Some points in Cameroon history are viciously
distorted to meet-up with the wish of some persons for Secession, creating a
Republic of Southern Cameroon. All that true history can present about Cameroon
start with the German Kamerun. It was single territory that suffered separation
in the hands of Britain and France. One brother became British administered and
the other French. That is, British and French Trusteeship being the sharing in
1916 as a result of the World War that ended in 1945.
Since separation in 1916 till 1961, they lived apart
with the knowledge that they were Brothers separated by two Colonial masters-
British and French. To substantiate this fact, when Ahidjo became Prime Minister
of the French administered Cameroon in 1958, he immediately laid a plan for the
reunification of the two Cameroons into one single Cameroon. This plan had a
pride of place in the minds of both the British and French administered
Cameroon. It should be noticed that since 1957, just 12 years after the Second
World War ended , and 31 years in the administration of two different colonial
masters, they came immediately the surfacing of that brotherly interest to
unite Cameroon as one nation.
Here I present an excerpt of Ahidjo’s speech in November
1957. “The oneness of Cameroon remains the ordent dream of all Cameroonians.
Unity is possible as long as two conditions are fulfilled:
1. Real
Community of feeling of all Cameroonians and a oneness of purpose around our
flag to the exclusion of all barriers of race or ethnicity.
2. Reunification
of the two Cameroons into a single Cameroon.
At this
point, it must be accepted that Reunification had no huddles as it was long
deep rooted in both brothers. With the burning desire to Reunite,the united
Nations on the 11th and 12th February, 1961 organized a
Plebiscite in the British administered Cameroon to decide if they will choose
to remain part of Nigeria or join La Republic Du Cameroon. The two areas that
were involved in the Plebiscite were the Southern Cameroon and Northern
Cameroon of Nigeria who had her independence in 1960. There came the need for
United Nations to decide on the future of the southern Cameroon and Northern
Cameroon.
The Southern
and Northern Cameroon voted in the Plebiscite and their votes were Counted
Separately. The results were: Southern Cameroon 233.571 votes for integration
with their brothers of the Republic of Cameroon and 97.741 votes against to
join the Republic of Nigeria. The Northern Cameroon voted 146.296 to join
Nigeria and 97.659 votes against and in the struggle for reunification; La
Republic Du Cameroon lost that part of her brotherhood to the Republic of
Nigeria. After the Plebiscite that was declared by the United Nations to be
valid and binding as from April, 1961, Cameroon of the Southern Cameroon and La
Republic Du Cameroon was Reunited as one and indivisible entity. For the
Northern Cameroon that La Republique Du Cameroon saw strongly as part of her
brotherhood, going to Nigeria, She made a plea to the International court of
justice in the Hague and the case was dismissed. That part of motherland went
to Nigeria as Southern Cameroon went to La Republic Du Cameroon.
One thing those
seeking for Secession should note is that the desire to reunite was so strong
that it wasn’t out of pressure in Foumban, but out of sincere willingness. If
after many years of Co-existence, a brother nurses a grudge against the other,
the United Nations has requested for a dialogue in the interest of good relationship,
to foster the good spirits that originally was behind the Reunification that
sought jubilations on both sides of River Mongo and the Diaspora.
Let the truth
be preached to bring Cameroonians out of ignorance. By the time we take to
following that which is correct, we shall see the rational in the request for
dialogue and not secession. Nobody should tell a lie that reunification that
gave the birth to a Federal Republic and later a United Republic, was without
the consent of the people of Cameroon. On the 9th May, 1972, there
was a draft constitution that was submitted by President Ahidjo for the people
of Cameroon’s approval. The question read: “ Do you approve with a view to
consolidating National Unity and accelerating
the economic, Social and Cultural development of the Nations, the draft
constitution, instituting a Republic one and indivisible, to be styled the
United Republic of Cameroon?” To this question, Cameroonians overwhelmingly
answered, “YES”.
At this point, I wish to quote the words of
President Ahidjo after the
20th
May, 1972 overwhelming “YES” to the question that he presented to the
Cameroonian people:
“A
nation ever more United; a strong and democratic state.
It
rest with you and with all of us together to ensure that these seeds of today
yield abundant crops tomorrow; that the plants which spring from them bear
fruits worthy of the great work that the Cameroonian people have undertaken.
