Politics
Meeting with Government delegation:Consortium leaders diffuse previous reports that they had been held hostage in a video released a couple of minutes ago in Bamenda-North West regional capital.
The leaders in their own words say they are not being forced to sign any documents.They pleaded for the crowd to abstain from violence, destruction and injury.Meeting still going on.
The Consortium will have a Press Conference tomorrow at the Presbyterian Church Center in Bamenda but will brief the crowd once they leave the Governor's office.
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- Rita Akana
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After last Monday's Ghost Town Operation that grounded activities in the two English speaking regions of Cameroon (North West and South West Regions) pundits and political observers have begun questioning the power the government exercises over these two Regions.
This can be attributed to the fact that on Monday January 9, 2017, which was the day for the resumption of the second term for the 2016/2017 academic year, the Anglophone consortium had announced that no school or business activity will be functional in the above mentioned regions.
But in its usual mannerisms, Paul Biya’s 34 year-old government has since the commencement of the Anglophone strike last November 2016, used all means ranging from attempted bribery, intimidation, threats, manipulation and even arbitrary arrests, instead of finding solutions to the concerns raised by the consortium. It has tacitly decided to go the Judas way.
Numerous press releases, radio announcements and reports were done via the state media, CRTV, stating that effective classes will resume as per the academic calendar. In an interview last week before the Ghost Town was observed, Tassang Wilfred, one of the members of the Consortium said “come Monday 9, we will see who controls Bamenda.”
The government, after dispatching a handful of Ministers with bags of money to bribe the teachers and traditional rulers in an attempt coerce their subjects into calling off the strike in both the North West and South West Regions, saw their efforts thrown to the trash as the Ghost Town Operation was a heavy success.
Political pundits have since then applauded the unity and togetherness expressed by Cameroonians of the English speaking expression, who for decades now, complain of gross injustice and marginalization. What was termed the Buea declaration now goes by the name “the Anglophone problem.”
While the academic year throughout Cameroon risks being cancelled by the United Nation Educational, Scientific and Cultural organization, UNESCO, if the students do not return to school this week so as to complete the required 900 hours of lecture a year, the government is on a hot seat as dialogue stalls.
A local newspaper reported that the strike might have just revealed how less popular the Anglophone Ministers including the Prime Minister who hails from the North West Region, are. After repeated attempts, they could not calm their people down; talk less of persuading them to call off the strike.
This, one can conclude, just goes a long way to show that these appointed Ministers have no influence on their people as not even spending a weekend with them can cause them to change their minds. To be continued…
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- Emergency Admin
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Even though from all indications the elected municipal head of the Buea Council, Mayor Ekema Patrick Esunge seems to be upholding to his electoral promise, his political adversaries and challengers have vowed not to relent their efforts in damaging his reputation and putting the people of Buea and Cameroon at large against him.
Recently, a group of irate citizens have taken to the social media, creating fake Facebook accounts using his name and photograph to make nasty comments about blazing issues and the current political atmosphere in the country all geared at making him seem as a traitor to English Speaking Cameroonians.
“Equally, with the “Breaking news” syndrome that has taken the social media like a wild fire in a forest, political opponents of the Mayor whose records of socio-economic development are crystal clear for anyone to judge have decided to sit in their rooms and cook fake messages, using photo shopped images and pre-edited audio clips to tannish his image calling him a traitor to the Anglophones.” An admirer of the young yet development prone Mayor told this reporter.
It is against this backdrop that Mayor Ekema who is primarily targeted by a group of political henchmen who brandish themselves as the “godfathers” of politics in Fako in a press conference granted to announced the special New Year eve gala organised on the 31st of December 2016 decided to take some time out to talk on the social media injustice against his personality.
Addressing pressmen, the Mayor announced that when he first hatch the plan for a gala night which was a platform to commune with denizens of Buea after a hectic year and to celebrate and give thanks to God, some people took to the social media describing his action as politically motivated stating that he wanted to used it as a rally to campaign for 2018.
Equally, 24hours before the program news went rife on the social media that the main guest artist Petite Pay had turned down the Mayors invitation to perform at the gala night organised at the independent square in Buea. The Mayor refuted this claims and indeed on the gala night the Douala-based ace artist together with his entire crew were all present body and soul.
While taking out time to explain that social media news can indeed be verified, the Mayor called on the educated population of Buea to make used of their android devices and verify the authencitity of a picture or a post before taking it for the gospel truth and sharing it. He further warned that all those levelling threats against his life using the social media have been reported to the administrative and legal department.
One of Mayor Ekema’s close aide who spoke to this reporter noted that one hour before the gala night started some paid hoodlums of his political adversaries who have paid some media organs to constantly seek the bad part in everything down by the Mayor came and snapped the chairs as they were been arranged and put on social media deceiving people that the event had being boycotted.
