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, 19th 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 (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 19th Day of December 2015
