Joseph Bakare
The House of Representatives has stated its readiness to probe what it sees as illegal annexation of Mbo Mangrove Island by the Republic of Cameroon. The legislature is going to set up an Ad-hoc committee to establish the situation. This followed a resolution sequel to the adoption of a motion by Hon. Robinson Uwak, (PDP, Akwa Ibom). The motion which was unanimously adopted with the House resolving to probe the illegal annexation as well as urge the federal government to assume sovereignty over the Island as a matter of necessity. The Island which is in Nigeria’s territory and separated from the Bakassi peninsula is said to have been taken over by Cameroonian Gendams who now police the Island and explore whatever mineral resources on the Island for Cameroon. The lawmaker while arguing the motion said the Island which hosts the Effiat clan and 16 villages of Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State is currently under the administrative control of the Republic of Cameroon. Uwak while speaking on the economic importance of the Island said there are approximately 350 oil wells and copious fishing routes on the Island which the Cameroonians now enjoy at the expense of Nigeria. His words: “as a result of the illegal occupation of the Island by the Republic of Cameroon, oil and gas revenues which should accrue to the Nigerian Government are lost to the Republic of Cameroon. Uwak said there is the need to take “Cognizant of the 11th March 1993 Anglo-German treaties that lay this Island firmly within Nigerian Territory, as the Island lays west of the Rio Del Ray estuary which serves as the official border line between Nigeria and Cameroon as re-affirmed by the international Court of Justice judgment on the 10th of October 2002. The lawmaker called the attention of his colleagues “the continued expansionist foreign policy of the Republic of Cameroon; firstly, by the annexation and occupation of the territory of Southern Cameroons. Secondly, by the vigorous pursuit of Nigerian Territory including Bakassi Peninsular and the 16 fishing villages and Thirdly, by the maltreatment and intimidation of Nigerians carrying out economic activity at border communities.” |