President Godswill Akpabio of seizing oil wells belonging to Cross River State during his tenure as governor of Akwa Ibom State.
Amaechi made the allegations during a political town hall meeting organized in Calabar, Cross River State, to engage voters ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The former Minister of Transportation emphasized that his statements were grounded in historical facts rather than political rivalry with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
“I am not calling Akpabio out because he is in the APC. I am calling him out because he knows that I know what he did. Tell him Amaechi says Akpabio knows what he did,” Amaechi stated.
Amaechi urged the residents of Cross River State to demand a formal explanation from Akpabio regarding the transfer of the disputed maritime oil assets to Akwa Ibom State.
He added that Akpabio had similarly attempted to lay claim to oil wells belonging to Rivers State during his gubernatorial tenure, but noted that Rivers State successfully defeated the attempt in court.
Addressing his previous tenure as Minister of Transportation, Amaechi clarified why the federal railway network was not extended to Calabar under his leadership. He explained that while an initial framework was designed for an 11 billion dollar coastal railway line running from Lagos to Calabar including a spur to the Obudu Cattle Ranch, the project was stalled due to severe funding shortfalls.
Amaechi went on to critique the economic direction of the current federal executive, questioning the financial feasibility of the ongoing 16 billion dollar coastal highway initiative undertaken by President Bola Tinubu’s administration when compared to alternative infrastructural priorities.