December 10, 2007
Dr. Baba Adam Interviewed on Way Forward on the Bakassi Issues
You have been very vocal against the ceding of Bakassi Local Government Area (LGA) to Cameroon. Why do you take this position?
Well, there is no other alternative for us regarding this issue. It is crystal clear that our fellow Nigerians in the Bakassi peninsular are unfortunate to be poor and powerless. Those who should have championed their cause abandoned them to a dangerous fate. Somebody must step in to identify with their real needs and pains of suddenly losing their identity, means of livelihood, and ancestral land to a hostile country.
We have heard about German and British histories of the Bakassi shoved at us and upon which the International Court of Justice (ICJ) made the infamous ruling. Nobody cared to know or ask for the Bakassi peoples’ history as told by the Bakassi people even before the advent of the Europeans. Nobody cared to know or ask them of what they want. Nigeria had a lousy representation at the ICJ, and continues to send a lousily representation full of jokers to the United Nations (UN) even as recent as on December 7, 2007 to New York City. But we have passed that stage of trading complex and winding European renditions of Bakassi histories or crying over the ICJ ruling. That is now very irrelevant. Honestly, we don’t care really about engaging in vain academic exercises; we know what we know about our Bakassi people as told us by the indigenes.
We are now very focused about what should never be treated casually and with impunity – that is, how the Nigeria Constitution deals with the issue of ratification of that Greentree Agreement, which ex-President Obasanjo manufactured with Cameroon and forced upon Nigeria for clearly selfish reasons.
That is the main reason for our being vocal and prepared to do all things within our capacities that are legal, moral, and just for these brothers. And for the sake of the Nigeria Constitution. When you see us being vocal against the ceding of Bakassi, it is because we know for a truth that Executive and Constitutional powers were stood on their heads for potentially treasonable reasons by the former President. We cannot in good conscience allow that to pass unchallenged, especially because at stake is the undesirable fate against our fellow Nigerians. We have a pending case in the Abuja High Court. Let’s see how that goes.
Most Nigerians from all walks of life seem to support the Senate decision on the implementation of the Greentree Agreement. What is the next step and what are your recommendations for the way forward?
If Nigeria had a well-established democracy, public support expressed by Nigerians could easily translate into the legislative, and perhaps into the executive arm of government being forced to immediately reverse Obasanjo’s unilateral and unconstitutional action of implementing the Greentree Agreement. We won’t be arguing over this issue now. Recently, we saw how the peoples’ wish forced the United States Congress to throw out President Bush’s comprehensive immigration reform Bill.
I am not saying this cannot be the case in Nigeria now; that is why we are trying to mobilize support across the country for the Senate decision with a view to sending a clear message to the federal government that Nigerians overwhelmingly want back every square inch of already ceded parts of the Bakassi peninsula.
You asked for the way forward. We have made our recommendations very clear to the Senate and to our fellow Nigerians.
The way forward is this:
When any important Bill or Legislation comes before the Senate, there is a strategic need to ‘append’ a clause requiring that the Nigeria’s Military moves in to take over the 1,000 square kilometers of land illegally ceded to Cameroon through ex-President Obasanjo’s unilateral and unconstitutional action.
That more serious consideration is given to the strategic security and economic importance of the Bakassi peninsula to our beloved country. The peninsula is sitting upon 10% of the world’s oil and gas reserves, and is a gateway into the Niger Delta region that produces over 90% of Nigeria’s gross domestic product (GDP). In anticipation of rapidly changing and often hostile global forces, it makes sense that issues relating to such a strategically located gateway are carefully managed in Nigeria’s best interest.
That strong diplomatic and economic sanction is immediately applied if Cameroon (or any foreign collaborating country) engages the slightest opposition or resistance.
That the so-called Greentree Agreement is never ratified by the Senate.
That the already stressed out and neglected Bakassi people are relieved of extreme poverty and sufferings arising from the ICJ judgment and subsequent actions and inactions of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo.
That the Bakassi people retain their ancestral land in Nigeria, and unfettered citizenship rights as Nigerians.
Did this inform your decision to write to the Senate in 2006 and again recently?