Then we shall be proud to go with a bountiful harvest to the rendezvous with
history. I address my best wishes to the United Republic of Cameroon. And so,
fellow Countrymen, the birth certificate of the united Republic of Cameroon,
that is to say, the sacred pact which once and for all enshrines and express
their profound Unity. 20th May, 1972, will this beyond dispute, be
the day of national unity and as such will surely be commemorated by future
generations who will see in it the symbol of a great achievement carried
through in solidarity, fraternity and confidence in the nation’s future. The
strength of will of the Cameroonian people and the exemplary continuity of its
efforts, today crowned with success, to unit within a common fatherland, free
and independent, and to forge one nation at once proud of the rich diversity of
its cultural personality and conscious of the absolute necessity of its unity,
leave me in no doubt as to this devotion to the united Republic of Cameroon and
this faithfulness to the profound meaning we give to it which is to complete
the Unity of the Cameroon Nation and increase the effectiveness of our drive
for a rapid and balance development. Long live United Cameroon, in Justice,
brotherhood and progress.”
After observing these sincere words of President
Ahidjo concerning our unity, let me now draw the attention of the innocent to
the viciousness of the colonial masters that led to the inhuman fragmentation
that has left some African countries as land-locked deserts. Those African
countries as we can see, ought to have been better portions of their brother
countries, but are deserts left independent and their people are dying of
famine and extreme poverty, all in the name of sovereign nations of Africa.
This is where the African Union has fast seen the importance of having a United
States of Africa as a country to have her place juxtaposed other giant
countries of the world. In a single United States of Africa, a united Cameroon
will hold a powerful position, than a Cameroon fragmented into a Republic of
Southern Cameroon and La Republique du Cameroon. Together we stand and separated
we fall. it is easy to break a few broom sticks, than breaking a bundle. And
finally, only when tiny threats are put together that they can tie a lion.
In a united states of Africa there
would be a weighted voting system in the General Assembly and the weighted vote
of member states shall depend on the population, Contribution to the Union
budget, and its unit share of the union membership. As such, the Republic of
Southern Cameroon as a micro-state compared to La Republique du Cameroon, shall
certainly count less votes and equally occupy an inferior position in the
union. Here, I am putting it clear that the fight for a Republic of Southern
Cameroon without a vision of future reforms in Africa to liberate her econo -politically,
can be a futile mistake as was such that was made by the early states men
for our independence.
They did sniff the wind of
independence and went headlong without a vision of certain reforms that were to
come up after independence. They could only table their inability to visualize
after they had drawned their people into rubbish in the name of independence.
Their lack of vision has placed Cameroon in the present state with quite some
serious differences to handle. We can be doing our future generations more
harm, if we also want to move in the dark without a vision. The book of wisdom
(Bible) says, “Those without a vision are bound to perish”.
Hanging on the fact that the
Colonial masters fragmented the German Cameroon for their interest, and it
pleased God to re-unite her and place her on the world map and history, I will
want us to accept that the potential benefits of remaining a united and
indivisible Cameroon are enormous. God is not a separationist and He hates all
tendencies of separation. In the Bible the book of wisdom He says, “What I have
put together, let no man put asunder”. The United Nation, African Union, and
many other groupings are the good works of God to bring His people together as
one people, answerable to each other and finally to Him. Our traditional adage
says, “There can be no house with people and they do not quarrel”. This is
where the phenomenon known as dialogue in human relationship, plays an
important role in peace building.
Should some people succeed to repeat
the greedy actions of the colonial masters and scatter Cameroon once more into
two microstates, then I here reveal a vision that it will surely lead to further separation or secession that
will render the people to become slaves worse than they had ever been. Despite
the fact that the idea of secession carries no vision, there is every sound
reason to believe that some Anglophones hold it as an ideal dream that they
think shall come to pass. A lot of Anglophones too recognize the extent to
which the benefits of unity for a United and indivisible Cameroon outweighs
those of secession. Most Anglophones are becoming enlightened and call for
dialogue that can bring about major reforms in a united and indivisible
Cameroon. We all agree that there are differences between us as Cameroonians.
We need equally to agree that none bears all the blames alone. Hence, we find
ourselves at war that will not be to our advantage nor that of our children.
Even though there are differences between us, we can after a sincere dialogue
bury the past in the interest of our peace and Unity to head for a better place
in a United States of Africa and the world.
