President Goodluck Jonathan has defended his administration’s decision not to bow to the clamour by a section of the Nigerian public to appeal the 2002 International Court of Justice (ICJ) judgment that ceded the oil-rich Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroun.
He told the Nigerian community in Yaoundé, Cameroun, on Sunday night that the federal government did not exercise its right to appeal the judgment because of its desire to protect its citizens living in Cameroun.
The president was in Cameroun for a meeting of the heads of states and governments of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Gulf of Guinea Commission (GGC), which began Monday.
The president was in Cameroun for a meeting of the heads of states and governments of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Gulf of Guinea Commission (GGC), which began Monday.
The president told his compatriots that besides, the federal government refused to pursue the appeal because it had no fresh evidence to back up its case that would make the ICJ upturn its earlier verdict.
He said: "You all know what happened in Bakassi; there is no need to go back on why we couldn't appeal. We had no new evidence within the period of time that was given that will make a difference in the judgement.”
He urged Nigerians living in Cameroun "to live a good and decent life. The forces of animosity are gradually dying down and the relationship is improving".
The president assured them that his administration was doing its best to improve the welfare of all and sundry, indicating that he would intimate his host, President Paul Biya, about their complaints, including high cost of residence permits and high cost of tuition fees for students.
He also appealed to Nigerians in the Diaspora to ignore negative reports that tend to exaggerate the problems back home just as he enumerated his government’s achievements in the areas of provision of road infrastructure and agricultural development.
He told them that "the economy is strong" and pledged that once privatisation is completed, the private sector "will take a life of its own".
He however said despite the numerous challenges facing Nigeria, "I can assure you we are on course, I will make you happy. We will exploit the opportunity".
On voting by Nigerians in the Diaspora, the president said: “I advocated it, but before we can have it, the constitution will have to be amended. I cannot use executive fiat to do it. I would have, but we have to follow the constitution. We have a very vibrant Diaspora that should be heard. You should send your petition to the National Assembly so that they will know is not only Mr. President that is interested in it," he added.
On insecurity in the country, he admitted that it was challenging but praised the Nigerian security operatives for living up to expectation.
He also added that the state of emergency declared in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States might be lifted before the six months stipulated by the 1999 Constitution given the successes the Joint Task Force (JTF) had recorded so far .
He also added that the state of emergency declared in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe States might be lifted before the six months stipulated by the 1999 Constitution given the successes the Joint Task Force (JTF) had recorded so far .
Other concerns raised by the Nigerian community included the continuous attack on Nigerian territorial waters by pirates, the frustration in getting the e-passport, all of which the government promised to address.
Earlier, Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Cameroun, Hadiza Mustapha, had described the Nigerian community as “the best community any ambassador could ask for. They are hardworking, patriotic, law-abiding and have good working relations with the mission."
The President of the Nigerian Union, Centre Region, Ebere Valentine, assured the president that Nigerians in Cameroun would continue to be good ambassadors and "project the image of our country well".
He appealed for more government’s involvement in the welfare of Nigerians in Cameroun by pressurising the Camerounian government to reduce the cost of residence permit, adding that “50 per cent reduction will be a welcome development".
The representative of Nigerians in the corporate sector in Cameroun, Mr. Olukorede Adenowo, who is the Managing Director, Standard Chartered Bank, West and Central Africa, said: "We have been instrumental in working with our high commission in bringing in several Nigerian businesses and helping them find their feet in Cameroun. We Nigerian professionals are ready and available to do more.
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