Ernest Chinwo, Stanley Nkwazema and Damilola Oyedele
13 August 2008
Calabar — Ahead of the historic handover of Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon tomorrow, there was a massive security build-up last night in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, and other areas around the disputed peninsula.
In Abuja, the Federal Government again restated its commitment to the handover of the territory, saying the ceremony would go on as planned and no court proceeding would encumber it.
President Umaru Musa Yar' Adua gave the assurance in Abuja even as the government disclosed that it had so far committed N4 billion to the resettlement of Nigerians affected by the ceding of territories in Bakassi (N3 billion) and Borno (N1 billion).
There was, however, a movement of a large number of Nigerian soldiers and other security personnel last night towards Ikang and the beach where the jetty leading to Abana, the headquarters of the disputed Bakassi Local Government Area, is located.
THISDAY gathered that the soldiers who were in full military gear were moving to Bakassi Peninsula to ensure the safety and safe passage of the officials that will preside over tomorrow's handover ceremony in view of the increasing activities of militants in the area.
Public Relations Officer of the 13 Motorised Infantry Brigade, Calabar, Captain Ebri Eteng, confirmed the movement of troops and added that it had nothing to do with the handover.
He said the personnel were on normal security surveillance and that "this has nothing to do with Bakassi; it is just a normal routine patrol of the Operation MESA (the codename of joint security outfit in Cross River State).
He, however, stated that the soldiers were in the area to check the activities of militants.
"You know recently there have been increased activities by militants in the peninsula and we are providing our own security measures," he said.
But the National Boundary Commission (NBC) in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) confirmed that the Federal Government had beefed up security along Bakassi to ensure a peaceful handover to Cameroon.
NBC Director-General Sadiq Diggi said security agencies had been fully mobilised and were doing everything possible for a successful exercise.
"The Inspector-General of Police has put all modalities in place as far as police is concerned, likewise other security agencies. Everybody is fully aware and doing everything possible to make sure that the final handover of the remaining part of Bakassi to Cameroon is successful," Diggi said
While also reiterating the government's commitment to the handover, Presidential spokesman Olusegun Adeniyi told newsmen in Abuja that notwithstanding the handover, the welfare of Nigerians displaced by the ceding of the peninsula was a priority of the government.
Adeniyi said the handover of Bakassi would go on as planned as the government was not encumbered by the recent court ruling, which restrained the Federal Government from going ahead with the handover of the territory.
Adeniyi also noted that in handing over the disputed territory, the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Michael Aondoakaa, would rely on the March 19, 2004 ruling of the Federal High Court by Justice S.J. Adah.
Justice Adah had ruled that since the issue had been determined by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) at The Hague, the decision was binding on all sovereign states that are members of the United Nations and no forum domesticum of member states could assume jurisdiction to review again what had been decided by the ICJ.
Relying on the certified true copy of Justice Adah's judgment, the presidential spokesman said the Nigerian legal system had made provisions for this kind of situation where courts of concurrent jurisdiction would give different rulings on the same issue.
The certified true copy of Justice Adah's ruling read in part: "From the further affidavits of the plaintiffs, it is clear that there was a dispute over the boundaries between Nigeria and Cameroon and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) delivered judgment dated 10th October 2002.
"The part of the territory these plaintiffs have brought before this court was involved in the area litigated upon at the ICJ. Since the issue had been determined at that level, the decision binds all sovereign states that are members of United Nations and no forum domesticum of member states can assume jurisdiction to review again what has been decided by the ICJ."
Adeniyi reiterated President Yar'Adua's insistence that the judgment was a commitment, which Nigeria must adhere to.
The handover would be formalised by the Minister of Justice tomorrow.
However, Adeniyi also spoke of the Federal Government's efforts to "soothe the pains" of Nigerians that would be affected by the handover of the peninsula.
"What has been of concern to the President and will be a priority to him is the welfare of the people of Bakassi as bona fide citizens of Nigeria who have found themselves in a territory legally given to another country," he said.
While noting that the handover process was painful to all those affected, Adeniyi reiterated the President's commitment to honouring a pledge he had made to the international community.
He said N3 billion had been released for the resettlement of those that would be displaced by the handover of Bakassi while another N1 billion was released for those in Borno State who also lost territories to Chad in the same ICJ ruling.
But while government is preparing for the handover of the area, the people of Bakassi still maintain they have not been informed of any handover in Abana.
A source in Abana said: "We are going about our normal life; we are not ready to move an inch from our ancestral home."
He said: "The militants are battle ready to forestall any handing over. As far as we are concerned, the National Assembly has not ratified the treaty Gowon signed with Ahijo, hence Bakassi remains our land and territory.
"We are warning the UN and others to stay clear of the peninsula or else they will regret their actions. How can the Nigerian government be so cowardly to hand over a territory that the entire nation through the National Assembly has not given its blessings?"
The Cross River State government also appealed to the displaced people of Bakassi to remain peaceful while the handover ceremony takes place.
The government, in a release signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Fidelis Ugbo, said: "On Thursday, August 14, 2008, the Cross River State Government will be playing host to officials from the Presidency and the international community at Abana during the official handing over ceremony of the Bakassi Peninsula to the Republic of Cameroon.
"The handing over ceremony will be in keeping with the judgment of the International Court of Justice at The Hague and in line with Nigeria's desire to maintain her leadership position, ensure peace and good neighbourliness in Africa and the world at large.
"As a government that believes in the rule of law, we want to appeal to the displaced people of Bakassi and other ethnic nationalities residing in the area and in the new Bakassi Resettlement Camp to remain calm and cooperate with the federal and State governments to ensure a smooth and memorable handing over ceremony.
"Let me assure the Bakassi people of the desire of the Cross River State government to integrate all Nigerian citizens in Bakassi into the economy of the state by providing ample opportunity for those willing to promote enterprise, learn one trade or the other to do so."
Also yesterday, the National Assembly leadership in a bid to avoid a backlash scheduled a meeting with President Yar'Adua today at the Presidential Villa.
The House Leader Tunde Akogun told THISDAY yesterday that the handover of Bakassi was a controversial issue and must be handled with care hence the meeting with the Presidency.
Akogun disclosed that the meeting could not hold before now due to the absence of the House Speaker Dimeji Bankole who was away in Malaysia for the Commonwealth Parliamentary Union and the Senators who had been on vacation.
"I think we are going to meet with the Presidency. It is important that we sit down and find an amicable way of solving the problem.
"The Speaker has been away, but he is back now and the Senate is also resuming today to pass the 2008 Budget Amendment so the Senate President will also be available," Akogun said.
But the Leader of the Minority in the House, Mohammed Ndume, who also spoke to THISDAY on the Bakassi issue is not happy that the Presidency was still going ahead with the handover, despite the fact that the House had last month passed a resolution urging the President to forward the Green Tree Agreement signed between Nigeria and Cameroon on the Bakassi Peninsula to it.
Ndume told THISDAY that the House resolution was very clear.
He said: "We moved a motion on the issue and it was unanimous; we invited the Foreign Affairs Minister, Chief Ojo Maduekwe, and the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice but they refused to come.
"The President preaches Due process and rule of law and should be seen to respect resolutions of other arms of government. The Judiciary gave an injunction restraining him from handing over the peninsula and so let this two institutions be respected."
On what the House will do if the President goes ahead with the handover, Ndume said, "Well there is nothing we can do. The opposition raised the issue as a matter of urgent national importance, it was killed on the floor but when it came by way of motion it was accepted and the resolution was passed.
"What we are saying is that something went wrong. The constitution is very clear that such treaties are to be ratified by the National Assembly and we should be seen to be doing that."
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