Are Cameroonians Politically Confuse?

Everyone knows that Cameroonians need change. How can such change be achieved? The change can only come if Cameroonians rally behind an opposition leader. It can be achieve through civil disobedience to force Biya out of office or through the democratic means by means of a ballot box. Cameroonians feel more comfortable with the later, but yet Cameroonians do not trust Cameroonians. I understand the frustration with the political process because the regime in place has made people to be fed up, but should people from the Cameroons give up?

I have posted information concerning various opposition leaders. When it is about Fru Ndi, Cameroonians say he is old and works with Biya. When it is Kah Wallah, they say she is coming only when elections approaches. Some say she is not morally sound to lead Cameroon. As for Kamto Maurice, they say he was part of the Biya regime. As far as Ayah Paul is concerned, Cameroonians say he is lost already. As for UPC, Cameroonians complain of the supposed faction. USDP of Prince Ekosso, Cameroonians say he is very young and lack experience. When the name of Joshua Osih is mentioned, others say he does not have support in his home town, others say he has a business relationship with Biya son. When it comes to other smaller opposition parties and their leaders, the same is true. The only argument is that they are part of the Biya regime.

Cameroonians say they need a completely new breed of politicians, yet they cannot even support young people who show their head up. WhenTata Kwawi mentioned he was running for parliament and supposedly under UNDP, hell broke loose on social media. What do Cameroonians want? Folks, the reality is that it does not work that way. Cameroonians cannot just do away with this current batch of politicians abruptly even if Biya leaves office. It has to be slowly yet efficient and transition from this generation ( whether government or opposition) to the Android generation.

Yet everyday Cameroonians on social media are hoping for a united opposition leader to challenge Biya. Cameroonians are hoping for the messiah to free them. Some opposition leaders have called for a nationwide strike, instead, to support and spread the information, accusations upon accusation is coming in. Should Cameroonians just surrender Cameroon to Paul Biya to do away with it as he deems fit? If Cameroonians cannot trust opposition leaders then why do they even want Paul Biya out?

In this business of political change, you just have to sometimes trust and pray for the best. There is nothing like absolute truth within a political process and those who champion it. It is important that Cameroonians support the opposition leaders who at least are talking and same time trying to do something on the ground. Castigating them always does not help, it helps only Biya. I do not know what to say further, but Cameroonians got to just try. DO NOT GIVE UP.

These politicians need your support.

‪#‎StopBiya‬, ‪#‎NoToBiya‬

UB Girl Scandal: UB Official Speaks Out

BaretNews talked to a university official on the issue of university student delinquency and he had the following to say....Read on

BaretaNews: Who is Che Eugene?

UB Official:  Well, I work as the Guidance Counselor of the Faculty of Social and Management Sciences in the University of Buea. As you well know, it's one of the biggest Faculties in terms of programmes and student numbers. Some students have referred to it as the biggest ship on land.

BaretaNews:  Have you heard about the Buea girl who allegedly drugged a certain bushfaller while stealing from him?

UB Official:  Well, I learnt, just like everyone else did through viral audio and video posts on social media about the sad incident of a girl busted for allegedly drugging and trying to extort money from her boyfriend, after they had philandered at the hotel. Well, it's true that everyone quickly attributed it to UB girls - whatever that means. Anyone can, actually, as long as they live in Buea, claim to be from UB. I know lots of friends whose FB profiles show very interesting organisations where they work, albeit the fact that some have never as much as owned a CV. Well, not to say that the concerned girl might not have been from UB, but to say that UB is the place to be, with every effort directed towards grooming intellectuals of the heart and head, and where such behaviour is not welcome.

