Bakassi: What Nigeria Stands to Lose. By Prof. Boniface Egboka

The recent judgement for Nigeria and the [La Republique du] Cameroun by the International Court of Justice at The Hague over the Bakassi Peninsula is a great tragedy of unimaginable magnitude and dimension not only to the two countries but also to the entire humanity. The ill-fated, godless and unjust judgement at the Hague is so humiliating and demoralizing to every reasonable Nigerian. The judgement is uncalled-for, most despicable, shameless, bizarre and immoral. Many Nigerians and foreigners have condemned the judgement.

The Federal Republic of Nigeria and her people have rejected this neocolonialist maneuvering in all its entirety. The people of Bakassi peninsula and Southern Cameroons have equally totally-rejected the tragic and jaundiced ICJ judgement. One can understand the misplaced few Nigerians who are afraid of what [La Republique du] Cameroun under-France would do to Nigeria by the force of arms if we refuse to accept the judgement; and hence, that we should accept the ICJ nonsense and leave our lands and the people to [La Republique du Cameroun]. May God forbid bad thing!

One is not surprised by the British who have rushed out quickly to warn Nigeria to accept the Franco-British ICJ judgement. What a pity on the part of the British government to so carelessly, give itself away too early in the day on its jaundiced self-interest. Nigeria will no longer swallow the bitter contraptions of neocolonialist projects from Britain. Enough is more than enough from the British; the colonial-pain has become too much for the people to bear.

As one writes now, we are yet to hear from Chief Paul Biya of Cameroun who has just returned from a 56 days holiday in Europe. This is a man who has ruled his people for the past 20 years non-stop. Strangely though, the British and the French governments find him such a wonderful President to support in preference to a democratic Nigeria. Recently, he preferred to send his minister to attend the NEPAD meeting of Heads-of-State at Abuja instead of coming himself. One has heard and read the insults from some misguided [Camerounese] who call Nigerians all sorts of bad names through the BBC because we rejected the unjust and ill-fated ICJ judgement. But such misguided Cameroonians are not from the Southern Cameroons or the then British Cameroon. There are Southern Cameroonians who want to join their kith and kin in Nigeria or be given their self-determination through a United Nation 's organized plebiscite. They had earlier gone to an Abuja Federal High Court where they won a case that commands the Federal Government of Nigeria to assist them in their bid for self-determination and freedom. The recent unjust Bakassi misjudgement is a clear vindication of their long quest for justice. What of the hundreds of innocent Southern Cameroonians who are today languishing in jails because they want self-determination for their people?

Biya's government that took over from where Alhaji Ahmadu Ahidjo stopped, has been intimidating, harassing, haranguing, arresting, dehumanizing, torturing and imprisoning nationalists of Southern Cameroons over the years because of their quest for self determination while the rest of the world looks away. It is high time that Nigeria tried to see what is happening to her neighbours in southern Cameroun. Such nationalists like Ebenezer Akwanga of the Southern Cameroons who has been imprisoned for 7 years comes into mind; a prisoner of conscience! This young man is now suffering for nothing at the Yaounde Maximum prison because he is asking for the liberation of his people! He has suffered from bouts of tuberculosis, fever, diarrhoea, etc. These days, the former hefty and strong Akwanga is as lean as the letter 'I'. His wife has been tortured many times to fraudulently-extract confessions from her against her husband since 1998 but without any success. His young daughter was severely dehumanized. Mr. Akwanga is yet to see his second daughter, a poor child, since her birth.

His mother-in-law who has been supporting his family while he is now in prison died recently in sorrow. But despite all these tribulations, Akwanga's spirit remains unbroken and undaunted as he fervently looks forward to the day the Southern Cameroons shall become free! Many Southern Cameroonians run into Nigeria as they are being chased around for their nationalist beliefs by Biya's 20-years-old government. That is why you see many [Southern]Cameroonians in parts of eastern Nigeria and beyond and in our universities struggling to survive. Even when they complete their studies, they are most reluctant to go back to [The Southern Cameroons] Cameroun, afraid of what awaits them on their return.

The tragedy of the World Court misjudgement would become fatally obvious sooner than later where the matter is not properly-handled by Nigeria and [La Republique du] Cameroun. Both countries must not allow the neocolonialist France and Britain to lure them into war in which case the two European countries will gain in their sales of weaponry and mercenaries at our loss of human lives and property. Mr. Kofi Annan, the Secretary-General of the United Nations must not allow the two fellow African countries to go to war over Bakassi at the machinations and shenanigans of neocolonialist spoilers. He must work hard to bring the two nations together to sort out the problems in the spirit of African brotherhood. The respected Dr. Nelson Mandela and other African leaders should also give helping hands to the leaders of Nigeria and the Cameroon. One highly admires the way our President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo ably supported by his Foreign Affairs Ministers, Alhaji Sule Lamido and Chief Dubem Onyia, is handling the matter. The entire scenario has brought out the great statesman in Chief Obasanjo. He makes me very proud!

