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From Judex Okoro, Calabar
Cross River State Governor, Sen. Bassey Otu, has stated unequivocally that no part of state’s land would be ceded to Cameroon again in the guise of fulfilling the implementation of the 2002 International Court Justice ICJ judgment.
Recall that Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon following the judgment delivered by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on 22 November 2007.
Speaking at the public hearing organised by the House of Representatives Adhoc Committee investigating the land tussle between Danare and Biajua communities in Boki local government area of Cross River State and the Republic of Cameroon, Out represented by Chief of Staff, Emmanuel Ironbar, said the state is still nursing the attendant consequences of the loss of Bakassi and its 76 oil wells.
According to the Governor, the state is not happy about the ceding and believes it can be still be revisited and urged the committee to invite relevant stakeholders involved in the loss of the oil rich peninsula so as to get to the root of the matter.
Commending the House of Representatives for setting up the Adhoc committee to investigate the disputed borders in Danare and Biajua Communities, he said the visit to the disputed pillars 113 and 114 in Boki communities by committee members would give some respite to the affected people.
Addressing the stakeholders at the public hearing, the chairman of the committee, Hon. Beni Lar, said: “Our mission is to carry out the mandate of the House of Representatives which passed a Resolution on Wednesday, July 5, 2023 on the need to investigate both the remote and recent circumstances leading to the looming International boundary dispute between Nigeria and Cameron towards unraveling the circumstances that led to the non-traceability and/displacement of a very vital international pillar 113A in the Demarcation of the boundaries between Nigeria and the Cameroon along the Bajua and Danare axis of Boki LGA which also even goes up to areas of Adamawa State inclusive of Sina area of Michigan LGA of the same State.
“We are here to visit the points of turmoil, which we did today before this Session began. Hold a public hearing, which is what we are doing right now and thereafter request for memoranda on the proper position of the affected communities, and then draw an agreement on a communiqué that will inform our final report back to the federal parliament”
Some of those who presented position papers at the public hearing included some chiefs, leaders and stakeholders of the communities, expressed disappointment over the lackluster attitude of the Nigerian government to intervene in the situation and prevent their communities from being ceded to the republic of Cameroon.
Speaking on behalf of community leaders, the former house of assembly member, Hon. Cletus Obung, said: “Despite pleas for the Nigerian government to make strong statements towards ensuring the contentious pillar 113A is found and restored, the attitude of the federal government and its agency saddled with border demarcation, have not been encouraging.
On his part, the former chairman of Boki LGA, Kingsley Mbia, explained how the community’s problems started from the activities of the Cameroon in their search for the disputed pillar 113A and solicited intervention of the federal government of Nigeria to avoid the repeat of Bakasii.
House of Representatives members for Akpabuyo/Bakassi/Calabar South, Rt. Hon. Joseph Bassey and Hon. Victor Abang, who represents Boki/Ikom Federal Constituency were par to the delegation that visited the boundary area.