The collaborator noted that the program started a little late due to the fact that many church services were scheduled for that evening. While re-echoing that investigations had being opened to bring the perpetuators to book, social media users have been advised to take any information with a pinch of salt.
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- Amos Fofung in Buea
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John Mbah Akuroh, Emeritus CRTV veteran Journalist reports :
"Talks stall in Bamenda as government bench reportedly is concentrating only on seeing the strike suspended immediately without the materialization of any of the promises made so far as concessions. Right now it is cacophony in the hall with Unionists sticking to their guns! Stay glued for more updates soon.
Meanwhile tensions are high in Jakiri as the Dvision Officer for that locality has banned a proposed peaceful demonstration slated for tomorrow Saturday by Hon. Wirba Joseph.
This is what the MP said;
The DO for Kumbo Central, Mr Kamto Francis called me a while ago and said the SDO had instructed him that our meeting to restitute parliamentary proceedings to the people of Bui cannot hold.
My reply to the DO is simple and straight forward...
"Mr DO, I am the Parliamentarian of the nation, (except you have excluded West Cameroon from that nation) and the meeting I informed you l will hold with the people of Bui, built for Saturday the 14th of January 2017 will go ahead as scheduled. It will go ahead Mr DO because your decision to stop it is part of this brutal government's policy to oppress our people, keep them in fear in order to weaken them and continue treating them like slaves. As I promised from the National Assembly, WE WILL RESIST YOUR BRUTAL OPPRESSION! It is my duty and the duty of the people of West Cameroon, to stand up and resist your brutal oppression. We will be in Kumbo tomorrow
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- Rita Akana
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Members of the ad hoc committee charged with examining grievances raised by Unions of the Anglophone sub system of education enter day 2 of frank discussions in Bamenda today. After yesterday's discussions, some sources emphasized that while the government bench is so far demonstrating the will to bend full circle, there are a number of issues on which they may only propose for hierarchy to dispose.
In as much as the overall goal is to free the Anglophone sub system from assimilation by the French system and to put an end to the Francophonization of the English educational institutions of higher learning, the Consortium officials insist they have not lost sight of the fact that the demands of West Cameroonians go beyond just a few reforms of the educational sector; they insist that far reaching solutions are needed as all sectors are affected.
Although it is obvious that the number one intention of government representatives at the talks is to guarantee the lifting of the teachers' strikes, trusted sources say that has not yet come to the table and it is unlikely that will happen when youths arrested and taken to Yaounde from all parts of West Cameroon have not all been released and those missing accounted for.
Again, the teachers' union representatives note that the Biya-led government cannot be taken at its word; they have stated unequivocally that any agreement must be materialized into signed decisions and decrees before the lifting of the strikes could be contemplated.
Talking to this reporter, one of the negotiating officials dismissed press reports that because they sat through the meetings and will sit again today meant the suspension of the strike is already in view.
"The strikes will only be lifted by the Consortium after clear deliberations and at a press conference when it becomes necessary", he concluded.
The entire nation has its eyes and ears turned to Bamenda.
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- Akuroh John Mbah
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Would the erstwhile Southern Cameroonian be Complaining this much if the federal structure of two States of equal status were maintained?
History being our judge will accept with us that we won't have been in this grave and muddy situation of trying to blend beans and corn paste. We must admit that water and kerosene can't blend, no matter what?
Why were the the former State of West Cameroon swallowed by the erstwhile Easy Cameroon after only after eleven years after the 1961 plebiscite and reduced to two provinces of the purported United Republic of Cameroon?
I will once more say that their purported French brothers never had any good intention towards the erstwhile West Cameroonians.
Are the strikes and complaints made by the Consortium today scars of poorly treated abscess of the failed 1961 Federal structure that was born as a result of the plebiscite?
For sure and as certain as the night and dawn are aspects which we can't change. When issues are poorly handled and when deceit and manipulation becomes a means of governance, discontentment and violent anger is brewed like beer and must explode. Today we are witnessing this explosion and how humiliated the state has been?
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- Bernard Ndim
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Biya Article Count: 73
# Paul Biya and his regime
Explore the political landscape of Cameroon under the rule of Paul Biya, the longest-serving president in Africa who has been in power since 1982. Our Paul Biya and his regime section examines the policies, actions, and controversies of his government, as well as the opposition movements, civil society groups, and international actors that challenge or support his leadership. You'll also find profiles, interviews, and opinions on the key figures and events that shape the political dynamics of Cameroon.
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.# Southern Cameroons, Ambazonia
Learn more about the history, culture, and politics of Ambazonia, the Anglophone regions of Cameroon that have been seeking self-determination and independence from the Francophone-dominated central government. Our Southern Cameroons section covers the ongoing conflict, the humanitarian crisis, the human rights violations, and the peace efforts in the region. You'll also find stories that highlight the rich and diverse heritage, traditions, and aspirations of the Southern Cameroonian people.
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