Imoke Urges Review Of Ruling On Bakassi Peninsula

Governor of Cross River State, Senator Liyel Imoke on
Thursday urged Nigeria and the Cameroon to evolve ways of resolving the
International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling on the Bakassi Peninsula.

Imoke told the 12th Brainstorming Session of the Nigerian
Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Lagos, that in spite of the ruling
on Bakassi, both countries should work toward mutual resolution of the disputed
areas.

The theme of the session was “The Bakassi Peninsula: Ten
Years of ICJ Ruling and the Resultant Problems”.

“ If the Green Tree Agreement has not produced the intended
outcome, both countries and the UN should begin discussion aimed at the review
of the judgment.

“Whatever the ICJ judgment says, the two countries can by
agreement resolve the matter on ground,’’ he said.

Represented by Mr Mike Aniah, Secretary to the Cross River
State Government, said agreement between them would supercede the ICJ judgment.

Imoke enjoined the UN to bring the two states to a
roundtable for a mutual settlement.

The governor advised the two countries to take advantage of
the ICJ provision of application for review of judgments.

“We have to face the reality the ICJ and Green Tree
Agreement have not worked.

“We either review these documents by engaging all the
parties through stipulated processes or wait and allow the situation to play
out with unintended consequences,’’ he said.

Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, a former External Affairs Minister,
warned against the use of force in reclaiming Bakassi from Cameroon.

Akinyemi urged the Federal Government to take urgent steps
to engage the Bakassi Self-Determination Front in a dialogue and dissuade its
members from embarking on a confrontation with Cameroon.

“At all costs, we cannot afford for Bakassi Peninsula to
become a “Kasmir” between Nigeria and Cameroun,’’ he said.