Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State has described the Supreme Court judgment on the ownership of 76 oil wells between Cross River and Akwa Ibom States as seemingly punitive.
Imoke made the remarks in Calabar while receiving the House of Representatives Committee on Treaties and Agreements led by its chairman, Hon Yacob Bush Alebiosu on a courtesy call.
According to Imoke, the International Court of Justice Judgment of 2002 and the Green Tree Agreement which was a fall out of the ceding of Bakassi to Cameron had stated that the exercise would not be punitive on people.
“But the recent experience with the Supreme Court Judgment seems to show that Nigeria has taken a punitive measure against the state, “he stated.
He said the handover of Bakassi to Cameroon in 2008 by the court’s interpretation meant Cross River has ceased to be a littoral state and has lost its revenue from the oil wells which have been given to Akwa Ibom while it has not moved its geographic location as boats and vessels have been berthing in Calabar daily from Cameroon.
The Governor remarked that by losing Bakassi, Nigeria has failed to address the right of the people and that the issue should be brought to the fore.
Imoke maintained that the Green Tree Agreement between Nigeria and Cameroon which is yet to be ratified should not be punitive to any citizen of the country.
He said the Committee’s visit would provide it opportunities to get the facts and see what the implications of the treaty have been.
The Governor observed that its presence in the State was an indication of its determination to foster good relations between Nigeria and its neighbour and ensure that the treaties or agreements are beneficial to the people.
He hoped the visit would also afford it the opportunity to interact with stake holders and at the end get them better informed on how the treaty is related to Cross River in view of the ceding of Bakassi to Cameroon.
Imoke explained that the International Court of Justice judgment on Bakassi in 2002 and the Green Tree Agreement were specific as certain actions were expected to be taken.
He disclosed that it provided for a transition period of five years and a joint administration of the area in dispute but regretted that the territory was handed over in 2008 even though the judgment was delivered in 2002 with no regards to the agreement.
“The Agreement and the subsequent ceding and hand over of Bakassi was not domesticated by the National Assembly as provided in the constitution”, he stressed.
Earlier, the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Treaties and Agreements, Hon Yacob Bush Alebiosu, said they were in the state on a fact finding visit following the ceding of Bakassi to Cameroon.
Alebiosu disclosed that their visit was prompted by several reports which the committee had received on the Green Tree Agreement between Nigeria and Cameroon.
He said it would afford the committee the opportunity to have first hand information before making its remarks and recommendation to the House.
The Committee Chairman noted that the courtesy call was to seek the wisdom of the governor on the issue before stepping out to interact with stakeholders.