BaretaNews: It is alleged that UB girls have contacts in most hotels, any truth in it

UB Official:  Well, about UB girls having ready contacts in hotels, I cannot independently verify at the moment. But as I mentioned earlier, a student residential area like Molyko can be a melting pot for so many things. You've heard about religious fanatism around here, cultism, philandering, you name it. It would seem like students find new freedom away from their parents to indulge in despicable things. Then out of sight becomes out of control. Today, a parent was visibly dejected to learn that there was a first semester break for almost three weeks, and her daughter never bothered to return home just in nearby Douala. Rather, she had been asking for more pocket allowance. And behold when we checked into her results, she had passed in only five out of the twenty one courses she had registered for in the past two years. Is that who you refer to as a UB student? I guess no.

BaretaNews: What is UB doing to put some morals into her students?

UB Official:  In relation to UB'S work towards moralizing the students, we're doing our best, albeit the fact that we can't do very much. Most students enroll here with an already formed character. Secondly, they're frenzied by new found freedom, peer pressure, a new environment, you name it. Someone once said you cannot turn a pope into an Imam overnight. The University organizes induction and orientation sessions for students every year. But this only has an impact for those who have ears.

BaretaNews: The university is supposed to protect her students, do they have any insurance policies? What have the student affairs done in light with the student being arrested. Has the University tried to identify the student if she is truly a UB student

UB Official: I guess it's beyond my scope. Reason being that they are more within the scope of central administration, and I really wouldn't have information even if there was a meeting to that effect.

BaretaNews: What is the University doing to clear her name

UB Official: Well, clearly, the University of Buea dissociates itself from anyone, be it student or not, whose actions are such that will jeopardise the image of this beautiful university. Of course as students, you have rights, but also duties and responsibilities. One of the responsibilities is to behave responsibly. You may want to know that when the said incident was being reported, the University of Buea was on Easter break. Students were supposed to be on break, and observing the festivities of Easter. If a student decides to leave his or her place of sojourn for the break, and get involved in extra - student activities, it is but normal that they cannot be under the cover of the good will of the University. Students are therefore hereby cautioned to act responsibly. I used to tell my students that the same UB whose name you're destroying could well be the same UB where you could be called to lead as Dean, HOD or vice chancellor tomorrow. I take myself as a glaring example. I left UB in 2008, and just 3 years after in 2011, I came back to work there. What if I had vomited on the road? I would have come back to clean it sooner, if at all.

BaretaNews: Thank you for talking to BaretaNews

UB Official: It was a pleasure. Thank you for your concern about our work as stakeholders in combating student juvenile behaviour. Hopefully, together, we will be able to go a notch higher. Thanks indeed!

RAPE IN AFRICA: HOW COMPLEX IT COULD BE

RAPE
Rape is defined as sexual intercourse that is forced on a person without his or her permission. It may involve physical force or the threat of force. It may also be done against someone who is unable to give consent.

Sexual intercourse may be vaginal, anal, or oral. It may involve the use of a body part or an object. (Medline Plus)

NO means NO even when you think NO means YES, it doesn't. Most African girls during foreplay use words like; "No, Please Stop, I don't want it yah, Stop Stop, get off me". In other parts of the world, penetration after NO is considered RAPE, even if the woman is your wife, girlfriend, friend or side chick. No, not in Africa. When a woman says no, the man actually thinks she is saying NO because she doesn't want to look cheap or doesn't want to appear as giving up the cookies easy. So he believes, if he applies much needed pressure, she'll give in. There is a wide spread understanding that NO just before penetration means yes.

There are a few women who actually say No but would still hold you in a lock position with her legs and you cannot free yourself. Don't fall for it Guys.
No doesn't mean yes and never will it mean yes.

Girls please do not say No if actually what you mean is Yes. If you do no want to have sex. Say No and stand you grounds. Rape is an everyday occurrence in Africa and we do not consider it a problem. Our sisters, daughters carry this scar everyday and nobody is able to understand their pain. If a woman says NO and you apply any kind of pressure (even soft pressure) you just committed Rape. Walk away guys when you hear NO even if it is your wife or girlfriend.

A woman has the right to change her mind even during sex. Even if you are inside her and she says STOP, as hard as it sounds, please withdraw.

