Waters of Discord, Shores of Peace
By KK Bonteh

Upon the tides of Bakassi, where waters gleam,
Lies a land of promise, a shared dream.
A haven where mangroves kiss the shore,
Rich in treasures, yet marred by war.

Once, the lines were drawn by foreign hands,
Carving borders on unyielding lands.
Cameroon to the east, Nigeria to the west,
But the heart of Bakassi knew no rest.

Its wealth became the spark of strife,
Oil and fish turned neighbors’ knives.
Families torn, their homes erased,
A peninsula’s peace displaced.

But listen—beneath the turmoil’s din,
The voices of the people begin.
“We share these waters, this fertile soil;
Our cultures intertwine, our hands toil.”

Fishermen’s nets stretch from shore to shore,
Unmindful of boundaries, they ask for more.
Not riches, not power, nor fleeting fame,
But peace, in unity’s sacred name.

The Court of Justice spoke with might,
To untangle borders, to set things right.
Yet maps cannot mend the wounds of time,
Nor erase mistrust, like soot and grime.

O leaders of nations, hear this plea:
Let Bakassi’s waters flow free.
Forge paths of trust, build bridges anew,
Let shared dreams guide what you do.

Co-manage the treasures that lie below,
Let prosperity for both nations grow.
Teach the children, on both sides of the sea,
That peace is the truest victory.

In the market square, let laughter resound,
Let fishermen rejoice, their bounty unbound.
Celebrate cultures, their mingling grace,
And make Bakassi a united place.

For the waters remember, the shores still sing,
Of a time before this suffering.
Let us rewrite the story, let hatred cease,
And make Bakassi the shore of peace.

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