Posted by By JAMES OJO, Abuja on
The House of Representatives says that the ceding of the Bakassi peninsula to the Republic of Cameroun by the Olusegun Obasanjo government, without completing legal framework, is illegal.
The House of Representatives says that the ceding of the Bakassi peninsula to the Republic of Cameroun by the Olusegun Obasanjo government, without completing legal framework, is illegal.
As a result, the House would expedite action on the document sent to it by President Umaru Yar'Adua on the need to ratify the treaty on Bakassi.
Briefing the press on the activities lined up for the House in the new year, chairman, House Committee on Rules and Business, Barrister Ita Enang, said that it was wrong to have physically handed over Bakassi to Cameroun before sending the document to the National Assembly for ratification.
'The process of formal handing over of Bakassi peninsula has been done, but the legal aspect lies with the National Assembly. This is why the request for the ratification of the Green Treaty, that is, the agreement on Bakassi will be given accelerated hearing by the House," Ita Enang said.
Although he noted that former President Obasanjo sent a letter to the House, asking for the ratification of the ceding of Bakassi peninsula, he said that the letter was not acted upon before the peninsula was transferred to Cameroun .
As the representatives of the people, Ita Enang, who is battling to retain the seat of Itu/Ibiono/Ibom Federal Constituency of Akwa Ibom State, said that at the end of the day what the National Assembly passes as law would be paramount.
For the affected Nigerians, he gave an assurance that their welfare, apart from the issue of resettlement, would be priority, as the non-completion of the process of ceding made it impossible for council election to be held in the affected areas.
On the passage of the 2008 budget, Ita Enang said that the House was still awaiting data on signature bonus, unspent capital vote and benchmark to determine when the budget would be passed.
As the House resumes from the Sallah and Christmas break, he said that the bill on emolument and allowances of political, judicial and public office holders would be considered and passed, to put the matter to rest once and for all.