Agbor Balla condemns misinformation &
intoxication on social media
In a voice message supposedly recorded in
Kondengui prison cell and posted on facebook, Barrister Nkongho Felix
AgborBalla, said some if not most of the information circulating on social
media are false and only intended to misinform and incite hatred, division and
violence. Balla says such misinformation does not help the current situation in
the country and should stop.
By Ojong Steven Ayukogem in Yaounde
 |
| Barr. Agbor Balla |
The president of the now outlawed
Consortium has joined his voice to that of government in condemning the use of
the social media to spread messages that are false and intended to incite the
public to hatred, division and violence.
In
a voice message supposedly recorded from his prison cell at Kondengui prison,
Barrister Nkongho Felix AgborBalla frowned at those who are posting false,
unverified information on the social under the cover supporting the Anglophone
struggle. He said such false, intoxicating information not only goes contrary
with the purpose and objectives of the Anglophone struggle, it also helps to
spoil the struggle.
Understood
to be a message intended primarily to debunk claims that went viral on social
media to the effect that he had been sold out and betrayed to the authorities
by his lifetime friend, colleague and brother, Barrister Sichui John Kameni,
Balla regretted in a rather vexatious tone that the information circulating on
social media about Kameni are false and very injurious to his (Kameni’s) person
and his public image and honour.
“All
these information circulating on social media that Barrister Kameni betrayed me
by showing my house to the authorities is false; it is damaging to Kameni’s
image and this is something I don’t appreciate,” said Balla in his voice
message, wherein he also warned people to desist from using the social media to
spread unverified and intoxicating informations.
“Let
us not incite hatred and division between Anglophones and Francophones,” Balla
said, reiterating that the Anglophone struggle is not an ethnic or language
problem; but a problem of the institutions.
“As
Anglophones we have no problem with our Francophone brothers. Whether you are
Anglo-Bamileke, Anglo-Bassa or Anglo-Ewondo, we are people of the same country;
we are one and the same people,” he reiterated, recalling that even the Prime
Minister of West Cameroon in 1966, Augustine NgomJua, included some Anglo-Bamis
and Anglo-Bassas in his government.
“This
spirit of our erstwhile politicians is what I stand for; Balla said,” reminding
his hearers of his stance for peace and non-violence.
“I
stand for peace, I stand for non-violence. Let us stop victimizing and
stigmatizing our friends and brothers some of whom are helping us and have
stood by us in this very challenging times,” Balla concluded.
In a reaction to Balla’s voice message,
journalist and blogger, Franklin SoneBayen, said social media enthusiasts
should leave Barrister Kameni alone because the betrayers of the struggle can
only be members and supporters of the struggle. Bayen wondered how people could
accuse someone who does not support or sympathize with a cause of betraying
that cause. He noted that Barrister Kameni was not part of the lawyers’ strike
and he did not hide his indignation with the members of the consortium and the
manner in which they pursued their struggle.
“Balla
was not on the run, so no one could have betrayed him. JK did not support the
lawyers’ strike so he could not betray the struggle; calling him Judas Iscariot
is wrong,” said Bayen, noting that the real Judas Iscariots of the Anglophone
struggle are within the consortium.
See
full text of Balla’s message below.
Full text of Barr. AgborBalla’s message
from Kondengui
My people, the information circulating on
social media to the effect that Barrister Kameni John is the one who showed my
house to the police is false. I think this is an attack on his person and it is
something I don’t appreciate.
I
was arrested not in my house; we were arrested around Santa Barabara in Molyko
with Dr. Fontem and nobody had shown my house to the police. I think everybody
especially the special services know where I live. Before my arrest It had been
public knowledge that I live where I leave. So, please, let us not try to
victimize our friends and brothers who are supporting us in one way or the
other. This is a very challenging period, so let us avoid stigmatizing people.
Barrister
Kameni would not do such a thing to me. I know him more than everybody else; we
might have our differences but trust me, he cannot do such a thing to me and he
has shown enormous support for me ever since I was arrested. So please let us
move forward; let us not incite people to hatred.
You
all know that I have always advised people not to preach hatred or division. I
have always maintained that our struggle is not about Francophones and
Anglophones; it is a problem with the institutions.
We
should not incite hatred against Francophones, we should not incite hatred
against Anglo-Bassas, Anglo-Bamis or Anglo-Ewondos. We are all one people.
If
you can remember, I posted on facebook that PM Jua’s 1966 cabinet had
Anglophone Bamilekes and Anglophone Bassas in it, and that is my stand.
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