A lot of African women are raped everyday with this No mean YES mentality.

By 

Treize Quatorze, March 2016

UB lecturers calls for Vice-Chancellor replacement, promises to shut down the University.

The National Union of Teachers of Higher Education (SYNES) University of Buea Chapter, met in General Assembly on 2 March 2016 to deliberate on the socio-educational atmosphere on campus, the injustice and pain lecturers have endured in the last four years and particularly the expiration of the tenure of the current Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Nalova Lyonga due to her retirement in February 2016. The General Assembly discussed objectively and frankly, the disastrous engravements of Dr. Nalova Lyonga on the academic and social life of the University, and much more, the shame and damage she has brought on the good name of the University and the collective psyche of staff respectively.

The General Assembly of SYNES University of Buea Chapter therefore:

-          Mindful of the directive of the Prime Minister and Head of Government that every retired officer should be replaced with immediate effect;

-          Considering that any delay in replacing the current Vice-Chancellor is a stay of the Prime Minister’s directive and the continuous asphyxiation of the academic and social aspirations of the University;

-          Considering that Dr. Nalova Lyonga has never embraced dialogue ever since she was appointed in 2012, but rather shunned it and carried out acts that stirred anger and caused unrest simply because she felt that she could use her position to call in police to maim her opponents;

-          Recalling that she took 10 innocent lecturers to the police on false charges which she herself orchestrated through a fake email circulated on the internet with the complicity of Dr. Molua Ernest and Dr. Kingsley Ngange. Her intention by this accusation was to charge the lecturers to court and eventually incarcerate them for terrorism and have them physically eliminated on the grounds of national security;

-          Recalling that she did not dissociate herself from an incendiary and extremely xenophobic letter supposedly signed by some Fako chiefs in June 2013, with the instrumentality of Dr. Molua Ernest and Ngange Kingsley, promising to deal with lecturers of non-Fako origin “using orthodox and non-orthodox means”;

-          Recalling that she framed two lecturers for corruption and scandalized them on CRTV Buea for extorting money from students, dragged the said lecturers before a Disciplinary Panel and failed to prove her allegations;

-          Recalling her onslaught on academic standards by trying to fraudulently and insistently award a PhD to a certain Mrs. Ali Joan Wacka who was not registered at the University of Buea and had not fulfilled the conditions required for the conferment of the doctorate degree;

-          Recalling that this same Ali Joan received a salary for more than six years during which she was not teaching. Throughout that period, she spent endless hours in the Vice-Chancellor’s office spreading gossip and eavesdropping on official conversations and was protected by Dr. Nalova Lyonga. She was also given more than 3 million to go to the USA for an excursion when colleagues applying genuine for academic visits were turned away;

-          Recalling that in furtherance of her rampage on academic standards, she drove to an examination hall to fire an invigilator from the hall after Mrs Biaka, a candidate in the MBA exam who was fidgeting, called her on the phone to report that the invigilator had changed her seat. She asked the candidate to return to her seat and continue fidgeting;

-          Recalling that she instructed that first semester exams in 2016 be written in the university  after only eight out of the statutory thirteen weeks of lectures in violation of UNESCO standards, even against the advice of Faculties and SYNES that students were not ready thereby causing many students to perform poorly;

-          Viewing that this onslaught on academic standards started when she caused her daughter to write undergraduate exams alone in the middle of the semester on the grounds that she was to travel abroad before the end of the semester. Then, resit exams were eventually instituted in  ASTI because this same daughter of hers failed several courses and would not graduate on time if she was not given a chance to resit them;

-          Recalling that she has swelled the support staff roll with about 300 new recruits mostly from the same ethnic background; a proof of her tribalistic disposition. In fact, recruitments are not advertised; rather, people are called on the phone to come and take up positions which yield fat salaries while lecturers type their documents and print off campus. This spurious recruitment is sucking up subventions to Faculties and inflating the academic debt;

