From JULIANA TAIWO-OBALONYE and MOLLY KILETE, Abuja
The former Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku said yesterday that Nigeria committed a big blunder she would have to live with by agreeing to go to the World Court over the Bakassi issue. Anyaoku, who was the Chairman at the Second Annual Forum of the Society for International Relations Awareness (SIRA) held in conjunction with the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES), posited that Nigeria would have stuck to the Green Tree Agreement and go with the Bakassi people’s decision.
“I have had an occasion to say that Nigeria made an initial mistake by agreeing to go to the World Court.” “I think this was a mistake and I believe we have to live with the outcome of that mistake. In my view, Nigeria should have stuck to the wishes of the people who live in Bakassi. If I may give two examples, look at the Falkland Islands, historically, Falkland Island legally belonged to Argentina but because of the dominant wishes of the people of Falkland Islands, which is the case the UK has taken to the UN.
It has been impossible to ignore the wishes of the people who live in the Falkland Island. “Another example is Gibraltar, the Rock of Gibraltar was ceded to UK as far back as 1713 and there was no debate until then, Gibraltar was part of Spain. Of course, the British government wisely stuck to the view that the wishes of the people who live in Gibraltar must determine the political status of the Rock.
So, I think this was what Nigeria should have done but having failed to do that, I think Nigeria should live with the outcome of the World Court and I must say I complement what SIRA said on this because the focus of Nigeria’s policy on Bakassi now should be in two forms. The first was to intensify diplomatic dialogue with Cameroun to make sure that all the conditions stipulated in the judgement as far as the people of Bakassi are concerned are upheld and practiced. Secondly, to look at those Bakassians who have chosen to return to Nigeria.
This should be the two focal points of our policy on the Bakassi.” Anyaku, commended President Goodluck Jonathan on Nigeria’s foreign policy in the past 12 months, saying, the policies had clearly stated Nigeria’s economic interest as well as it’s standing on international issues, enough for the international community to note.
According to the former Commonwealth secretary general, President Jonathan’s implementation of the foreign policy had played a key role in Nigeria’s ability to secure a place in the African Union. He also lauded Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s outing while gunning for the office of World Bank President. “But for the fact that the United States of America was the determining factor, she wouldn’t have lost,”
Anyaoku pointed out. The diplomat also commended Nigeria’s role in restoring peace to places like Cote d’Voire but warned that poor funding of Nigeria’s foreign missions would threaten and undermine the successes recorded by Nigeria’s foreign policy. He observed that owing Switzerland Embassy staffers and officials, arrears of salaries which had not been paid since January, was unpalatable.
He also cited Nigeria’s mission in Canada, which had not paid salaries for two months, nor paid its electricity, water, telephone bills and sundry expenses over alleged failure of the Federal Government to release funds to ministries, agencies and parastatals, including the Foreign Affairs Ministry.
Most of Nigeria’s missions abroad are said to be in dire financial straits as diplomats are now stranded and broke with many of the ambassadors going cap in hand to beg funds from the Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Mrs Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. Anyaoku commended SIRA for it’s successes despite being just two years old and urged it to continue to contribute to Nigeria’s foreign policy. Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido, who was the Guest Speaker on the occasion, noted that Nigeria’s economy was a major challenge to Nigeria’s foreign policy.
The governor, who spoke through his Commissioner for Information, Haruna Wakili, also observed that there had to be a caring government in Nigeria to evolve a good foreign policy since foreign policy was a reflection of a country’s domestic policy. The Resident Representative of FES, Thomas Mattig, said his organisation decided to back SIRA because of their similarities in their goals.
He said as Nigeria was taking an increasingly important position in global affairs, dialogue on its foreign policy was becoming more important. “Virtually, all major policy problems today-be it global injustice, poverty, energy security, climate change, or global insecurity, cannot be resolved without a cooperation that brings key countries from the global South and North together.
The more Nigeria’s foreign policy is publicly discussed and designed according to the enlightened interests of it’s people, the better for all of us. That is why we support and partner with SIRA.”
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An idle talk! Of what use are your projections and belated blames ‘Anyammiri?’ Toothless bulldog Sec.-Gen.!
Emeka, u spoke well. Well done Sir
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You spoke well mr former commonwealth sec general but as a stakeholder in the Nigeria nation why didt you not speak out to help the voiceless-innocent Bakassi people?Plenty talk after the damage is of no use
why saying it now that the whole thing is lost.This is medicine after death.
Nigerians should listen to http://www.radiobiafralondon.com every 8pms of thursday and saturday Nigerian time
ANA EKWU HE RI, DA WA WA KO WAI!
