Let Humanity be an action from the heart, not a position for Political Gains.
-Jude MBAKU
In the wake of the current Anglophone crisis that started in 2016, a certain commission had been created to unite the tribes and cultures in the country, and most especially, encourage a humane living together between people West and East of the River Moungo.
The Commission was created by decree No: 2017/013 of the 23rd of January 2017 and placed at the head, Former Prime Minister Peter Mafany Musonge.
The main task of the 15_ man National Commission for Promotion of Bilingualism and Multiculturalism, NCPBMC, is to Conduct studies and surveys proposing measures likely to strengthen the bilingual and multicultural character of Cameroon. Prepare and submit draft instruments on bilingualism, multiculturalism and togetherness and most importantly, receive petitions against discriminations arising from non-compliance with the constitutional provisions on bilingualism and multiculturalism and report thereon to the President of the Republic for proper action.
However, the recent events of hate speech, cultural and ethnic animosity brawling between indigenes of the Northwest and Southwest Regions are opening fresh cracks, clearly visible to the fact that, living together even ¨IN-HOUSE¨ had never been real.
To make matters worse, the deafening silence of this Commission has confirmed what many think is a moribund structure, just one of those little pretentious measures by the current Government in solving the Crisis between both sides of the Cameroons.
WITH WHAT EVIDENCE IS MAFANY GUILTY?
In less than 3 months, a certain Young Chief in the Southwest Region precisely in Fako Division has released more than 5 videos recorded by himself and his team Preaching Hate, Division, Anarchy, Chaos, and unprecedented but also bewildered threats on the inhabitants of the Northwest Region living in the Southwest Region.
Chief EWOME Eko John of Bwassa village is believed to also be a member of the Cameroon Military unit, The Rapid Intervention Battalion, BIR, in its French Acronym.
This man also called MOJA MOJA has been fervent in his outings, calling on indigenes to excommunicate Northwesterners from Southwest accusing them of taking their jobs, Recruits of the Ambazonian Separatist fighters and Killers of Southwest Chiefs; a narrative that is fast gaining grounds in that part of the country. They had even gone as far as accusing Northwesters for not also killing their Fons when kidnapped.
While many think that it’s an emotional issue that spill unconscious actions down the spines of natives of FAKO DIVISION or elites of the Bakweri tribe where many chiefs have been murdered already for yet to be investigated reasons purportedly by Ambazonian separatist fighters, more other people think that the Administration of the day is overtly tolerant and a promoter of these heinous and xenophobic utterances from such Cameroonians.
Otherwise, the law gives no room for hate speeches, not even when a Cameroonian is denied Rights to live in any part of the larger triangle.
The December 24th, 2019, law enacted by the head of state, Paul Biya, had addressed changes relating to tribal hatred as amended and supplemented to the provisions of Law No 2016/7 of 12 July 2016 relating to the Penal Code. According to article 241 on contempt of races and religions, words on social media in addition to the traditional media which denotes tribal hatred are punishable.
The law goes further (241-1) to punish hate speech or violence against people because of their tribal lineage. Defaulters will have face a two-year jail term or pay a three million FCFA fine. The fine will be doubled if the words are propagated by an official, political party, media, non-governmental organization or religious institution.
This NCPBMC Is silent, Not an ARREST to these Perpetrators who have find in hate speech. A Clear case of this Chief called MOJA MOJA whose activities with banned firearms, guarded by state military personnel and Top dignitaries is jeopardizing collective living together in a crucial moment of the country s history. This commission has not issued even a single statement, communique, Press Release, call it what may, denouncing the actions of this agent of National Disunity. Why is Musonge and his people silent? This is Cameroon.
The above paints a picture of a powerful Elite who has chosen to go docile on an issue that can break the country more into pieces despite his pivotal role in bringing thing urgently to normal under a giant structure he controls with state resources. Is he a victim of circumstances or a supporter of what he preaches against? Little wonder Ministers like that of territorial Administration, Paul Atanga Nji has often been celebrated as a statesman of unmatched workaholism spirit for his stern actions even when it works against his own people.
WHO IS MUSONGE?
Peter Mafany Musonge, born December 3, 1942, is a Cameroonian politician who was Prime Minister of Cameroon from September 19, 1996, to December 8, 2004. Musonge was born at Muea in the Fako Division of Cameroon’s South-West Region. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering at Drexel University and received a Master of Science degree in structural engineering at Stanford University and has worked on a variety of projects. He has been a longtime supporter and assistant of President Paul Biya and is an Anglophone and a member of the Bakweri ethnic group. He left his position as Prime Minister after a cabinet reshuffle which followed Biya’s successful 2004 reelection, for which Musonge served as campaign manager. Musonge is a member of the Central Committee of the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM). Biya appointed Musonge as Grand Chancellor of National Orders on April 4, 2007.
How the NCPMCB Has not called this Chief, MOJA MOJA to order? is visible that he has an agenda in tandem to that of the Government and Elites like Musonge, who has failed the aspirations and values this office, NCPBMC and many others he carries, stand for. The Government and its ever care-free Officials are seemingly in a Winery feast for dragging their adversaries, Anglophones, into commotion- Scoring OWN GOAL.
Note must be taken to the fact that, despot the years of fighting in the Anglophones regions against what they term French Cameroon marginalization, French Cameroonians have never been targeted in those regions. Above all, The hundreds of thousands of Anglophones who pour into the French speaking regions have received unprecedented love and humane care from Cameroonians who speak French. Visibly, the love Between These French and English-speaking Cameroonians is stronger than the So-called brotherliness between Northwest and Southwest which many say has been hidden under code names like GRAFFI and KAM NO GO, for over the decades.
Should Mafany and his Team take the step in the right direction to summoning the Xenophobic Chief to the Military Headquarters in Yaoundé as well for possessing arms wrongly, they would have been doing the right thing. The law cannot be good for the goose and ugly for the Gander. Xenophobia and Tribal Cleansings is worse than protests of the MRC Political Party whose members are jailed across the country for attempting street protests which is a basic human Right.
Till then, Cameroonians are yet to see the role of the Mafany’s Commission in executing its real task apart from buying exorbitant cars and awarding self for work yet to be done. This can only be in Cameroon.
