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We Won't Leave Nigeria, Bakassi Insists - Police On Red Alert

Daily Champion (Lagos)
NEWS
September 16, 2004
Posted to the web September 16, 2004

By Tom Moses and Abiodun Adelaja
Calabar and Abuja
POLICE in Cross River State said yesterday that their men in the disputed
Bakassi Peninsula have been placed on red alert and urged the residents not to
panic over an alleged threat by Camerounian gendarmes to invade the area if
Nigeria failed to hand over the oil-rich strip to the francophone country.
The handover would have taken place yesterday, but technical and other reasons
stalled the development.
But, chairman House of Representatives committee on Bakassi, Essien Ayi said
his people would rather die than join Cameroun.
Speaking with Daily Champion in his office in Calabar, police spokesman Mr. Joe
Uzonna said there was nothing to worry about the situation as the police in the
area have been placed on red alert to deal with any possible invasion.
Uzonna said the command's meeting with the Camerounian ambassador in Calabar,
Mr. Foe Tangana during the week on the alleged threat by the gendarmes proved
that the said invasion was a rumour as the Camerounians have no legal powers to
invade a territory without authorization from their central government.
But should the Bakassi indigenes and residents suspect strange movements and
actions in the territory, Uzonna advised them to report immediately to the
police station in the area for necessary action.
Hon. Ayi, who is also the lawmaker representing Bakassi in the House of
Representatives said the position of the federal legislature on the issue was
that ceding 33 Nigerian communities, including Bakassi, was unconstitutional
and therefore a nullity.
Hon. Ayi who spoke with Daily Champion, stated that ceding of Bakassi to
Cameroun would involve amendment of the Constitution where the area is listed
as one of the 774 local governments in the country.
"So far, there is nothing to worry about because our men are on ground. There
is also a police station in Bakassi to handle any uprising.
"I am saying that there is nothing to worry about because our men who are there
have not alerted us on any plan by the gendarmes to attack the Bakassi people.
And as I am talking to you now, people are going about their normal businesses
without any fear of attack or molestation," the PRO said.
He urged the people not to lose sleep over the allegation that the gendarmes
were planning to attack them.
Daily Champion which visited Bakassi yesterday noted that the residents were
peaceful and went about their normal businesses without fear of attack.
A royal father in the area, His Royal Highness Etubom Asuquo Etim, who spoke to
Daily Champion, also ruled out the possibility of invasion by the gendarmes
because, according to him, the gods of the land were solidly behind the Bakassi
people.
Should the attack come to be, he assured that the gods will rise up to fight
for them.
An elder, Chief Samuel Okon however, expressed surprise that the issue of
handing over of their land could still be contemplated.
"My brothers, forget that thing, it cannot work. Nobody can send us parking
from our land," he vowed, adding that should the Federal Government back out on
the resistance, Bakassi people will subscribe to a plesbicite.
Hon. Ayi, who is also the lawmaker representing Bakassi in the House of
Representatives said the position of the federal legislature on the issue was
that ceding 33 Nigerian communities, including Bakassi, was unconstitutional
and therefore a nullity.
Hon. Ayi who spoke with Daily Champion, stated that ceding of Bakassi to
Cameroun would involve amendment of the Constitution where the area is listed
as one of the 774 local governments in the country.
Besides, he said, Bakassi people have vowed not to join Cameroun insisting that
their allegiance is to the Obong of Calabar who is the partriach of the Efiks.
"When a man tells you that he is prepared to die over an issue, then that must
be a very serious matter. And my people have said so in this matter," he
declared.
Meanwhile, the House has mandated its leadership to liaise with President
Olusegun Obasanjo on how to solve the issue.

   

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