Governor Umo Eno has declared that Akwa Ibom does not share a maritime boundary with Cross River and warned that any attempt to alter the state’s territorial limits would violate an ICJ ruling and escalate into an international matter.

Speaking at the second anniversary of the Golden Initiative For All (GIFA), the pet project of his late wife, Pastor Patience Umo Eno, the governor said the 76 contested oil wells belong to Akwa Ibom and cannot be challenged by any committee or government agency.

In his words “We have two Supreme Court judgments and there is no reason whatsoever… No committee can overturn a Supreme Court judgment. No agency of government can overturn a Supreme Court judgment”.

Governor Eno encouraged the people of the state to remain calm, expressing confidence that President Bola Tinubu will uphold the rule of law. He assured that, as a member of the ruling party, Akwa Ibom and its resources will continue to be defended.

“We will go where they go. We will meet who they meet. We will talk where they talk. We will sit where they sit, and we will defend what belongs to us,” he added.

While celebrating GIFA, Governor Eno commended the initiative’s progress, noting that it has stayed true to its founding vision and delivered measurable impact across its key focus areas. He particularly applauded his daughter and Coordinator of the Office of the First Lady, Helen Obareki, for keeping her late mother’s vision alive.

Earlier, Lady Helen Obareki highlighted how GIFA has transformed the lives of over 53,000 women, children, and vulnerable families in Akwa Ibom State.

“In those crucial moments, her care became hope, and that hope became life for those women and children. Those moments of modest caregiving back in our home became the seed that gave birth to the Golden Initiative For All,” she said.

She detailed the initiative’s achievements across eight thematic areas: maternal and child healthcare, literacy and learning, environmental health, women empowerment, disease prevention, elderly care, disability support, and Gender-Based Violence prevention.

“To put it briefly, 9,776 mothers and children have benefited from maternal and child healthcare; 19,587 adults and pupils from literacy programs; 13 Water of Life boreholes across 13 LGAs; 5,064 women empowered; 4,900 rural women and children reached through medical outreach; 10,800 senior citizens supported; 160 persons with disabilities assisted; and 1,020 survivors of Gender-Based Violence rehabilitated,” she said.

Looking forward, Lady Helen announced new programs to expand GIFA’s reach, including a year-round Tech-Empowerment Accelerator to equip 500 women annually with market-ready digital skills. She also assured that the Water of Life project will cover all 31 Local Government Areas, while literacy and “Back to School” initiatives will continue to support children and adults in public schools.