Scottish vote, options for Bakassi folks

When Britain and its allies supported Nigeria to concede the Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon based on the 1914 Ango-German treaty, one would expected that it would easily consent to the demands by the Scottish Nationalist Party (SNP) for an independent Scotland.

The same countries that encouraged the break-up of Yugoslav Federation, Union of Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR) have been involved in telling the Scots that their future is better secured in a United Kingdom.

The frantic effort being made by political leaders from the British main land and the monarchy to keep the United Kingdom exposes the double standards that is characteristic of the relations between countries of the Northern Hemisphere and their southern counterpart.

The next 24 hours would determine where the yes campaigners have prevailed over the pro-independence campaigners who want to exit from the United Kingdom. As expected the fear of the unknown have become the dominant theme as the vote opens tomorrow. British Prime Minister David Cameroon, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, Labour leader Ed Milband, former Prime Minister John Major and Gordon Brown have all been to Scotland, to shore up the "Yes" vote campaigners.

Queen Elizabeth II joined the campaign to save the Union between England Scotland yesterday as she used the opportunity of her visit to Belmopan castle, to rally support for the Yes vote campaigners.

The Royals have strong roots in Scotland and they hold some prominent titles from there.

From Edinburgh to Glasgow, from Inverness Scotts are being asked to vote Yes, if they want the 300 year old union of Parliament of England and Scotland to stay or to say No if they want to exit from the Union. An exit vote would see Scotland become and independent country and an end to the Union jack the flag of United Kingdom.

The No vote could trigger off some pro-independent struggles in Northern Ireland as well. The people of Bakassi and Southern Cameroon could have a moral basis to kick up the campaign for a referendum to see the emergence of Ambassaonia Republic.

The Union between Northern and Southern Cameroon, which was conducted before Nigeria's independence in 1960, has not been ratified by Northern Cameroon and this has been a bone of contention between both parts of Nigeria's most hostile neighbour.

Prince Ned Nwoko who raised the issue of Nigeria supporting the independence drive of Ambaazonia Republic told Vanguard that the last may not have been heard of the Bakassi issue because the Scottish referendum will provide another canon to revisit the issue.

According to Prince Nwoko the fact that the Scotts decided to revisit the Union treaty with England after 300 years means that the issue of Bakassi Peninsula is far from being settled on the basis of the 1914 Anglo German Treaty or the pronouncement of the International Court of Justice at the Hague.

The displacement of Bakassi people on the basis of the Green Tree Agreement signed by former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Cameroon's President Paul Biya, have not settled the issue of Bakassi because the quest for Ambazonia Republic is strong and the sovereignty of people cannot be transferred by treaties and conventions.

The Scotland drive for independence is the second most definite attempt at asserting the sovereignty of the territory where Britain gets its oil wealth in the North Sea. The most potent campaign that the Yes campaigners are using is the use of pounds sterling. In Scotland, they have their own Scottish pounds which is used only in Scotland.

The Yes campaigners are arguing that Scolts cannot use the British pounds once to opt out of the Union. Both the IMF and the other imperial institutions have been sending feelers to the pro-independence campaigners that they would face bleak economic future once they vote to become a sovereign state.

Sinn Fein leader Jery Adam has hinted that Northern Ireland is watching the Scottish vote. Argentina and Spain are also watching with keen interest what would provide them the armoury to battle the further dismantling of the British Empire. Britain and Argentina are contesting the Falklands which provoked a military action in 1982.

There is tension between UK and Spain over the sovereignty of Gibraltar. As stated earlier the big nations are rallying against the "Nay" sayers, just to save Britain from dismemberment and a possible weakening of its global status and influence.

The campaign to save the Union has taken much of Cameroon's attention from the global stage where the United States is mobilising countries around the world to stand up to the menace of Islamists in the Arab world and Africa.

The beheading of David Haines by ISIS last week proved to be two much for Britain as Haines, 44, was an aid worker who had Scottish nationality.

With just 24 hours before the referendum, the latest opinion polls show the Yes and No campaigns are still neck and neck. A Panelebase poll in the Sunday Times has the No vote at 51% and the Yes vote at 49%, while the Observer has 53% saying No and 47% Yes, excluding those who are undecided.

The Queen has broken her silence on the Scottish referendum when she reportedly said "I hope people will think very carefully about the future." Buckingham Palace issued a statement during the week saying the Queen would remain impartial on the subject.

According to the statement, "The sovereign's constitutional impartiality is an established principle of our democracy and one which the Queen has demonstrated throughout her reign," the statement said. "

As such the monarch is above politics and those in political office have a duty to ensure this remains the case. Her Majesty is simply of the view this is a matter for the people of Scotland."

Queen Elizabeth II said she hopes Scotland will "think very carefully" about their decision on whether to become an independent country in a closely-watched referendum.

There are worries that an independent Scotland will struggle to have any meaningful defence capability. Armies, Navies and Air Forces... you can't grow them overnight."

The Yes campaigners are arguing that: "We are much better together. Cameron said he would be utterly heartbroken if he was forced to ban Scotland from the British and Irish Lions, the British Olympic team and the British Isles.

He told the audience that the country was only called Great Britain "because of the greatness of Scotland."

England, Wales and Northern Ireland would still be waiting for out come of this vote.

Cameron dropped threats that Scotland will return to the dark age if trhe vote to exit. Cameron to Scottish people: "Vote yes and there would be no UK pensions to fall back on, no pound and no passports."

The currency question has been a key referendum battleground with Westminster party leaders repeatedly making it clear that Scotland would not be allowed to use the pound; the independence campaigners claim they are bluffing and would eventually allow a union in the case of a yes vote.

While all eyes are Scotland, the UK as a whole is now only eight months from a general election. The Scottish Parliament was created after a referendum on devolution of power in September 1997. The Scottish National Party (SNP) had done well in recent years as it gained more support to call for a referendum in 2013.

The is the devolved national, unicameral legislature of Scotland, located in the Holyrood area of Edinburgh, the capital city. Its 129 Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs), are elected for four-year terms under the additional member system.

The original Parliament of Scotland was the national legislature of the independent Kingdom of Scotland, and existed from the early 13th century until the Kingdom of Scotland merged with the Kingdom of England under the Acts of Union 1707 to form the Kingdom of Great Britain. Consequently, both the Parliament of Scotland and the Parliament of England ceased to exist, giving way to the Parliament of Great Britain, which seats at Westminster.

The British Parliament retains the ability to amend the terms of reference of the Scottish Parliament, and can extend or reduce the areas in which it can make laws. Looking back in time, it is clear that the Scots may not have been complaining of marginalisation, but they are peeved by what the call "the 'Englishness' of the English man who they see a being arrogant, over bearing and stupid".