With Consortium virtually in control:

Anglophones send grim warning to Y’de

- “Consortium” claims control of West Cameroon

Streets of towns in West Cameroon remained deserted Monday

A general sit-in strike and complete ghost towns called by the Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium on Monday 9 January 2017 was respected 100% across Southern Cameroons. Streets of major towns, villages and schools across the River Moungo remained deserted for most of the day; the main gates into schools remained sealed, taxi cabs and bikes remained packed, a strong indication to Yaoundé authorities and Anglophones in government that the Anglophone population means business and wants immediate change in the way thing are done in La Republique.

                In Bamenda, chief town of the NW region, the streets were emptied of all commercial vehicles but for a few police and military vehicles patrolling major streets and road junctions and a few private cars. Idling youths turned some streets corners and markets into football playing grounds this under the watch of bewildered and perplexed uniform officers. 

In GBHS Bamenda, barely two students, probably the children of one of the local administrators, turned up for school under very heavy police escort. At GBHS Ntamulung our mobile reporters spotted two students and Francophone teachers signing roll call booklets.

                Elsewhere, reports from Ndop said the strike was largely successful, despite the huge sums of money distributed to parents and Fons by government agents in an attempt to bribe them to send children to schools. Some 23 students, 6 boys and 17 girls all Francophones of the French section of GBHS Ndop turned up for school early Mond moning with 14 teachers present. They came to school under heavy police and gendarme escort.

                Reports from Nkambe and Kumbo indicated these towns followed the footsteps of Bamenda and also observed complete ghost towns. The SDO for Donga Mantung sent his emissaries on tour of some villages in Nkambe central and the reports they brought back were not good to read. The D.O for Ako Subdivision who went around the town trying to force parents to send their kids to school met with very adamant parents.

                Residents of Bali, Bafut, Mbengwi and Batibo that The Median contacted confirmed that the ghost town call was largely heeded.

                In Limbe and Buea in the SW region we confirmed with some locals that the ghost town was effective and that the Limbe Police were busy making rounds to schools collecting names of teachers who were not present and intimidating them with sanctions.

                Earlier, the Presbyterian Education Authority had issued a circular suspending school reopening on grounds of insecurity. The release read “Dear PEA Principals, following numerous threats to our schools and in consultation with the proprietor I have been directed to inform you to tell our parents to hold on with their children for the re – opening till further notice”

                The Minster of Secondary Education Jean Ernest MASSENA NGALLE BIBEHE was on Monday forced to cut short an extended working visit to the NW region when he noticed the Consortium was in total control. Bibehe had held several meetings with administrators, parent teachers association representatives, traditional rulers and some village development associations urging them to send their children to school. But events on Monday proved beyond all doubt that he was on a failed mission. He had to leave the town prematurely.

                Reports said when Mr. Bibehe availed himself at the Mankon Palace, the Paramount Fon ngwafor III hushed him out, urging him to go and solve the problems of the teachers and lawyers.

                “Why are you coming to me? I did not call for any strike, so I cannot call for its suspension,” Fon Angwafor, who incidentally is the 1st Vice President of Biya’s CPDM party, reportedly told the education minister. Earlier in the SW region, the chiefs’ conference had at the behest of their dean, Nfon V.E. Mukete of Kumba, issued a press release aligning with the position of Anglophone Bishops in the memo they addressed to President Biya.

                Speaking to the presses after the discussions Minister Bibehe reiterated government’s commitment to seek a lasting solution to the preliminary objections raised during the Ad-hoc meeting in Bamenda.

                Worthy to mention that the ghost towns also paralysed several government services as people who did not own private vehicles could not make it to work. Banks, shops and the main markets in towns were all shut down.

                Meanwhile for most part of the day, internet services in Bamenda were completely down, making it impossible to share the happenings on social media.