Ex-NNPC director’s book sparks fresh calls to reclaim Bakassi

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A new book by a former Group Executive Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Efiong Akan, has reignited discussions about the ownership and future of Bakassi, with prominent stakeholders calling for renewed efforts to reclaim the disputed territory.

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The debate resurfaced recently in Lagos during the public presentation of Akan’s book, titled, “Uruan: The Iboku People of the Geographical South Eastern Nigeria and Their Bakassi Economic Zone,” held at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Victoria Island.

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The event, which attracted scholars, business leaders, former public office holders and cultural enthusiasts, evolved beyond a book launch into a wider conversation on cultural identity, heritage preservation and the historical connection between the Uruan people and the Bakassi Peninsula.

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The Bakassi Peninsula is an oil-rich territory located in the Gulf of Guinea, extending into the Atlantic Ocean.

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Following a 2002 International Court of Justice ruling and the 2006 Greentree Agreement, sovereignty over the peninsula was transferred from Nigeria to Cameroon in 2008.

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In a statement obtained by our correspondent on Tuesday, Akan was quoted as saying that legal experts and leaders from Akwa Ibom State are urged to support efforts to reclaim Bakassi, describing the territory as an integral part of the Uruan people’s heritage.

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“There is a need for deliberate efforts to preserve the culture and traditions of the Uruan people and safeguard their ancestral territories.

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“This book is not merely about recounting the past. It is about preserving our identity, protecting our heritage and ensuring that future generations understand who we are and where we come from.”

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In his remark, the chairman of the occasion, Captain Augustine Otuekong, underscored the historical and geopolitical significance of the Uruan people, describing them as a strategic ethnic group within Akwa Ibom State with enduring contributions to state and national development.

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He noted that while Uruan’s proximity to Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, has often defined its geographical relevance, the true identity of the people lies in their language, customs, values and shared heritage.

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Reviewing the book, the Chairman of the National Pension Commission, Dr Opeyemi Agbaje, who opened his presentation by greeting members of the Uruan and Iboku communities in their native language, described the work of art as an important contribution to the documentation of indigenous history and identity, while also paying tribute to Larry Ettah as a worthy ambassador of the Iboku people within Nigeria’s business community.

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Delivering the second review, Rear Admiral Francis Richard acknowledged the comprehensive nature of Dr. Agbaje’s analysis, observing that it had significantly eased his own assignment before proceeding to illuminate additional historical themes and perspectives explored in the publication.

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Among the distinguished guests at the event was former Minister and Senator, Senator Udo Udoma, who was recognised as one of Uruan’s most illustrious sons.

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Akan further commended the reviewers for their insightful examinations of the book, noting that their presentations were so detailed that attendees had already gained substantial understanding of its contents.

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