October 25, (THEWILL) – Amnesty International, a global movement that campaigns for human rights says it’s shameful the Bakassi issue is unresolved. Isa Sanusi, the country director of the organisation disclosed this at the sidelines of a collaboration meeting with Civil society organisations in the state.
The Bakassi issue borders on the indigent Nigerians largely from Cross River State who were displaced following the ceding of the territory to Cameroon. Deploring the unresolved issue, the country director said every human being has the right to live in dignity and that the duty lies squarely with the authorities of both countries to resolve.
“Every human being has a right to a place to stay and live with dignity.
“The Bakassi issue has been going on for so long and it’s shameful that the issue has not yet been resolved.
“The duties lies squarely with the Nigerian authorities and their Cameroonian counterparts to come together and ensure that all the issues, outstanding disagreements that place the Bakassi people in difficulties are resolved so that at the end of the day they will live in their humanity and dignity and their rights well protected”, he said.
He added that they believe in the power of the civil societies to bring change in any society and our expectation is that the civil society in the state will work together and complement each other.
He called for support from the people in the state and said they would work together with the CSOs to see how issues of human rights violation can be addressed.
He added that the event today is part of its efforts to improve our partnership across Nigeria and establish a workable relationship with civil society associations.
He added that Amnesty International believes that civil society organisations have a role to play in promoting human rights, upholding human rights and that is why we came to Cross River State to engage the CSOs so we can work together to protect human rights
THEWILL Correspondent, Aniekan Bassey has over six years experience that spans across several fields in print journalism including development communication, sexual reproductive and health rights issues, crime, climate change, social justice, business and human interest stories.
