Upsurge in Adult, Juvenile Delinquency:

Nico Halle Prays for Divine Intervention in Cameroon
By Doh Bertrand Nua in Yaounde 

Bar. Nico Halle

International peace crusader and acclaimed morality enthusiast, Ntumfor Barrister Nico Halle, has observed with utter dismay and unreserved vexation the rapid decline in morality and upsurge of delinquency among adults and juveniles in Cameroon.
    Outraged by the rapid breakdown in morality and uncontrolled escalation of violence coupled with galloping decline in societal values as epitomized by wanton corruption and pilfering of state funds by public officials, and the frightening upsurge of violence in school milieu, Nico Halle says that perhaps, only divine intervention will save Cameroon from imminent apocalypse.
    Expressing his total disappointment and outrage at the escalation of juvenile delinquency in school milieu as typified by the stabbing to death recently of a teacher by his 15-year-old student, the member of the National Commission for the Promotion of Bilingualism and Multiculturalism, at once blamed the situation on the lack of God’s vision in all sectors of national life in Cameroon.
    Nico Halle questions for instance why moral and/or spiritual education is not included in the school curricula in today’s Cameroon, as was the case decades ago.
    “A child who lives school without good moral upbringing is a potential danger to society,” Nico Halle opines, concluding that the breakdown in morals that translates today in corruption, embezzlement of public funds, and the upsurge of violence are upshots of long years of the absence of moral teaching in schools, which has caused those who pass for parents, teachers, politicians, administrators etc in Cameroon to only impart bad habits to the young ones.
    “The question begs to be asked: where do you think the 15-year-old student who stabs his teacher learned to move with a knife? It can only be from the home,” Nico Halle answers, emphasizing that a morally bankrupt teacher, father, administrator etc can only pass on immorality and bad education to his children.
    It is from this premise that Nico Halle blames the breakdown in morality in Cameroon to the failure of collective responsibility from parents, government, teachers, politicians, traditional chiefs etc. He used the occasion to re-launch a nation-wide advocacy and crusade for moral rearmament in Cameroon.

    Nico Halle says the recent unfortunate happenings in Cameroon where three cases of deadly violence were orchestrated by juveniles in three separate towns in one week, has forced him to take up the crusade for moral rearmament which he launched some 10 to 15 years ago, when he served as President of the Christian Men’s Fellowship, CMF, of the PCC. He recalls how during the crusade he went around the country preaching moral values to administrators, teachers and people in high places, sharing copies of the Bible to them.
    “I think there is every reason for the government to launch a nationwide campaign for moral rearmament. Such a campaign should be adequately financed and followed up to ensure success and results,” Nico Halle recommended, questioning, albeit rhetorically: “what’s wrong if the government should spend ten billions for a campaign that would help her to save hundreds and thousands of billions?”
    Nico Halle regrets that because of corruption and embezzlement, Cameroon, an otherwise naturally rich country with inexhaustible mineral and petroleum resources, goes cap in hand borrowing and begging for financial aid when she should be helping other countries.
    “What have we done with all the billions that a generous providence poured into our state coffers in the last several decades of our independence? It has been stolen and salted away by men in high places. We have wasted it through inflated contracts to a band of party loyalists who have neither the willingness nor the capacity to execute the contracts.”
    Nico Halle fears that if something is not done, urgently, to make good the moral bankruptcy that is inherent in Cameroon today, the country risks losing out on the 21st century, that is, after it wasted the 20th.
    But the peace crusader was not all negative in his responses to our questions; he had some accolades for some authorities. He hailed for instance the Minister of Secondary Education, Prof. Nalova Lyonga, for her prompt action following the unfortunate act that killed the teacher in GHS Nkolbisson.
    “Unlike some of her colleagues who would stay in their offices in the face of such situations, Mrs Nalova Lyonga immediately abandoned the comfort of her air-conditioned office and rushed to the scene of the incidennt. She talked to the students and teachers and addressed her sympathy to the bereaved family. I think this was wonderful.”

Below is the full text of our interview with Nico Halle