The Anglophone early leaders (Foncha
and Muna), did acknowledge that they made mistakes, but now working on their
mistakes to separate with our brothers (Francophones) will not be the best
option to rectify the mistakes of the past. All of us (Anglophones and
Francophones), will feel the pains of a lost brother and those of festering
wounds caused by war. We shall then long for something to be done to heal them,
but it will be a situation of eating our cake and wanting it back. At such a
late moment, who shall do what, to fix the damage relationship and bring back
our cherished peace and Unity?
Even the Apostles of Christ working
very close to God disagreed with each other at times, but the teachings of
Christ helped them to get back on good terms and continued as a family for
God’s work on earth. The counsel of Christ should help Cameroonians remain a
united people ready to solve their conflicts and repair broken relationship in
preparation for a united state of Africa. What a wonderful expectation! This is
no longer a moment for deadwoods, but that of people who can see visions. The
many separationist groups in different names are all deadwoods that will only mislead
the Anglophones for no sound achievements as the destiny of our children.
Working hand in gloves with them, we shall equally acknowledge shamefully our
own mistakes as our leaders (Foncha and Muna) did before passing into their
graves. Let us leave the various separationist groups alone and head for the
dialogue that can make peace with our selves. At the dialogue table, we
(Anglophones and Francophones ) shall all lay bare the false of each and every
one . Whether it is the Francophones that have cheated the Anglophones or vice
versa, the dialogue table shall talk matters out very much in a spirit of
mildness for peace and unity, not heading to a battle field.
The paramount aim of such a dialogue should not
definitely be to preserve the image of the Anglophones because of the
separation intention or to pummel the Francophones into apologizing but for us
to establish true solutions to problems hindering the brotherhood that was put
in place by Foncha and Ahidjo, and make peace that will keep us one people of a
united and indivisible Cameroon. That remains the truth for a sound mind who
has a vision for a united state of Africa. A united states of Africa will not
be built with very small and hungry countries that came into being out of
vicious greed of separationists .
It is just but normal a human phenomenon for people
who live and share together to have differences, and equally normal for them to
always sit down together and iron matters out in the interest of peace
building. We (Anglophones and Francophones) have to sit together, facing each
other, with every good intention and talk the language of peace building and
maintenance. That surely will work for the good of all (Anglophones and
Francophones), because wars have never paid any dividends and the will never,
ever, pay anywhere in the history of mankind. The way of solving our
differences can be by taking off the obstacles that some separationists in the
country and in the Diaspora are placing along the way of our cherished peace
and unity, as they long for an Anglophone Republic.
At this point of facing the bull by the horns, I love
my fellow Anglophone brothers to understand that pride and haughtiness due to
ignorance will hinder all arrangement for
dialogue . Pride has deluted most Anglophones that I have discuss
matters with them, to conclude that we are right in all circumstances even
where we are floundering in quite a lot of our own mistakes. Haughtiness has
made us build a strong spirit of placing our selves always right and the
Francophones wrong. The way out of such a complex is to think of separation
since relationship cannot be improved upon. Well, if wishes were horses then
all beggars will ride.
The strange expectation of a sovereign state to be carved
out of the Republic of Cameroon, instead of resolving the difference that will maintain her peace
and unity, is opening wide the doors for
a meaningless blood bath that can be realized very un-noticed, to the regret of
both Anglophones and Francophones alike. Will Cameroonians be so un-reasonable
to allow this happen? Will the united Nations and African union choose to see
the Republic of Cameroon that is their member state, shattered to please
separationists? Impossible! I am quite sure that like a barricade that halts
traffic on a highway, the people of Cameroon, African Union and United Nations,
will stop all efforts made by separationists to disrupt the peace that has and
is reigning in this country.
The Government of Cameroon has
chosen to dialogue and therefore, invites the separationists who are in the
country and those in the Diaspora, to join hands and open the strong bar to the
room of reconciliation, no matter where it hurts most. We shall surely leave
the dialogue table not the antagonists that we are presently to each other, but
brothers as usual, of a united and peaceful Cameroon. In the interest of this
dialogue, I will like us to examine critically statements of the founding
fathers of this nation in Foumban, as they went there to accomplish a strong
desire to reunite. Let us find out where the Anglophones are today right to
blame the Francophones, and exonerate themselves, rather than discovering the
errors that are today our destiny, and humbly accept to dialogue for meaningful
change that should bring about good relationship in a Cameroon of peace and
justice.
