Ceding of Bakassi: Reps promise to revisit Green Tree Agreement
The House of Representatives has promised to re-visit the Green Tree Agreement signed between Nigeria and Cameroon.
The GTA was done at Greentree, New York, on June 12, 2006 following
the ICJ ruling ceding Bakassi Peninsula to neigbhouring Cameroon in
October 10, 210.
While former President Olusegun Obasanjo signed for the Federal
Republic of Nigeria, President Paul Biya signed for the Republic of
Cameroon.
With the agreement, Nigeria recognizes the sovereignty of Cameroon
over the Bakassi Peninsula in accordance with the judgment of the
International Court of Justice in the matter of land and maritime
boundary between Cameroon and Nigeria.
But following agitations by the Bakassi natives and moves to reclaim
their territory, the Lower House of the National Assembly, said it has
become imperative to take a second look at the controversial agreement.
The Chairman House Committee on Treaty and Agreement, Mr. Yacoob
Bush-Alebiosu, who dropped the hint while interacting with the Efik
Elders and Leaders Forum in Calabar at the weekend, revealed that
because of Nigeria’s leadership position in Africa she is a signatory to
more than 200 International treaties of bi-lateral and multi-lateral
nature.
Alebiosu said: “We are here to look into things from Green Tree
Agreement point of view to see whether there are in our favour or not
and how it affects the people of Bakassi.
“The Committee had visited the affected community and would make recommendations to the House of Representatives.”
