The Obong of Calabar, Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu V, and the entire Efik Kingdom in Cross River State have concluded arrangements to send a delegation to the United Nations Security Council to press for a review of the judgment of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) which on October 10, 2002 ceded Bakassi Peninsula to the Republic of Cameroun.
This last ditch effort by the distraught kingdom which owns Bakassi Peninsula is sequel to the Federal Government's foreclosure of any appeal against the judgment ahead of its deadline on October 10, 2012, and its lack of plan to either develop the Dayspring Resettlement Camp or pay compensation for the loss of the peninsula.
At a meeting convened at the Obong's palace and attended by the Etuboms, traditional rulers, professionals, religious leaders, women leaders and youth groups and critical stakeholders of Efik kingdom to examine the unfolding events in Bakassi, it was agreed that since individuals and groups cannot appeal the ICJ judgment, they should exploit the option of the Security Council in view of the fresh facts on the ownership of Bakassi at their disposal.
The proposed visit to the Security Council is to prod the powerful UN organ into action in view of the unpleasant developments at the Gulf of Guinea evident in growing insecurity, mistreatment of Nigerians left in Abana and other coastal communities of Bakassi by Cameroonian gendarmes, declaration of the sovereign state of Bakassi, all which if unchecked could lead to war of attrition.
The meeting noted that the peninsula was the bona fide property of and ancestral land of the various houses under the Obong of Calabar and that there were documents to back this fact as exemplified in the 1884 Treaty entered between the kings and chiefs of old Calabar and Britain.
"In recent times the kingdom and its peace loving people have watched with consternation as their property has been partitioned, fought over, its boundaries adjusted and subjected to a court of judgment without consultation let alone consent," a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting said.
The communiqué appreciated the good efforts of those concerned with the Bakassi issue and called on all sons and daughters at home and the diaspora "to come together with one voice to restore the rights and dignity of their brothers and sisters in Bakassi".
It advised the Federal Government "to without further delay vigorously explore every legal avenue and opportunity to seek a review of the ICJ judgment before October 10, 2012 deadline.
"The attention of all Nigerians and the international community be drawn to the sad plight of traumatised Efik people as well as other Nigerians who have been impacted and continue to suffer as a result of the ICJ decision.
"All concerned authorities should as a matter of urgency provide aid succour to the hapless, brutalised and disenfranchised Nigerians who are facing a terrible time in Bakassi.
"We call on all Efik youths to remain clam and law abiding as we believe that the Federal Government of Nigeria and well meaning Nigerians will hearken to the desperate crisis of their fellow citizens and right the wrongs which have been committed against the Efik kingdom and the Bakassi people in particular," the communiqué stated.
Source: allafrica.com
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