Letter to Emmanuel Macron, visiting French President

Your Excellency; welcome to Cameroon, 'land of promise' and 'land of glory'; after winning your second and last mandate as President of France, Cameroon's (former) colonial master. I know you come as a master who wants to see first hand how his (former) estate is faring. No gainsaying the fact.

Your decision to visit Cameroon this Monday July 25, 2022, may seem innocent to many, but by God's design, it's providential. July 25, in the church's year, is feast day of St. James, one of the two sons of Zebedee and first matrye of the 12 apostles. James is famous in the Bible because his mother, wife of Zebedee, who had great influence on Jesus went kneeling infront of him, requesting that he commands that his two sons, James and John, take the first position in Heaven: one to his left and the other to his right. Although Jesus disappointed her by saying that her sons may only have the privilege of sharing in his suffering, (but not going to Heaven), the decision on who goes to Heaven is that of his father, not his. 

The announcement of your visit to Cameroon today creates the same anxiety and expectation Zebedee's wife and children had as Jesus was approaching the end of his mandate on earth. Just as they thought Jesus could reserve the two privileged positions for them in Heaven, many a Cameroonian in general and citizens of native West Cameroon in particular, look up to your visit and meeting with Cameroon's long-serving President, as a moment of clarity. Just like Jesus used the opportunity of Zebedee's wife's intersection to clarify the limit of his powers, you may also use this visit to clarity your concerns about the plight of Cameroonians, to which France has contributed directly or indirectly.

You are visiting at a time citizens of native West Cameroon are yearning for greater autonomy or outright independence from mainland francophone Cameroon because of the French colonial legacy of assimilation. President Biya himself confessed to having found difficulty absorbing the Anglophone minority when he last visited France. But for their tenacity. Anglophones and those who have opted to call themselves 'Ambazonians', are monitoring every move of yours in Cameroon today, and looking up to knowing whether you have understood anything about their grievances since 2016.

Like James, the first apostle to be martyred, thousands of native West Cameroonians have been martyred for their faith in the former British colonial heritage of English language and the common law system. You are visiting when the remaining few surviving English speaking Cameroonians are 'afflicted in everyway, but not perplexed; persecuted but not forsaken; struck down but not destroyed', (confer 2 Corinthians 4:7-15). And still hoping you may do something (even though a majority do not even believe in your sincerity). 

Like Jesus, you may be telling them you don't have the powers to divide Cameroon into two (that is, grant the wishes of Ambazonians), but you can bring pressure to bare on our leadership to grant native West Cameroonians (living in the North West and South West Regions), greater autonomy. France's concern about the welfare of minorities pushed them to fight for greater autonomy for Quebec in Canada. 

Today those living in the French-speaking region of Canada proudly refer to themselves as nationals of Quebec in a united Canada. That is why Canadian Prime Minister could easily declare that Quebecois are Quebec nationals in a united Canada. That is why they enjoy greater advantages than ordinary Canadians. That is why they do attend schools in France on home tuition. That is why they go to 'Le Jeux de la franchophonie' with a Quebecois-only football team, not Canadian national team as Cameroon does for Commonwealth games, season-in, season-out.That is why it suffices for any Canadian to declare he/she is Quebecois and becomes one, just as Cameroon nationality code indicates who can become a native West Cameroonian.

His Excellency, can you impress it on Cameroon leadership that a better way of ensuring Cameroon remains one and indivisible is to replicate the Canadian example of a special status to the Cameroon situation?

Would you be kind enough to reason President Paul Biya to the effect that if he continues delaying on granting greater autonomy, many an English-speaking Cameroonian could change their minds, given that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), is categorical on the fact that no one be forced to belong to a country s/he no longer shares its modus operandis and modus vivandis? 

Given that with technological advancement and free movement today, nationality has been reduced to one's ability to contribute to the social, cultural, political and economic growth a country, not just the fact that one was born there and that the constitution states so, (and many a native West Cameroonian are not fulfilling such criteria toward Yaounde today), can His Excellency from France agree with His Excellency at Etoudi, that henceforth, native West Cameroonians should proudly refer to themselves as Ambazonian nationals living in a united Cameroon?

Even if the point were not to go back to 1961, can English-speaking Cameroonians be offered the same privileges Quebecois have in Canada today? Can they be allowed to organize their Anglo-saxon school and common law systems their own way? Could they be allowed to take part in upcoming Commonwealth games with an Ambazonian-only team as Québec does for 'La francophonie' games ? Affaire a suivre...