Statement by J.N. Foncha
“Your Excellency, I wish to make
just a few remarks on the proposals we made on the draft constitution submitted
to the Southern Cameroon Delegation. I do not wish to comment on all of the points
we have presented to you, but it is my place just to say the spirit in which we
make these recommendations. For three days we sat over the papers your
Excellency Presented to us. We looked
into all the clauses and found many things quite agreeable to us and some,
though agreeable needed some little suggestions from us, and we did so. We had heated debate on some of the points,
and I can assure you that, that stemmed from the fact that we wished to produce
the best for our Country. Our recommendation therefore, has nothing
inimical but something which we feel the future Federation of Cameroon will be
proud of if we take the points to reason and put down just what is practicable.
I do not, at this stage want to
claim that we are perfect in our recommendation, but I want to assure you that
what we suggest is not far from being perfect if your Excellency and your party
will consider those points seriously and accept them. I want to remark this – that the recommendations we made
stem out of the brotherly feeling we have towards the Republic of Cameroon. We
feel that we are building our house and not building a house for anybody, and
any suggestion that we make to strengthen that house you may be sure stems from
our very best interest.
I must be
frank to say that in my opinion, we have done a greater part of the
constitutional proposals if we all can agree upon the points so far produced. I
envisage a further meeting, but it will merely be to iron out the few words
which we might not have put properly. I have said that I do not want to make
comments on all that is put down here, but this general remark”.
Statement by Dr. Endeley, Leader of
the Opposition:
“Mr. President, Honorable Ministers,
Gentlemen, I have great pleasure in associating myself with my colleague, the
Premier of the Southern Cameroons. I must say that in my last talk I said we
were here with an open heart and to work as a team. We have succeeded in
working as a team in looking through the proposals which were placed by your
government before the Southern Cameroons Delegation.
There were proposals which were the
results of great thought by experts, legal experts and therefore, it took more
time than we thought it would take. We do not presume that we have found the
answer to the problems which will unify the two Cameroon; but we have given an
indication of what we think and what we feel. All we request is that you should
receive our proposals as an indication
of our good intentions and good will for a union. It is like a young
brother who is anxious to live coldly and does not have any encouragement, he
may feel very discouraged. Much of the
desire for the people of the Southern Cameroons to Unite with their brothers,
will depend on the attitude of the Republic of Cameroon and the manner in which
they treat these proposals.
I am happy for one thing, and for
this I have again to thank the Sultan of Foumban and his people, that we have
been able to continue our discussions in very good humour and under a very happy atmosphere. We do not feel
that we are in a strange Country at all, and this, I think, we owe to the
friendliness and the peaceful atmosphere of Foumban. In the midst of work, we
have been able to relax.
Finally, Mr. President; I would wish
to say one thing and this I would try to convey through you this is to our
brothers who have gone wild in the bush. If I, as opposition leader, and my
colleagues can reconcile with MR. Foncha, I can not see why those who are the
opposition and have gone wild in the bush can not reconcile with your government. I have had great reason to feel that MR. Foncha is an enemy to me and
I would not work together with him, as the terrorists have felt against President Ahidjo. We have come to set
an example. I have come to set an example – that by working together, we can
make a better country. If, by this example which I set with my colleagues, we
can not produce a peaceful Cameroon, then we will be a laughing stock to the
country.
Many people thought that this
conference would be a failure and that it would not work; as it is the first
conference and it has succeeded, I am convinced that all other conferences
after this will succeed. And, therefore, Mr. President, I am appealing to those
brothers who have gone wild to cease fire and cooperate with us and come back
to help make Cameroon a peaceful country. We
should not use our arms against our brothers, we should use them against our
enemies.
Mr. President, I do not believe that
what we have taken four days to answer, you might find an answer to every
clause that we have put before you. As my colleague the Premier said, we have
only concentrated in dealing with the more urgent matters which would make our
Union on the 1st October possible. There are other matters which I
think we can treat as secondary and which we can deal with later on.
Finally, Mr. President, on behalf
of my colleagues, I am grateful for the
indulgence you have given us to look through your papers and your proposals at a time which was convenient to us. I
pledge our loyalty and determination to be at your service any time necessary
for the betterment of the Southern Cameroons”.
THE RESPONSE OF EXCELLENCY PRESIDENT AHIDJO.
