Walter Wilson Nana
Buea, Cameroon.
Her Excellency Hadiza Mustapha, Nigerian High Commissioner to Cameroon is out for a confidence building mission between Cameroon and Nigeria and to reinforce the benefits of the existing relationship.
This is the kernel of a meet-the-people-tour the Nigerian Diplomat started Friday, September 6 in Buea and will close on Tuesday, September 10 2013 in the Bekumu community in Ndian Division, Southwest Region.
Hadiza Mustapha, Nigerian High Commissioner to Cameroon visits SDO's office Kumba
At the first stop in Buea Council, the Nigerian emissary expressed happiness with the excellent relationship enjoyed by the Nigerian Diplomatic Mission in Buea, the Nigerian community and the authorities of Buea Council, noting that such cordial relationships will solve a lot of pending problems. “I hear that Buea is the most hospitable area in Cameroon and all the good things happening here. So, after one year in Cameroon, I have come to see my fellow Nigerians and pay courtesy visits to Cameroon government officials,” she mentioned.
According to Hadiza, Cameroon and Nigeria are brotherly countries, who have to fortify their friendship, build on development issues and reinforce the peace between the two nations. “I feel at home in Cameroon, we are together and must look forward. Nigerians in Buea and elsewhere in Cameroon are brothers and sisters to all Cameroonians. What is key is our people; whether we are politicians or civil servants,” she said.
Hadiza and chief Endeley during her confidence building mission between Cameroon and Nigeria
Patrick Esunge Ekema, Mayor of Buea Municipality highlighted the historical links between Cameroon and Nigeria and wished both countries well. He will revisit the peaceful resolution of the Bakassi crisis and the recent handover exercise initially championed by former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo and President Paul Biya of Cameroon. Ekema was corroborated by one of his Councillors, Prof. Victor Julius Ngoh, Historian, who said the aforementioned Presidents have passed around the world a lesson that spilling of blood does not serve any purpose.
Stopover at Chief Endeley
Nigerian High Commissioner in a family picture with staff of Nigerian Consulate Buea
Hadiza appreciated the role Chief S.M.L Endeley, Paramount Chief of Buea and his fellow chiefs in the Southwest Region played in solving the Bakassi crisis, urging him to not give up in his quest for peace to reign between Cameroon and Nigeria.
The one-time Chief Justice, Pharmacist and member of the Cameroon delegation to The Hague, Holland for the Bakassi case presented a comprehensive documentation on how the proceedings of the Bakassi case went on at The Hague and his contribution on the history between Cameroon and Nigeria, having studied in and knows Nigeria so well.
Stopover in Kumba
Hadiza and Nfon Mukete look eye ball to eye ball for a better relationship between Cameroon Nigeria
At the first stop in the office of the SDO of Meme Division, David Koulbout Aman, Hadiza said Cameroon and Nigeria have great things to do together, while reminding Nigerians that they must respect the laws of their host – Cameroon and the host must also take her responsibility to ensure the security of their visitors. “I appreciate the peaceful nature of the Nigerians in Kumba, saying there is no progress without peace, especially as they are business people.”
The Diplomat told Meme SDO that the instruments for business to be improved between Cameroon and Nigeria must be put in place, citing the tarring of the Kumba – Mamfe – Ekok and the Kumba – Mundemba – Ekondo Titi roads. She will indicate that Cameroon and Nigeria should not stop working on the things that mar their relationship, noting the cases of a few overzealous police and gendarme officers who harass Nigerians in Cameroon and along the borders of the two countries. “Let Nigerians also pay their resident permits and those who have not done so should catch up,” she advised.
Nigerian community in Kumba offers a gift to Hadiza
She shared with Koulbout that having been part of the UN observer missions to Bakassi, there are some little problems on the ground but a little investment from Cameroon will do the magic.
A delighted Meme SDO reassured Hadiza that his administration is supportive to the Nigerian community in Meme, which is said to be the biggest in the Southwest Region.
At the Nfon’s palace in Kumba, Nfon Senator Victor Mukete said he cooperates well with the huge Nigerian presence in the municipality while invoking God’s blessing in her mission to Cameroon.
Hadiza thanked Nfon Mukete for her fatherly support and prayed him to continue serving Nigerians in Kumba, ensure that there is peaceful co-existence, they are law-abiding and contribute to the development of Cameroon.
Spritely looking Nigerian women at the meeting in Kumba
Same convivial atmosphere prevailed at the office of the Government Delegate to Kumba. The Delegate, Victor Nkelle Ngoh told Hadiza that Cameroon and Nigeria share common issues, they trade together and Nigerians in Kumba feel at home.
She credited Cameroon government for the peace Nigerians enjoy in Cameroon, reiterating that it should move both countries to greater heights. She told the Delegate; “Home is where you stay and I am glad that you are making things happen for Nigerians.”
To the Nigerian Community in Kumba
Hadiza told them she is out with his colleague, the Nigerian Consul General for the Southwest and Northwest Regions of Cameroon, Muhammed Akan to mend fences on what the leaders of Cameroon and Nigeria are doing, to know what Nigerians are doing on the ground, while conceding that issues about Nigerians in Kumba are well known.
Hadiza offers a gift of friendship to Victor Ngo
She will advise Nigerians not to take peace for granted, while entreating them to respect constituted authority and remain mature in all their actions.
The Diplomat invited his compatriots to remain hard working, be proud of themselves, stay focussed and get registered in their respective unions. “It is the unions that will take you and your problems to the three Nigerian diplomatic missions in Cameroon.”
She enjoined the managers of the unions to make it work, encourage all Nigerians to come and join and move it forward. “You are doing service to your people, your nation and mankind in general,” she said.
Hadiza challenged the Nigerian community in Kumba, especially the big business operators to build schools, hospitals and other facilities for their community.
Earlier, the President of the Nigerian union in Kumba, Augustine Chikodili Nwafor, amongst other concerns raised, wished for a visa-free relationship between Cameroon and Nigeria, adding that resident permits should be scraped.
He made a request for scholarships to be awarded for Nigerian children in the Diaspora and the electronic passport now operational in Nigeria to be brought closer to Nigerians in the Southwest Region via the Consulate in Buea.
The colourful atmosphere in Kumba was spiced with a cultural touch from the Nigerian women groups and the spirited KISS Choir with their songs loaded with uplifting messages for the betterment of Cameroon and Nigeria.
