2006年VOA标准英语-Bakassi Residents Accept Land Transfer to Camer

By Gilbert da Costa
Abuja
23 June 2006

Preparations are under way for transfer of the oil-rich Bakassi Peninsula from Nigeria to Cameroon. Initial outrage¹ over the decision seems to have died down, and residents are agreeing to be resettled in Nigeria prior to the transfer of sovereignty over the peninsula.

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The traditional chief of Bakassi peninsula, Okon Edet, tells VOA that his community has accepted plans drawn² up by the federal authorities for relocation. He says his people felt they had little alternative.

"Well, there is absolutely nothing we can do at the moment as a people," Edet said.

He says there was anger among the population on the peninsula, because people felt the president did not communicate openly with them about the decision to transfer the peninsula to Cameroon in accordance with a 2002 ruling of the International Court of Justice.

"Our annoyance³ was, of course, he not getting back to us, to tell us that he would cede⁴ our area, having promised he would not do so," said Edet. "He explained to us the rationale for global peace and all that ..." 

Olusegun Obasanjo   
  
President Olusegun Obasanjo agreed last week to turn over Bakassi, which has offshore⁵ oilfields. The inhabitants were given the choice of staying on under Cameroon's authority, or resettling in Nigeria.

The decision was greeted with outrage in Bakassi with the local people declaring their intention to resist the hand-over. About 300,000 Nigerians live in Bakassi, which they regard as their traditional home.

Chief Edet says leaving Bakassi has not been an easy decision to make.

"For one to leave his ancestral home to somewhere else, emotional attachment⁶, the sentimental⁷ attachment to the place of origin is something you cannot do away in a short period of time," he said. "Well, it was a sacrifice that the entire Bakassi people have agreed to make in the interest of world peace."

Nigeria is to withdraw its troops from Bakassi within six months, and a formal hand-over is expected within two years. The dispute between Cameroon and Nigeria over ownership of the peninsula in the Gulf⁸ of Guinea almost brought the two countries to war in 1981.

1 outrage   

n.暴行，侮辱，愤怒；vt.凌辱，激怒

参考例句：

• When he heard the news he reacted with a sense of outrage.他得悉此事时义愤填膺。
• We should never forget the outrage committed by the Japanese invaders.我们永远都不应该忘记日本侵略者犯下的暴行。

2 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

3 annoyance   

n.恼怒，生气，烦恼

参考例句：

• Why do you always take your annoyance out on me?为什么你不高兴时总是对我出气？
• I felt annoyance at being teased.我恼恨别人取笑我。

4 cede   

v.割让，放弃

参考例句：

• The debater refused to cede the point to her opponent.辩论者拒绝向她的对手放弃其主张。
• Not because I'm proud.In fact,in front of you I cede all my pride.这不是因为骄傲，事实上我在你面前毫无骄傲可言。

5 offshore   

adj.海面的，吹向海面的；adv.向海面

参考例句：

• A big program of oil exploration has begun offshore.一个大规模的石油勘探计划正在近海展开。
• A gentle current carried them slowly offshore.和缓的潮流慢慢地把他们带离了海岸。

6 attachment   

n.附属物，附件；依恋；依附

参考例句：

• She has a great attachment to her sister.她十分依恋她的姐姐。
• She's on attachment to the Ministry of Defense.她现在隶属于国防部。

7 sentimental   

adj.多愁善感的，感伤的

参考例句：

• She's a sentimental woman who believes marriage comes by destiny.她是多愁善感的人，她相信姻缘命中注定。
• We were deeply touched by the sentimental movie.我们深深被那感伤的电影所感动。

8 gulf   

n.海湾；深渊，鸿沟；分歧，隔阂

参考例句：

• The gulf between the two leaders cannot be bridged.两位领导人之间的鸿沟难以跨越。
• There is a gulf between the two cities.这两座城市间有个海湾。