“Gentlemen, at the close of this
historic gathering, I am very happy to be able to collate our different points
of view that we have put forward during these few days in order to find
concrete form to be principles of our future constitution.
After we had expressed our desire to
reunite, the United Nations decided to organize a plebiscite in the Southern
Cameroons to see whether these wishes were really genuine. The question put to
the population of this part of the territory was: “Do you wish to become
independent by uniting with the Independent Republic of Cameroon?” to this
question the vast majority of the electorate responded clearly in the
affirmative.
-
Consequently, it became incumbent on the Republic of
Cameroon which already enjoyed international sovereignty and which possessed
its own institutions, to form a Union
with the brother territory of the Southern Cameroons.
-
During our former talks we came to the agreement that
this reunification should be realized on a federal basis adapted to suit
particular conditions of our two territories. We have kept our promise, and
have submitted for your meditation the draft proposals which would be in
accordance with the objective that we have laid down. The suggestions that we
have just received from Premier Foncha, after several working sessions, during
which you studied our draft proposals, following your arrival in Foumban, bear
witness to the profound interest in and the particular attention given to this
delicate question. We appreciate these dispositions and address to you our
sincere congratulations. We are all the more happy to see that in the main
outlines, our views are identical. It only remains for us to put appropriate
legal form the observations retained – a task which we propose to undertake as
soon as we return to Yaounde, and in which
the Prime Minister and his colleagues will participate at the end of the
month.
The principal amendments which you proposed to the
draft can be classified in two categories – those which concern questions of
detail on which I do not think it necessary to insist, and those which concern
questions of Principle. With regard to the later, the Cameroon Republic
Delegation is in agreement with the greater part of your view.
With regard to nationality, we are of the opinion that
the Federal Republic can give but one nationality to it citizens, and on this
condition the subjects of the Federated states are citizens of the Federal
Republic and possess Cameroon’s nationality”.
To conclude, in the present situation that the
Anglophones have poisoned minds and are bent on parting and it is not the best option, I would want
us to juxtapose the statements of the two founding fathers (Foncha and
Endeley), and the response of Ahidjo, particularly his response on citizenship,
and reason rationally how possible it is for us to shower all our blames on the
Francophones and exonerating the Anglophones (Southern Cameroon), who had all
God’s blessings and thought well and decided well what was good for them in the
union with the Republic of Cameroon.
The United Nations, African Union,
Nigeria, Britain and France were not present in Foumban. It was the delegation
of the Southern Cameroon and the Republic of Cameroon. All that the two
brothers agreed on and are passing through today is of their making. In such
circumstance, as no mostal decisions are perfect and today cracks are found all
over the walls of our building, I call on my people the Anglophones, to take to
the usual good intentions and good will for a continuous Union of brotherhood
and go to the table and dialogue for a peaceful and united Cameroon. Should
this cry remain on the rocks in the Wilderness, and we refuse the option to
dialogue, but prefer secession, the Barrel of the white –man’s gun will be at
our disposal and we, our children, our women, the old, shall discover but too
late that we acted foolishly to reject a
fry – pan, and ran into the fire.
At this point that the entire air in
the Anglophone zone is smelling nothing but secession, I here refer us back to
the good intentions of a great opposition leader of the Southern Cameroon Dr.
Endeley, who reconciled with Foncha for the interest of building a nation where
there is peace and Unity. They did set an example by going to the dialogue
table for reconciliation. Today, it is for us too, to also set our own example
to seek for reconciliation with the Francophones that we now see as a people we
can no longer live with as brother, and our glorious union of the past is
falling apart.
Just as Endeley saw Foncha as his
enemy, but had to reconcile with him in the interest of peace, unity and
progress, we can also emulate the good spirit of the two state’s men, even
though there are pins here and there that pinch severely. All we need now is
dialogue as brothers of one and indivisible Cameroon. All the wahalla have and
are only exposing Cameroon to be a laughing stock to the rest of the world and
preparing her for a battle field. Worse of it, our schools are closed, and our
children not going to school.
I strongly emphasize that nowhere in
the world and at no time in human history has war been embraced. We must always
avoid it as much as possible because even when we fight and win, or when it is
stopped by the powers that be, it leaves behind scars that can never be
forgotten. Little pins that pinch us here and there can be removed, should we
take to a dialogue table, rather than the battle field. The United Nations and
the peace loving people of the world need a report on the dialogue in Cameroon
to avoid a blood bath, as has happened and is happening in some countries.
