Senator Florence Ita-Giwa

By Zacheaus Somorin

Former Special Adviser to President Olusegun Obasanjo, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, has called on the Federal Government to resettle the people of Bakassi first before appealing the judgment of the International Court of Justice (ICJ). 

Ita-Giwa while hailing the recent resolution of the Senate urging President Goodluck Jonathan to ensure the reclamation of the peninsula ceded to Cameroun in 2002, Ita-Giwa stated that the resettlement of her people to Kwa Island and Dayspring 1 and 2 should be considered first to ameliorate the suffering of the people.

In a statement made available to THISDAY Monday, she submitted that the current requests and remarks on Bakassi were what she and her people have been clamouring for since the verdict but were ignored by those in power.

She added that they are ready to provide evidence that will support or facilitate the reclamation of the Bakassi , a privilege denied them before the ICJ judgment.

The statement read in part: “Recent resolution of the Senate to the President to appeal or seek to review the International Court of Justice verdict ceding Bakassi to Cameroun is welcome by us the long suffering indigenes of Bakassi.”

Ita-Giwa stated that all the arguments being raised now and positions being taken have all been raised and taken by the people  in the past and were all roundly ignored by the powers-that-be at the time, saying the calls are now being re-echoed.

“We will not like the remote chance of a miracle to stand in the way of the urgent task of relocating and properly resettling our displaced people. We have been left to wander all over cross river state like 2nd class gypsy citizens since the signing of the green tree agreement in 2006,” she added.