Of course, it did. We were pleasantly surprised by the Senate resolution to call ex-President Obasanjo’s action for what it is – illegal, unconstitutional, and null and void. We completely identify with and support that position. Taking all sentiments aside, that is the right decision that Nigerians must support and be prepared to stand by. You have seen how the ex-President went about being imperial and autocratic, without clearly understanding the workings of democracy.
We cannot let him get away with every unconstitutional thing he did or wanted to do. Remember the whole third term thing? I believe the Senate, after all said and done, stood up in wisdom both for the sake of democracy and in good conscience and in service to the people who elected them. Since that time, the Senate is rapidly changing into an independent and co-equal arm of government. That is why we wrote to them about the Bakassi issue in August 21, 2006, and again recently on December 7, 2006.
We believe our distinguished Senators are in their best frame of wisdom to stand for what is right. It is an earned trust and Nigerians thank them for courage. Also, Nigerians must thank President Yar’Adua who tows the honorable path of the rule of law. There is hope for Bakassi.
But it appears the people are caught in between bad politics and real hardship. So, where is this hope?
We have reasonable hope. You have asked about a very important thing that I believe Nigerians should know about, and ask questions for immediate answers. You see, since January 2006, for example, the Federal Government has allocated N1.3 billion to the Bakassi Local Government Area. Not only about the statutory allocation, there were some funds allocated for their relocation to Akpabuyo LGA of Cross River State in 2006 by the way again very illegal and unconstitutional. We are reading all over the media that nobody knows where the funds are.
Also, somebody is asking for more provisions in the 2008 Budget for the same relocation funds earlier disbursed in 2006. What can be shown for the money so far poured into this local government area? Who is collecting the Federal allocations to the Bakassi LGA?
What are they spending these funds on? Why are the people not seeing anything done with allocated funds but are treated like animals without any amenities provided them? Tell me, when is this kind of wasteful spending into pockets of politicians and bureaucrats going to stop?
The Bakassi people are complaining so bitterly that they are being neglected by the Nigeria government and, even Cameroon. The people are desperately in need of help to survive. I have pictures of how our fellow Nigerians allocated such large amount of money live. You can see that dogs in various houses in Nigeria live better than these brothers and sisters in Bakassi. That is wrong! It makes me very angry to even think about it. And rightly so.
Every Nigerian should feel and express outrage that while human beings are being subjected to rigors of international politics, hostile neighbors, fear of loss of identity and nationality, fear of loss of means of livelihood, some politicians or civil servants have become super millionaires at their expense.
We are not taking this matter lightly. For that reason we are recommending the following actions:
That no more Bakassi related funds other than as mandated by the Constitution should be released until all statutory allocations over the past four years are audited and accounted for. The N1 billion being requested for in the Budget 2008 should be flatly denied, or at least with a proviso that it is only released after the recommended audit and prosecution of those found culpable. We can’t continue pouring money into some corrupt persons bank accounts.
That there should be Judicial Enquiry instituted to determine how relocation funds have been spent.
We are petitioning the EFCC to look into this serious matter of suspected financial impropriety against local government officials. From there, we will know who signed for these funds and what actually was spent on the Bakassi people. We believe there is unwholesome fraud going on in a very big scale by some crooks. We are not going to leave any stone unturned in this matter.
Are you saying there is fraud in the Bakassi Local Government Area?
Yes, we are alleging big time fraud, not only in the Bakassi LGA, but regarding relocation funds given out last year. We believe the allegation is enough ground for the EFCC to launch an intense investigation. Every thing Obasanjo did regarding this Bakassi issue has not been straight forward; rather, from one form of corruption to another. Except the statutory allocation is now being given to Cameroon since the ceding, which again raises another legal and Constitutional questions.
We want to know why the Bakassi people are bitterly struggling in sub human conditions even with over one billions Naira directly allocated to the LGA by the Federal government, that is in addition to over 54 billion Naira directly allocated to Cross River State government by the Federal Government since January 2006. Now, you can see the table of allocation for yourself sourced from the Federal Ministry of Finance.
Most people ask why you are so passionate about the plight of the Bakassi People; you don’t even come from the South?
