Your Excellencies,
I write this open letter with a deep sense of responsibility and respect for the offices and institutions of both the Ondo and Ogun State Governments regarding the recent public disagreement over the ownership of Eba Island, following reports of an abandoned oil well in the area.
My intention is not to inflame tensions or take sides, but to encourage a calm, factual, and people-centered approach to resolving an issue that has now attracted national attention.
It is understandable that matters involving territorial jurisdiction and natural resources can generate strong reactions.
However, I humbly believe that this situation would not have generated concern or controversy if clear governmental responsibility had been exercised over the island and its inhabitants long before the discovery of oil.
Ownership, in its truest sense, is reflected not only in historical claims but in visible governance, administrative presence, and sustained engagement with communities over time.
Eba Island, like every other settlement or geographical space within the country, must fall under a recognized local government structure. This classification should not be difficult to establish if existing administrative records are objectively examined.
Federal institutions such as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the National Population Commission (NPC) hold verifiable data that show how communities are organized for electoral and census purposes. These records provide practical and legally relevant indicators of jurisdiction that go beyond competing narratives.
INEC documentation would reveal whether Eba Island has ever been included within a ward, polling unit, or local government arrangement under either state. Similarly, National Population Commission records would clarify how the island has historically been classified for census and demographic administration.
These are neutral and institutional records, and they offer a credible path to resolving the matter without public disagreement or speculation.
I also wish to emphasize that this issue should be approached with the welfare of the people in mind. Any inhabitants, seasonal occupants, or users of the island deserve clarity on which government is responsible for their security, environmental protection, and overall wellbeing.
They should not be left in uncertainty or become unintended casualties of an intergovernmental dispute driven by resource discovery.
Furthermore, the public exchange of claims risks creating avoidable tension and misunderstanding among citizens of both states. Nigeria has established constitutional and administrative mechanisms for addressing boundary matters, and reliance on these processes will strengthen public confidence and preserve harmony.
A collaborative and transparent engagement with the relevant federal authorities will serve the interests of both states and the nation at large.
I respectfully encourage the governments of Ondo and Ogun States to allow verified records and established institutions to guide the resolution of this issue. By doing so, the focus can shift from rivalry to responsibility, from claims to clarity, and from dispute to development. This approach will not only settle the question of Eba Island but also set a positive example of leadership and cooperation.
It is my sincere hope that this matter will be resolved peacefully, factually, and in a manner that prioritizes governance, unity, and the long-term interests of the people over short-term contention.
Yours faithfully,
Anthony Ayodele
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