Jumping to get a feather off a flying goose might seem great to separationists,
but the fact will remain that separation will be emulated to become the destiny
of our children.
I am not by this write – up out to
provoke bees in their hive, rather, I am out to let us know that it is
dangerous for us to allow separationists play on the people’s intelligence to
benefit themselves and their supporters in the diaspora. The separationists
want to build a pond in Cameroon that our children shall fish in trouble waters
and pay prices that are too dear, and not of their making. When we talk of
separation, I remember the Buea All Anglophone conference (AAC) that was meant
to enormously contribute to the large debate. We should at this moment see
how the Buea declaration of AAC of 2-3/04/93,
sent the Anglophones off agenda. There
after, we went to the united Nations and returned with a symbolic United
Nations flag, but failed to tell the Anglophones the significance of the flag
and how it was acquired. Rather we went ahead floundering about with various
deceitful concepts:
1.
The non termination of the Trusteeship Agreement
2.
That it was terminated, but not the right way
3.
The violation of a 30years transitional agreement
4.
That the leadership of Ahidjo imposed the unitary
system of government
On the Southern Cameroon
5.
That Foncha and Muna are to be blamed
6.
A return to the agreed two states Federation
7.
Of Secession.
Examining these concepts properly, I
wish to observe that these are points viciously distorting Cameroon history
to meet –up with the cry of
separationists for a so call “Republic of Southern Cameroon”.
AN ADVICE TO
THOSE WHO PREACH THAT SECCESSION IS COMING THROUGH UNITED NATIONS
The Republic
of Cameroon is a Sovereign state with full membership in United Nations and the
African Union. All the charters of the two organizations were ratified and to
be respected by Cameroon and equally the organizations. They were not ratified
to be used as tools for the creation of a new state or for the separation of
the United and Indivisible State of Cameroon.
The
headache which needs but a dialogue comes from the acceptance naively to allow
President Ahidjo (May his soul rest in peace) in 1966 to stifle multi-partism
in the territory and gave life only to his own party. This affected negatively
the West and East Cameroon Federalism agreement, but the West Cameroon had no
eyes to see how things were to unfold later to their detriment . Furthermore,
with mono-party giving all powers to Ahidjo, he in a referendum in 1972,
capitalized on the naivety of West Cameroon and the Union between the two as
was agreed upon in 1961, gave way to a United and Indivisible Cameroon. Even
though some persons today cry that the
referendum of 1972 contradicted UNITED NATIONS Resolution 1608 of 21-4-1961, they fail to
understand that UN had nothing to say or do as two brothers of the same house
(West and East Cameroon) decide to put things right in their house and fortify
their union for their better. There is no charter of UN that objects to
internal arrangements for the wellbeing of the nation concerned. All that
happened was an internal matter that concerned a member state of the UN and any
interference would have been tantamount to UN violating its own charter.
We
accept that the referendum changed the union voted for by the Southern Cameroon
in 1961 – That is, Federal Republic changed to United Republic. How do we today
attach annexation here when the two brothers out of no pressure agreed to a
referendum and voted freely for a United Cameroon- That is, they voted to unite
themselves as members of the same house for their wellbeing. Again in 1984,
President Paul Biya’s regime that had representation from the two sides, saw
the need for another change of name, with no iota of resistance or protest. How
do we hold UN responsible for all our internal political gymics? If the gymics
taste sour to us today, the right thing is to take to the dialogue table and
there, reshape the branches of the tree of our union to avoid an ugly situation
that can become the bitter destiny of our children.
For
the dialogue to be quite effective, the former West Cameroonians by blood,
should all stand up and put their heads together to get persons amongst them of
substance, who will communicate the Government of Cameroon their readiness to
dialogue in the interest of peace and unity.
“BEWARE”- IS
THE LAST WORD OF ADVICE
A man thought it was right for him to
keep crying deceitfully of a wolf invading the village. Each time he cried and the
entire village showed concern and came out prepared to attack and kill the wolf,
he laughed, telling the people that it was only one of his tricks to make him
know that they were so foolish and can be tickled in any form, at any moment,
for his selfish desires.