GOWON AND OBASANJO GAVE BAKASSI TO CAMEROON TO PUNISH BIAFRA. BOTH OF THEM WILL REAP THE FRUITS OF THEIR EVIL DEED. THEY ARE BOTH HITLER OF NIGERIA AND AFRICA. BOTH ARE WICKED AND SONS OF SATAN. THEY ARE HYPOCRITES WHO CLAIM TO BE CHRISTIANS. THERE IS NOTHING CHRISTIAN IN GOWON AND OBASANJO. THEY ARE MURDERERS AND GENOCIDISTS.
we lost bakassi cos d leaders are senseless. there was no mistake about it. this has shown that people we have as leaders are thugs and not smart brains. cos any educated person,will surely know how to handle d bakassi issue. what happened to d so called professors and judges that d country claim they have? there wasnt any silly mistake in bakassi.it was a clear sell out,due to d greed of d old black leaders,that want to keep looting d wealth of d nation till they get to there grave. shame on them.violent country.
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Where was Mr Anyaoku when Nigeria went to international court?. Mr Ayaoku was prominent during Mr Obasanjo’s government or was in many committees and panels then and I thought he was being flagged as a possible choice of Igbo president Or was he sleeping then when it was all in the media that Nigeria was in the Hague? Or is this current uterrance meant for just to be politically correct?.
Do you want Emeka to talk when Ibo man has no say by then
Please this excuse is belated. In your position I don’t think there is any Nigerian leader you approached with this your idea then that will fail to listen to your advice with reasons. You were simply selfish when you were the common wealth Secretary. Otherwise of what was Nigerias benefit in having you their at the common wealth when you would have simply advised the nation on the right direction. You must not be a special adviser before you render your service to your country.
Igbo adage says, “Evil begat evil” and supported by the scriptures. Whatsoever a man sows that he must surely reap. Nigeria sowed Manipulation, Subversion, Man inhumanity to man, and Impeity against the Igbo race with bakassi. It is the reaping time. Thereafore, no amount of cries and hues over it will ever solve this problem. Chief Anyaoku’s consolatory speech won’t suffice. Bakassi-Cameroun:- Bonjour!!!!!!!!!. A tour tes lait. Cameroun should quickly establish a province in Bakassi.
Our wisdom work faster after damages are done. ‘If you know why this couple should not come together as as husband and wife, say it now keep quite forever’
Let us stop insulting our past heroes. Let blame nobody 4 this mistakes. Tnx
wel is very very unfortunate that mr anyaoku is saying this things by this time,when we know that everything has gone to cameroon.look at somebody who the hole world know,he did not try to meet OBJ about this issues then. why now.emeka why now
Smart Emeka,political Emeka.please is you were a child i would flog you 36 stroks– nonsence.you want peaple to clap for you–shame
IBO MAN will not stop smuggling. they will
continue to die in bakassi more than any other tribe in nigeria.they are homeless.cameroenians will continue to deal with them.
Oga why you no tell OBJ dis one before he cary de case go to world court?
well the most important thing, we hv to understand in Nigeria is dt does people that have opportunity to be our leader. are just very big bunch of fool, only when you try to collect his own property. you will see them fighting like tiger, but if is for country he or her is leader, is impossible to the write thing. look emeka or what is ur name, all that big English now keep it, write now we Nigeria don’t need it.
to do the write thing,pls fix it
Anyaoku (fire eyes/hot eyes) u r just a lazy reflection of ur name..if u were such a grt historian couples wt ur sec.gen position,whr were u whn icc sumoned nigeria.? Whn hon.prof walter ofonagorom ws writing,whr were u?..pls remind mr president abt ur birthday alex ekwueme wil come alone wt edwin clark thn expect a special autobiography from okupe,a praise frm adoke, a good representation led by ruben abati bcos gej may b traveling to overseas….i weep for igbos bcos our true son like: ironsi nzeogwu,njoku,ifeajuna etc,were all wasted btwn 1966-1970..who is obj,ibb or buhari to to decide who rules,or whch court injuction to obey, or wchn religion shld ocupy seat of power…soon wat hpnd in sudan n south sudan will tk place hr
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Pls stop reminding us of our brothers who have been deprived of their ancestral land
What you guys fail to realize is that the architects of this blunder were probably working to the answer ab initio. If they were honest, how many people of intergrity did they consult for inputs before arriving at the decision to go to court on the matter.
When you have leaders who know it all or who are working towards a pre-determine end, that’s what you get.
What made it impossible to for the nation to explore the window of opportunity provided by the appeal option?
God will help Nigeria!
NIGERIA WAS FORCED TO HELL BY USELESS GOWON & OBJ, SHAME TO THEM ALL, WE STILL HAVE THEM GOING ABOUT OOH NO I CALL FOR GOWON HEAD, GOWON COMMITTED THE WORST TO BIAFRA AND STILL SAY HE HAS NO REGRET TO KILL OVER 3 MILLION IGBO’S STILL HE CLAIM TO BE A CHRISTIAN, LET THUNDER FIRE GOWON, LET THUNDER STRIKE GOWON HE IS A FOOL FOREVER
What goes around comes around and the evil that men do lives after them their generation upon generation
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