2006年VOA标准英语-Nigeria: Bakassi Chief Rejects Handover Deal

By Gilbert da Costa
Abuja
15 June 2006

President Olusesun Obasanjo's endorsement¹ of a deal to hand over the disputed Bakassi peninsula to Cameroon has prompted a very angry reaction from Nigerians living in the area.

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Olusegun Obasanjo (file photo)   
  

In a televised address, President Olusegun Obasanjo re-assured Nigerians living in Bakassi that their interests and safety would be protected under the agreement reached with Cameroon.

Mr. Obasanjo agreed Monday to hand over the disputed territory to Cameroon in compliance² with a 2002 ruling of the International Court of Justice, that ceded³ the territory to Cameroon.

The Nigerian leader said he would live up to the terms of the agreement.

"Fellow Nigerians, we have seriously and, over a long period of almost four years, worked on this agreement," he said. "We accept it whole-heartedly and we will scrupulously⁴ implement⁵ it. We have ensured that Nigerians living now on the peninsula have a choice either to relocate or to remain in Bakassi; whichever choice they make, we have taken adequate measures for their protection, security, welfare and well being." 

 
Map of Nigeria 
  
But the traditional ruler of Bakassi, Etim Okon Edet, has reacted angrily to the deal. He said President Obasanjo broke his promise not to hand over Bakassi to Cameroon and vowed⁶ to lead a resistance.

"The manner in which the legal proceedings⁷ at the ICJ [International Court of Justice] were conducted, up till this moment when a deal has been reached without our consent, this leaves us with no choice that to take our destiny in our hands," he said. "I have asked Bakassi people to prepare their wills and get ready for a major battle ahead."

Thousands of Nigerians, mostly fishermen, have lived in Bakassi, which they regard as their traditional home for several years. Nigerian soldiers are expected to withdraw from Bakassi within 60 days, paving the way for Cameroon's takeover.

Chief Edet is hoping Nigeria's national assembly can intervene to at least delay the transfer process.

"We are not quitting, we are not leaving Bakassi," he said. "Neither will Cameroon take over Bakassi. We have a law here that says no territory; no inch of sovereignty of Nigeria can be ceded to a foreign power without the approval of the National Assembly. I do not know if he did that and whether they gave him the approval."

The dispute between Cameroon and Nigeria over ownership of the peninsula in the Gulf⁸ of Guinea almost brought the two countries to war in 1981. Bakassi has offshore⁹ oilfields belonging to U.S. oil giant ExxonMobil and three smaller companies

1 endorsement   

n.背书；赞成，认可，担保；签(注)，批注

参考例句：

• We are happy to give the product our full endorsement.我们很高兴给予该产品完全的认可。
• His presidential campaign won endorsement from several celebrities.他参加总统竞选得到一些社会名流的支持。

2 compliance   

n.顺从；服从；附和；屈从

参考例句：

• I was surprised by his compliance with these terms.我对他竟然依从了这些条件而感到吃惊。
• She gave up the idea in compliance with his desire.她顺从他的愿望而放弃自己的主意。

3 ceded   

v.让给，割让，放弃( cede的过去式 )

参考例句：

• Cuba was ceded by Spain to the US in 1898. 古巴在1898年被西班牙割让给美国。
• A third of the territory was ceded to France. 领土的三分之一割让给了法国。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 scrupulously   

adv.一丝不苟地；小心翼翼地，多顾虑地

参考例句：

• She toed scrupulously into the room. 她小心翼翼地踮着脚走进房间。 来自辞典例句
• To others he would be scrupulously fair. 对待别人，他力求公正。 来自英汉非文学 - 文明史

5 implement   

n.(pl.)工具，器具；vt.实行，实施，执行

参考例句：

• Don't undertake a project unless you can implement it.不要承担一项计划，除非你能完成这项计划。
• The best implement for digging a garden is a spade.在花园里挖土的最好工具是铁锹。

6 vowed   

起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• He vowed quite solemnly that he would carry out his promise. 他非常庄严地发誓要实现他的诺言。
• I vowed to do more of the cooking myself. 我发誓自己要多动手做饭。

7 proceedings   

n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报

参考例句：

• He was released on bail pending committal proceedings. 他交保获释正在候审。
• to initiate legal proceedings against sb 对某人提起诉讼

8 gulf   

n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂

参考例句：

• The gulf between the two leaders cannot be bridged.两位领导人之间的鸿沟难以跨越。
• There is a gulf between the two cities.这两座城市间有个海湾。

9 offshore   

adj.海面的，吹向海面的；adv.向海面

参考例句：

• A big program of oil exploration has begun offshore.一个大规模的石油勘探计划正在近海展开。
• A gentle current carried them slowly offshore.和缓的潮流慢慢地把他们带离了海岸。