BY CLIFFORD NDUJIHE

BUT for fears by Europe that the United States of America might establish a military base in Bakassi Peninsula to the strategic and socio-political disadvantage of Europe, Nigeria would not have lost Bakassi to Cameroon.

The fear, according to a new book; “Fraud at the Haguei: Why Nigeria’s Bakassi was ceded to Cameroon,” was worsened by the then closeness of Nigeria’s President Olusegun Obasanjo to his USA counterpart, President George Bush. Thus “keeping Nigeria out of Bakassi is securing the area against the American military base under the AFRICOM initiative.”

Author of the 138-page book, Mr Adebayo Adeolu, told Vanguard that the October 10, 2002 judgment of the International Court of Justice (World Court), The Hague, ceding Bakassi to Cameroon was pre-determined and fraudulent.

Insisting that geographically, historically, linguistically and politically, Bakassi had always been part of Nigeria, he described the ICJ decision as imperialism at its worst.

Ownership of Bakassi
Ordinarily, he argued that there should not be any doubt concerning Nigeria’s ownership of Bakassi because “Nigeria had been in physical control throughout the many centuries as the place is home to the Efik people. Nigeria administered the region.

There were hospitals, police stations, post offices – everything you can see in a modern state was provided by Nigeria. Cameroon never had possession…The 1884 Anglo-Efik Treaty (which supersedes other treaties) is a binding agreement between Britain on one hand and the Obong, chiefs and people of Calabar on the other.

Accordingly, anything done by either party in breach of the terms of that treaty violates not only Article 26 of the Vienna Convention on the law of treaties but also the fundamental customary international law principle of pacta sunt servanda.

“During the case concerning Bakassi and Cameroon, in the advisory opinion in relation to Western Sahara case, the International Court of Justice pointed out that in the period of 1884, before, during and after the advent of the colonialists from Europe, neither the Bakassi Peninsula nor any other part of Efik territory was virgin land that belonged to anybody or state.

The Bakassi Peninsula and other parts of Efik territory had long been under effective occupation, and this granted ownership to the Efik people who for centuries had formed social and political organizations that were controlled by the leadership of the Obong.”

In spite of the flaws that might have arisen from the legal team representing Nigeria at The Hague, and non-consultation of Bakassi indigenes and security agencies in the prosecution of the legal battle with Cameroon, Adeolu argued that the facts before the court showed that Bakassi Peninsula belonged to Nigeria.


Former Nigerian President Obasanjo and Cameroonian President Biya
He urged the Federal Government to utilize the remaining 33 days out of the 10 years window allowed for an appeal to appeal the judgment. The time allowed for appeal will expire on October 10.

According to the book, the ICJ was presented with a number of treaties, points and arguments, which led to the final decision of the French Judge, Gilbert Guillaume.

It should be noted that France colonized Cameroon and both countries are still bonded socio-economically and politically. It was the French government that prompted Cameroon into taking the matter to the Hague, where British, French and German judges decided. the case.

The treaties and points of arguments include:
* The 1884 Anglo-Efik Treaty;
* The 1885 Anglo-German Treaty;
* The 1913 Anglo-German Treaty
* The 1975 Maroua Declaration between Nigeria and Cameroon
* The law of treaties
* The Vienna Convention, 1969 (Article 26).

The book read in part: “The European superpowers have known for over a century the strategic importance of Bakassi, as a region.

The region is a danger to the nations of the world if any superpower controlled the region with military bases. The region was forbidden for military bases and garrisons because it could be used for intrigue.

It could cause a blockade for commerce and shipping of any kind and could also be used as military outpost for striking other nations around and far away. “The British, French, Belgian and German governments are well aware of this fact. The European continent as a whole has this information.

“It was because of the Germans and their expansionist and militaristic stance and approach to its neighbours and other nations that it was barred after the First World War from the region. This was the decision reached by the League of Nations. African military bases would not be tolerated by members of the League of Nations, as it would pose a danger for all Europe and Asia and the world at large.

“The military posture of President George W. Bush in his fight against terrorism, which he promoted globally after the terrorist attack on the United States on September 11, 2011, and his unilateral decision to invade the sovereign state of Iraq without the full approval and support of the United Nations brought about the international conspiracy.

International conspiracy
“The European Union had to keep him out of Africa, especially Nigeria, which the Europeans saw and still see as their ‘colony.’ Britain did not want America meddling with its former colonies, especially Nigeria where a wonderful relationship had existed for years and was being rekindled.

“The president of Nigeria at the time was very close to George Bush. In fact, he was like Bush’s ‘African cousin’ since former President Obasanjo of Nigeria was a regular guest in the United States.

“The Europeans felt that if he gave the nod for a military base to be established, Bakassi could be used. This prompted the judgment against Nigeria from all evidence that was presented and further discussed… President Obasanjo had consented to prejudgment conditions in a closed-door meeting convened by the French President, Jacques Chirac and this did not imply the collective will of the people of Nigeria.”

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As they are about Robbing Nigeria.