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| Olivier Bile, (PHD), President of the UFP |
Who sows the wind, harvests the storm
UFP calls for a restoration of historical
truths, Justice, political and institutional modernity as way forward
Strikes and demonstrations of lawyers and
teachers of the Anglophone zone, strong involvement of the populations of
Bamenda in the said street demonstrations, various demands of the students of
the university of Buea, riots, mood movements and a general feeling of
ostracism and especially assimilationism from our fellow citizens of the
Anglo-Saxon culture, heavy and brutal interventions of the security forces in
the various theaters of manifestations, Cameroonians dying because of
intolerance, misunderstandings, obscurantism, lack of deep dialogue and
concertation....
Since
November 21st 2016, the anglophone zone of our country is actually subjected to
convulsions and uprisings of different social bodies, which attest of a deep
malaise exhaling what is called the Anglophone problem in Cameroon.
Considering
the extreme gravity of the situation, the UFP, as a force of proposal, submits
to the national community, in the form of a reflection in two points, its
reading of the situation and its solution for a sustainable exit of crisis. The
substance of the contribution can be summarized in one sentence: "The
English-speaking zone will subside and the country will prosper in a
sustainable way, thanks only to the restoration of historical Truth, Justice
and political and institutional modernity".
THE ROOT CAUSES OF THE ANGLOPHONE PROBLEM
After
a separation of 45 years (1916-1961), ultimately burdened with
politico-cultural consequences, Cameroonians on both shores of the Moungoriver,
in a burst of real and profound brotherhood, manifested the ardent desire to
find themselves within the same State. But in this new political dynamic, the
intentions of the leaders on both sides were obviously not the same with regard
to the form that the State should have. A popular saying goes: "Who sows
the wind harvests the storm".
Indeed,
the recurrent agitations and upheavals on the former Southern Cameroons
territory since at least the beginning of the 1990s are undoubtedly the
consequence of the "original sin" and the rotten trick openly carried
out by President AhmadouAhidjo on John N. Foncha, AugustinNgomJua, Solomon T.
Muna, his Anglophone interlocutors at the time.
In
violation of the Foumban agreements and deferring, as agreed long ago with
instructions from Paris which intended to have free access on certain local
resources, AhmadouAhidjo, unilaterally, decides on the organization of the May
20th 1972 referendum, with a view of turning the State from federalism to
unification.
In
addition, and obviously unacceptable, the ballot papers available in this
rigged referendum were marked "oui" and "yes". Result:
99.97% for the yes. Without excessive emotion, one can simply talk of
unprecedented political fraud. If the proponents of a policy which is only a
lie and deceit can accommodate to this, the promoter of a theistic and upright
democracy that I am, has the duty to remind everyone of the short, medium or
long term consequences of such acts at the top of a State.
Who
sows the wind indeed harvests the storm; this is true for oneself or ones’
spiritual heirs. That is why we are still here today. First of all, I would
like to make Cameroonians truly aware of this historical drag that we carry in
the form of a political curse to imperiously exorcise.
PROPOSAL SKETCH TO PROBLEM
In a scientific approach, I would like to
invite everyone to a collective reflection and examination of the international
environment, particularly examining the model of institutional organization and
States in the world which, like ours, have an objective and officially bi- or
multi-cultural basis. In this respect, Switzerland (French, German, Italian,
Romansh) Belgium (Francophones, Dutch speakers, German speakers), Canada
(French and English) can undoubtedly serve as sources of inspiration.
The
fundamental point to make about these States is that they all benefit from an
organization of federal or confederal type, which confers an important local
autonomy (principle of subsidiarity) making it possible to emphasize the
specificities of culturally distinct communities. Is Cameroon the exception
that confirms a rule which seems universally established by political science
and constitutional law? There is reason to doubt this.
In
any case, history and current events attest to a phenomenon of heavy
incompatibility within the system we have tried to impose on forceps. Common
law, Anglophone educational sub-system and many other socioprofessional
determinants are the hallmark of a culture, a singularity and a community
identity derived from the Anglo-Saxon cultural and identity tradition which
refuses to be absorbed by The Voltairo-Napoleonic cultural tradition. This
leveling and harmonization system cannot work. It is also likely to be a source
of more recurrent and violent crises. Moreover, it is essential to reassure
Cameroonians by specifying that federalism does not mean separatism or
secessionism. Citizens of the said countries, irrespective of their States of
origin, feel the same sense of belonging and solidarity, and are subject to the
same duties and enjoy the same rights.
Totally
hostile to the ultramarginal idea of secession, I am convinced that the
overwhelming majority of Anglophones are unreservedly willing to remain full
citizens of the State of Cameroon, however, in a living-together system whose
institutional contours must absolutely be rethought and established in a
democratic and consensual manner, and not by brutality, tensions and
constraint. If necessary, this 1972 referendum should be repeated in order to
highlight the true aspirations of our Anglophone fellow citizens today. We
should all agree with that. Cameroon would then remain positively and truly
indivisible, which cannot be guaranteed by the contrary scenario whose
exacerbation would ultimately lead to separatism. We need to be very clear
about this and give the country a good chance of avoiding uncertainties, and
re-launch into national harmony.
Therefore,
I think it is urgent to convene the General Forum of the nation (politicians,
civil society, academics, friendly and sociologically friendly countries) in
order to carry out a collective reflection on the shape of the State that best
corresponds to the demands of the contemporary world (finally, a good
opportunity to unravel the country's other political bottlenecks). Beyond the
federal bi-culturalist and bi-communitarian model of 1961, this consensual
reflection could also take into account the sharp insufficiencies of the
present decentralization, as well as the sociological complexity resulting from
the new post-1990 democratic context. The robustness, proximity and efficiency
in the conduct of our public policies could certainly also depend on some
substantial institutional reorganization.
With
respect to the UFP and without wanting to influence this discussion, the closer
Canadian model of state organization could be a relevant source of inspiration.
Concomitantly, smart strategies should be considered to deepen national
consciousness and reduce the influence of colonial legacies in the long term.
Let
us end with the words of Francis Léonard, a famous Swiss social scientist:
"In order to really appreciate all the merits of federalism, foreigners
must admit that it is the appropriate form of government for any multicultural
country, since the principle of subsidiarity makes it possible to take the
particularities of different parties into consideration. This is why the Swiss
cultural mosaic is not only due to the fabric of underlying links, but also to
the freedom left to the different local components to respond as closely as
possible to their specificities ".
Dear
fellow citizens, let's go to structural solutions. Let us reflect together,
without fear or tension, but well aware of the fact that "the
English-speaking zone will calm down and the country will prosper"
permanently " exclusively thanks to the restoration of historical Truth,
Justice and constitutional modernity ".
God
bless Cameroon!!!
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