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2020 World Refugee Day: Ita-Giwa Urges UN To Implement Green Tree Agreement On Bakassi

  Advertisement Former Presidential Adviser on National Assembly matters, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa says only the full implementation of the Green Tree Agreement by the United … Continue reading 2020 World Refugee Day: Ita-Giwa Urges UN To Implement Green Tree Agreement On Bakassi


ita-giwa

ita-giwa

 

Former Presidential Adviser on National Assembly matters, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa says only the full implementation of the Green Tree Agreement by the United Nations (UN) can guarantee speedy resettlement of the people of Bakassi in Cross River State,South South Nigeria.

The Agreement was signed between Nigeria and Cameroon in the presence of the United Nations in 2006 before the withdrawal of the Nigeria Military and it’s citizens from their ancestral root.

In a statement personally signed by the Bakassi Political leader in Calabar, to mark the 2020 World Refugee day, Ita-giwa said non implementation of the Green Tree Agreement has made the neglected displaced people of Bakassi suffer especially in the ruthless claws of the Cameroonian officials.

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Ita-Giwa,said the Bakassi indigenes who were forcefully pulled out of their ancestral homes 12 years ago, still pace the streets with bleeding heels amidst hopelessness.

She explained that the huge financial burden the Returnees are causing the Cross River state government needs Federal Government and International Community’s intervention.

“As a people we have suffered enough to the extent that some of us are forced to return to peninsula in-spite of the ruthlessness of Cameroonian officials rather than be exposed to the indignity of extended habitation of squalid camps.

“Bakassi indigenes are clearly the most neglected set of displaced persons in Nigeria given the number of years they have been left to wallow inside squalid camps.

“Since Nigeria formally pulled out of the Bakassi peninsula which was our ancestral home on August 14, 2008, most of us have had to endure untold hardship in so called displaced persons camps.

“While we sincerely appreciate the efforts of the Cross River state government, we are not unmindful of the financial constraints affecting the government. We hereby demand that the Federal government take up it’s share of responsibility in resettling us properly.

“In the same token, we are calling on the United Nations and the guarantors to the Green Tree Agreement to do the needful as it concerns us.

“During the 2006 Green Tree Agreement that preceded the withdrawal from our homeland, assurances of our speedy rehabilitation and recovery were given.

“It is our hope and prayer that by the time the world observes another World Refugee Day, we would be in a position to announce a marked improvement in the fortunes of long-suffering Bakassi indigenes”.