Security Coordination Meeting:

Okalia Bilai’s Double-Speaks on Crisis in SW

-At once saying that the situation is getting under control the governor noted that the crisis is getting even worse in the region

By Boris Esono in Buea

SW Governor Bernard Okalia Bilai flanked by top security officials, SDOs,  Regional Delegates at the security meeting in Buea

The Governor of the SWR, Bernard Okalia Bilai has said that the lack of patriotism and backstabbing by denizens are contributing to worsen the crisis situation in the SW region. He made the statement during a 2-day regional administrative and security coordination meeting holding in Buea on 14 and 15 June 2018. 

            Okalia Bilai said violence must stop and normalcy regained if any dialogue can be carried out. He called on people who have taken to the bushes to return to their homes, saying that everything is under control and that the region is now calm.

            “Today the entire region is disturbed because of the ongoing violence. Many projects in the region have been stalled by the violence. Preparations for the 2019 AFCON are also suffering. The crisis has led to the killing of many defense and security forces, school authorities, traditional rulers, and the population by the so-called Amba forces,” Governor Okalia noted

            He congratulated the various officials who have continued to function despite acts of terrorism and threats upon their lives.

            “We should continue in our respective departments to work together to preserve what is precious in the SWR and the nation as a whole - peace, tranquility, education and development. It is thanks to education that the SW continues to play an important role in the society”.

The Governor called on the population to shun all those who are preaching boycott of examinations.

            “We should combat those who preaching boycott of schools and prohibit the writing of various examinations in the region. This has caused disruption in examinations as the GCE Board was forced to transfer students to write in other centers causing panic and so on”. 

            He said the populations should not be scared by the forces of law and order, who are there to protect them against all acts of terrorism. He invited the elite and traditional rulers to continue to sensitize their children who have taken to the bushes to come back to their homes”.

            “Everybody is talking about dialogue but there cannot be dialogue with people in the bushes. Let them come out and the state will dialogue with them so that everything will come back to normal”.

            During the meeting, a minute of silence was observed for those who have lost their lives due to the present socio-political tensions in the SW and NWRs.