In the meantime, welcome Mr.Emmanuel Macron, French Président. Kindly make hey while the sun shines.

*Colbert Gwain is digital rights advocate, author, radio host and content creator @TheColbertFactor

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By Culbert Gwain 

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Bamenda City Mayor steals show at installation of two military Generals

     " I HAVE A DREAM"

 The city mayor Achombong Paul Tambang expressing optimism in his welcome speech

The Mayor of Bamenda City Council  hopes that NorthWest and Cameroon as whole will soon  speak with one voice." I Speak French, you respond in English".

This note of optimism comes on the hills of the installation of two New Military Generals said to be renowned in combatting terrorism.

It's on this premise that he foresees the Anglophone political brouhaha which metamorphosed into arm struggle ending soon, for peace  to return to the two Anglophones regions.

Achombong Paul Tambang in a ground breaking speech, thrilled both the Minister and the mamouth crowd that flooded the Bamenda commercial avenue bolivard to witness the installation of two newly appointed Military Generals to the region. 

 Visibly satisfied with the solemnity, and  content of the electrifying speech which  duelled on pertinent National and International issues, H E Joseph  Beti Assomo embraced the mayor before receiving a copy of his speech, an indication that he was very satisfied with the philosophical  speech.

This was strange to unlookers and those conversant with state protocol.

The content, the diction and the charisma with which the City mayor presented the speech moved the entire grand stand . The applauses were thunderdrous and recurrent. 

HE Joseph Beti Assomo embraces the city mayor before receiving a copy of the speech ,a rare mark of appreciation.

The speech of the city mayor  from A-Z

"A Welcome Speech Presented By The Bamenda City Mayor Achombong TAMBANG Paul, On The Occasion Of The Installation Of Brigadier General Bouba Dobekreo, The New Commander Of The 5th Joint Military Region For West And Northwest Regions And Housseini DJIBO , New Commander Of The 5Th Gendarmerie Region, Today, Tuesday July 19/2022. - H.E the Minister Delegate at the Presidency In-charge of Defence;.......

HE receives the speech after a warm embrace.

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen; It is with high esteem and renewed satisfaction that I mount this rostrum in the context of rising hopes and expectations from the population of Bamenda and the North West Region, to present my words of welcome over this historic passage of command batons from Brigadier General Kah Valerie of the 5th Joint Military Region of the West and North West and Brigadier General Ekogwesse Divine NNOKO both of whom have left indelible marks in the North West Region in their assigned missions, to incoming Brigadier General Bouba Dobekreo and Brigadier General Housseinni DJIBO respectively. The Minister Delegate at the Presidency in charge of Defense, H.E. Joseph BETI ASSOMO, special envoy of the President, Head of State and Commander in-chief of the Arm Forces, H.E Paul BIYA, the CITY MAYOR of Bamenda heartily welcomes you and your entourage to the city of the future. Please Mr. Minister, tell everyone, “We Have A Dream”. 

The most dreaded Gen. Bouba Dobekreo hails the city mayor

II want to thank God Almighty for enabling us to commune together this day in this beautiful City of Bamenda to witness the installations of the two new Generals in a Region faced numerous security challenges. I must express on my behalf and that of the peaceful people of Bamenda our deep and sincere appreciation to our Head of State and President of the Republic, H.E President Paul Biya for his continuous strive to restore peace and development in our Region

Brigardier Gen.Bouba Dobekreo: Dangerous Man most dreaded of the Brigadier Generals

I want to welcome the new Commanders of the 5th Joint Military and Gendarmerie Regions, Brigadier General Bouba Dobekreo and Brigadier General Housseinni DJIBO to the North West Region’ and want to commit their lives and assigned missions into the hands of God as they both take up duties in our Region. I understand the tasks ahead of you are daunting and thorny, but I have the conviction that you will all triumph, especially at a time when the population of the North West are increasingly becoming collaborative with the defence and security forces. 

Out gone Generals in a family picture with the minister to  imortalise the  event. 

From left to right; Gen. Ekogwesse Devine NNOKO,City Mayor Achombong Paul Tambang, Minister Joseph Beti Assomo and Gen Kah Valerie.

While pledging to give you all, the necessary support to enable you succeed in your mission in the Northwest, I urge you to be courageous and confident to face the prevailing security challenges and always remember that you have within you the strength, the patience and the passion to reach for the star to change the Region. Ladies and Gentlemen;We are limited not by our abilities, but by our vision. That is why where there is No Vision, there is No Hope. We can only triumph in our challenges if we cultivate a positive and collaborative attitudes and desist from destructive behaviours, without which,we will continue to ruin our Region and our nation. To the outgoing Generals, you are all great men. 

