TIGblogs TIG | TIGblogs GROUP TIGBLOGS LOGIN SIGNUP
UNYIMEABASI ESSIEN'S BLOG
UNYIMEABASI ESSIEN'S BLOG
Nigeria’s Loss, Cameroun’s Gain.
Related to country: Nigeria

Translations available in: English (original) | French | Spanish | Italian | German | Portuguese | Swedish | Russian | Dutch | Arabic

At GMT 11:50am of Thursday, August 14, 2008 marked another great day of event in the administration of President Umaru Yar’ Adua and in the history of Nigeria as the ruling of the International court of Justice of October 10, 2002 that Bakassi belongs to Cameroun took effect legally.

At exactly 12.40p.m. Aondoakaa, representing Nigeria signed the handing over document and exchanged flags with his Cameroun counterpart, Prof. Maurice Kamto.

Some dignitaries present at the event.

- Ambassador Said Dginnit, Special Rep. of the UN Secretary-General for West Africa and
Chairman, Cameroun-Nigeria Mixed Committee
- Sir Kiren Prendergast, Chairman of Follow-up Committee
- Etinnyin Etim Okon Edet, Paramount Ruler of Bakassi
- Senator Ita Giwa, Former Special Adviser to the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria
- Mr. Ahmodou Alli, Deputy Prime Minister of Cameroun
- Chief Dominic Aqua, Member, Representing Bakassi in the Cross River State House of Assembly
- Mr. Frank Adah, Cross River State Acting Governor

Below are excerpts during the Handing over process:

AONDOAKAA, the Attorney General of Nigeria and Minister of Justices

“We are saddled with the painful but important task of completing the implementation of the international Court of Justice judgement by handing over Bakassi Penisula to Cameroun”

“Our government appreciates the fact that this handover will certainly generate some socio-economic and political fall-outs. To manage these peculiar circumstances and the developmental needs of our international border communities, government soon after the judgement, enacted the Border Communities Development Agency Act 2003 and amended same in 2006 to meet the expectation of the current challenges. The Act created an intervention agency charged with the responsibility of developing our international border communities. Presently, arrangements are in top gear for the take-off of this agency as a practical demonstration of our concern for the pains of these communities. I want to assure the people of Bakassi that this administration is very much interested in their welfare. The president is concerned about the welfare of bonfide citizens of Nigerian who have found themselves in a territory legally now another country”

“Article 3 of the Green Tree Agreement provides that Cameroun shall not force Nigerian nationals living in the Peninsula to leave the zone or change their nationality, and that it should respect their language, culture and beliefs, respect their right to continue agricultural and fishing activities, protect their property and their customary rights, among others. We believe that peaceful co-existence promotes good neighbourliness and guarantees harmonious and benefical bilateral relationships between the nations with the increasing globalization of most activities in the world today, physical boundaries and borders should no longer constitute barriers to free interaction among various peoples”.

SIR KIREN PRENDERGAST, Chairman, Follow-up Committee

“Landmark events was a testimony to 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 international law, address their border dispute in a way that secured lasting peace and good neighbourly relations between the people of Cameroun and Nigeria. The case of the 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 co-operation. It is the day of law for the rule of law, which lies at the very core of the mission and work of the United Nations”.

MR. MAURICE KAMTO, Cameroun Attorney-General.

“It is a privilege and great honour for me and for the Camerounian delegation to take part here in Calabar, on Nigerian soil, in the ceremony to mark the withdrawal of the administration and police forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the transfer of authority to Cameroun over the zone which under the Green Tree Agreement, has remained under Nigerian administration for a period of two years as from August 14, 2006”

“Cameroun looks forward to establishing with its Nigerian counterpart new reliable and mutually beneficial relationships”

However, for the essence of building a peaceful coexistence between Nigeria and Cameroun and for the future of the young people of these countries, Nigeria has accepted the defeat. But then, I believe this cannot stop Nigeria from achieving her focused state of living. It also serves as a lesson for both parties and for the future generation.

August 21, 2008 | 8:01 AM Comments  0 comments

You must be logged in to add tags.


mclato's Profile

mclato's Friends


Latest Posts
Global Desert Outlook
to Remove Windows...
New Central Bank...
Joint Task Force...
Seminar on Youth &...

Monthly Archive

Change Language


Tags Archive
amitkapur connectingafrica democracy desertification development foodcrisis globaltorture hiv/aids humanright humanrights ict justice makeadifference martinlutherking nigerdelta nigeria peacedeal peacefulcoexistence peninsula riot southafrica stevepearman struggle technolgy udhr60 unity washintondc youth youthandcybercrime zimbabwe

Friends
angel
Efefiong Asibong Umo
robab
'Gbenga Sesan
-123 - - Syed Rifat [সৈয়দরিফাত] -- SYEDRIFAT.COM -- অতিবাস্তববাদী[otibastobbadi]
Aare Kornar !
Akan James
Amaka for Kids
Aniekan Ekah
Apelyn Kaoto Qurusu
Asuquo Asuquo Edet
Ayodeji Dikio
Ayoola, Abayomi Olawale
Bonnie
Chris Godswill
Danish Khan (webmaster@mdanishkhan.tk)
davyk
Efraim Neto
Ekerette
Elvis O. Aigbogun
Emeka Diru
Esther Agbarakwe
Etim Emmanuel
fct
Hafiidhaturrahmah
ilyes
ISIKWENU OGHENEFEGO
Isong
Japhet
Joewel Valcueba Saba
Joya Banerjee
Kate Jongbloed
Kerrel
Liam O'Doherty
lief strong
Lorenzo Menakaya
Malcolm Lawrence
monch
Naomi-Alan Robbins
OBYNO
Ojong Odo
Peculiar Ediomo
Precious Aigbiremhon
Rafiu Abiodun Afeez
Richie
Rosalyn Yake
Sakunne
Smart
smith
Stephen Ojeremen
SunnyBits
sup4rea;
takondwa kaliwo
temmy
The Editor
Timothy Ogene
tsitsi
uduak nta
uyoyojoy
ValerieB
Veronica Ifeoma Ugwu
Wajahat Nassar
Yassir EL OUARZADI

Links
Kick-out-Poverty Rally
LEAP Workshop
True Life
Young Activists Initiative...
Young people…Take the...


15929 views
Important Disclaimer