1st October 2014

Battle for Succession foils SCNC Anniversary Celebration
By Nwo Fuanya in Bamenda
A raging battle between self proclaimed SCNC chairman, Nfor Ngala Nfor and another militant, Thomas Nwanchan on how the successor of the deceased chairman of the movement ,Chief Ayamba Ette Otun on October 1, 2014 grounded the planned celebration of the independence of southern Cameroon. While Nfor Ngala Nfor continued with plans to celebrate the day, Thomas N Nwancham, leader of one of the factions of the Southern Cameroons National Council-SCNC (current National chairman of the Wing) issued a Press Release announcing that activities to mark the 54th anniversary celebration of the Independence of the Southern Cameroons initially planned to run from October 1, 2014 to October 1, 2015 had been postponed. According to the communiqué signed on September 21, 2014, Thomas Nwancham states that “this decision was taken in aftermath of the death of Chief Ayamba. And it is necessary to permit SCNC carryout an internal-reorganization, which should consolidate and strengthen the mother movement, by reducing its existing number of Wings”. The release further outlines that “ may our emphasis on the only one date of 1st October be understood to reaffirm this date and one other, as the indelible mark of Southern Cameroons 1961 Independence. To this effect, we appreciate its recent recognition by Government of the Republic of Cameroon, in terms of President Biya having courageously transferred his purported Reunification Jubilee to February 20, 2014.

    The surprising change of date, from four previous threats in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013, to celebrate the Reunification on a 1st October, is a deserved compensation for the SCNC peaceful disposition, even to the extent of allowing a false Jubilee commemoration in our historic capital of Buea”.
    To Thomas N Nwancham, “truly, patience is a portent weapon, so we should never depart from our tested Motto of the “Force of Argument, and not the Argument of Force”. In the Release, the current National Chairman of the Wing (as he calls himself) congratulates the International Community “whose input, by stressing the truth of our 1st October separate Independence, contributed enormously to condescend and restrain the excesses of the Cameroon President”. The release further urges the International Community to enable the Yaounde Authorities to exhibit even greater understanding towards 1st October 2015, so that “we would celebrate the event without the
habitual disruptions, arrests, detentions, and torture”.
    Despite this statement, the Nfor Nfor wing of the party went on to organize celebrations, eventually hoisting a flag in one part of town.
Following this clash, there is total confusion and lack of leadership in the SCNC at the moment.