City Mayor Achombong looks tanatiusly to receive the Minister upon arrival

 It was always a great pleasure working with you. We will always remember you for your assiduity and the poised to leave northwest better than you met it. May God continue to bless and give you all more wisdom as you move to your new posts.  My dear people of Bamenda, nobody chooses the Nation to which he is born, nobody chooses the family in which he is born, nobody chooses the generation in which he is born; only God knows why he created us Northwest people or Cameroonians. We are thus created for a purpose. We have gone for almost six years of socio-political instability, with  majority of  our children not going to school, our economy grounded, our social security perturbed, thousands displaced; because of the   option we have chosen;  “ the argument of force , not the force of argument” in our strife for a better Cameroon. It should be noted that, there is no house without a problem, but what matters is the approach to the problem. 

City mayor hands over a symbolic gift ( NW traditional regalia) as the military prepares to take off.

 As Cameroonians therefore, we should learn to solve our problems by our selves, through continuous hope in our institutions and not counting or depending on the international community who inversely are encouraging political tussles in Africa so as to continue to keep us at bay for their selfish economic reasons. It is time we rise up to denounce the armed conflict that has claimed so many lives with thousands of our loved ones displaced.  It is on this premise, that I urge all of us here present and those in the Diaspora, to denounce the senseless war for us to be able to rebuild our Region. Either we live and progress together as brothers or we all perish as fools.  Ladies and Gentlemen; To err is human and to forgive is divine. Let’s forgive one another as even Christ has forgiven us.  

City Mayor gives directives on distribution of gifts while the mayor of Bda 1 council look on.

Nevertheless, in this very year 2022, our TURNING POINT ... I have a DREAM. The DREAM that our soldiers and citizens will embrace one another with love and the concord of living together will be our watchword. I have a Dream. The Dream that language will no longer be a barrier to social cohesion and national integration.  “When I speak French, you speak English”.  To conclude, we wish the incoming Generals good health and God’s protection as we continuously crusade for the return of peace and normalcy in our beloved North West Region. God Bless Us All!!! Long the Bamenda City Council;Long live the Ministry of Defence;Long Live Our Illustrious Head of State and President of the Republic, H.E. Paul BIYA;LONG LIVE CAMEROON"

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How much does a cup of hatred cost

Sociologists say:

1- If you are in a hotel or restaurant, and you put more sugar or milk in your tea than you do in your home... then you have a predisposition to corruption.

2- If you use more tissues, soap or perfume, in the restaurant or public place than you do at home .. then if you have the opportunity to embezzle, you will embezzle.

3- If you serve yourself more food that you can devour in weddings and open buffets just because someone else will pay the bill.. this is proof that if you had the opportunity to eat public money, you would.

4- If you usually skip people in queues, you will have the ability to climb on the shoulders of others to reach power.

5- If you consider that what you collect from the street of money and other things is your right .. then you have signs of thief.

6- If you (usually) care about knowing a famous last name instead of a first name.. you are a racist and will likely help people just because of their origins. You also care about people, not ideas and achievements.

7- If you violate the traffic instructions, and you have no regard for the traffic lights... you have a readiness for all transgressions, even if innocent people fall into them.

Fighting corruption starts from the self. Let's try to be distinguished people wherever we are, and remember that honesty is what you do between you and yourself and not just what you do in the presence of people.

Fighting corruption starts with the self.

Breaking news: Lebialem film Masha has been killed

The most dreaded Amba Fighter, Oliver Lekeaka alias Film Masha , of Lebialem who reportedly gave Cameroon military and the entire government sleepless night,has is said to have been killed. He came to the end of road today July 12.

Although he seems to have recessed from the Anglophones political stalemate for  some for some time for reasons not known, pundits still hold that he was still a torn in the flesh of Cameroon government. The Vanguard has gathered.

Oliver  was the leader Lebialem vof Red Dragon.

The military reportedly trying to airlift his corpse to Kumba or Dschang for public viewing but 

 the terrain and weather  couple with (rain) in Lebialem, is reportedly impending the military helicopter from landing. Vanguard has gathered.

Developing story

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Developing story.

Women should be selected into Cameroon Indomitable Lions

Sex should not be a barometer for Selection into the National Football Team ( The Indomitable Lions)*?

Women are seen to be doing execeedingly very well in every profession.

