President Paul Biya of Cameroun

By Muhammad Bello

A new diplomatic means of resolving the loss of the Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroun may have started with the meeting Thursday between a special delegation from President Paul Biya of Cameroun and President Goodluck Jonathan.

Nigeria lost the oil-rich peninsula to its neighbour via the judgment of the International Court of Justice ICJ which awarded the area to Cameroun ten years ago.

The three-man delegation from Cameroun include the country’s Deputy Prime Minister, Ahmadu Ali; Camerounian Ambassador to Nigeria, Abbas Iya Ibrahima; and the Minister of Foreign Affairs and African Cooperation, Jean Nguta.

According to the delegation, President Biya wants to forge a mutual relationship with Nigeria  and sort out all issues that border on the common interests of the two countries
Requesting for an audience with President Jonathan, the Camerounian leader was also said to have expressed his willingness to further promote and strengthen relationship between the two countries.

It was gathered that Biya was interested in fostering regular consultations and interactions between the two leaders.

It was learnt that the two leaders will soon meet in order to smoothen the rough edges of more than a decade long impasse.

Biya sympathised with Jonathan over the recent flooding that ravaged many states of the nation.

President Jonathan, in his response, advised that Nigerians living in Cameroun and Camerounians living in Nigeria should be treated well, pointing out that the fundamental human rights of individuals must be respected irrespective of where they reside.