Rigobert Song Expected in Southern Cameroons

The news broke this Tuesday April 5, during the 5pm news on the National Station of the CRTV. Former Lions skipper, Rigobert Song will tour the North West and South West regions of the country following his successful  recuperation from a severe stroke.

After falling ill in October 2016 and flown to Paris for adequate medical care, Manyang as he fondly called returned to the country sound and healthy on April 1. Since then he has been making visits to thank various personalities and Cameroonians in general for their support and prayers during his medical detention.  

On Monday, April 3,  he went first to the Ministry of Public Health and also to the Yaounde Emergency Centre, a structure that took care of him before his medical evacuation in France. Yesterday Tuesday, April 4, an Ecumenical Service to thank God for taking the Intermediate Lions coach through a successful operation and recovery in France took place at the Yaounde  Multi Purpose Sports Complex . It was later revealed that he would be in the North West and South West regions to thank the English speaking population for their support during his time on the hospital bed.

However observers are questioning the raison d'être behind his tour to these regions presently rocked by a protracted socio-political crisis. For some it is governments way of pulling a stunt and score political points just as it did with Serah Etonge during the 2017 Mount Cameroon Race of Hope, and presently the FENASCO A and B Games in Buéa and Bamenda respectively.  A civil society activist Lyonga Teke Ebot fumed, “ Government should stop beating about the bush and trying to distract people. We all know what Rigobert Song has done for this country and we love him. But right now, that is not the Priority for the Anglophones. He has already thanked Cameroonians on state Media and we have heared.”

An anglophone in Douala,  Bless Asong angrily  told Camcord, “ we don't want distractions, he could chose to go to his village or the Littoral region where he has a huge fan base and thank them. We know  Song benefitted from tax payers money to be treated abroad but he should not involve himself in the  dirty gimmicks of Biya. I advise him to take a rest and focus on his job.”

The exact date for the tour is yet to be disclosed to the public.