The military,police, politics, management etc but the only domain where women are still marginalized is the game of football.

The world over, woman are not seen playing football together with men.

Judging from the performances of the Female lionesses and the patriotism seen in them in football matches,I wish to advocate that the state of Cameroon should put an end to segregation against women, allow for their selection into the National Football Team ( the Indomitable lions).

The female lionesses matches are more electrifying, than those of ( men) the lions.

Besides,we see a lot of patriotism in the female matches more than that of men.

* I call on Women the world over to join me in this campaig for genda balance in the selection into the National Football Teams. Women, *Say no to sex as a determinant for selection into the National Football Team.

By  Chifu Edward

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Cry, the beloved SDF

Ni John Fru Ndi  and the epelyptic SDF

Certainly, Ni John Fru Ndi sold the book: "Cry, the beloved country", by Alan Paton when he ran his Ebibi bookshop at the Bamenda Central Business District in the 70s and 80s. The book that captures the extremes of human emotions and chronicles the themes of social, economic, cultural and political alienation as well as identity in the South African society, today, more than ever before, speaks to Fru Ndi and the leading opposition SDF party he abandoned the book industry and birthed. 

Formed in 1990 to right the wrongs of social, economic, cultural and political alienation of Anglophones by the majority francophone body polity after the 1961 reunification arrangement, SDF since encounted teething challenges unsitting the entrenched autocratic Yaounde regime fronted by President Paul Biya. One of the regime's vocal supporters at the time, late Francis Nkwain had challenged Fru Ndi's claims to Cameroon's Presidency on grounds he was a 'common' bookseller. Intriguingly, and immediately after he was dropped from Biya's government, H.E Francis Nkwain authored a book that was described by the Chronicle newspaper at the time, as 'just a common book'.

And so, a chain of 'common' things ranging from the SDF Chairman's mesmerizing dance gone viral on social media, with the wife of Cameroon's Labour and Social Security Minister, Gregoire Owona, who doubles as assistant Secretary General to the ruling Cameroon People's Democratic Movement, CPDM, through unpaid rents at the Bamenda Party Offices, to the now famously famous missive to the party's Chairman by a group of 27 bigwigs yearning for greater transparency and accountability in the management of party affairs; seriously threaten the very existence of the SDF. 

Many are those who thought leading opposition SDF party Chairman, Ni John Fru Ndi, would be sitting quietly at home burning up the midnight candle and reeling over the acquisitions levied against him by some party bigwigs. To their dismay, the enigmatic character had decided it was a non-event and went partying with his political adversaries.

Although many others have been quick to compare the recent Fru Ndi dancing spree at the 'enemy's home to that of former Vice President of the then Federal Republic of Cameroon, H.E John Ngu Foncha, in 1972 in Foumban, where he was seen dancing off with a young, beautiful and irresistible Foumban girl, while the 1961 federal constitutional arrangement was being torpedoed; Fru Ndi's partying only went a long way to enable former native West Cameroonians re-live the pre- independence epoc. Then, politicians of different divides would board the same car to campaign venues, mount the same soapbox, rain abuses at each other and after that, drink in the same bar as if they had no political and ideological differences.

Unknowingly, Ni John Fru Ndi, longest challenger to incumbent President Paul Biya, made a powerful political statement at the Gregoire Owona event. Adorning himself in grassfield traditional regalia and beautifully doing it out with Gregoire Owona's wife to the rhythm of rumba music (rumba has just been recognized by UNESCO as protected cultural heritage that promotes cultural diversity in the age of globalization), Fru Ndi made good the political statement that Cameroon could only pretend again to be one and indivisible if gentlemen's agreements' are respected. 

Although Fru Ndi has since the unfortunate outing of the 'Mbouda 27' worked to give the impression it was a non-event, the memo arrived like a hand grenade thrown into the SDF house to blow out the boundaries of unilaterallness.

The group seemingly accuses their party Chairman of running the SDF (in the same way Biya does with Cameroon), like a village provision store. Those who grew up in Muteff village would quickly grasp the imagery. A certain store owner, Bobe Jacks Nsani, (apparently the only comprehensive store owner in Muteff village), would actually see a villager approaching his shop, yet he carefully locks it up and goes to his farm, requesting you come back by evening if you still have need for what you wanted to buy. He could lock up the store for one-two weeks and travel out of the village. On return, he offers no excuses or justification for the prolonged absence. He would rather expect the helpless villagers of Muteff to be thankful he came back in the first place. He would determine prices of articles depending on who was infront of him. If at the moment a customer was approaching his counter, he had a change of temperament, the customer was likely not to be served any article from that store. No questions asked. The 27 party bigwigs who recently met in Mbouda think the SDF is down that my village store road. 

