The leader of the Bakassi Movement for Self Determination, Mr. Tony Ene Asuquo died mysteriously today on the Calabar-Itu road on his way to Calabar where another member of the movement, Richard Ekpeyong was being detained by the SSS in Cross River State allegedly on the orders of the state governor, Donald Duke.
Elder Tony Ene died when a passenger bus collided headlong with his private car. About 21 persons died in the accident according to eye witness accounts. Chief Tony Ene is 40 years-old and survived by a 2-year old boy and wife.
Prior to his death he had challenged the “Greentree Agreement” at the Federal High Court Abuja alongside 6 others Bakassi chiefs. They asked the court for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the Federal Government from expelling or removing them from the Bakassi Local Government Area in Cross Rivers State. The other plaintiffs are: Chief Orok Eneyo, Chief Emmanuel Effiong Etene, Ndabu Eyo Umo Nakanda, Emmanuel Okokon Asuquo, Ita Okon Nyong, and Richard Ekpenyong. The Federal government led by Attorney General, Bayo Ojo handed over Bakassi to Cameroon in spite of the court case
The court case greatly embarrassed the Nigerian government according to Barrister Femi Falana who represented the Bakassi chiefs in the court case. Just yesterday, the Federal government of Nigeria sent a letter to the National Assembly to ratify the hand-over of Bakassi to Cameroon after the fact of a full hand over of Bakassi to Cameroon.
Saharareporters was reliably informed the Cross Rivers State government had become agitated by the activities of Tony Ene’s “Bakassi Self Determination” group since they declared independence for the Bakassi region on August 6th 2006.
Also recently Tony Ene, a youth leader, who like others, was visibly angry at the absence of Ita-Giwa, who, as founder of the Bakassi self-determination front, led them to President Obasanjo, was quoted as saying: “Mama (referring to Florence Ita-Giwa) is enjoying at the villa, our children are suffering in the creeks”.
According to a government house source: “It was clear that their activities stood in the way of the N3 billion being budgeted for the resettlement of Bakassi indigenes to Nigeria by the Cross Rivers State government”. Governor Donald Duke therefore ordered the arrest of Richard Ekpeyong who has been detained since last week without trial.
Burial arrangements are being made by other members of the movement. According to Chief Eyo Nakanda, Tony Ene will be given “State Funeral with full honors”. “He is the first martyr of the struggle for independence of the Bakassi people from both the Nigerian government and their Cameroonian counterpart; he will be buried with full honors like a head of state” he assures.
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