Compensation for Bakassi loss

The Governor further maintained that part of the political solution would be for the Federal Government to pay compensation to the people of Bakassi for the loss of their land and oil and gas resources.

He said, "Bakassi people are now saying that they are not part of the ICJ's agreement, they were not party to this and they were not asked where they wanted to settle. At the end of the day, the Bakassi people are being punished for what they had no hand in and they are calling out to Nigerians to respond to this.

"What we have done which is appropriate is taking the case to the Attorney General, we have met with the president and others on this matter, we have also made our presentation and we hope that with the support of Mr. President and others, there will be lasting resolution to this matter.

"If the territory is lost, then let the people be compensated and there must be a measure of compensation in place. All that the people are asking for is compensation.

He further defended that the state government has been quiet about the whole Bakassi issue because technically, Bakassi is now in Cameroon and states do not interfere in international boundary matters, a development he said is lost on the whole of Nigeria.

He noted, "When I'm asked about security in Bakassi and what I am doing about it. It has not dawned on the people that we have lost Bakassi. They are asking the governor of Cross River about security in Cameroun. That is the reality. Nigerians have not come to the terms with the fact that we have lost Bakassi, and that is because we do not understand why the Bakassi territory was lost.

According to him, "We are doing quite a lot; but as a governor, I understand for a fact that when it comes to issues of boundaries between nations and international diplomacy, regrettable, states cannot interfere. But what can we do is to restate our case at the highest level of government and listen to the Bakassi people and take their own case."

He maintained that it is not out of place for the people to demand compensations, as it is their inalienable right as contained both in the Nigerian Constitution and the UN Charter.

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