Federal Government has cautioned Cameroonian government against violations of the rights of Nigerians living in the Bakassi Peninsula.
It insisted that such ill-treatment is against the content of Article 4 of the Green Tree Agreement (GTA) for handing over of the peninsula to Cameroon.
Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke, gave the warning in an address on Thursday at the opening of the 30th session of the Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed-Commission (CNMC) in Abuja.
The Federal Government warned Cameroon to halt such actions leading to the maltreatment of Nigerians living in the peninsula, as it is capable of affecting the complete handing over process of the territory to that country.
Adoke, who led the Nigerian delegation to the Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed-Commission, said such reported cases of maltreatment by the Cameroonian authorities against Nigerians in the peninsula is not only capable of generating political upheavals but could also erode public confidence in the whole exercise.
He added that if this trend continues, it could create political pressure capable of tying the hand of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration in its resolve to faithfully implement the judgement of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Bakassi.
“Mr Chairman, let me reiterate my earlier representation to the 20th meeting of the follow-up committee, that the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is concerned about reported cases of maltreatment of its citizens in the Bakassi peninsula.
“As I reiterated on that occasion, while Nigeria would continue to honour its international obligations, the government is concerned about this situation and possible effect on the work of the CNMC.
“The effect of this allegations and the political pressure they engender cannot be overemphasized, as they impact profoundly on the level of public confidence between the government and its citizens.
“We therefore call on the Cameroonian authorities in the spirit of Article 4 of the Green Tree Agreement and other international human right instruments to which our two countries are signatories, to urgently investigate and take measures to address these concerns,” Adoke added.
But in a swift response, the Cameroonian government disagreed with the Federal Government’s position and accusation, saying Nigerians in the peninsula are being comforted with the same hospitality extended to over 3.5 million Nigerians that have all along been living in Cameroon.
Cameroonian Vice Prime Minister, Amadou Ali, who led delegates of his country to the parley, said “already, there is a massive requests from the 10,000-15,000 Nigerians in the Bakassi peninsula to obtain Cameroonian nationality.”
Also on Thursday, Vice President Namadi Sambo raised a committee to permanently resettle the people of Bakassi that were displaced on account of the 2002 World Court judgement.
The committee was raised during a meeting of the Committee on Bakassi and Plight of the Displaced People at the State House, Abuja.
The committee, which has three months to turn in its report, is headed by Acting Governor of Cross River State, Effiok Essien Cobham.
It is expected to consider all the modalities necessary for the resettlement process.
Briefing newsmen at the end of the meeting Cobham said the Vice President charged the committee to take a holistic view of the problems.
He disclosed that an entirely new settlement would be developed to find a lasting solution to the plight of the displaced people and settle them permanently.
“Basically we discussed the issue of the resettlement of the displaced people of Bakassi and of course the Vice President in his wisdom has constituted a committee to look into the issues and the issues are quiet many.
“I am the Chairman and the membership stretches between the federal and state officials, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, so that we can comprehensively look at the issues affecting the people of Bakassi and then submit a report to the Vice President on or before the end of February 2013,” he added.