THE book, Fraud at the Hague, Bakassi: Why Nigeria's Bakassi Territory was ceded to Cameroon by Adebayo Adeolu, is a well researched one, with an in-depth analysis of issues that created the problem that led to the Bakassi region with distinct identity of where they actually belong, whether Nigeria or Cameroon.The last chapter of the book directly dwells on the main issue. The other chapters give chronological background to the crises in the Bakassi region and the international politicking that gave the region to Cameroon at the expense of Nigeria, which the author believes should be the owner of the region.The author tries to trace the crisis to the pre-colonial and colonial eras, when European colonial masters fought to delineate Africa countries in what is termed the scramble and partition of Africa.While Nigeria pitched its tent with the United State of America, Cameroon was with its colonial master, France. He also argues that Nigeria lost the region to Cameroon because of too much fraternity with the USA by the then President Obasanjo and the plan by the US to establish a military base in Nigeria with Bakassi as the camp, which other world powers were not comfortable with. So the other world powers were afraid that if Nigeria should claim Bakassi, the US would have gained an edge in its domineering push over the world, as the Bakassi is a good spot for any country to conquer the world. The need to ensure that Nigeria did not take over the region, according to him, became more critical, after the US solely went to Iraq, without United Nation's sanction. The author also says that the place is a strategic location during war by any country in charge of the waterways around Bakassi.Adeolu also points out the implication of the loss of that region by Nigeria to Cameroon. He notes that, 'After five years from August 14, 2008, both navy and merchant ships can no longer go there without the permission of Cameroon. That will be in 2013. In a national emergency, Cameroon may likely refuse the request. The Cross River State's Efik people are losing their homeland where the British met them when they arrived on the shores and islands of the country eventually called Nigeria.'The state government will also lose the expected international maritime traffic when Tinapa opens. The Calabar free-trade zone will be affected. Recently, the Cameroonian government started asking for the multibillion Naira Tinapa resort in Calabar'However, if the author's arguments are followed to the later by Cameroon and Cameroon probably wants to claim the Tinapa Resort, then the last may not have been heard about the Bakassi. It may open another round of legal fireworks between the two countries, except Nigeria is willing to give up all without minding what is being lost. But will Cross River State agree to losing its multi-billion naira resort, especially after losing a large chunk of its oil wells to Akwa Ibom State'The book comes highly recommended for all students of politics, history and international relations. It clearly brings to the fore the underlining current in international politics, how international relations affect countries' interests among others.
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