CI-NEWS

Ntumfor Nico Halle’s blue-print for return to peace in NW&SW.

2019-07-16

No: 436

Ntumfor Nico Halle’s blue-print for return to peace in NW&SW.

The International Peace Crusader tells visiting CENPA exco that President Biya must address the nation, then grant amnesty, clemency and call ceasefire

The three-year-old Anglophone crisis would have long been resolved had President Paul had the right information and proceeded to address the nation to defuse the tension. But even as it has morphed into a war, the way to peace still lies with President Paul Biya who together with President Olusegun Obasanjo, used his legendary wisdom to avert war with Nigeria over the Bakassi Peninsula Conflict International Peace Crusader, Ntumfor Nico Halle, told the visiting executive of the Cameroon English Language Newspaper Publishers’ Association (CENPA) last Tuesday in Douala.

CENPA had come for a working session with their legal adviser ahead of the holding of two seminars on peace-building for journalists in August so that they would be able to articulate its back-to-school campaign. But at the mention of back-to-school, Ntumfor Nico Halle sprang to his feet, noting that it was a delicate issue which could only happen with an enabling environment. He used the occasion to unroll his 7-point peace plan which he would propose to the head of state if he had the opportunity to meet him.

The President of the Republic must first address the nation for just 15 minutes and own up. For there to be peace, he said President Paul Biya must use his authority to apologise on behalf of his family members and ministers who did things to fuel the crisis. As a next step, he should grant a general amnesty using his constitutional powers. He believes by these two acts tensions will die down. After these, the president should proceed to grant clemency for those who have been sentenced. The fourth step should be the announcement of a ceasefire on both sides. Next should be the announcement by Biya of compensation for those who lost property as well as people who lost family members through death in the crisis. With these done, Biya should then invite the international community to assist. While this is going on, he should create a peace and reconciliation committee which will serve as the framework structure for an inclusive dialogue where no subjects would be taboo. Common ground would then be reached for the good of all Cameroonians. The timeframe to achieve this should be between 6 months and one year.

For this to happen, the peace crusader noted, Cameroonians must be honest, patriotic and show accountability.

The working session also provided an opportunity for Ntumfor Halle to recognize the role of the press in bringing peace and sanity to the nation bedeviled by corruption, embezzlement and other vices.

Taking the floor, Mr Ngah Christian Mbipgo, the president of CENPA who is also Publisher of the Guardian Post Daily, introduced the exco and expounded on the objectives of CENPA. He said it was created to ensure the survival of the Anglophone press that has been highly affected by the crisis but also suffers discrimination from the powers that be in terms of advertising. He then announced the holding of two seminars on peace building for journalists in Douala on 8 and 9 August and in Yaounde on 13 and 14 August. Ngah, described as selfless, said CENPA wanted to be the “mouth piece for back-to-school” and so it became necessary for journalists to be trained to be able to articulate the back-to-school message.

The CENPA legal adviser once more took the floor to enjoin CENPA to make the difference. He thanked CENPA for recognizing him. Ntumfor Nico Halle said he was an apostle of Thomas Jefferson who had declared his choice of the press over the nation because of its role in moralizing the society.

Other members of the exco who spoke up were Mr Nkemngu Martin, the treasurer; Mr Wasso Norbert, Publisher of the Sun; and Gerald Ndikum, Publisher of The Horizon who are advisers in the CENPA exco.

In his closing remarks, Ntumfor Nico Halle expressed elation that he had the cream of the press visiting him. He called on them to be each other’s keeper. “Put a hedge around the exco and each member; Stand by the truth in order to succeed”, he advised.

He then handed over a token of 500000 FCFA to the CENPA president. This was later shared equitably as transport and lodging for the 9-man delegation.

A buffet launch offered by the legal adviser at his Shalom Building crowned the working visit.

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Ntumfor Nico Halle’s blue-print for return to peace in NW&SW.