Tom Mosses
15 August 2008
Calabar — There was drama yesterday, as proposed final handing over and transfer of Bakassi peninsula to the Cameroun scheduled for Abana, the headquarters of the area was aborted by militants youths from the Niger Delta region opposed to the decision.
The ceremony later took place at the Peregrino Lodge at the Government House, Calabar to avoid a possible clash of the Nigerian and Camerounian authorities with the militants who had earlier converged at Abana..
The Cross River State government had in a statement government Wednesday, indicated that the handing over ceremony would hold at Abana irrespective of threats by the militants. However, security reports forced the federal to hurriedly reschedule the venue for the Peregrino Lodge.
Speaking at ceremony the Attorney-General of the federation and Minister of Justice (AGF), Chief Michael Aondoakaa, said he was saddled with the painful task of completing the implementation of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling by handing over Bakassi to Cameroun.
"As painful as it is, we have a responsibility to keep our commitment to the International community, promote international peace and cooperation and advance the course of African brotherhood and good neighbourliness.
"Most importantly however, this is President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua's practical demonstration of his administration's total commitment to the rule of law. It is in his sincere believe that if African leaders believe and adhere totally to the rule of law, peace would reign on this continent", Aondoakaa said.
He said the gains of handing over Bakassi are in pursuit of international peace, good neighbourliness and rule of law, may in the final analysis, outweigh the painful losses in territory, ancestral homes and other emotions
He assured the people of Bakassi that Yar'Adua's administration would provide their welfare needs and all other Nigerians who found themselves in other territories.
Aondoakaa said the hand over of Bakassi would certainly generate some socio-economic and political fallouts which was why the border communities development Agency Act, 2003 was amended in 2006 to meet the expectations of the current challenges.
This act he said, has created an intervention agency charged with the responsibility of developing Nigeria 's international border communities adding that arrangements were on for take off of this agency as a practical demonstration of the administration's concern for the pains of these communities.
Also speaking, leader of the Cameroun delegation to the Follow -Up committee on the Green Tree Agreement (GTA), and minister of Justice Prof. Maurice Kamto, lauded President Yar'Adua's wisdom, patience and faith in peace in pursuing the best interest of the two countries.
He described August 14,2008 as historic and the occasion a brotherly celebration of new found peace between the two counties, noting that Nigeria and Cameroun are two counties which are geographically and historically united and share long standing and profound cultural and ethnic ties.
"The populations live in harmony on both sides of the border, inter-marry and long to live in peace. This can be evidenced by the prevailing calm and serenity between the nationals of both counties since the withdrawal from Lake Chad and the transfer of authorities in the greater part of the Bakassi peninsula.
"The ceremony is equally a proof to the world of the ability of our two countries to respect their international commitments", Kamto said.
He therefore stressed the determination of Cameroun to abide by her commitments taken within the framework of the GTA as concerns the transitional regime applied to the zone for a non renewable period of five years.
Similarly, he assured that Cameroun would continue to provide basic infrastructure and social equipment with a view to providing the Bakassi population the facilities to ensure their well-being.
He said henceforth, Cameroun would establish with Nigeria , new reliable and mutually beneficial relationship so as to build a bright future for the two countries which play a role in future world peace.
In his message read by the chairman of the Follow-Up Committee, Sir Kieran Prendergast, the Secretary-General of UN, Ban Ki-Moon, said the handing over of Bakssi to Cameroun following the ICJ ruling of October 10, 2002 was a testimony of the determination and resolve of both countries to move beyond a difficult past and with a common vision and aspiration to strengthen and respect the rule of law of international law as well as address their border dispute in a way that would secure lasting peace and good neighbourliness between the peoples of Cameroun and Nigeria..
"The case of the Bakassi Peninsula has proven the viability of a peaceful and legal settlement of border disputes when it is done with the full support of the international community and in a spirit of mutual respect, good neighbourliness and cooperation.
"I wish to pay tribute to the foresight and political will demonstrated by the governments and peoples of the Republic of Cameroun and the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It is in particular, their patience and perseverance that have made this remarkable experiment and today's ceremony possible.
"Furthermore, the success of their initiative has provided the world with a model for the peaceful resolution of sensitive disputes..
"This day also marks a critical milestone in the successful implementation of the 2002 ruling of the International Court of Justice which resolved the potentially dangerous boundary dispute between Cameroon and Nigeria . It is a day of triumph for the rule of law which lies at the very core of mission and work of the United Nations", Moon stated.
Thus, he said that as the countries continue to work together to finalize the demarcation of their land boundary and foster cross-border cooperation at different levels, they would benefit from the continued engagement and support of the UN.
"The final transfer of authority in Bakassi Peninsula opens a new chapter in the relationship between the two countries in addressing residual issues. I am sure that both countries will show the same resolve and dedication to making sure that the human rights of the local populations affected by this historic event continue to be protected", the UN Secretary-General advised.
Earlier, the acting governor of Cross River State , Hon Frank Adah, in his welcome address, noted that the final handing over of the Bakassi based on the GTA guarantees that Nigerians were free to remain in the peninsula if they chose to do so even after its transfer to Cameroun .
Based on the said agreement, he said Cameroun shall not force Nigerian nationals living in Bakassi Peninsula to leave the zone or to change their nationality, that Cameroun shall respect the culture, language and beliefs, respect their rights to continue their agricultural and fishing activities, protect their property, customary land and rights, not levy in any discriminatory manner and taxes and other dues on Nigerians living in the zone and should take every measure to protect Nigerian nationals living in the zone.
He called on the Nigerian nationals who have chosen to remain in Bakassi to be conscious of these facts just as the Federal government of Nigeria would continue to ensure that their rights were not abused.
Highlights of the ceremony were the signing of agreements between the head of the Nigerian delegation to the Follow-Up Committee, Chief Michael Aondoakaa-SAN and the head of the Cameroonian delegation, Prof. Maurice Kamto as well as exchange of the two countries flags.
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The final hand-over Of Bakassi despite the ruling in a Nigerian court that forbids the handover until after the court judgement as well as the hold out by the Senate till the 12th hour should point to President Yar'Adua that his touted 'rule of law' or the 'due process' HAVE TO BE SOMETIMES TRANSCENDED to provide that unique effective and palpable leadership for the country. FOR ONCE SINCE RESUMING OFFICE, PRESIDENT YAR'ADUA, WITH THIS RESOLVE TO HAND OVER BAKASSI AND AVOID THE COUNTRY BEING ENTRAPPED IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION, DEMONSTRATES THE EXPECTED LEADERSHIP.