NASS Eyes Development Commission For Bakassi – Ayi

BY UBON EKANEM, CALABAR – Reprieve may come for the displaced Baakassi people of Cross River State if the eighth National Assembly makes good its intention of establishing a Development Commission to address their long-suffering and human crises in the area.

With the proposal eventually sailing through, succour for the distressed Bakassi indigenes will be coming about 12 years after Nigeria officially ceded sovereignty of the oil rich Bakassi Peninsula to Republic of Cameroon on August 14, 2006 following the International Court of Justice (ICJ)’s judgment of October 10, 2002.

The member representing Calabar South, Akpabuyo and Bakassi Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, Rt Hon. Essien Ayi told newsmen in Calabar that the proposal, when passed into law by both chambers of NASS, will give teeth to efforts by the Federal Governments to fully compensate the now largely homeless Bakassi indigenes.

Ayi said it is unfortunate that all efforts at ameliorating sufferings by the Bakassi people have hitherto met a brick wall, noting that the latest move presents the last hope at effectively addressing the human crises due to inadequate plans and provisions for the displaced people.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s lawmaker said the proposed Commission would oversee and handle development in the area already earmarked for the Bakassi returnees over a 15-year period.

Giving further explanations on the bill, Ayi said key areas include provision of electricity supply, road network and housing estates as well as modern health care facilities within the ‘new Bakassi’.

According to him, there is hope in the horizon that the body would work on a permanent solution to adequately cater for the Bakassi Returnees.

On the 2019 general elections, Rt Hon Ayi, lauded the PDP national delegates for choosing former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the Party’s presidential candidate, stating the Wazirin Adamawa stands tall as a man of vision with great ideas to move Nigeria forward economically.

He however cautioned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on next year’s elections, warning that the electoral umpire must not tamper with the choice of Nigerians concerning the elections’ outcome, especially the presidential polls, if the country must remain a united entity after the 2019 polls.