If one may come to think of it, what can the French and the British do to Nigeria if the worst is to happen over the Bakassi Peninsula? Can these two countries not learn from both ancient and modern history? Nigeria is no more a child-nation to be cajoled or intimidated. She shall be better off for it if the worst that we do not pray for, happens. This country is large and elastic enough to contain any short or long term struggle as now being engineered by the nauseating neocolonialists. How can Britain forget so soon her encounter with Nigeria before she agreed to give Zimbabwe its independence? And it was the same Chief Obasanjo that had that geopolitical tango with the then British Prime Minister, Mrs. Margaret Thatcher; the case of repeating history and not history repeating itself. Nigerian leaders and our country have played noble roles for world peace and development. Obasanjo, has doggedly-played positive roles in liberation struggles for South Africa, Zimbabwe and Angola.

Nigeria has for a long time made Africa the centrepiece of her foreign diplomacy. She has been in the forefront of engineering peace and integration for African nations and her people. Our people lost lives and billions of naira in genuine efforts to bring peace and security to Liberia and Sierra Leone. We have made financial commitments and expenditure to many African countries in order to alleviate poverty and sufferings of their people in the spirit of African brotherhood and the extended family system of support.

One then wonders why the British and French seem not to realize that a country like Nigeria that has done so much to maintain peace and the territorial integrity of other countries would not have the guts to protect and defend her boundary lands whenever the occasion calls for it. We are not poor if we can put our acts together and right. Nigeria has got more than it requires in human and material resources to prove to the world, far and near, that we can stand firmly in our policies and actions. We must leave no one in doubt that we can protect and defend our people, lives, territory, lands and property.

Stricto senso, Nigeria does not have any serious problems with the [La Republique du Cameroun] Republic of Cameroon. The people of the two areas have been living in peace and harmony since God created the earth and His people. Even since the so called white men from Europe came to our shores in search of trade and slaves, the citizens of the two nations have been living together in tranquility and brotherhood. The problem of Nigeria over the Bakassi peninsula is, principally, instigated by the British and the French for their political and economic purposes.

There are also a few misguided [Camerounese] who are pawns in the hands of the avaricious French. The Federal Government of Nigeria can deftly sort out the problems we have with the [La Rewpublique du Cameroun] Republic of Cameroon through dialogue. The British and the French must be made to realize our fundamental rights and recognize our sovereignty! But one is most amazed and sadly embarrassed that Biya went to the ICJ at The Hague to sue an African country over a problem that is entirely an African affair instead of reporting to fellow Africans. He never bordered to go to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) or the African Union (AU) or to any matured African nation like Kenya, Ghana, South Africa, etc. He wanted an unjust justice from his colonial mentors. Bakassi is not just oil, fishes and lands! No, there is over 90 per cent population of human beings, Nigerians, who have been living in the area since the million years of Genesis! No man-made court or force can transfer the nationality of these humans to elsewhere other than where it is done by the people themselves possibly through a plebiscite! Now, Biya's closest road to a peaceful solution of the problem without a war is recourse to an African solution devoid of any neocolonialist intervention.

We have come of age to improve on the image created by our forefathers when the white men were regarded as something else above humans. It is a pity that Nigeria did accept to go to The Hague at the first instance. We should have come together with the [Camerounese] leadership, probably, under the auspices of another African country to talk over the issues and resolve them. Britain and France have already done enough damage to their colonies and protectorates since the colonial times. We should no more solely-depend on them or on their structures to solve our cultural, political and boundary problems as perpetuated in history by them.

The Bakassi Peninsula was part of the British protectorate and was never a colony! In 1913, Britain handed over the area to Germany. Since Britain did not own Bakassi, how could she have given away what it never owned? Nemo dat quad non habet! But even at that, Germany went to war with Britain. She was beaten by the Allied Forces that took away all her overseas territories including lands from the British German treaty of 1913.

When Germany lost those overseas lands, all the treaties became non and void and of no effect. It is now obvious that France, Britain and Germany in one way or the other have special interests over the Bakassi affair and hence, the judges of the World Court from these countries should not have participated in the case. They could have constituted judges from other countries that have no interest and are free of any bias. But they have interest and are guilty of bias, thereby, making their judgement a nullity. [La Republique du] Cameroun was a former colony of France and has a military pact with her. One is highly- amazed at some poorly-informed Nigerians who say that Nigeria should accept the World Court ruling; that we should not go to war if we are attacked. I do pity such individuals.

