CI-NEWS

National Dialogue: NW Governor kick-starts consultative phase; Foretaste of Anglophone grievances v

2019-09-24

No: 448

National Dialogue: NW Governor kick-starts consultative phase; Foretaste of Anglophone grievances voiced.

Adolphe Lele Lafrique has met with stake holders in Bamenda to map out primary concertation and follow up of proposals to next week’s Major National dialogue .Holding at the Conference hall of the NW Chief administrative officers institution, participants (Lawyers , heads of teachers’ trade unions, and others ) answered present to begin the preliminary phase of what will see them submit proposals and grievances to further address the plight of the two English speaking regions.

Adolphe Lele Lafrique while opening the session entreated the attendees to above all consider objectivity to this effect. Harping on the head of state’s wonder on who actually to dialogue with, Governor Adolphe Lele insisted that only the best should represent the region.

The joint consultations that saw a weekend follow-up at the MINEPAT hall Upstation was to further enable trade union leaders, heads and representatives of legalised political parties amongst others to enlist the worries which have been long tabled. Some of them included military and gendarme extortion of civilians in Bamenda."On ghost town days we have to settle controls (a term used by security officials to extort money) and worst of all on such a day we have defied lockdown orders there are no filling stations and on regular working days we have to be grounded because our harvest was rather enjoyed by others", a participant lamented.

On the question of language, an invitee insted:"Uniform officers must try to speak the pidgin or better still English. I greet an official at a check point and he tells me *je ne comprend pas ce que tu dis*." This, he insisted, threatens the oneness of the state and hampers the decentralised or federal system.

Semma Valentine, president of the teachers’ trade union, insisted school resumption was marred owing to insecurity. Participants expressed regret that the politicising of the back to school campaign destroyed its essence.

For his part, Michael Bibi, Auxiliary Bishop of Bamenda Archdiocese, raised the issues of kidnappings for ransom, the head of state’s cynicism about who to dialogue with, and his insistence on the indivisibility of the state which is in

itself a root cause of the crisis.

He seized the occasion to recount the ordeal of priests during kidnappings. Mgr Bibi stressed on good faith and peace building mechanisms in and throughout the dialogue process.

Reacting after the first dialogue phase, Barrister Mbah Eric Mbah insisted:"the consideration of key issues such as clemency to all detained political leaders, review of the constitution, venue for dialogue, complete representation and participation amongst others must be of key importance".

He went on to elucidate: "We are the only country wherein only the presidential mandate is subject to amendment. Any other thing is considered a taboo. In this light everything should be put on table". To him, in a deep-rooted crisis as this "amnesty, call for ceasefire, provision of an enabling environment, and a 3rd party moderation should be considered not as pre conditions but as enabling conditions".

Taking the rostrum, the government delegate to the Bamenda City Council underscored the essentialities of the gathering. While insisting that marginalisation is real, he said it is not subject to Anglophone Cameroon only. Through the crisis a lot have been uncovered, Samkie Elvis, mayor of Santa, said, insisting that "some elites must stop sponsoring separatist movements behind the scenes in a bid to water down others for a search for appointments". He noted many elites take upon themselves to sponsor groups because they know if Ngoketunjia or whatever division is at war owing to separatist aggressions ministers or top directors may be sidelined for them to appointed.

On the case of football Fecafoot secretary general for NW, Elvis Ndi, pointed to the poor and abandoned fields of the region which has 3 elite clubs with 1 female and 2 male with a lone male club at the elite 2 category. This, he insisted, means Bamenda has been denied the only form of relaxation.

Governor Adolphe Lele, just like his secretary general Harry Lanyuy, stressed on peace building. He insisted the head of state is the guarantor of the unity and indivisibility of the nation to which he swore, thus accepting proposals aimed at changing the form of state is tantamount to a betrayal by a vote holder. He further insisted sincerity, peace loving and truthfulness must be the watch words.

Participants therefore left with the goal to expect a dialogue proper date while Adolphe Lele was expected to channel worries as presented to the Star Building’s chief administrative officer.

Governor Adolphe Lele, on the sidelines of the event, held consultative talks with SDOs and regional security officials to assess the situation as well as ensure hitch- free school resumption and studies.

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National Dialogue: NW Governor kick-starts consultative phase; Foretaste of Anglophone grievances v