With all due respect, Sir, I am a Nigerian. The Bakassi people are Nigerians as much as I am one, and as much as you are. I am passionate about being a Nigerian. So, it does not matter from which geographical coordinate I come from – I will do what is right for any Nigerian, especially the under-privileged ones. I have spent decades in the Diaspora serving and uniting very well with Nigerians from all geo-political and socio-economic backgrounds. I don’t profile them according to cardinal points, I see them first as fellow and equal Nigerians.
To me, it is a matter of unbending principles founded upon good humanitarianism, national pride, justice and equity for all. I see my fellow brothers and sisters from Bakassi from that viewpoint; that is how I see and will always relate with all Nigerians.
I cannot help but get emotionally upset, even at the thought of brazen injustice and exploitation served the Bakassi people from the Nigerian government. It is not a crime to be poor; the Bakassi people are simply being shafted because they have over the years been left uncared for by successive federal governments and some of their very own representatives.
So, when I see the Senate towing the line of humanitarian democracy, which is what I passionately believe in and practice, hope suddenly comes alive in me. On that note, I don’t have to come from the South to identify with the Bakassi people.
How on earth do you trust the National Assembly in Nigeria to carry through with the reversal of Obasanjo’s policy knowing that they are wheeler-dealers?
Unless Nigerians are not watching carefully, there is an admirable evolution that the Senate is presently undergoing toward becoming and acting as co-equals with the Executive branch. The Senate is not there yet, but has made tremendous progress.
You see, there comes a time that we must understand that democracy is an adopted form of government. We have taken the first steps. Which child does not falter and fall after the first, second, or third steps? When we see the National Assembly take courageous steps in doing some right things, we have to applaud and encourage them.
Of course, there will always be the wheeler-dealers as you have said. Nonetheless, progress is being made; not only about the Bakassi issue, the Senate recently had a brief resort in Port Harcourt and that gave Senators a first-hand opportunity to assess the plight of Niger Deltans in the creeks, the Shell oil spill in Ikot Aka Udo in Akwa Ibom State, etc. They went back to Abuja and have taken bold actions regarding what they saw.
I am optimistic, patient, and ready to give this particular session of the Senate an opportunity to continue in the wisdom now being woven qualitatively into various legislations.
I encourage Nigerians to also be patient with the National Assembly, encouraging them even when sharply rebuking them for mistakes. One of ways we can encourage is to give them, and give ourselves in same process, a good Constitution to work with. Upcoming Constitution Review process is our opportunity to contribute meaningfully for our own common good. I encourage Nigerians to participate in the process, whether directly or through representatives, to ensure that the best and lasting Nigeria Constitution comes out of the process.
If current trend continues, I won’t be surprised that we will soon the light at the end of tunnel. I am patiently waiting for that season in which many servant leaders, both from the Diaspora and among our fellow Nigerians at home, will join to serve Nigeria with credibility, knowledge and wisdom.
I trust that the National Assembly can reverse many of those constitutional and socio-economic nightmares that ex-President Obasanjo presented as policies. I can say that is about all he knew to do because of his background. Let us give the Senate a chance; they have started reversing some of those bad policy actions, and I believe they will reverse some more.
If you lose at the National Assembly and the Courts, what next?
Some issues like this drag out for a long time, some are short. But we are not in this to lose. No matter the decision of the courts or the democratic actions of the Senate, which of course we will accept when we have exhausted all available options, we will keep doing what we know how to do.
Also do not forget just like the recent UN plebiscite for East Timurians after decades of conflict with Indonesia, the Bakassi people may chose to be independent nation from both Nigeria and Cameroon if both the Nigerian Senate and the courts disappoint them. Just remember, in addition to one of the best fishing grounds in the world, the Bakassi peninsular sit on 10% of the world’s proven oil and gas reserves, so if they are an independent nation, they will be one of the wealthiest nations in the world.
We will not lose. I am not a quitter. I am very patient and strategic. If we don’t get a favorable outcome in the National Assembly and in the courts in this one instance, at least we have put in our very best – both in spirit and material resources for the sake of the rule of law and the Constitution of Nigeria. We also now have a platform upon which to give in our very best in any other issue concerning Nigerians.
After all said, I will do what I am doing now again and again and again. I have come to know and appreciate the Bakassi people as good and decent Nigerians. It is a life lesson I can never trade for anything less. I will do it again for any group of Nigerians and for my country.
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