₦airaland Forum

WAXXSTAXX: Bakassi, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River State are not Biafran entities and, no Biafran force or organization can colonize Cross River and Bakassi. The Igbos must stop entertaining foolish thoughts of lumping themselves with the great peoples of Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Rivers, and Bayelsa with whom they have very little in common. Also, the Igbos should try to reconcile with the Yorubas with whom they have linguistical and possibly, cultural ties. It really beats my imagination as to why the Biafrans think they can subdue a people who once ruled, captured, and sold their forefathers into slavery. If not for the British who, due to their cultural and political insensitivities chose to group the old Calabar Province with the Igbos, the people wanted nothing whatsoever to do with the Igbos. Those who equate numerical strength with military power had better think again because they might have very bitter surprises visited upon them for making foolish moves. Be warned.

Nigerian indigenes resident at the disputed island have not been able to reach at their relations in Nigeria through phone calls, while the Cameroon government had infiltrated families of Nigerians at the area causing division among them.

Adoke said the Nigerian government was determined to protect the interests of the local population "including negotiations aimed at buying back the territory."
However, Cameroonian government spokesman Issa Tchiroma Bakary said recently "Bakassi is Cameroon and this is non-negotiable."

BARELY 24 hours to the expiration of the window of opportunity to appeal against the International court of Justice, ICJ, ruling that ceded the oil-rich Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon in October 10, 2002, there are influx of stern looking men believed to be security operatives from Cameroon

Vincent Aquah, chairman of the Cross Rivers State Emergency Management Agency told DW there were indications that the Bakassi people were being forced to leave their homeland. "From the stories they tell us, there is a high degree of hostility from the Cameroonian gendarmes."

Cameroon moves to take possession of Bakassi Peninsula with heavy security

CALABAR—BARELY 24 hours to the expiration of the window of opportunity to appeal against the International court of Justice, ICJ, ruling that ceded the oil-rich Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon in October 10, 2002, there are influx of stern looking men believed to be security operatives from Cameroon

The increased presence of security operatives from Cameroon according to Nigerian Sources at the island was to ensure that the country takes absolute control of the area following Nigeria’s failure to appeal against the judgment or call for a review.

The Sources also claimed that in the past few weeks, Nigerian indigenes resident at the disputed island have not been able to reach at their relations in Nigeria through phone calls, while the Cameroon government had infiltrated families of Nigerians at the area causing division among them.

A highly placed Bakassi Local Government Council official who spoke with Vanguard on condition of anonymity alleged that some Nigerians doing business at the Peninsula had complained of harassment by the Cameroon security agents.

The official also said that there had been many strange faces suspected to be security personnel coming in groups in preparation of taking complete control of the place.

Meanwhile, President of Academic Staff Union of Universities, Dr. Nasir Isa has said that Nigeria made a mistake in handling the matter and that the federal government also made a great mistake by committing herself to hand over Bakassi to Cameroon, adding that children in Bakassi have the right to decide where to belong.



[quote]Adoke said the Nigerian government was determined to protect the interests of the local population "including negotiations aimed at buying back the territory."
However, Cameroonian government spokesman Issa Tchiroma Bakary said recently "Bakassi is Cameroon and this is non-negotiable."

Tension remains high in the swampy region, which is home to several armed groups. A movement called the Bakassi Self-Determination Front declared independence from Cameroon in August, hosting a flag and setting up an FM radio station. It is not clear how much support it has.

Vincent Aquah, chairman of the Cross Rivers State Emergency Management Agency told DW there were indications that the Bakassi people were being forced to leave their homeland. "From the stories they tell us, there is a high degree of hostility from the Cameroonian gendarmes."

DW's Moki Kindzeka says the inhabitants of Bakassi were given five years, under the Green Tree agreement between Cameroon and Nigeria, to decide whether they wanted to become Cameroonians or remain Nigerians.
Sam Olukoya, a DW correspondent in Lagos, says that former Bakassi residents who have already fled their homeland for Nigeria face a tough time.

In the area where the Nigerian government is resettling them, there is a lack of basic facilities such as shelter, water and health care. There are also problems of adjustment. "They are being resettled on dry land where fishing, their traditional occupation is not possible," he says. [url]http://www.dw.de/dw/article/0,,16296454,00.html [/url] http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/10/cameroon-moves-to-take-possession-of-bakassi-peninsula-with-heavy-security/

The Federal Government’s refusal to utilise the window for a review of the judgment, angered Bakassi indigenes who are now considering teaming up with the Efik in Cross River State to form an alliance with South-west Cameroun as a prelude to seceding from Nigeria

Bakassi: House of Reps Summons Adoke

11 Oct 2012
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Mr. Mohammed Adoke


By Onwuka Nzeshi and Jude Okwe

The House of Representatives Committee on Treaties and Agreements Wednesday summoned the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Adoke (SAN), over the status of treaties and agreements signed between Nigeria and other countries.

