Cross River State governor, Ben Ayade has expressed optimism that the return of peace in Southern Cameroon will pave the way for the return of thousands of Cameroonian refugees to their home country.
This is as the Cameroonian Consul- General in Calabar, Mr.Onono Patrice commended the government and people of Cross River state for showing tremendous hospitality to the refugees.
Ayade who Spoke while receiving a delegation of Consular officials led by Patrice at the Conference Room of the Governor’s Office in Calabar, commended the Cameroonian government for taking steps to bring normalcy to the troubled parts of the country’s South.
Said Ayade: “I am delighted to host you today as you come as a messenger to deliver the message of the impending visit of my counterpart in Southwest Cameroon. I want to hereby tell you that I have without hesitation approved the courtesy visit which you will organise with the secretary to government and my Commissioner for foreign affairs. They will work with you towards fixing a date that will be suitable for me to receive him here in Calabar afterwards embark on a journey to Obudu.
“I am happy to hear that your country is making efforts for peace to return to those two major provinces. I am particularly happy to hear that you have started reconstruction of the provinces because what makes us human beings is the spirit of compassion. The international view about what is happening in Cameroon is not good for the black man.
“And so anything we can do to assist our brothers from Cameroon to return to their homeland and have a sense of dignity, a sense of humanity and in value and worth for mankind, we will do”
According to him, in the spirit of African brotherhood, Cross River was ever ready to provide its shoulders to the Cameroonian refugees in the state.
“It is our duty, our responsibility to actively provide a shoulder for your refugees, your own citizens who are here to find comfort. As a state, we have done our best to support UNHCR in supporting them (the refugees). For example, when they made a request for the provision of land I had no hesitation. I gave them land that they needed almost immediately”
Extolling the peace efforts of President Biya, Ayade said: “I want to commend president Paul Biya for this great initiative at his ripe age. God will give him peace, God will bless him as he does all he can to end the shame”.
Speaking earlier, the Consul-General told governor Ayade he was instructed by President Biya to pay him a visit to intimate him of the desire of the governor of that country’s Southwest region to visit the state.
“Our visit this morning was instructed by the president of the Republic of Cameroon, His Excellency Paul Biya. He had instructed a consul visit to our refugees in Cross River State and this consul visit is a mission of the governor of the southwest region which is the region that shares a border with Cross River State. And Cross River State is hosting about 62% of the total Cameroonian refugees in Nigeria.”
Continuing, Mr.Patrice said: “We want to also thank Your Excellency for his hospitality to our people who have been living in Nigeria for the past three years.
“We would also like to have our Governor pay you a courtesy visit and for us as a consulate in Calabar, we are proposing them to visit Obudu because Obudu is very close to some areas where we have refugees.”
