Reps Assure On Domestication Of Nigeria’s Treaties

The Chairman, House Committee on Treaty and Agreement, Mr
Yacoob Alebiosu, says Nigeria is signatory to more than 200 international
treaties of bi-lateral and multi-lateral nature.

Alebiosu stated this when the House of Representatives
Committee on Treaty met with the Efik Elders and Leaders’ Forum in Calabar.

He said that Nigeria in one way or the other was a signatory
to over 200 treaties and agreements of bi-lateral and multi-lateral nature.

“As clearly stipulated in Section 12: 1 of the Nigerian
Constitution on the issues of treaties and agreements. Those that required
domestication must be domesticated before they can have the force of Law.

“Some treaties require ratification, some domestication,
some impose financial obligation on the nation and need to be brought before
the National Assembly, while some are agreements restricted within the confines
of the executive.’’ he said.

Alebiosu said the committee was in Cross River to look into
the Green Tree Agreement that came as a result of International Court of
Justice on the Bakassi Peninsula. “We are here to look into things from the
Green Tree Agreement’s point of view to see whether they are in our favour or
not and how it affects the people of Bakassi,’’ he said.

The committee had visited the affected community and would
make recommendations to the House of Representatives. “We have listened because
it is only then that we can make our recommendations to the House of
Representatives and if need be, present a motion on what we have seen. “It will
be premature for us to comment on anything right here and at this moment until
we are able to sit and put together everything that we have seen and documented,
he added.

Continuing, Rep Alebiosu said, “we have heard how the
agreement has been reached and we have requested for proper documentation for
use at the leadership and the entire House of the Representatives. “The Bakassi
people should also reach out to others, traditional leaders should reach out to
other traditional leaders, the State Governor should reach out to the
Governors’ Forum, human rights activist on this. “Let all hands be on deck. We
are going to do our best possible to make sure we actualise the dream on this
Bakassi issue.’’

Earlier, a member of the committee, Mr Ifeoluwa Arowosoge,
had assured the people of Bakassi that something positive would be done.

Arowosoge also advised against the recourse to declaration
of a Republic of their own by the Bakassi people, adding that the consequences
are usually very painful.

In his response, leader of the forum, Mr Emmanuel Edem, said
that the visit of the House of Representatives was timely and auspicious.

He said that at no time was a plebiscite conducted to
determine their choice by the primary indigenous owners of Bakassi between
Nigeria and Cameroon.

“Said Edem: At no time in the history of the Efik kingdom of
which Bakassi is part or the British Colonial history, German or Nigerian
history were the owners of Bakassi consulted before the enactment of any treaty
involving the disposal of their territory.

“During the past 10 years under Cameroon control, Nigerian
citizens still resident in Bakassi have been dehumanised through unrelenting,
physical and mental torture inflicted by agents of Government, thus making life
unbearable for the people, he stated.