What did Britain do to Argentina over the Falkland Islands? What did the United States do at Panama Canal? Or the British at the Suez Canal even where such lands did not belong to them? What about the Vietnamese war with the Americans? And the French-Indochina war? What is now happening between Britain and Northern Island? What of Israel and her Arab neighbours fighting over lands, waters and boundaries? What about Ethiopia and Eritrea? What of the Kashmir affair involving India and Pakistan? What of Serbia and Montenegro? What of Britain and China over Hong Kong and their eventual peaceful settlement? And China versus Taiwan? How can any sensible human being think that the case of Nigeria shall be different where her lands and people are unjustly-given away to France-[La Republique du] Cameroun? An acceptance of the ICJ ruling by Nigeria is a sure pathway to the disintegration of Nigeria.

This judgement if accepted and effected, shall lay an ominous, bad and scandalous precedence that will be cited worldwide! Already, there are problems in Zimbabwe where Dr. Robert Mugabe is now forcing out white farmers from the fertile lands cornered by their colonial forefathers. Many lovers of peace have condemned this. One of these years, the Boers of South Africa would go after the lands they abandoned to the so-called blacks after the apartheid regime. One will not be surprised if smaller and weaker neighbouring countries will not wake up one day to start laying such false claims as [La Republique du] Cameroun has done. Nigerians love their country; we shall fight for her to remain so! The World Court has given a bad and an unacceptable judgement against Nigeria. Can they try such on the United States, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Israel, Ghana, Libya or North Korea?

They think Nigeria is a giant with clay feet despite our fighting roles in the Congo, Yugoslavia, Liberia and Sierra Leone. Let no one be deceived. Nigerians can fight for their lands as patriotically and viciously as any other nation. If anyone is in doubt about the fighting courage and prowess of Nigerians, one may ask the Biafrans or the Nigerians when they were embroiled in the Nigeria-Biafra War! One can also recollect when Major-General Muhammadu Buhari gave it to the Chadians when they were encroaching into the Lake Chad area of Nigeria. They were taught a military lesson of their lives! The United Nations and their agencies, the Caritas International, World Council of Churches, the Red Cross and the Red Crescent should now call for justice between the two countries and discourage Britain and France from their present meddlesomeness.

Otherwise, when the avoidable confiict starts, they will be at a loss on what to do with the thousands of the wounded, hungry, war criminals and refugees that may result. Can the world economy afford the stress from such potential volume of refugees and sufferings? The ICJ treachery stretches from Lake Chad in the north for thousands of kilometres to the Atlantic Ocean in the south. If there is a war with [La Republique du] Cameroun, the war front shall stretch for the same long distance. All lovers of peace must bear these in mind and look before they leap.

Nigerians and Cameroonians[?] living in France and Britain should come together now and discourage the French and British governments from bringing an impending destruction to their home countries. The French and the British should realize that African countries have come of age and should be allowed to handle their affairs without let or hindrance. The issue of independence by these countries should be given its proper meaning. They are no more turncoats of former colonial masters. Equity demands that their sovereignty should be acknowledged and respected. Nigeria and Cameroon[?] are independent members of the United Nations and the Commonwealth where they have been fulfilling all the necessary obligations as required. They are free from the colonial-apron strings of either Britain or France. They should be allowed to enjoy their independence status and not pushed into conflict with one another. Britain and France should chart a new course that is devoid of neocolonialism. They should stop taking Africans as something else, may be, from the zoo. Africa is no more a dark continent, it was never really so in history. There was enough light provided by God for our forefathers. They survived and lived despite all the dehumanization from generation to generation.

When the 1913 treaty was signed between the British and the Germans, our people protested then in writing and travelled to London to lodge such protests to the British monarch. Many Africans saw civilizations and ancient religions years before Europeans as shown in archaeological findings. Africa has history, science, engineering, technology and works of art as x-rayed in several literary works. African art works were stolen and are now kept in museums in parts of Europe. In Europe and the Americas today, many African engineers, scientists, doctors, sports men and women are providing efficient services to the people. These Africans, many of whom are Nigerians, are respected for their contributions in these foreign countries. But when it comes to politico, socio-economic issues concerning African countries, there is a tendency to believe that Africans cannot handle their affairs. Unfortunately, some corrupt and fraudulent African leaders give undue credence to the wrong belief that Africans cannot handle their affairs; hence, the need for a white-man third-party intervention. This anachronistic thinking must be jettisoned forever as Africans can do their own thing now and in the future!

