New book renews call for Bakassi’s return to owners

By Damiete Braide

The issue of Bakassi, a part of South-south geo-political zone of Nigeria ceded to Cameroon in 2008 following an International Court ofJustice (ICJ) judgement, took the front burner at the recent unveiling of a book titled “Uruan: The Iboku People of the Geographical Southeastern Nigeria and their Bakassi Economic Zone.”

The book’s author, a renowned economist and former Group Executive Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Effiong D. Akan, challenged lawyers of Uruan descent to reclaim the Bakassi territory.

The author, who traced the journey of the Bakassi case at the Hague, said: “the most important occupation of the Iboku people is fishing and the fishing grounds of Iboku people became the portions of Nigeria which were handed over to Cameroon – Bakassi.

“In those days, everybody was trained to do fishing with a few exceptions who were privileged to go to school. Now that Bakassi has been ceded to Cameroon, they cannot go fishing there. So for some of us, it is very painful that the source of employment for our people was handed over to Cameroon. And today, the Cameroonian government does not even allow our people to pass through that way.”

Akan stated that, “in this book, I’ve looked at the judgement and I challenge our lawyers of Uruan descent to get the Bakassi territory back. We must get our territory back. The court that gave ruling on the case was adversely constituted against our interest.

The people who caused the problem in the area – Britain, France and Germany –  were the judges in the court. They were judges in their own case. What type of justice did you want to get from them? We must get Bakassi back.”

The first book reviewer, Dr. Opeyemi Agbaje, chairman, National Pension Commission (NPC), noted that,  “the author addresses the issue of Bakassi which he describes as an Uruan economic zone. He regards the ceding of Bakassi to Cameroon as an injustice to the region.”

Speaking generally on the book, the reviewer noted that it identifies who the Iboku people are, traces their origins and provenance and provides illumination about their identity and characteristics.

According to him, “the book is a fascinating and educative account of the origins, ethnic identity, migration, culture and society of a people who, by the author’s admission, are proud and of high self-esteem. It represents the conscientious labour of an elder who seeks to leave his people with knowledge about their past.”

Agbaje described the author as “a deep Uruan Iboku patriot motivated by legacy and determined to perform a good service of recording Iboku history for present and future generations of Iboku people.”

Presenting the second review, Rear Admiral Akpan Richard, commended the depth of the publication and highlighted several historical perspectives explored by the author concerning the Uruan people’s place in the socio-political history of southern Nigeria.

Among dignitaries at the event was former Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udo Udoma, who was celebrated as one of Uruan’s most distinguished sons.

Udoma congratulated the author for his remarkable intellectual achievement and commended his long-standing commitment to the development of Akwa Ibom State and the Uruan people.

Speaking on the sidelines of the event, the CEO of Cornel Entertainment and the Public Relations Officer of ESOP Ndito Uruan in Lagos, Cornelius Udofia, said the book clears many misconceptions about the Uruan Iboku people and sets the records straight.

Udofia added that the book delves into the traditions and culture of Uruan Iboku people; “who we are, and where we actually came from and exactly where we are.”

Also speaking, the President of ESOP Ndito Uruan in Lagos, Thomas Udofia, lamented the impact of the ceding of Bakassi to Cameroon, saying, “we need to look for a way of going back to the ICJ to see if we can recover Bakassi to the people of Iboku. Because our people have lost their means of livelihood, which is fishing.”

The high point of the event was the official unveiling of the book by Agbaje alongside Akan, Otuekong, Udoma, Ettah, Mr. Udeme Ufot and Rear Admiral Richard, among other guests.