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Bakassi remains Nigeria's territory By
THE integrity of the various organs of the United Nations remains relevant according to the degree of their political interest. During pre-second-world war-era, Adolfus Hitler provocatively claimed that Germany was martialled out of Africa by influences surrounding African Empire.
Therefore, the recent judgement on the 10th of October, 2002 by Gilbert Guillaume of the International Court of Justice, at the Hague, Netherlands over undisputed Nigerian Senatorial District of Bakassi Peninsula in favour of Cameroun, through the invocation of imperial British - German Treaty of 1913 is a rape and unforeseen potential international conspiracy against Nigeria’s Territorial Integrity and Sovereignty.
The greatest mistake Nigeria made owing to the turn of event on Bakassi is her appearance at the World Court. Among Nigerians, there is a contention over the Territorial Amalgamation of Northern and Southern Protectorates by Lord Lugard in 1914. The 1914 Amalgamation treaty takes precedence and predominates over whatever concession of 1913 which was swept out along with German by influences surrounding African Empire.
The appeal by International Court of Justice (World Court) on consensus by Nigerian Colonial Masters-British Government to concede Nigerian Territory to German Government so-to-speak British - German treaty of 1918 on which Guillaume based his judgement over and above the interest and legitimacy of six million Nigerian residents in Bakassi Senatorial District of Nigeria, in favour of Cameroun is the height of irresponsibility and perversion of justice.
You cannot and will never rob Peter to pay Paul. Nigerians should rise and solidly take the stance of George W. Bush over the relevance of United Nations political instruments on serious issues in question, like Bakassi Peninsula. To contend the relevance of German treaty of 1913, whose government has no single territorial influence or colony in Africa is hogwash.
If the pressure by international community on Nigeria to democratise implies Nigeria to cede her territorial sovereignty to Camaroun because of the interest of resource warriors then it is no better alternative to military regime in view of the threat to her territorial sovereignty. Why now! Why was this judgment not given during Abacha regime and lifetime, why was it not given during Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida regime. Why now, during highly politicised civilian government.
At times, I wonder who and who is a Nigerian. Any person no matter how highly placed or lowly placed that gives a back-up or support to the October 10, 2002 ruling at the Hague is not a Nigerian. About six million residents in Bakassi are Nigerians and Nigeria should rise and fight for their cause. The judgement in favour of Cameroun is part of Western ploy to ferment and perpetuate trouble in Africa. Nigeria should take cognisance of that and not shy away from her civic responsibility.
That President Obasanjo consented to pre-judgement condition in close-door-meeting convened by French President Chirac, does not imply the collective will of the people of Nigeria and it is not binding, in international diplomacy. Though, the aftermath should not be ignored with a wave-of-the hand as the negative impact might have overnight influence of the ruling at the Hague. Nigeria has been taking a soft stance on Bakassi issue. The time is now, to take a hard and tough stance as there is no legitimate, legal or illegal route to war.
I am not advocating that Nigeria should go to war with Cameroun; neither am I suggesting that Nigeria should succumb to international conspiracy represented by the judgement. But whereby all internal diplomatic efforts are exhausted to resolve the issue contrary to the ruling at the Hague, then that should be a pionter that either way there would have been war because Cameroun would not have given up to fight if the judgement were in favour of Nigeria.
That all claims which necessitated Cameroun action against Nigeria in the world court, was thrown overboard to the appeal of British-German Treaty of 1913 is a glaring international conspiracy against Nigeria.
This is the time for deliverance, the cost of leadership. Obasanjo should rise up to the challenge. The leadership, Nigeria most need now, is that which would provide adequate security within the length and breath of Nigeria border with Cameroun and not necessarily only Bakassi Peninsula. Our military might should be mobilised without further delay to protect and defend Nigeria’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
It’s time for Nigeria to disabuse the minds of international Community that Bakassi is no longer the resources battlegrounds of the Third-World or passive chunks of real estate on which the big powers manoeuvre for advantage. The reason for Nigeria’s present predicament does not need divination as that is the history of British-French imperial expansionism. Which is responsible for the privation and deprivation of German colonial influence in Africa.
How can you reconcile British-German Agreement of 1917 with conferences in 1818 and 1885. After Berlin conference in 1818 and 1885 left us with meaningless boundaries with no rhyme or reason in the geographical, topographical or ethnic character of particular regions, which as well left no room for German territorial or colonial influence in Africa moreover, in Cameroun.
The various authority - Delimited Boundary by the Thompson-Marchand Declaration of 1929-1930 and the Henderson - Fleuriau exchange of notes of 1931 cited by Gilbert Guillaume, President of International Court of Justice (ICJ) are sham banal element and post-political gimmick and instrument to achieve the selfish end of the imperial and expansionist government of Britain and France. In view of Anglo-German Agreement of 12 April, 1913, by the British Order in council of 2 August 1946 and Anglo-German Agreement of 11 March and 12 April 1913 with British-French Agreement of 1946, in which still Germany was still skimmed off territorial or colonial occupation and influence in Africa, moreover so-to-speak in Cameroun.
The covetousness of Cameroun over Nigerian oil-rich marsh of Bakassi Peninsula is a time-bomb that could not be disposed by the judgement at the Hague which could be likened to the demand for relevant U.N. Security Council new resolution against Iraq, by US President Mr. George W. Bush. This is leverage for Nigeria not to succumb or abide by the ruling at the Hague. It is not a popular and unanimous judgement in that out of the fourteen (14) Judges, three voted for and six deferred in their opinions on the declaration of the court. To dispossess or skim us out of our territorial sovereignty would amount to modern slavery with unforeseen consequences against all auguries of civilisation.
Nigeria should rather be preoccupied with the safety and security of Nigerian residents in Cameroun. And without further delay fortify security along the length and breath of Nigerian - Camerounian border. In the interest and spirit of African - brotherhood, Nigeria should allow Cameroun their present geo-political area portion of occupation, no more no less in case of any eventuality. The unity of Nigeria rests on the struggle against the dispossession of Bakassi.
Dec 2002
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