Expected denouement:

Consortium disintegrates, leaders go separate ways

Tassang Wilfred in his video message on internet

While Tassang Wilfred is now preaching total separation from his hide out,

AgborBalla, in Kondengui, has kept to his two-state Federation stance

The run-away President of the Cameroon Anglophone Teachers Trade Union, CATTU, Tassang Wilfred, who was also one of the leaders of the now outlawed Anglophone Cameroon Civil Society Consortium, has said that the Consortium has moved from its initial stance that was Federation, to a completely different position which is the independence of the state of Southern Cameroons.

                Tassang made the statement in a video he posted on the internet, from his hide-out. The video easily went viral on social media.

                Tassang says he is disappointed with the exaggerated force being used by the government on Anglophones, stating that because of government’s refusal to dialogue and its violent moves against Anglophones, it is clear that the two Cameroons can no longer live together.

                “The indifference exhibited by Yaoundé to the grievances expressed by the Lawyers and Teachers Trade Unions and Associations since October 2016, the brutality, the killings, the rapes and intimidation has caused the consortium to shift from its consideration of federalism as an option. It is now abundantly clear to us that Anglophones and Francophones can no longer cohabit in peace and harmony by no force of ours but by the deliberate and wicked machinations of the government. Therefore, the resolute march for the total restoration of Southern Cameroons is hereby declared,” Tassang said.

                The video, published on Friday, February 10, appeared to be very recent as Tassang also revisited the recent deadly clashes in Ndop and condemned the arrest of the Parish Priest and Chairman of a Jakiri Catholic Church.

                “The arrest of the Priest and Parish Chairman in Church in Jakiri has greatly shocked us. This means even the house of our God has been desecrated,” Tassang said.

                He called on Anglophones, especially the youths to remain steadfast in prayers and trust in God who would take them home.

                He also sent a message of encouragement to those arrested and jailed and thanked the diaspora immensely for their support.

                Commentators say Tassang’s new stance is a big shift from the original position of the Consortium which was calling for a Two State Federation.

                It should be recalled that in a recent statement he posted on facebook, the President of the Consortium, AgborBalla, maintained emphatically that he has never stood for secession or separation. Balla said he has always stood for federation.

                Tassang’s new position therefore, only betrays the cracks on the wall of the now outlawed consortium, especially as it shows that the leaders of the consortium are no longer looking in the same direction.

                From Tassang’s post, it also becomes clear that those people in the diaspora, who claimed that the leadership of the Consortium was handed to them following its ban, are mere impostors.

                This visible crack on the wall of the Consortium can only be comforting to the government and especially those Anglophones who abide by the present constitution of the country and who are calling instead for the full application and implementation of the said constitution.

                It should be noted that article 1(2) of the 18 January 1996 constitution states unequivocally that: “The Republic of Cameroon shall be a decentralized unitary state….It shall be one and indivisible, secular, democratic and dedicated to social service”.

                It should be noted also that in challenging the “extremists” who are calling for a modification of the structure of the state, the government has always asked them to go back to the constitution.

                Worthy to note that article 64 of the constitution that talks about revision of the constitution states clearly that: “no procedure for amendment of the constitution affecting the republican form, unity, and territorial integrity of the state and democratic principles which govern the republic shall be accepted.”

                It is perhaps for this reason that meeting in Buea recently, under the umbrella of the SW Forum, elite and chiefs of the SW region took the firm stance for a one, indivisible Cameroon with 10 decentralized regions. The SW elite urged the president of the republic to ensure strict respect and implementation of the constitution.