As its Ostrich posturing proves fatal:

Gov’t now on its knees begging lawyers and teachers

Two separate dialogue forums today in Bamenda and Yaounde respectively will examine Anglophone teachers’ grievances and the concerns of common law lawyers, with a view to seeking lasting solutions to problem raised. In its characteristic arrogance and insensitivity, the government had let a bad situation to degenerate, in the hope that it would simply pass away with time. Now she is caught in her own trap.

By Ojong Steven Ayukogem in Yaounde

PM Yang must address the problems of Anglophone lawyers and teachers, if only to save his face

PM Yang must address the problems of Anglophone lawyers and teachers, if only to save his face

The representatives of Common Law lawyers appointed by Prime Minister Philemon Yang to take part in dialogue with government have indicated they will be part of the deliberations, when the Adhoc Committee created to examine grievances raised by the lawyers begins meeting for its first session today, Tuesday 27 December 2016, in Yaounde.

                The lawyers confirmed their participation to this reporter after the government responded positively to their request for more leaders of common law lawyers to be included in the Adhoc Committee. When the Adhoc Committee for dialogue with lawyers was first created only one among the four leaders of the lawyers’ associations that called the strike was included in it.

                By unilaterally picking only Barrister Bobga Harmony to represent the striking lawyers, the lawyers feared the PM had a hidden agenda to split their ranks with a view to weakening their firm resolve to see things change for the better.

                But being the wise man that he is known to be, Philemon Yang quickly admitted his error and hastily co-opted Barristers Nkongho Felix Agbor Balla from FAKLA and Eyambe from MELA into the Adhoc Committee.

                Yet, even as the lawyers have accepted to travel to Yaounde for the dialogue, there is no guarantee the deliberations of the Adhoc Committee will proceed peacefully and smoothly. For one thing the Common Law lawyers will not entertain or submit to any condescending posturing by those on the government bench, especially the chairman of the Adhoc Committee, who incidentally is a Francophone Minister Delegate to the Ministry of Justice.

                As it is traditional in Common Law practice, there is the likelihood that the lawyers will raise some preliminary objections that may only make the chairman of the Adhoc Committee uncomfortable, especially given that being a Francophone, he is not used to situations where participants in a meeting try to dictate methods of procedure on the Chairman.

                But these not withstanding, it is the hope of many that parties to the dialogue would demonstrate maturity, sincerity and frankness so that much-needed consensus and especially lasting solutions are arrived at by the time the curtains are drawn on the dialogue forum.

                Yet though, as it is feared that deliberations in Yaounde may be very stormy, there are no indications the dialogue with teachers in Bamenda will be less tension-packed. That is because if recent utterances by the Chairman of the Adhoc inter-ministerial Committee for dialogue with teachers, Dr. Ghogomu Paul Mingo, who is also the Director of Cabinet at the PM’s Office, are taken into consideration, one can be tempted to think that he may not be the right person for the assignment in Bamenda.

                Many have opined that Ghogomu leaved much to be desired in his several outings on state radio/television CRTV recently. Dr. Ghogomu’s statements that government will continue dialogue with the teachers only when the latter would have called off their strike and returned to the classrooms was considered condescending and inopportune.  

                That not withstanding, it is hoped that before leaving for Bamenda, Dr. Ghogomu must have received much-needed schooling from his boss, the more level-headed Prime Minister Yang, who should have advised him to play the listener and pacifier, rather than the bully and lessons-giver, when he presides over the dialogue session in Bamenda.

                Be it as it may, it is very evident that after its ostrich posturing has failed to do the magic the government is now facing the lawyers and teachers from a position of weakness and desperation. For one thing any failure to convince especially the teachers to go back to the classrooms in January, will deal a dangerous blow to the regime, especially as that would mean risking a blank academic year for pupils and students in schools West of the Mungo. And from most indications the teachers are prepared for this.

                That is why one can say without fear of contradiction that the government now has no choice than to abandon its arrogant and condescending posturing, and go on bended knees begging the teachers and lawyers to comeback on their strike decision. It is hoped that this seductive approach of government will be soothing to the teachers and lawyers, and would cause them to soften up and call off their separate strikes. Lets wait and see.