CI-NEWS

National Dialogue: Golden opportunity for Anglophones to close ranks and make best of it!

2019-09-17

No: 447

National Dialogue: Golden opportunity for Anglophones to close ranks and make best of it!

Debates have been raging on. Barnstorming on separation, federalism and complete decentralisation has gripped various media platforms created and moderated by Anglophones. That was grandstanding or playing to the gallery. Some say it was the pre-dialogue process. We have now gone past all of that.

The convening of the National Dialogue on the Anglophone crisis last week by President Paul Biya is a momentous event. It is a rare opportunity for Anglophones from all sides of the divide to close ranks and make the most of it. Arguments that have been advanced by activists and extremists to the effect that nothing will come out of the announced dialogue are beside the point. It stands to reason that Anglophones will make or mar depending on the posture they take during this national debate. For one thing, it will be moderated by one of theirs. Prime Minister Dion Ngute, noted for his level-headedness, will not want to let down his kith and kin. He had promised to help President Biya resolve the Anglophone crisis after his appointment in January 2019. His down-to-earth approach during the peace mission he undertook to the North West and South West regions in May 2019 so endeared him to Anglophones that he was considered as Biya’s joker in the pack.

Since the convening of the national dialogue, Dion Ngute has gone to work consulting all segments of the Anglophone society and collating their proposals. He is conscious of the daunting task ahead of him.

For their part, Anglophones from all sides of the political divide must do their homework. Pre-conditions like releasing imprisoned leaders or declaring a truce must not stall the talks in their infancy. They become elements during negotiations.

The Anglophone diaspora, armed groups, civil society, political parties must not be talking at cross purposes. Their positions must be federated and synthesized into key demands. At this point in time, the question of marginalization must be addressed squarely. What was considered as an anti-climax in President Biya’s address last week was his denial of the existence of this phenomenon. He naively or deliberately argued that by appointing an Anglophone as PM since 1992, marginalization had become a non-issue. Anglophones must demand a PM with executive powers to appoint his own Secretary General. The current arrangement makes the SG at the PM’s office answerable to the Presidency.

Anglophones should also speak in one voice concerning appointment and recruitment quotas. At Reunification, the population of the North West and South West regions constituted 20 percent of Cameroon. Coming together at equals, it would have been logical to demand a 50/50 quota in these respects. But it now makes sense that enshrining a 20 percent quota in the constitution will check scandals like what obtained during the recent competitive examination into the various sections of ENAM. Anglophones who should get a 12 percent quota got only 3.86%!

It is by such points of convergence that Anglophones will make or mar at the National Dialogue. Let's mobilise to go for the dialogue. Given that it has been imposed by the international community, they are intent on holding the Biya regime to account.

Like in a football match, it is kick-off time. Anglophones must play the match so beautifully to the point that the match officials allow them to prevail. They must show that they can beat the majority Francophones, incarnated by President Biya, to their game, no matter the odds against them.

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National Dialogue: Golden opportunity for Anglophones to close ranks and make best of it!