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Akpabio Suggests Buying Bakassi Back As FG Moves to Support Cross Rivers

By on November 1, 2012

Bakassi was ceded by Nigeria to Cameroon last month

 

Akwa Ibom state Governor, Godswill Akpabio has suggested an innovative remedy for the loss of the Bakassi region to Cameroon. The South-south governor of the oil-rich state proposed that Nigeria buy back the territory from Cameroon.

Speaking to State House Correspondents, he said, “Buy-back is an alternative. If the price is not too high, if we can afford it, why not? We can buy back because Bakassi is too dear to our heart. For instance, in the case of Akwa Ibom, we are still groaning because Bakassi is too close to us. It is 40 minutes from one of our local governments. We really like Bakassi to come back to Nigeria.”

In a related development the Federal Government is making moves under the law to support the people of Cross Rivers over the loss of the oil-rich Bakassi region to Cameroon.

Indications as to the plans were made public at a meeting superintended by Vie President Namadi Sambo, and attended by Governors Liyel Imoke and Godswill Akpabio; Attorney-General of the Federation, Bello Adoke; chairman, Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission,  Elias Mbam; and Director-General, National Boundary Commission, Dr. Mohammed Ahmed and other notable government officials.

The outcome of the meeting averred to the fact that a section of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission Act provides for support for any state that suffers a huge drop in revenue due to forces beyond its control.

Chairman RMAFC, Elias Mba said, “the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission Act, especially Section 5 Sub-section 7 stipulates that for the purposes of the Act and for avoidance of doubt, where any state of the federation suffers any loss which is outside its control, the Stabilisation Funds shall be used to give succour to such a state.”