Boundaries and History in Africa: Issues in Conventional Boundaries and Ideological Frontiers

Chapter 4 Issues in the Cession of the Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon

73 Chapter 4 Issues in the Cession of the Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon By OmoJoJu Fagbadebo, Osaretin Idahosa & Egeran Tomwarri Abstract Controversies trailed the decision of Nigeria to abide by the judgment of the International Court of Justice at The Hague, which ceded the oil rich Bakassi Peninsula to the Republic Cameroon. Some writers have argued that the prevailing situation and circumstances in the international environment informed the concession of Nigeria to yield what is traditionally regarded as parts of its territory to a neighbouring country. Others are of the view the incoherent domestic environment coupled with the weakness of the Nigerian state in terms power relation in the international system put Nigeria at a disadvantaged position on the matter This chapter interrogates the nexus between domestic imperatives and commitment the international obligation especially on boundary issues to analyse the behaviour of Nigeria. It discusses the salient contentious issues raised by the decision and arrives at a conclusion that though the various domestic variables were not adequately explored to showcase the depth of the commitment of the government to the welfare of its citizens, the judgment of the court is capable of creating a geopolitical crisis that might affect the territorial integrity of Nigeria and Cameroon. Keywords: restiveness, oil politics, secession, adjudication, national interest, corruption, colonial boundaries 74 Introduction Territory as the basis of economic production occupies a prominent space in the development of international system. When a State loses or wins a war in the international system, it means gaining or losing territory. Territorial increase adds to the wealth and power of the State. In fact, the struggle to gain or retain a territory often leads to interstate conflicts. The conflict situation could be engendered by the economic and strategic values available in such territory (Sarna and Johnson-Ross, 2006). Apart from this, the loss of a territory casts aspersion on the integrity of the State. To regain such territory, States often consider it as a “matter of national honour and’ a symbol of the sovereignty and territorial integrity” (Goldstein and Pevehouse, 2009:174). In international relations, border disputes tend to be among the most intractable problems. According to Gofdstein and Pevehouse, “States seldom yield territory in exchange for money or any positive reward. Nor do States quickly forget territory that they lose involuntarily (Goldstein and Pevehouse, 2009:174). Interstate border disputes dot discourse in the international system. ·While some have been resolved through peaceful means in terms of bilateral talks or adjudications, there are others where force was applied. In fact, at the root of every major war and interstate conflicts in the contemporary global system, is the claim and counter-claim over territory. Several conventions in the international system stipulate directly or indirectly that changes of inter-states boundaries are acceptable only through peaceful means. Nevertheless, crisis situations where boundaries or boundary-related issues are at stake are frequent in the international system. Some boundary problems are settled before they escalate into serious crises. Others seem irreconcilable and involve frequent military exchanges. Regulated or not, boundary and border relations will remain a potential source of conflict in the international system as long as the economic values of the territory have direct link with the national interests of actors. Such developments put boundaries on the agenda in international relations. Boundary brings states together in the international system. In fact, one way or the other, it 75 defines relation among States. By this, it is difficult for actors sharing common boundaries to totally ignore each other. Essentially, boundaries create a prima facie hostile situation, since “my neighbour is my enemy”(Nordquist, nd). Boundaries are by definition shared. They define a state territorially and provide in this way a condition for state sovereignty, yet their very nature as relational is an infringement upon the same sovereignty. Thus, a boundary can be a potential mirror of internal disputes as well as root of an interstate dispute in itself. Apart from this, boundary relations are based both on internal and international politics. Most importantly, domestic legislation ratifying boundary agreement is essential in making it a valid international legal document. Thus, boundary dispute in the international system almost necessarily constitutes a complicated mix of interests, actors and actions. One of the peaceful settlements through adjudication by the World Court in recent times, was the Nigerian-Cameroon dispute over the oil-rich Bakassi Peninsula. Nigeria ceded the territory to Cameroun based on...