-          Considering that as part of her diabolical ploy to an

Considering that as part of her diabolical ploy to antagonize lecturers with each other, she appoints junior colleagues newly recruited to head departments, just to spite much older staff in those Departments and calls to find out what the reaction is;

-          Recalling that this very Vice-Chancellor does not have a clean financial record; she does not pay the Faculties their fair share of the 35% of subventions received from the State because she uses it to pay salaries of support staff. As a result, some Faculties still owe bonuses of 2014 and 2015 much to lecturers’ chagrin;

-          Recalling that she banned taxis from entering the campus and rejected proposals for the University to adopt its own transportation scheme simply because she planned to set up her own transport company under the name Bajo Club, heavily subsidized by the University. To this day, the company has not been able to acquire enough buses to serve the population of UB. At times, there are two buses to serve about 20,000 students, teachers and support staff. University staff are compelled to trek in the sun, rain and often get to work late because the buses are never there;

-          Recalling that three Peugeot cars used by two Deputy Vice Chancellors and the Registrar disappeared shortly after she assumed office and much later the Vice-Chancellor’s black Prado also disappeared after 132 million Francs was given by the Prime Minister for the purchase of new service cars (being 55 million Francs for a new Prado for the Vice-chancellor and 82 million for Honda vehicles for her deputies and the Registrar) one would have expected a public auction of the old cars or that they be given to some Deans whose service cars are about 20 years old and out of use;

Hereby unanimously resolved as follows:

1.     Lecturers have waited patiently for her tenure to expire with all its sham and drudgery and borne every pain despite provocation knowing that her departure is eminent. The shame brought on the reputation of the University by Dr. Nalova Lyonga and pain inflicted on the individual and collective psyche of the members of the UB community should no longer continue after she has duly retired.

2.     Dr. Nalova Lyonga’s continuous stay at the helm of affairs is an academic and financial hazard to the University with a serious effect on our occupational health.

3.     The General Assembly shall reconvene within 14 days to consider an indefinite strike action if appropriate steps are not taken by the powers that be to match the Prime Minister’s directive with action, that is, relieve our retired colleagues of their administrative duties.

4.     If or when a strike is declared, there shall be no lectures, examinations/defences and practicals.

We urge students, parents and the public to understand and to recall their children home in the event of a trade dispute.

For SYNES-UB,

Sango Martin, PhD                                                                           Fokam Bertrand Eric, PhD

First Vice President                                                                            Second Vicec President                                                                               

Fontem A. Neba, PhD                                                                      Enoh Richard, PhD

Secretary                                                                                             Welfare Secretary

Chief Andrew Ngeh, PhD                                                                Chief Fombo Fah, PhD

Public Relations Officer                                                                     Financial Secretary

James A. Abangma, PhD

President

CC:

-          The Prime Minister and Head of Government

-          The Minister of Higher Education

-          The Vice-Chancellor, University of Buea

-          The SG/SYNES

-          The Press

Biya Sanctions Revision of Constitution: High Stakes in Parliament

1. .The March session of Parliament is convened for March 10, 2016.

2. It will traditionally begin constituting new executives of the assembly bureau

3. Reports suggest in view of major constitutional changes within the country institutions, Cavayé Yéguié Djibril, who has been speaker of the house for more than 20 years, could lose the position to a much younger and dynamic Member of Parliament, while 82-year-old Senate President, Marcel Niat Njifenji, who has reportedly not been in a good state of health lately, may be dropped altogether.

4. Biya who is not currently in the Country has already endorsed the tabling of a bill that will amend the constitution of Cameroon. sources also hinted that there will come a sweeping cabinet reshuffle once the session ends and the constitution is amended.

