|
|
Nigeria: Bakassi - House, Presidency May Clash
 |
 |
|||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||
|
||||||||||
This Day (Lagos)
4 July 2008
Posted to the web 4 July 2008
Stanley Nkwazema
Abuja
The controversy over the ceding of the oil rich Bakassi Peninsula to the Republic of Cameroon by the immediate past President Olusegun Obasanjo is yet to abate.
Yesterday, the House of Representatives summoned the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation Michael Aondoakaa and his Foreign Affairs counterpart, Chief Ojo Maduekwe, to meet with it over the matter.
Specifically, the duo was asked to meet with the House Committee on Justice, Integration in Africa and Foreign Affairs.
The House also called on President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua to forward a copy of the Green Tree Agreement, the treaty ceding the area to Cameroon, to the National Assembly for further legislative action as required by law.
Last year, the Senate also expressed similar reservations about the treaty, saying former president Obasanjo did not forward a copy of the agreement to the National Assembly for ratification before signing it.
The International Court of Justice had in its landmark judgment on October 10, 2002 ceded Bakassi to Cameroon.
After signing the Green Tree Agreement with Cameroonian President Paul Biya, Obasanjo began ceding Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon.
The hand-over is expected to be completed by August 15, this year.
The House resolved to meet with the ministers following a motion sponsored by the Action Congress (AC) Leader in the House, Hon. Femi Gbaja-biamila, and 80 other members of the lower legislative chamber.
While moving the motion titled "Implementation of the Green Tree Agreement and the ceding of Bakassi to the Republic of Cameroon," Gbajabiamila who is also the Minority Whip of the House noted that the International Court of Justice in its judgment of October 10, 2002 ceded Bakassi to the Republic of Cameroon consequent upon which the Federal Government entered into agreement with the Republic of Cameroon on the modalities for the implementation of the judgment.
He expressed worry that the executive arm of government had already begun the implementation of the Green Tree Agreement and relocation of Nigerians from Bakassi without ratification of the treaty by the National Assembly.
According to him, by virtue of Section 12 of the 1999 Constitution and Order 16 (1) of the Standing Orders of the House, no bilateral or multilateral treaty or agreement can be effected or executed without the approval of the National Assembly and all such treaties are to be subjected to the same procedure as every other bill and enacted into law.
The AC leader therefore called on his colleagues to resolve that the President suspend the implementation of the Green Tree Agreement pending the approval of the national Assembly.
House Minority Leader Mohammed Ali Ndume while supporting the motion said the prayers of the motion were long overdue and should be passed.
Hon. CID. Maduabum who represents Ekwusigo.Nnewi Federal Constituency of Anambra State, however, argued that for the treaty to be valid, it must have the force of law, adding that since the National Assembly had not approved the treaty, President Yar'Adua had no option but to forward it to the parliament for consideration.
Citing section 12 (1) of the constitution, Maduabum explained that "to pretend that the constitution does not exist is something the House should not condone at this time. We must market this treaty for it to be valid."
Hon. Chile Igbawua from Benue State observed that though the implementation of the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice by Nigeria was not mandatory, the country had already committed itself by entering into the Green Tree Agreement, hence it is advisable to thread with caution on the issue.
Also supporting the motion, Hon. Bassey Otu, said the decision of the World Court was an affront on Nigeria's social justice and constitution.
He lamented that indigenes of Nigeria in the area were suffering untold hardships and there was the urgent need to address the knotty problem without delay.
But Hon. Samson Osagie from Edo State cautioned his colleagues not to create discomfort between the legislature and executive on the issue of Bakassi, disagreeing that asking the President to discontinue the implementation of the Green Tree Agreement at this moment was not right.
He argued that the President had sent the agreement to the National Assembly and wondered why the motion was still seeking a fresh presentation of the document.
The AC caucus in the House had last Tuesday warned against the implementation of the agreement in the interest of the territorial integrity of the nation and the rights of the people of Bakassi.
|
Gbajabiamila who spoke with newsmen said the caucus was prepared to go to court over the matter to test the supremacy of the constitution.
With the unending theatrical display about Bakassi, one has the hunch that some people might be working very hard to bring about a war between Nigeria and the Cameroons. With Nigerians, everything is possible.
I don’t know what to say about my lovely country Nigeria, I can’t see the reason why Nigeria should allow the European to come and show them where their mother’s bedroom is, what i mean is this why should Nigeria aspect what International curt says about Bakassi Peninsula the same International curt have ordered Israel to ceding their land to Palestinians but the didn’t do so because the know that the are the one to tell any visitor where their mother’s bedroom is, Its time Nigeria should make us to know that where all safe in their hand, because... [Read Full Text]
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Copyright © 2008 This Day. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections -- or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Make allAfrica.com your home page | RSS Feed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Top | Site Guide | Who We Are | Advertising | Search | Subscribe | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Questions or Comments? Contact us. Read our Privacy Statement. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