The leaders of the Republic of Cameroon [La Republique du Cameroun] and Nigeria should meet and dialogue with one another as equals without mediation from Britain or France. They should first commit themselves never to solve their boundary problems through the force of arms. They can agree to disagree and go for a United Nations' supervised plebiscite for the people of the areas in contention to decide on where they want to live. Both countries should abide by the outcome of what people of the areas have voted for. There is no other way to prevent the looming tragedy that would befall the people of the two countries if they choose the path of war. You have to fight or have been involved in a war to appreciate its sufferings.

The ICJ judgement is a pyrrhic victory for [La Republique du] Cameroun and France as the paper on which it is written is not worth much anyway. There is no good that comes out of force except for those Europeans who will sell arms and become mercenaries. If one must have dialogue for settlement after every war, why not skip the war and talk to settle for peace. A word is more than enough for the wise! Quad scrpsi scrpsi as the ancient Romans would say.

Comments

[michael manley]

Mr. ofege, why are you serving as a mouthpiece for Nigerial ultra-nationalists? And you guys wonder why you people are called Biafrans...

Anyone who seriously believes that Nigeria is stalling because of its concern for the Southern Cameroons cause is drunk on Mbu (no pun intended). Nigeria is an expansionist bully that is illegally occupying Cameroonian territory. Period.

[stephen B Makia]

i think the people of the region should be giving the right to chose,after all isn't that what democracy is all about.i bthink everybody has the right to decide where to belong.the decision from the court at hague is totally wrong

[Riccardo Tamezi]

Dear Prof,

Nice speech about Nigeria beeing the Strongest Country in Africa. Do you know the Ku Klux Klan in the USA ? You sound like one member of that organization.
You love "Peace" so much that you mention "WAR" in your Hitler like paper.
Nigeria is this ... Nigeria is that.... God Bless Nigeria!
Respect the International Court of Justice...
Respect to the rules of laws.
This is not a white man problem.
Few Nigerians like you love to create problems. Thank God your Country is out of a vicious cicle of political violence and coups.
This is the issue my Dear so called "Professor" of Death and Hate.
NIGERIA, LEAVE BAKASSSI... IT IS A CAMEROONIAN LAND..
Do you get it ???
Bye my Professor.
Riccardo.

[John]

but why Nigerian should allowed Cameroonian to took over the Bakasi that belonged to Nigeria. How would they done with the Nigerian that leaved there? Are we now regard them as a Cameroonian? Not proper fair, Nigerian need to do some thing. i need to understand by write to me with this address ([email protected])

[Professor Boniface Egboka]

I believe honest and sincere Nigerians and Cameroonians would agree broadly with me on my paper. Some have personally-spoken and discussed the issues raised in the paper with me. Nigeria and Cameroon must not, in any way, allow the formert colonial tingods (Britain and France) who were allowed by our forefathers to mess up with our various indigenous histories to push them into war. These European countries are in no way as rich as our countries are and yet we allow ourselves to be manipulated by them with disdain. If our cuntries organize our socioeconomic resources very well, I do not see how we cannot live a good life, if not better than their people do. Our brothers and sisters across the two countries borders lived in peace and love since even in archaeological times to now; the various ethnic nations that lived in the Bakassi areas also existed and lived their lives since then. Some of these countries in Europe never existed when our forefathers in the different areas and so-called countries, now, lived their lives. Some people out there must want Cameroon and Nigeria to go to War so that they can sell their outmoded weapons to support a pressure-release on their stressed economies. They are greedily-eyeing the geologically-heavy oil deposits at the Bakassi Peninsula! I fully-know this as a Geologist; that is the kernel of the beast; not any love for Cameroon or hate for Nigeria! I am very happy that both countries are applying an Africa solution to the imbroglio and, hence, are disappointing the dogs of war! As a university teacher who has graduated students from both countries in Environmental Earth Sciences at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria, at the B.Sc., Master's and Ph.D. levels, I see no boundaries from the faces of students from Nigeria and Cameroon. They have looked and, still, do look thesame to me. Peple like Stanley and Makia got my article totally-wrong. Let the British and the French not dictate to us. Let the people of the two countries be allowed to decide their fate and future.

[Chinedu Amadi]

Prof, your article goes a long way to display the statemanship and africanism in your person. I am quite delighted that you hold to high esteem the vlaue of Africa and her people.

I know the Bakassi issue may have managed very badly but there is a time bomb at hand in our beloved country waiting to explode, that men of character like you should help fight. It is the disease of imposition either politically or electorally.

I hope to see A nigeria and and Africa wake up from this nightmare of dictatorial democracy, as is experienced in Cameroun, Zimbabwe and even Nigeria.

My best wishe to you in your academic endeavours.

I was once your external student.

Chinedu Amadi
FUTO Alumnus