Kelvin Obambon|22 April 2018
Issues affecting the displaced people of Bakassi have once again been brought to the fore, as a socio-cultural group, Nka Nkori ye Nsongonda Efik, Efut ye Abakpa Empowerment Association in conjunction with Me Africa Advocacy Group(MAAG), last week organised a symposium on the recent Supreme Court judgment over Bakassi and Akpabuyo boundary adjustment and its implications.
The symposium held at the conference hall of the African Club, Calabar, was to deliberate on the recent Supreme Court judgment which ruled that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, should as a matter of urgency, do the needful by delineating constituencies and wards in Bakassi and Akpabuyo local government areas to reflect boundary adjustment between the two LGAs to which effect, Cross River State law No. 7 was enacted in 2007 after Bakassi was ceded to Cameroon in 2006 by the ICJ, and also to discuss the way forward.
Declaring the event open, chairman of the occasion, Rt. Hon. Patrick Ene Okon, a former member of the House of Representatives and one time chairman of Akpabuyo local government area, welcomed participants at the event, as he also thanked the organizers.
Continuing, he described the loss of Bakassi to Cameroon, which he said, happened during his time at the House of Representatives, as unfortunate.
The ex-council boss expressed sadness over the challenges Bakassi people face as a result of INEC's position on constituency delineation after boundary between Bakassi and Akpabuyo local government areas was adjusted.
Hon. Patrick Okon therefore made an appeal to the electoral umpire to do the needful in line with the recent Supreme Court judgment on the matter.
One of the panelists at the event, Barr. Tony Eyo, described the Supreme Court judgment as ambiguous and that it lacks precise interpretation. According to him, the ambiguity has put both parties in the suit in a state of legal dilemma, with each claiming the judgment to be in its favour.
He pointed out that in delivering the judgment, the presiding judge, Justice Inyang Okoro of the Supreme Court did not gave an outright order to INEC to delineate a state constituency and wards in Bakassi, but rather 'counselled' INEC to do the needful.
Barr. Eyo further stated that INEC's stand on constituency delineation in Akpabuyo and Bakassi local government areas has technically disenfranchised the people, thereby causing them to lost their political rights in representation. He therefore called on the commission to ensure proper delineation of constituencies in the two local government areas for fair political representation.
Delivering a keynote address, a former attorney general and commissioner for justice, Cross River State, Barr. Eyo Ekpo, said that the issue of Bakassi is as a consequence of Nigeria being a signatory to treaty establishing the International Court of Justice, ICJ. As a signatory, he continued, ''Nigeria is bound by whatever decision the ICJ takes. This explained why Nigeria under Obasanjo administration had to abide by the ICJ's judgment over Bakassi.''
Throwing more light on Cross River State Law No.7, Barr. Eyo Ekpo, who was the state attorney general and commissioner for justice at the time, said, ''the law was made in 2007 to create a new Bakassi local government area. The new local government area now comprise of Ikang South, Ikang North and Ikang Central.''
He added that, ''For the creation of a new local government area to be done, the boundary between Akpabuyo and the old Bakassi, which had most of its lands ceded to Cameroon, was adjusted to create more space for the new local government.''
Speaking further, he explained that it was therefore the responsibility of INEC to create constituencies and wards after the state government had completed the boundary adjustment. He however stressed that there would have been no need of seeking redress in court if the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, had done what it was supposed to have done at the appropriate time.
Barr. Ekpo therefore concluded with a call on the electoral body to urgently declare Bakassi local government area as a state constituency in view of the fact that the 2019 general election is fast approaching.
Addressing the gathering, the member representing Bakassi in the Cross River State House of Assembly, Hon. (Dr) Ekpo Ekpo Bassey, commended the organizers of the symposium. He expressed delight for the interest the people have shown on the issue, while also disclosing that the state government has since 2012 made concerted effort for INEC to create a state constituency for Bakassi. Dr Ekpo Ekpo wondered why the electoral commission has been adamant in doing what is constitutionally its responsibility.
Clarifying on law No.7, he maintained that the law was made by the state government basically for the purpose of boundary adjustment between Akpabuyo and Bakassi local government areas, and not a law to create constituency.
While urging INEC to adhere to the apex court pronouncement on the matter, the law maker called on the people of Akpabuyo and Bakassi to unite so as to achieve their common goal.
Also speaking at the event, an activist, Hon. Bassey Ita Edet, said that over the years, Bakassi people have not been carried along politically, economically and otherwise. He stated that the ceding of Bakassi has alienated people of the area even in their own ancestral land. The activist said modalities should be evolved to enable people of Bakassi and Akpabuyo to coexist peacefully, as it is the only way development in the area can be guaranteed and fast tracked.
He added that matters regarding the people's existence must be put ahead of all political considerations.
Hon. Bassey Edet frowned at the way and manner the displaced people of Bakassi are being shortchanged in terms of allocating resources, blaming it on Bakassi politicians who placed their selfish interest over the general welfare of the people. He also said that all the Bakassi man needs is a conducive environment to support his existence.
After exhaustive deliberation on the issue of constituency delineation, a 3-point communique was issued at the end of the symposium which demands that INEC should: immediately create one state constituency in Bakassi local government area; 7 wards in Bakassi LGA, and 3 additional wards in Akpabuyo LGA.
Kelvin Obambon
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