Bakassi Indigenes Vow to Remain In Nigeria
From Amby Uneze in Calabar
Residents of Bakassi Peninsular have said that despite the decision of the Nigerian Govern-ment to cede the area to Federal Republic of Cameroon on September 15, they will remain in Nigeria at any cost.
The people were reacting to last Friday statement in Calabar by Minister of Defence, Alhaji Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, that Nigerian troops are beginning to withdraw gradually from the disputed oil rich Bakassi in readiness for the September 15 hand-over date to Cameroon in line with the 2002 judgment of the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
Speaking on the issue in an interview with THISDAY, the paramount ruler of Bakassi local government area, Etinyin Etim Okon Edet has restated his peoples resolve not to belong to another country other than Nigeria.
He said, "First and foremost, President Olusegun Obasanjo swore to defend and uphold the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Bakassi is part of Nigeria with its headquarters at Abana, and the constitution has not been amended so we are still part of Nigeria and Cross River State."
"Therefore, the issue of ceding the headquarters, Abana to Cameroon is uncalled for. But let it be known by all that Bakassi people shall pay any price, we shall bear any burden, we shall meet any hardship, we shall support any friend, we oppose any foe to assure our survival. And the Almighty God who created and placed us where we are shall be our helper. he didn't make any mistake," Etinyin said.
The paramount ruler lamented that Bakassi people are looking at the ceding drama as a wind which they believed shall blow away, while hoping for calm.
According to him, "as people are looking forward towards September 15, God can do miracle. We believe God that He is the greater judge. We took this matter to God and we hope that He will ensure that the issue will be resolved amicably so that the owners of the area will still remain. There is nothing God cannot do."
He enjoined the leaders of the two countries to work out amicable way of dealing with the issue without overheating the polity. "The legal angle is over. We are now appealing to people's conscience to decide whether the judgment is proper or not," he said.
The royal father attributed his peoples quietness to the peaceful way the two countries are approaching the issue, hence the setting up of the mixed commission.
He noted that "our utmost position is that we shall not leave the area neither shall we surrender our sovereignty. I have a right to decide which country I want to belong to. Nobody will deny me of that because it is voluntary."
Etinyin commended Obasanjo for his steadfastness and honesty. "We consider him as an honest man because he does what he says," he said.
"As citizens of the world, Bakassi people have a sacred and indissoluble attachment towards the area whence they derived their birth and infant nature. We shall not move from our territory nor surrender our sovereignty," the paramount ruler stated.
He was optimistic that the issue would be resolved without injuries, as President Obasanjo is now the current chairman of the African Union (AU), and it is expected that he would use his good office to ensure we are not treated otherwise.
According to him, as Nigeria withdrew her troops from the Bakassi Peninsular, so also are the Cameroonians pulling out her own troops from the area.
Following years of dispute between Nigeria and Cameroon over the ownership of the oil rich peninsular, the ICJ ruled in a petition filed by Cameroon that certain parts of the area belong to Cameroon while some other areas belong to Nigeria.
The ICJ then ruled that both countries should withdraw their forces from the area outside their jurisdiction while the rights of present occupants should be protected by the government in control.
The Nigerian government has, however, initiated plans to achieve gradual withdrawal of its forces. The plan will be concluded on September 15.
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