Bakassi: Nigeria Begins Troops Pull-Out
From Amby Uneze in Calabar
The Nigerian Government has commenced gradual withdrawal from the disputed Bakassi Peninsula preparatory to the handing over of the area to the Federal Republic of Cameroon on September 15, 2004, in line with the judgement of the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
The Minister of Defence, Alhaji Rabiu Musa Kwan-kwaso on his way to Bakassi Local Government Area disclosed this while paying a courtesy call on the Cross River State Governor Donald Duke. The minister said that it was in an effort to respect the judgement of the ICJ that Nigeria is taking the stance.
It would be recalled that the ICJ sitting in The Hague, Netherlands had in October 10, 2002 given judgement over the disputed oil rich Bakassi Peninsula in favour of Cameroon.
Since then, Nigeria has been discussing with Came-roon to fashion out amicable ways of resolving the issue, even as both countries stationed their troops in the area.
Kwakwanso described Nigeria as a country that respects international obligations, adding that it was a hard pill to swallow but because Nigeria is a peaceful country and wants to maintain peace with other nations, the ICJ judgement has to be respected.
The former civilian governor of Kano State contended that "we are doing all what we can to follow the road map of arrangement reached by both countries through the Nigeria/Cameroon Mixed Commission."
Kwakwanso told Duke that he was in the state to meet with the soldiers in Bakassi and interact with them on issues of their welfare, as well as work out modalities for their operational withdrawal and the disengagement of troops from Bakassi in line with the ICJ judgement.
The Minister commended the officers and men of the Nigerian Army in their efforts to maintain peace within and outside the "country as evidenced in the peaceful missions by Nigerian soldiers in all the disputed countries of Africa and beyond."
He disclosed that the nation is determined to ensure that there is relative peace and security in the continent as well as ensure that things work out according to plan as far as the Bakassi issue is concerned.
In his remarks, Duke said that Cross River State has an enviable record of military/ civilian relations in the country, attributing it to the high level of discipline exhibited by members of the armed forces and the hospitable nature of Cross Riverians.
Duke commended officers and men of the Nigerian armed forces for giving their time and staking their lives in order to save the nation, adding that the state government was proud of soldiers for their service within the state, especially at the Bakassi Peninsula.
According to him, unlike other border towns and states, none is as sensitive as the Cross River region of the nation because, "the axis is of great importance to the nation."
Duke stressed that the ICJ judgement on Bakassi was something that touched the state and that it feels part of it is being excised, while wondering why the hurry to pull out of the region.
The governor also described Nigeria's foreign policy as one of the most responsible in the continent and that the country has to respect the decision of the world court rather than resorting to war is a mark of honour, saying "Nigeria has displayed superlative strength of character in handling The Hague judgement on Bakassi."
It would be recalled that since the ICJ ruling of October 10, 2002, which transferred the ownership of the oil rich Bakassi to Cameroon, the Federal Government has commenced several moves, including the constitution of a committee to work out modalities for resolving issues arising from the judgement. Infact, President Olusegun Obasanjo while receiving the report of the presidential committee on the resettlement of displaced Nigerians affected by the ICJ judgement, had maintained that it is part of Nigeria's foreign policy initiative to ensure that peace prevails between Nigeria and her neighbours, including Cameroon.
It was against this background that the Federal Government earmarked N7 billion to resettle displaced Nigerians affected by the ICJ judgement on the disputed Bakassi.
This followed the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi Annan's brokered non-aggression pact between Nigeria and Cameroon after the ICJ judgement.
It was in this direction that Obasanjo and his Cameroonian counterpart, President Paul Biya, met in February this year to review the progress so far made by the Nigeria/ Cameroon Mixed Commission.
A statement issued at the end of that meeting by the presidency had noted: "At its conclusion, President Obasanjo and President Biya reaffirmed their support for the mixed commission as it continued the implementation of the remaining tasks within its mandate. They also reiterated the need to avoid actions or declarations that could jeopardise the work of the commission."
Nigeria had since vacated 30 villages to Cameroon in line with the implementation of the recommendations of that mixed commission.
|
