Posted by By MODESTUS CHUKWULAKA, Abuja on
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has denied a charge by the Senate that he ceded Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroun without the ratification of the National Assembly, saying a copy of the agreement ceding the territory was sent to the last National Assembly for ratification.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has denied a charge by the Senate that he ceded Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroun without the ratification of the National Assembly, saying a copy of the agreement ceding the territory was sent to the last National Assembly for ratification.
A press statement in Abuja on Wednesday said Obasanjo had duly served copies of the Green Tree Agreement between both countries to the two chambers of the National Assembly under the leaderships of Senator Ken Nnamani and Hon. Aminu Bello Masari.
Last Thursday, the Senate had berated Obasanjo for ceding part of Nigeria to Cameroun without due recourse to the National Assembly and pledged to revisit the matter.
The Senate described the cession as unconstitutional, null and void, because the former president signed the agreement unilaterally without following due process. It noted that to date, 'the so-called Green Tree Agreement is yet to be placed before the National Assembly for scrutiny as required by the constitution."
But Obasanjo in the statement signed by his media aide, Mr. Adeoba Ojekunle, said he had written two separate letters to the two chambers of the National Assembly on June 13, 2006 in which he 'officially conveyed to both chambers the said agreement, including the modalities of implementation of International Court of Justice (ICJ) judgment."
According to the ex-president, 'the letter which was officially copied to the SGF, Minister of Foreign Affairs, AGF and the governor of Cross River State, specifically in paragraph (3), requested the Assembly's expeditious ratification of the Agreement," contrary to the widely held view that the last Assembly was kept in the dark concerning the agreement.
Obasanjo also attached a copy of a letter to the Senate, referenced PRES/134, dated June 13, 2006 and addresses to Senator Ken Nnamani and coped the speaker of the House of Representatives, minister of Foreign Affairs, Attorney General of the Federation, governor of Cross River State and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
The letter which was acknowledged received on June 15, 2006 and signed by Obasanjo reads: 'Dear Senate President, I hereby attach the Agreement between Nigeria and Camaroun on the modalities of the implementation of the International Court of Justice, ICJ, judgment on the land and maritime dispute between Nigeria and Cameroun.
'I also attach a map signed by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, and Presidents of Nigeria and Cameroun as an appendix to the Agreement.
'I would appreciate your expeditious ratification of the Agreement, please.
'Accept the assurances of my highest consideration."