Some of the changes hinted by the Cameroun Journal presidential source include:

a. To amend article 6 (3) of the constitution to give the President powers to call early presidential polls. This, our informant said will take place before the women’s Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, holding in Cameroon, beginning November 19, this year.

b. The reduction of mandates from the current seven years unlimited terms, to five years with the precision, “renewable once.”

c. The introduction of a single ballot for all the candidates in presidential elections, the widely-clamoured two-round voting system practiced in most democracies around the world and the re-introduction of the post of Vice President.

d. Consideration of stepping voting age from 20 to 18.

However, there are growing speculations that the decision by the Biya regime to call early presidential polls have been prompted by fears that a new French president, expected to emerge after the April 2017 presidential election may prove hostile to another term for the Cameroon leader who by 2017 would have clocked 35 long years in power.

Let us see how March 10th session unfolds.

God is still saying something

#NoToBiya2018.

Sr. Cameroon Journal.

The BIR was not designed to fight wars- Former Student Leader

 Former University of Buea Students' Union Leader- UBSU, Mr   Suh Remmy, President,  Faculty of Arts Students Association, UB and currently working as a United Nations (UN) official in Israel, had this to say. Hear him:

" Cameroonians are going through much from Boko Haram, and it pains much because we are losing our fellow citizens by the day in a war that was transported into our territory from neighboring Nigeria. Some pundits say Paul Biya is the one who changed the battleground from Nigeria to Cameroon when he declared war against the terror group from France. BIR, the elite military in the country have championed this course to protect us. We applaud their bravery and we encourage them to continue"

He continues....

" For the past months, we have suffered much human casualties, especially as top rankings are falling to the insurgents. Captain Matute bowed out, Captain Yari yielded, and now Lt. Colonel Kwene was sent home. These brave soldiers should be appreciated for putting their lives for us to have peace. The recent targeting of top rankings has kept me worried and has pushed me to ask these questions:

 1. Are we winning this war when we are losing the leaders?

2. Is Boko Haram more than the BIR?

3. Can we say that the BIR  has done much, but lacks war tactics, especially as we are losing the leaders?

 4. Why was the BIR created?

5. Are they doing a different assignment from their creation?

Let me attempt an answer. The BIR was created by Paul Biya to terrorize Cameroonians against any bid to  Biya's life mandate. They were not designed to face an opponent in a war situation. Now they find themselves doing what they were not trained. That is why we have leaders being targeted and many of their comrades are killed every day. It will take the BIR some time to understand war tactics. As of now, they are inexperienced...."

Do you concur with Remmy? Do you think BIR or Cameroun military lacks the know-how to take on Boko Haram or any other foreign attack? What happened then to the War in Bakassi? Pundits say Cameroun was already losing the war in Bakassi and it took only the ingenuity of both leaders from Cameroun and Nigeria to settle for a court case to avoid more lost of lives?

May the fallen soldiers rest in peace.

God is still saying something.

Biya on Agriculture: He is a dishonest President.

Below are abandoned tractors Mr Biya's government bought when launching the Agro-pastoral show in Ebolowa in 16/01/2011. Mr Biya had this to say during the launching:

"In a country like ours where 60% of the population depends on agriculture, it should be the primary job provider. Yet, we know that many rural people – especially the youth – find it difficult to get employed and, attracted by the “glamour of the city”, fuel rural exodus. The time has come to resolutely put into practice the comprehensive agricultural policy which I have often wished for publicly. I enjoin the ministries concerned to move in that direction immediately and I want substantial results.I, therefore call on the various ministries and services in charge of our rural development to take up these issues and adopt measures to implement them as soon as possible...."

On 10th February 2016, five years after Mr President addresses the youth and echoed same sentiments. Hear him:
" The development of our agricultural sector will be accorded a prime place. In this regard, I urge you to truly revolutionize your mindset. The soil has never betrayed anyone. Do not be afraid to take the plunge and become the agricultural entrepreneurs that Cameroon needs. It is a noble and rewarding trade in the so-called real economy. I, therefore I urge the elders to shoulder their responsibility: it is proper to urge the youths to work the land and it is unwise to dissuade them from doing so.."

