Calabar– Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Edet Otu, has firmly rejected calls for the delisting of Bakassi Local Government Area (LGA) from Nigeria’s constitutional framework, describing such agitations as politically motivated and unconstitutional. The governor’s statement comes amid ongoing demands by the Indigenous Displaced People of Bakassi Communities (IDPBC) for the removal of Bakassi from the list of Nigeria’s 774 LGAs NEGROIDHAVEN can report.
Speaking during a media chat in Calabar the state capital metropolis, Governor Otu emphasized that Bakassi is a constitutional entity and cannot be delisted without setting a precedent for other LGAs across the federation. He dismissed the calls as the work of individuals with political grievances, stating that such agitations undermine the integrity of Nigeria’s territorial sovereignty.
“Bakassi is an entity in Nigeria. You can’t delist Bakassi. If you must delist Bakassi, then other LGAs in the federation will be delisted,” the governor declared. He further criticized the immediate past chairman of Bakassi LGA, Iyadim Amboni Iyadim, who has been at the forefront of the delisting campaign, accusing him of playing politics with a serious national issue.
“The young man leading that cause is the immediate past chairman of Bakassi. When they are in power, they are happy; when they are not, they are unhappy. So, he is telling us that he is from Cameroon. We will soon bundle him from here to Cameroon,” Governor Otu stated, signaling a strong stance against those he believes are undermining Nigeria’s territorial integrity.
The governor also assured that the state government is committed to protecting the rights and interests of Bakassi indigenes while maintaining Nigeria’s sovereignty over the area.
Governor Otu’s remarks come against the backdrop of growing agitation by the IDPBC, who have called for the delisting of Bakassi LGA, citing unresolved issues stemming from the ceding of the peninsula. The group has threatened to take legal action against the federal government if their demands are not met, including the development of unceded parts of Bakassi and the relocation of the LGA headquarters to Abana in Dayspring Island.
The governor, however, dismissed these demands as politically driven, stating, “People play politics with very serious things. If some people, because of political trappings, go on television to ask for the delisting of Bakassi, then that means they are from Cameroon, and we will bundle them to Cameroon.”
Governor Otu reaffirmed that Bakassi remains an integral part of Nigeria and called for unity among its residents. He urged stakeholders to focus on constructive dialogue and development rather than divisive agitations.
