SCNC needs new leadership

 -Oben Marxwell, jailed National Chairman, Southern Cam. Nat. Coalition

Who is Oben Maxwell and why do people refer to you as “honourable”?

Hon. Maxwell Oben hails from Manyu Division in the Southern Cameroons from a family of 10 and a father of many. I am managing director of Oben and Co. enterprises. But because of my militancy in the Southern Cameroon’s liberation struggle, the system in place has grounded my businesses. But this has in no way mitigated my belief in the cause. I have suffered four arrests and detentions in Yaounde but the struggle continues.

                          Oben Maxwell spoke to The Median barely days to his arrest in Buea

SCNC activities have dropped a great deal in Cameroon. Little is head about the movement. What is the problem? 

Intimidation, exclusion, torture are what SCNC activists are going through in La Republique. Members of the freedom movement have therefore gone underground to contemplate new strategies.

But many think that the leadership conflict between Chief Ayamba Otun and Ngala Nfor Nfor might be the reason for the loss of steam?

It is often said that when members of a family fight against one another they can hardly win a war against an invader. That is why the Southern Cameroons National Coalition for Human Rights made a clarion call for reconciliation and reflection within the SCNC. Discussions on the venue and terms of reference for a reconciliation forum are still in process. We also have to evaluate the Ayamba-Nfor Nfor government. Fresh elections must be conducted where in neither Chief Ayamba nor Nfor Nfor will stand for reelection. They have put in their utmost best in the struggle. They have also exposed their weaknesses. I must say that both Ayamba and Nfor Nfor must go because we need a much younger, more active and energetic leader with a sense of duty, initiative and foresight to take up the relay baton.

So what way forward for SCNC? The Movement is apparently going comatose!

No, no, the struggle can never be allowed to die. It will only be over when Southern Cameroon will have regained its freedom from La Republique. That is why the Southern Cameroons National Coalition is now working on a 5-step national plan to the Southern Cameroons. The plan will go operational sooner than later. Remember that the SCNC and the National Coalition are not associations but nationalist movements where every citizen of Southern Cameroons ought to belong and contribute materially, financially and intellectually. The National plan with use every means possible to liberate Southern Cameroons from La Republique. We will open both a radio and TV stations and produce newsletters in order to ease the circulation of SCNC information. No army is too strong to win a determined and united people.

It is widely believed that SCNC leaders have abandoned the struggle and are now only interested in recommending people for asylum in exchange for money?

Thanks for this pertinent question which will enable me to clarify public opinion.  SCNC does not grant asylum to people and we do not influence the decision of foreign embassies in Cameroon. However, we do testify against Human Rights abuses in Cameroon. We also investigate and defend all Southern Cameroons nationalists suffering from persecution for one reason or the other from the government of La Repubique. In this process, we do not receive a single franc from our members.

The 50th anniversary of Reunification will be celebrated in Buea any time soon. What are your plans for thist anniversary?

All Southern Cameroonians know that the so-called reunification never took place in the history of the two Cameroons. So we can never celebrate reunification because it is simply a state-of-mind, a creation of Mr Biya and Mr Ahidjo. Celebrating it will mean celebrating the occupation of Southern Cameroons by La Republique. However, we are currently rounding up preparations ahead of the 52nd anniversary of the United Nations vote for the Independence of Southern Cameroons. The Celebration will be carried out in all the 13 provinces of Southern Cameroons. We are working towards raising some 10 million dollars to reestablish the independence of Southern Cameroons in less than 10 years. As I said earlier, we will set up a cable TV channel, a radio station, a website and also publish a newsletter in order to reach out to all Southern Cameroonians both at home and abroad.