This is a President who promises to develop the agricultural sector in 2011, bought tractors and these tractors are abandoned in Ebolowa. The ministries he called upon to provide results have all gone comatose. Nobody cares about the tractors. The President comes again and in a figure of speech made statements which his regime has not been able to even set the ground needed for agriculture to flourish. What happened to the Ebolowa tractors? Had it been that Ebolowa was a success, that would have been a good ground to quote the Ebolowa experience. Yet, the regime has no clue on what they are doing. All they know is to score political points. It was in 2011, they needed to buy over people from the south. Nonsense altogether.

Shameful regime.
‪#‎NotoBiya2018‬.
God is still saying something.

Youth Day Message: Cameroon Presidential Youth Candidate Shames Biya

BIYA DOES NOT KNOW THE PROBLEMS OF YOUTHS

The traditional speech of Mr Paul Biya to the youths this 10th February 2016 is another insult to the youths. As usual, he always mentions things which are unrealistic and has a valley relationship with regards to the issues in our soceity. He mentioned that the celebration of the “Youth Day” demonstrates much attention is given to the youths. What an insult in the face of those who constitute 80% of the Cameroon population. It would been wise for Paul Biya to underscore the need for political participation, because that is what create the abaility to chose those who will make concrete logistics for development and job creation in our soceity. The speech was a futuristic speech.

The Three Years Plan for the Youths of 102 billion is in the future and one begins to wonder how at the age of 84, is still planning for jobs for the youths in the future. Biya was giving moral lessons to the youths and talking about illicit behaviours. He has easily forgotten that those who have been accused of embezzelment are in kondengui today are not youths. How many youths of 35 years are ministers in his government? Those who are in prison, are they youths? This speech continues to reveal that Paul Biya is completely out of touch with the youths. It is either he does not know Cameroonian youths or either he does not know how to solve these challenges. When he mentioned that “informez vous” it translate the spirit of negligence and does not want to take responsibilities.

The usage of the term “Android youths” reveals that the speech was a jokeful speech and there is no seriousness in anything he was saying. Mentioning Pilot Centers in Limbe, Sangmalema, and Douala at the cost of 21 billion without telling us the names of those pilot centers continue to reveal the fact that the speech was a floating speech. What Biya should do for the youths now that he is too old is to allow the youths to participate in decision making in Cameroon by revising the voting age from 20 to 18 years. Because, 80% of the population from 18 years and below.

Prince Ekosso

USDP Presidential Candidate

THE 76 BIYA'S NW DISCIPLES: INCARNATE OF THE DEVIL HIMSELF

Copyright, (2016), Mark Bara

The Cameroun Tribune on Monday, 1st February 2016 published names of the so-called CPDM Elite from North West Region, Northern Zone of Southern Cameroons calling on Cameroun aging 83 dictator Paul Biya to seek another presidential term come 2018. While agreeing that it is within Cameroun law and constitution for emperor Biya to run for another office, I believe it is unbearable to have him in Etoudi again considering his age, track record, state of Cameroun economy and longevity in office. Elections have always been decided by the mechanism put in place by Biya and his sycophants, it has never been about the choice of the Cameroons people. The Cameroons need fresh ideas, new ways of doing things to engineer the country into the hub of Africa's prosperity. The current octogenarian regime cannot deliver and must be flushed out.

Earlier we read Universities in Africa with their professors and intellectuals making strides to put their countries onto the world map positively, Cameroun own intellectuals remain to be seen along the political corridors sending and drafting motions of support to a grandfather to seek another term. They have shunned away their research capabilities that could produce emerging results, but to roam about Yaounde seeking for political appointments.

These sycophants of individuals in fact do not like President Paul Biya. It is evident that they wish him ill luck. They want to punish him and see him dead sooner than later. These groups of vandals hate the Cameroons people and more especially people from the Southern Cameroons. I am therefore for the sake of posterity reproducing their names as published in Cameroun tribune. Cameroonians of good will should take note of these names. They should store them somewhere. These names would become useful as soon as the needs arise. I do not know what you want to do with the names today, but if you must act, act unilaterally.