Speaker of the House, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, dropped the hint of the summon while declaring open a public hearing on the Amendment of the Treaties Act, organised by the House Committee on Treaties and Agreements.

Adoke’s summon came on the heels of the controversy trailing the Green Tree Agreement (GTA), in the aftermath of the 2002 judgment of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ceding Bakassi to Cameroun.

The Federal Government, despite public clamour, on Monday had ruled out seeking a review of the ICJ judgment that made Nigeria to cede Bakassi to Cameroun.

Adoke cited weak fresh facts for the action, noting that should the government bow to public pressure to seek a review of the judgment, Nigeria was bound to lose.

However, the Cross River State Government, in whose domain the oil-rich peninsula is located, faulted the Federal Government's submission just as lawmakers from the state House of Assembly marched on the streets of Calabar, the state capital, to show their grievances over the decision.

The state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Attah Ochinke, said the state gave the Federal Government new information that could have assisted in reclaiming Bakassi.

The Federal Government’s refusal to utilise the window for a review of the judgment, angered Bakassi indigenes who are now considering teaming up with the Efik in Cross River State to form an alliance with South-west Cameroun as a prelude to seceding from Nigeria.

Tambuwal, represented by the Deputy House Leader, Hon. Leo Ogor, said Adoke needed to brief the committee on the status of all bilateral and multilateral treaties pending at the presidency.

“I think that besides the agreement on Bakassi, there are several treaties before the Attorney General of the Federation that have not been domesticated and without them been ratified by the National Assembly in line with section 12 of the 1999 Constitution, they will not have the force of law. So, the committee must engage the AGF in the course of the public hearing on the treaties pending before us,” he said.

Chairman of the committee, Hon. Ekundayo Alebiosu, said the public hearing was designed to seek the views of stakeholders on how to make a more robust guiding treaties and agreements.
Sponsor of the bill to amend the Treaties Act, Hon. Emmanuel Jime, said Nigeria needed a better Treaties Act to protect its national interests.

Bakassi indigenes, who are unhappy with the loss of the campaign for the Federal Government to reclaim their oil-rich peninsula from Cameroun, yesterday pondered on their future, which they believe does not lie within the Nigerian territory.

They are considering teaming up with their Efik kinsmen to seek an alliance with South-west Cameroun for the formation of a new country.

The protest over the Federal Government’s decision continued yesterday, as thousands of black-armband-wearing Bakassi indigenes assembled at the Calabar Cultural Centre ground from where they staged a protest march through major streets of the state capital, over the ceding of the peninsula.

The protesters, who carried placards with various inscriptions, said the forum was a “gathering of sons and daughters of Efik to seek the way forward for the Bakassi struggle”.

Their placards read: “Return Bakassi to Nigeria; Shame on those who sold Bakassi; Donald Duke Betrayed Bakassi, Our leaders do not cede our heritage away to a foreign land", and "Abacha, our hero” among others.

Those who addressed the forum said the battle to reclaim their ancestral home had just begun.

The Obong of Calabar and Grand Patriarch of Efik Kingdom, Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu (VI), in whose territory Bakassi is situated, said the land belongs to Efik Kingdom.

He said that the Efik Kingdom “will not rest on its oars until the time ownership of the area is ascertained”.

The Obong was represented by the Chairman, Etubom Traditional Council (conclave of kingmakers), Etubom Bassey Oko Bassey Duke.
Otu said the treaty for the ownership of Bakassi as an Efik entity was signed by the Obong of Calabar in the 1890s.

“Bakassi is truth. Today, the truth is being buried, it will germinate and grow again,” he said.

In his contribution, Senator Bassey Ewa Henshaw said: “Today (yesterday) October 10, will be marked as Bakassi Day annually. We will continue to mark it until the people of Bakassi are returned to their original home.”

He regretted that the whole issue surrounding the ceding of Bakassi was “fraudulent because we provided enough evidence and very soon, we will release it to the entire world to see. The people of this land will not rest until we find justice”.

BlackBaron: No need to lie.

On record, OBJ lost in the SW. Previous election had GEJ claiming majority vote and even Ribadu clinching a state in the SW region.

PointB: There is no way folks like OUK can represent Igbo in the 2015 presidency battle. I'll rather cast my vote for David Mark, than OUK. Nuff said!

Demdem: So u are basically saying that we are better off with a northern leader right

Demdem: And u should know by now that the General has nothing to do with the terrorism going on. people just like misusing their mouth. Its a free world afterall

Demdem: And GEJ is about to nail it to perpetuity if he refuses to appeal. thats the fact.