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The indigenous people displaced from Bakassi have turned down an invitation from the Bakassi Legislative Council, labeling the invitation from the lawmakers as a misallocation of priorities.
These people have been voicing concerns regarding the Federal Government's resettlement scheme, asserting that the matter exceeds the jurisdiction of the Legislative Council, which does not have the authority to interfere.
In a statement released on Tuesday by Lyadim Amboni on behalf of the indigenous community, he contended that the council's attempt to summon them constitutes a violation of their constitutional rights and an effort to suppress their voices.
Amboni emphasized that their focus is on achieving proper resettlement for the displaced Bakassi populace after 17 years, an issue they have already communicated to President Bola Tinubu, rather than the Bakassi Legislative Council.
"Our attention has been drawn to a public announcement from the Bakassi Legislative Committee on Judiciary, Public Petition, and Conflict Resolution inviting us to appear before them on the 14th day of February, 2025.
We wish to clarify the following: 'Constitutionally, the headquarters of Bakassi Local Government is not in Ikot Effiom, but rather in Abana, Dayspring, and Kwa Island, as depicted in the current map of Cross River State.
"Our petition concerning the appropriate resettlement of displaced individuals from Bakassi after 17 years was directed to the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and not the Bakassi Legislative Council.
"Additionally, the Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Ene Okon Edet, on the 1st of February, 2025, signed a public petition from the Bakassi Peninsula aborigine communities in response to our petition to the President regarding the delisting of Bakassi Local Government as one of the 774 Council Areas in the Constitution of Nigeria 1999, as amended. Therefore, he cannot serve as a judge in his own case. A copy of the petition is attached for reference. All correspondence or contact should be directed to the above address and email phone numbers.
"Ultimately, the Legislative Council of Bakassi Local Government Area lacks the authority to involve itself in matters concerning or relating to the status of Bakassi Local Government Area, the delineation of wards, boundary adjustments, or summoning individuals who exercise the right to hold and express opinions regarding the listing of Bakassi Local Government Area as per the constitution." - The statement reads.
It was reported that during a recent stakeholders meeting in Calabar, leaders from the displaced Bakassi communities expressed their frustrations over the government's failure to provide them with a permanent residence. At this meeting, Amboni conveyed his disappointment regarding the government's inability to resettle them in spite of multiple assurances.
He also presented documents indicating the government’s commitments to resettle the displaced Bakassi indigenes, which included a letter from then Vice President, Mohammed Sambo, establishing a technical committee to consider the requests of the Bakassi Peoples General Assembly. Furthermore, he displayed a map of the proposed resettlement areas at Dayspring 1, 2, and Qua Island, which had received approval from the former Governor of Cross River State, Senator Liyel Imoke.
The Bakassi issue dates back to 2002 when the International Court of Justice (ICJ) transferred control of the Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon.
Following this decision, the Nigerian government moved the displaced Bakassi indigenes to temporary accommodations in Cross River with promises of permanent resettlement.
However, 17 years later, these promises remain unfulfilled, forcing the displaced Bakassi indigenes to endure living in temporary shelters without access to basic necessities.