Christians say sometimes sins of the Father always follow their children, I do not know what Islam, Buddhists, Traditionalist or Pagans say. What have you? Below are the NW Biya Disciples.

1. Fon Aneng Francis

2. Mme Mundi Regina

3. Fon S.N. Angwafo 111

4. Philemon Yang

5. Atanga Paul Nji

6. Mbah Acha Nee Rose Fomundam

7. Ghogomu Paul Mingo

8. Fuh Calistus Gentry

9. Doh Jerome Pengaba

10. Nkuo Theresia Akenji

11. Fonye Francis

12. Njingum Musa

13. Fohtung Samuel

14. Ama Tutu Muna

15. Shey Jones Yembe

16. Enyih Atogho

17. Kibuh Henry

18. John B. Ndeh

19. Abety Peter

20. Fai Yengo Francis

21.Nyinyam Stephen

22. Chumbaw Samuel

23. Acham Peter Cho

24. Titanji Peter Cho

25. Tafah Edokat

26. Lambi Cornelius

27. Simon Achidi Achu

28. Wanlo Chamao John

29. Awanga Zacharias

30. Fon Ganyogah 111

31. Fon Teche Njei 11

32. Emma Lafon

33. Wallang David

34. Dingha Ignatius

35. Nji Fidelis

36. Kwei Andrew

37. Mbumseck Genesis

38. Abe Micheal Ndra

39. Banmi Emmanuel

40. Wallang Richard

41. Enwei Francis

42. Fon Chafah

43. Baba Amadou Danpulo

44. Lantum Daniel

45. Ncho Adu Joseph

46. Uphie Melo Chinje

47. Ngafesson Emmanuel

48. Akwo Fabiola

49. Tenning Mongwa

50. Ndifontah Nyamdi

51. Chick Marcus

52. Njong Eric

53 . Sama Margaret

54. Wango Francis

54. Waingeh Albert Ndim

55. Ntoi Joseph

56. Talla Nji Godlove

57. Chiangeh Grace

58. Fru Angwafo

59. Bernard Nwana

60. Bungo Jean Paul

61. Adamu Musa

62. Akwa Patrick

63. Fru Jonathan

64. Mbayu Felix

65. Jaji Manu

66. Forgwei Alfred

67. Fongod Edwin

68. Ndoping Micheal

69. Moh Sylvester

70. Matoya Cletus

71. Ndang Denis

72. Ngong Christopher

73. Asheri Kilo

74. Adrian Wirdzem

75. Kumasi Simon

76. Nganteh Martin

God is still saying something

The Cameroons: Failure to recognise the Tontine Union

The Dramatic Confrontation over Power Rotation in Cameroon
Copyright January 2016; Nfor N Susungi

At a time when numerous voices are being heard across the country calling on President Paul Biya to stand again for the Presidential elections of 2018, I believe that it is dangerous to remain silent in articulating the challenges facing Cameroon in the next couple of years.

Cameroon as we know it is the product of a union which took place in 1961 between the French Speaking Cameroun Republic and the British Southern Cameroons. The union took place without any formal union treaty being signed between the two parties. The result is that no instrument of ratification was sent to the UN Secretariat in accordance with article 102 of the UN Charter.

By contrast the Tanzanians were diligent in not making the same mistake as Cameroon. The Tanzanian Union Treaty between Tanganyika and Zanzibar was signed on 22 April 1964. The parliament of Tanganyika ratified the union treaty on 25 April 1964 and filed the instrument of ratification to the UN Secretariat in accordance with article 102 of the UN Charter. It is on the basis of this ratification instrument that Tanzania can claim that its territorial waters extend to 12 nautical miles east of Zanzibar.