For over 30 long years, SDF National Chairman, Ni John Fru Ndi, had been the leading voice for change in Cameroon. He is today being seriously challenged by the group of 27, to be the change he wanted to see. Just like Stephen Kumalo in "Cry, the beloved country", whose journey from the remote South African village of Ndotsheni to Johannesburg makes him to be deeply aware of how his people have lost the tribal structure that once held them together (as his sister, Gertrude, who has become prostitute and liquor dealer in Johannesburg disappears after arrangements have been made for her return to the village), Ni John Fru Ndi is now beginning to realize how the SDF have lost the social structure that once held them together. And, he would be leaving an unfinished manuscript if he leaves a divided SDF house. 

Although the wrangling within the SDF is set in the present, (misunderstanding over party's participation in last May 20 National Day activities), the undeniable past informs each faction. Like in John Osborne's play, "Look Back in Anger", the past highlights each faction's dreams and desires for the SDF, yet hides any readily available notions of what the future might hold for them. The current conflict is rooted in alienation and identity in the post-2018 SDF.

Just like in the 50s where the phrase 'angry young men' was coined to refer to a group of young British writers who were railing against the Establishment, the group of 27 who met in Mbouda to sign the memo against SDF chairman, are certainly the 'angry old men'. Perhaps the key to understanding the stalemate is not in the 'angry' or 'man' part, but rather in the 'old'. The group of 27 are apparently looking back in anger at the SDF of yesteryears where each time NEC was to meet, all eyes and ears were turned towards Ntarikon-Bamenda and where Yaounde regime elements would nose around, all day, to know what again was off SDF sleaves. Today, they are certainly being haunted by a too-docile and too-complacent-to- their-liking SDF. They are haunted by a sense of time slipping by unused (to borrow a Larkinesque turn of phrase), as the 27 see themselves drifting ever more quickly and inexorably towards old age. 

They think Fru Ndi, (who had in the past, insisted it was the militants and not him to decide who would be his successor), is leaning dangerously towards his Vice, Hon Osih Joshua, a Yar'Adua-like figure (in reference to a one time weakling Nigerian President). Perhaps, they need to be reminded that Fru Ndi, while expressing his intentions to step down from active politics at next year's elective convention, already expressed the wish to see the younger generation take over. And the young generation does not come in short-supply, both from within and without the country.

Like Fru Ndi, Jacks Nsani, the Muteff store owner, was a strong and robust personality who was always on his feet trying to grow his business. When he got bogged down by age and ill-health, he started encountering challenges of succession in his image. Unfortunately, he cast his net on a 'Yar'Adua-like figure. And before he died, the village provision store was already in fast decline. Hopefully, it shouldn't be the case with the SDF.

Certainly not our wish. Fru Ndi still has the wherewithal to quickly fix things. He has overcome more daring challenges in the past. He may lack the likes of the Joseph Mbah Ndam (imposing and level-headed personalities) besides him, but he has groomed enough minds in 30 years to assist him weather the storm by bringing back the 27 'rebellious' members into the fold. If he can today see eyeball to eyeball with the Owonas who stole his Presidential election victory in 1992, what would be difficult in reconciling with disgruntled militants?

Cameroon is already into so many conflicts needing SDF attention than this one brewing from within. SDF's quick reconciliation from within may act as a booster to greater Cameroon reconciliation to end the bloody Anglophone conflict.

As the National Chairman begins the journey of understanding how the people he painstakingly groomed in the past tortuous years, are posing a serious challenge to his last days in office, the SDF that he courageously birthed, still offers hope for a better future.

By Colbert Gwain

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New Community vocational college spring up in NW

The prolonged Anglophones crisis has frustrated  tens of thousands  of of children of school age.  Some have been forced into marriages ,some prostitutes, some raom the streets, some becoming bandits, some premitive farmers and  others indulge in very min jobs because of lack of  skills, vocational training or general education. 

This poses a serious threat to the future of the region and the nation as a whole. 

The" Vocational Community industrial college ( vocic)  which shall go operational this year September   2022 at mile 11 Akum Santa Sub Division Northwest Region is a laudable initiative that would address the worries of most parents conscious of  the  importance of  education to their children.

.Pundits have opined. 

"The only weapon we can use to change the world is education".  Says Nelson Mandela. 

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