By Enyichukwu Enemanna
President Paul Biya of Cameroon says his country’s relations with Nigeria is not strained despite the dispute that arose from the ownership of the Bakassi peninsula in Cross River State, in which the oil-rich territory was ceded to Cameroon.
Biya said both countries are brothers and can never engage in diplomatic brawl, saying the Bakassi Peninsula boundary dispute was a misunderstanding and not a fight.
Bakassi is a peninsula on the Gulf of Guinea, located between the city of Calabar in Cross River State Nigeria and the Rio del Ray estuary in Cameroon.
“Cameroon and Nigeria have never had a problem at all. It was just a misunderstanding, so Cameroon and Nigeria are two countries that have lived in peace for a very long time.
“Cameroon and Nigeria have always been living in peace and when the matter (Bakassi Peninsula dispute) came up we still live in peace.
“We are one in flesh and blood. When we are happy we are together, when we are in sorrow, we are together. So, the message is of oneness, and message of togetherness for the growth of the two countries”, Biya said on Friday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, when he paid a condolence visit to the family of the former judge of the International Court, the late Bola Ajibola.
Ajibola was one of the 17 judges who presided over the matter at the International Court.
He also led the delegation of Nigeria to the Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission set up by the United Nations to look into the matter before it was completely ceded to Cameroon.
Biya was represented by a delegation led by Chief Justice, Mokwe Milesime, and an official of the Cameroon Boundary Dispute Commission, Richard Penda Keba.
They were accompanied by a pioneering member of the Mixed Commission, Mrs Nella Rabana (SAN), and the Director General, Nigeria Boundary Dispute Commission, Adamu Adaji, among others.
While delivering Biya’s message, the delegation’s head said Cameroon was touched over the passing of Ajibola, praising him for his fundamental role.
He said, “Ajibola played a very fundamental role, and that fundamental role still remains very much with us in Cameroon.
“Cameroon will miss him as the founding father of mixed Commission. When somebody is a pillar of the foundation, we would miss him because we need that spirit.”