Notwithstanding this lacuna, the two territories (the Cameroun Republic and British Southern Cameroons) have lived together in an informal arrangement which was based on a constitution adopted in 1961 and subsequently amended several times. But as the original union has no legal basis for its existence under international law, it has been described as a “Tontine Union”, a metaphorical parody of the hundreds of thousands of informal ethnically based associations in Cameroon which form the bedrock of the informal financial sector called the Tontine or Njangi.

The principle of rotation of power has been one of the unwritten principles in this Tontine Union in recognition of the fact that the union can only be maintained through some mechanism of power sharing or rotation between the English-speaking Southern Cameroons and the French-speaking Cameroun Republic.

The power-movement trajectory shows that since 1961 the French-speaking Cameroun Republic has held on to Presidential power for a total of 55 years of which President Paul Biya has exercised single-handedly for 33 years so far. The challenge facing Cameroon now is what should happen to the political power in 2018 when Paul Biya’s current mandate expires?

Paul Biya’s people of the South Region have orchestrated a movement demanding that President Paul Biya should again stand for reelection in 2018 when he will be 85 years old. But there is a growing movement in the Southern Cameroons which is demanding that the time has come for President Paul Biya to hand over power to someone from the British Southern Cameroons.

If President Paul Biya does make adequate arrangements to hand over power to someone from the British Southern Cameroons, then the Tontine Union can continue as before. However, if he fails to transfer power to the Southern Cameroons in 2018, what is likely to happen is the following:

1. The results of the Signature Referendum of September 1995 that was conducted in Southern Cameroons by the SCNC shall be submitted to the Peace and Security Council of the African Union as the instrument that confers legitimacy and backing for a demand that the Tontine Union of 1961 should be formally dissolved;

2. The results of the signature referendum which was supported by John Ngu Foncha and Solomon Tandeng Muna before their deaths showed overwhelming support for the Southern Cameroons to achieve full independence by peaceful separation from the Cameroun Republic; To this extent the Signature Referendum of 1995 annuls the plebiscite of February 11, 1961.

3. A UN Security Council Resolution shall be proposed, through the Peace and Security Council of the African Union, to formally recognize the dissolution of the Tontine Union of 1961 leading to the creation of two independent sovereign States: The Cameroun Republic (for the French Speaking part) and the British Southern Cameroons (likely to be known as the Republic of Ambazonia).

If the Peace and Security Council of the African Union and the UN Security Council fail to act on the demand for the peaceful dissolution of the Tontine Union, then a major civil war should be expected which shall spread to Biafra, the Niger Delta and the Bakassi Peninsula and beyond. But the result will be the same in the sense that the outcome shall be the dissolution of the Tontine Union in Cameroon. This is what my crystal ball is showing me.

Copyright January 2016; Nfor N Susungi

The People's Call: Understanding The Early Calls

The people's call has come to be a contagious disease spreading from regions to regions across the Cameroons. The call began with worshippers of Biya's regime from the South Region. Praise singers from the Centre took over the call and relayed the baton to people from the littoral. CPDM senators also danced to the same tune and called on the natural candidate to run come 2018. It is evident that all ten regions will take their turn. It is just a matter of time before the hallelujah song starts moving around.

But have we bothered to ask ourselves, why the call now in 2016, two years before the election? This is what political pundits and insight sources suggest. They revealed that in 2016, Biya would cause the Parliament to create the post of the Vice President who will become a direct successor after the President. Biya in late 2016 will call for early elections in October 2017 instead of 2018 taking the opposition by ambush. Biya will then run for the Presidential elections heading to the so called people's call. ELECAM will ensure that Biya wins the 2017 early Presidential elections.

In 2018 October, Biya will resign gracefully and his constitutional heir, which would be the Vice President appointed in 2016 must have been thrilled by Biya and France will take over as President of the Republic and then finishes the remaining 6 years of Biya's term.

The Vice President will neither be an "Anglophone" nor would it be any person closer to the other regions in the Francophone zone.

This is the underlying call for Biya to run again so political insiders reveals.

God is still saying something.