Declaration of the Ardos Union issued in Ndawara on Saturday, 19th December 2015 at the end of the Ardos Conference

ARDO'S UNION

(A.U)

BAMENDA- NORTH WEST REGION-CAMEROON

E- mail: ardou@vahoo.com  Tel: 670092089/66777777 B.P. ...B'da

DECLARATION OF THE ARDOS UNION ISSUED IN NDAWARA ON SATURDAY, 19^th  DECEMBER 2015 AT THE END OF THE ARDOS CONFERENCE

We the Ardos/Lamidos Custodians of the Fulani cultural, tradition, religious and practices meeting in Ndawara, Belo Subdivision, Boyo Division NWR of Cameroon from the North, West, East, West, South, North and Ndawara Regions (see attendance list) Within the framework of the Ardo's Union (A.U) with the sole agenda of reviewing aspects related to the welfare of our populations in the National sectoral development programme put in place by our illustrious Head of state H.E PAUL BIYA declare.

The Fulanis are peace loving hard working people living in total fraternity with their neighbours the various non Fulani's of all races (Mbororos, Akous, etc.) to see the light at the other end of the tunnel in the national life of the state.

The list of examples remains long and limitless, but we will highlight a few.

Employment opportunities in all spheres of national life, be it public and private sector beginning with the presidency of the Republic, Ministers, State Corporations, Defence and Security, Administration, Teaching etc.

Remarkable improvements in recent times in accessibility to basic important social facilities like schools, and health centres that are littered in all nocks and crannies in the hinterlands where the predominant Fulani Pastoral population is concentrated. The effect is the exponential increase in the scholarly population of the Fulani youths nowadays thus auto-checking other social vices.

• The construction of cattle crushes and the systematic vaccination schemes of our cattle which constitutes our economic mainstay. The above in conjunction with "institutionalized" peaceful co-existence with the other tribes has positively impacted our age - old tradition of cattle rearing as evidence in the ever tripling numbers of our cattle flourishing side by side with the largely farming native population.

• The recognition, institutional and full implication of the Ardos/Lamidos in the management of public affairs. The above listed action of the Head of State and His Government directly and positively affects the life of the ordinary Fulani man and woman.

Despite these laudable initiatives to make Fulani Cameroonians all over the national territory to live up to their full potentials, it remains regrettable that some greedy, egocentric and ill- fated individuals or group of individuals have made it a duty and find pleasure misrepresenting the Fulani population, their wishes and feelings vis-a-vis the state and development partners.

On behalf of all the Fulani Tribes (Mbororos, Akous, Fulbe etc), the Ardor's Union condemns in very strong terms and with her last energy misleading qualifications in view of misrepresenting and misinforming the public, development partners , the Government and the international Community in general that; the Fulani Mbororos are a marginalized, underprivileged and a minority group of people. A good number of these tribes men may be considered as traditional conservatives (uncivilized) which do not make them marginalized, underprivileged and minority per say. This misleading propaganda is false on the following grounds.

*Fulanis (Mbororo, Akous, Fulbes etc) are not marginalized because they are found in all spheres of national life where they merit. We the community leaders are still to report cases of negative discrimination on our tribe. On the contrary, Mbororos, Akous and other Fulanis have benefited from opportunities which they wouldn’t have normally merited because of our race\tribe. Sayin that we are marginalized is being ungrateful with the other tribes in Cameroon that suffer negative discrimination in favour of Fulanis.

*Fulanis (Mbororos, Akous ect) are not underprivileged, this is just the reverse. Back in the communities where we live with the natives, we are more economically viable than the natives. This is even demonstrated in our capacity of employing the natives as our farmers called herdsmen and to do all sort of jobs. Paradoxically, the so call “privilege native” can’t do the same.

*Fulanis are not a Minority, the Fulanis are simply members of a tribe or ethnic group amongst the over 250 tribes that exist in Cameroon. Global estimate puts them at over 500000 thus making the Fulani Tribe in Cameroon to be amongst the first five if not the first in terms of population. Saying that they are a minority is a contradiction of terms certainly intended to cheat the government and the public?

We the Ardos\Lamidos say NO TO DECEITFUL PROPAGANDA meant for selfish interest and tarnishing the image of the Fulani’s as it reduces them to beggars rather than projecting them as givers in the society. This relegating philosophy only helps to nurse a feeling of discontent which has the effect of inducing the Fulanis into joining obnoxious sects in order to fight for survival, this unacceptable and must stop.

We call all Fulanis to close ranks more than ever before and denounce these fake individuals when ever seen in our community.

*presents the Ardos’ Union as the formal entity to represent and articulate anything relating to the common interest of the Fulanis as it is made up of our natural leaders, be it nationally and internationally.

We pray government to continue with her lofty development strives which are aimed at making Cameroon an emerging country before 2015.

    Done & Signed by all the Lamidos\Ardos at Ndawara, this 19^th Day of December 2015