Federalism is a peaceful and brotherly option

Some of us Cameroonians, in general, and West Cameroonians, in particular, can remember what has taken place in this piece of land called Kamerun/Cameroon.

Beginning from the Plebiscite, Unification and Reunification, we moved from West Cameroon and East Cameroon to Federal Republic of Cameroon and to the Republic of Cameroon, being the name that East Cameroon had before Unification and or Reunification.

We just celebrated 50 years of Reunification. The plebiscite and reunification concerned only the people of West Cameroon which already had a Government in Buea being their capital. The Cameroon Mountain was in the same place then.

Ships that brought plebiscite material and all other things for West Cameroon docked in Victoria. The wharfs of Bota and Tiko were very busy employing hundreds of workers in the Cameroon Development Corporation. Whenever a ship docked in Victoria, it gave “New life” to the inhabitants of Tiko, Mutengene and Victoria.

I was a worker in the unallocated stores section of the Public Works Department in charge of clearing all Government things coming from the Crown Agents and other parts of the world to West Cameroon. Cameroon Mountain has never been a problem for ships in Victoria. Here, SONARA was built after Unification.

Going back to the plebiscite and unification, which put us where we are today, we had two political leaders whom all Anglophone Cameroonians were following.

Late Dr. John Ngu Foncha joining East Cameroon with the KNDP of the Northwest and Late Dr. EML Endeley with joining of Nigeria with the CPNC of the Southwest. There are still some Thomases among Anglophones who need to visit the archives in Buea to be convinced that Reunification was voted by the Northwest.

Going through the figures, Northwest scored 233,571 for joining East Cameroon, while Southwest had 97,741 for joining Nigeria. Consider the number of Northwesterners living in the Southwest at the time of the plebiscite. Then, we think of democracy where the majority should rule.

Those who see and hear and also read papers should rethink of West Cameroon from Reunification till today. Have Anglophones as a group benefitted enough?

Reaping What You Did Not Sow

Today, Cameroon is one and indivisible thanks to the lone active leading opposition party in Cameroon. Thanks to the freedom of the press in Cameroon. Some Anglophone Cameroonians think that they are those making Cameroon indivisible. There was a time President Paul Biya told Cameroonians that he will rule for 20 more years.

I am not sure those 20 years have ended. But some “Anglophones” are calling on Paul Biya to stay in power for another 32 years. WONDERFUL! Do we know God’s plans for Mr. Paul Biya.

When some Anglophones start calling others manipulators, intruders and destabilisers, I see one comfortable man amongst 500 suffering Anglophones. I also see “Belly Politics” in such a language.

During the talks before the celebrations of Unification in Buea, Mola Njoh Litume spoke out alone and aloud that Unification is a “come we stay” marriage, which still had to be legalised. FonAngwafor of Mankon and Senator Nfon Mukete of Kumba - both very senior Anglophones - said there were mistakes which should be corrected with time.

I do not see any West Cameroonians here or abroad who can dispute the views of those three notables, namely; MolaNjohLitumbe of Buea, Fon Agwafor of Mankon, Bamenda and Senator Nfon Mukete of Kumba.

It is not enough just singing that we are one and indivisible, because, it will mean that some still go to Nigeria and others to East Cameroon; it is late.

At 71, as a trade unionist, salesman and now in active politics, I have seen and believe that we Anglophones of West Cameroon have been exploited and cheated into a deal called Unification or Reunification (countless facts and figures abound).

The peaceful and brotherly solution to this long vexing problem is to revert to Federalism. Ni John Fru Ndi brought Peace to Cameroon. But my humble plea to God is that the United Nations should take full responsibility to avoid the continuous feet-dragging of the regime in power in Cameroon. God willing, this process handled by the UN will succeed.

God bless Cameroon- Africa in miniature.

The Anglophones who make big in the CPDM pretend not to know that;

a) The non-completion of the Kumba-Mamfe road since reunification

b) The neglect of the Bamenda–Ring Road

c) The silence about the development of the Menchum falls

d) The refusal for commercial ships to dock in Limbe and building a second deep sea port in Kribi with none in Limbe, is a real open proof that we who fought hard to join our brothers East of the Mungo are “Capital Anglofools” Only federalism will stop endless waste of money to fight the SCNC. Then, of course, West Cameroon will seize being a chop-farm for some Francophones and their godfathers.

By KWENDI TAYONG JOHN

Senior Citizen

District Chairman

BUEA SDF