President Goodluck Jonathan has said the reason Nigeria did not appeal the ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), awarding the oil-rich territory of Bakassi to Cameroon in a 2002 judgment, was to protect Nigerians living in that country. He said this during interactive session with the Nigerian community in Yaounde, Cameroon, Sunday night. The president is in the country for the summit of heads of states and governments of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Gulf of Guinea Commission (GGC), which kicked off yesterday, with a focus on maritime safety and security in the Gulf of Guinea. Bakassi was legally ceded by Nigeria to Cameroon in 2002 and Nigerians there had until August 2012 to decide to become Cameroonians or leave the territory. The area had been heavily guarded by Cameroonian soldiers since their country took control of the territory from Nigeria on August 14, 2008. The ICJ had awarded Bakassi to Cameroon in a 2002 ruling. Nigeria eventually decided not to fight the ruling and ceded control, over the protests of many Bakassi residents. President Jonathan, while responding to the questions raised by some Nigerians present, noted that, “at a time there was tension between Nigeria and Cameroon and people reacted. When two countries are friends, the people also tend to be friends but when they disagree their citizens tend to disagree also. “You all know what happened in Bakassi. There is no need to go back on why we couldn’t appeal. We had no new evidence within the period of time that was given that will make a difference in the judgement. Our people should live a good and decent life in Cameroon. The forces of animosity are gradually dying down and the relationship is improving.” The president assured the citizens that his government was totally committed to their welfare, adding that their concerns bordering on high cost of residence permits, high cost of tuition fees for students, among others, would be tabled before his host, President Paul Biya, to find amicable solution to them. He particularly commended the good reports on Nigerians in the French-speaking country and assured that concerns raised bordering on security, power, infrastructural deficits back home in Nigeria were all being addressed, noting that in two years, though short, his administration had made significant impacts in key sectors. President Jonathan urged Nigerians in diaspora to ignore negative reports that tended to exaggerate the problems back home but should take time out to look at the parameters, GDP growth, foreign direct investments, all which indicate that “the economy is strong.” He noted that investors did not take money to countries where nothing was happening, revealing that out of every $10 that came to the continent, $4 came into Nigeria. On power, the president said his administration was almost done with privatisation and once completed, the sector “will take a life of its own”, adding that there had been significant improvement. On road infrastructure, he said work had been ongoing after the flood last year, adding, “we are not where we want to be but we are not where we used to be.” On Nigerians in diaspora voting, the president said it was a cause he personally advocated but could not use executive fiat to veto it, urging them to be patient until the constitution was amended. While noting that Nigeria had a very vibrant diaspora whose voice should be heard, Jonathan advised those passionate about the issue to write a petition to the National Assembly to push for the amendment. On insecurity in the country, he admitted that it was challenging but praised the Nigerian security operatives for living up to expectations. Speaking more on the state of emergency declared in the three northern states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe, Jonathan said going by the successes of the Joint Task Force (JTF) it might not take the six months constitutionally backed to bring the insurgents under control and lift the state of emergency. The president of the Nigerian Union, Centre Region, Ebere Valentine, assured the president that Nigerians in Cameroon would continue to be good ambassadors and “project the image of our country well.” The representative of Nigerians in the corporate sector in Cameroon, Olukorede Adenowo, managing director, Standard Chartered Bank, West and Central Africa, said opportunities existed in Cameroon and advised Nigerian businessmen to take advantage of the geographical proximity and the comparatively high prices. Representative from the Bakassi Peninsular, Chief Etim Effiong, commended President Jonathan for not abandoning those of them that chose to remain in Cameroon as Nigerians. He said they could not bear to abandon the land that belonged to their forefathers for years and expressed happiness that the Nigerian government was working with the Cameroonian government to make them safe and at home in their community.
Posted on: Tue, 25 Jun 2013 18:08:07 +0000
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