Cameroon, Nigeria have set records in conflict resolution- Hadiza

The Nigerian High Commissioner to Cameroon, H.E. Hadiza Mustapha, as said Cameroon and Nigeria have set records by opting to resolve their differences in a peaceful manner.

She made the remark during a farewell dinner she offered guests at her Bastos residence in Yaounde, May 18, 2016, marking the diplomat’s close to her four-year stay in Cameroon. While quoting the Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, Hadiza said: “It is both to our credit that we have always chosen the path of peace and dialogue over conflict”.

The High Commissioner corroborated her President by stating that both countries have set many records in allowing good judgment to prevail instead of trading blames.

She recalled that both countries have signed a memorandum of understanding on the Technical Consultation for the Management of Water Resources of the Benue Basin. She said she witnessed the final handing over of the hitherto disputed Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon on August 14, 2013.

While commenting on the fight against terrorism, she said: “Nigeria and Cameroon as well as all members of the Multinational Task Force and all our international partners are clearing the remnants of Boko Haram and diminishing their capacity to do harm to our people in the Sub Region and beyond.”

The diplomat, who arrived in Cameroon on August 9, 2012, said her first challenge was the September 2012 floods that left thousands of people dead and property worth millions destroyed in both Cameroon and Nigeria.

Hadiza said she has had the honour and privilege to serve her country as its High Commissioner to such an important and strategic partner, for almost four years. “I am grateful to God and to my government for the opportunity. My profound gratitude goes to H.E. President Paul Biya, his government and the good people of Cameroon for hosting me, providing me and my mission with the conducive atmosphere to carry out our duties.”

She equally expressed appreciation to the Ministers and all Cameroonian officials. “I do, without doubt, hold the record in the diplomatic corps for being the envoy most called to the Head Master’s Office.

I want to say that the Ministers of External Relations who have summoned me, severally, did so with much finesse that it turned out to be some of our constructive engagements. I thank all of them and the staff of the Ministry of External Relations for their support and facilitation and the work we did together in the interest of our countries.”

She equally expressed gratitude to members of the other diplomatic missions for the support their countries have been giving to both Cameroon and Nigeria in the fight against Boko Haram. She urged her fellow Nigerians to continue to live in peace in Cameroon and to use their status as the largest migrant community to their benefit and that of their host community.

The diplomat also thanked the Cameroonian media for their contribution in providing the balanced coverage in the new phase of relations between the countries.

Earlier in a short speech, the Dean of the diplomatic corps in Cameroon, the Apostolic Nuncio to Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea, His Grace Piero Pioppo, lauded the Nigerian diplomat for strengthening relations between Cameroon and her country.

He said she played a major role in enabling President Biya and his Nigerian counterpart to exchange visits. The occasion brought together Ministers, politicians, business people, journalists as well as members of the Nigerian community in Cameroon.