One day, when the villagers were fedup
with him the wolf actually entered the village, stood right beside him, quite
prepared to devour him. He cried on the top of his voice, but the villagers
stayed unconcern, claiming that it was just one of the days that he wanted to
make a fool of them. He was finally devoured by the wolf. What ever a man sowed,
that shall he also reap.
Since Cameroonians went
floundering in politics, Ghost Town has always made some cold rundown the
nostrils of Government Authorities. But as at today like the man who kept
crying “wolf” where there was none, Ghost town is no longer the cold to be felt
severely by Government Authorities. Reasons being that, it has become
monotonous and nobody says, “an old wound pains”. Presently, Ghost town is
looking more of a childplay to enable Cameroonians acquire more laziness from
the demonic realm and go strongly with the notion that to destroy and leave the
country worse, is far better than to keep improving on what they have, and to leave the country
better than they met it. How reasonable
is it for us to burn our roads, houses, markets, schools, or kill a fellow
Cameroonian all for a supports of ghost town?
The sad point I am
bringing to the understanding of rational Cameroonians is that since we went
floundering in multiparty politics, the scenarios have always been that of
“Like fathers like children”. None has bothered to leave footprints on the sand
of their time. The question today is, “ must you take your precious time to
build your country and you rather go supporting negative concepts?” This
question is blowing in the wind. I hold that behaving as “children like
fathers”, will equally make you leave no footprints of yours on the sand of
your time, but will rather sent you regretting at the end of your journey as
your fathers did. I wish to advice that the errors the Anglophone fathers made,
the principle of duplication should not be copied by their children. It is
acceptable that the errors of the Anglophone fathers are pinching and the bleak
future of the country is full of uncertainties. Let us know that God will only
continue to bless this country and abundantly, if we can only reason rationally
and throw wide-open the doors to the dialogue room, and go in with the
conception that God had condemned the Anglophones and Francophones to live
together as brothers of one and indivisible Cameroon. Being discontent and a
rigorous atmosphere of ghost town closes the doors of our institutions of
learning and paralyses our economy, is
not the best for the destiny of tomorrow. The mistakes of the Anglophone
fathers of yesterday that have let to marginalization, can be properly handled
in the dialogue room, than running in the bush, children and old men starved to
death, women raped and all that is negative
enough where there is a struggle for secession.
God is still giving Cameroon
some hopes, and at a moment like this of ghost town, his sympathy remains
eternal with our violent anger, as he waits on seeing Anglophones and
Francophones hand in hand, moving into the dialogue room, to seek final
solutions to their differences. Ghost town is not the best solution any longer,
but in the dialogue room, God will provide solutions that will lead to peace
and unity for His Glory. Life is mankind’s precious gift from God, and no man
is free to disturb or take it away. God has solutions to all the problems of
the life he gave us, if only we seek him. Let the ghost town be called off and
Cameroonians go with God to the dialogue table for His solutions to the
stalemates of today.
“My Grace is sufficient for you” (2Corinthians 12:9)
“ In everything, give thanks” (1 Thessalonians 5 : 19)
“ For I consider that the sufferings of the present time are not worthy
to be compared to the glory which shall
be reveal to us” (Romans 8:18)
Our God is noble and
never changes. From the dialogue room, He wants to give Cameroon more of His
infinite blessings. Let us at this moment that ghosts have occupied the nooks
and corners of our towns (ghost town), call on God, he will answer us, and show
us great and mighty things that we have never known. The ghosts in our towns
can not provide the great and mighty Cameroon that God has prepared for us in
the dialogue room. Let us chase away the ghosts in our towns, vomit out those
in us and allow our children go to school peacefully. The ghosts in our towns
and those in us, are only building a bleak future that will enable our innocent
children fish in trouble waters.
At this moment, our
great God is asking Cameroonians to sit on his comfortable laps where we can obtain spiritual strength
and all the ghosts in us and in our towns will disappear, freeing our children
from preparing to fish in trouble waters that is not of their making. Even if
out of some greed there is separation, the Anglophones and francophones will
continue to see themselves as brothers who failed to serve one another with
love for Gods Glory. That will keep us regretting throughout our lives, till
another generation comes. It is not the ghosts in us, nor those in our towns,
that can stop the marginalization of the Anglophones by francophones. It is God
in us all and in all our towns, that we can be able to have a Cameroon where
there is justice, goodness, holiness, love, peace and unity – Sincere
brotherhood. Amen.
