Constitutionally, Bakassi Is Still Part Of Nigeria – Senate Leader   Constitutionally, Bakassi Is Still Part Of Nigeria – Senate Leader  
From: Diana Okon-Effiong, Calabar   Leader of the Senate, Victor Ndoma-Egba, has assured Nigerians that the controversial Bakassi Peninsula which was ceded to Cameroun... Constitutionally, Bakassi Is Still Part Of Nigeria – Senate Leader  
Ndoma Egba

Ndoma Egba

From: Diana Okon-Effiong, Calabar

 
Leader of the Senate, Victor Ndoma-Egba, has assured Nigerians that the controversial Bakassi Peninsula which was ceded to Cameroun some years ago still remains a part of Nigeria. 
 
The Senator stated this in Calabar while registering his condolence message upon the death of Thisday newspaper State Correspondent in Cross Constitutionally Rive, Mr. Jude Okwe, at Ernest Etim Bassey Press Centre. 
 
He said that all hope was not lost in finding an amicable solution over the Bakassi issue.
 
He said that the Green Tree agreement, after the World Court judgement of 2005 which abruptly ceded Bakassi to Cameroun had not been domesticated.  
 
“That treaty Nigeria entered into has not been domesticated and constitutionally, Bakassi remains a part of Nigeria”.   
 
“So, we are in a paradox because our own constitution which is the supreme document says Bakassi is in Nigeria but the reality is that Bakassi is no longer in Nigeria,’’ he said
 
While acknowledging the prerogative of the executive to enter into treaties, Ndoma-Egba, however, restated that such decisions would not be binding on Nigeria until it is ratified by the National Assembly.     
 
“We do not recognise that Bakassi has been ceded by not ratifying the treaty. That is essentially the position of the National Assembly,’’ he said.
 
The Senate Leader also restated his views on the exploration of solid mineral in Nigeria, adding that every State should determine the exploration of its resource.
 
Ndoma-Egba said: “I believe solid mineral should be in the concurrent list. It should be the preserve of the federating units because every State in this country has one mineral resource or the other.
 
He also frowned what he called the continuous environmental and infrastructural degradation Cross River State suffers as a result of solid mining activities.
 
“The State Government is helpless because not a dime from the extensive quarry activities in Akamkpa is going to the State coffers”, Ndoma-Egba said.
 
The senator who represents Cross River Central, was later accompanied by Journalists to the deceased home to console members of his family.
 
Earlier in his condolence message to late Jude Okwe, the Senate Leader said: “You lived for values and stood on principles. You will live forever in our hearts, great, courageous and principled friend. Rest in peace”!
 
 He promised to collaborate with members of the State council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in order to give their departed colleague a befitting burial.

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