BY ATIA TILARIOUS AZOHNWI
International peace crusader, Ntumfor Barrister Nico Halle has allayed fears that his just concluded 14-day peace mission to the North West and South West Regions was sponsored by government.
Nico Halle spoke to The SUN Newspaper in a telephone conversation on Tuesday, December 19, 2017 as he wrapped up his visit to the troubled Anglophone regions.
With over three decades in legal practice and about 26 years in peace crusading, the world-acclaimed peace crusader says he has been bankrolling his peace missions from his hard-earned resources.
“When you hear that I peace-crusade, I sponsor my trips. Nobody can corrupt me and nobody can use me. I am sacrificing for my nation. It is good that you have asked this question before people brandish me as being used by government. I have never been an agent of anybody,” he told The SUN.
Ntumfor is credited to have reconciled lawyers, magistrates, pastors, journalists, traditional rulers, politicians and even members of the civil society. In his characteristic humility, he has never received a penny from anybody to food his peace crusades.
Given that he abhors bootlickers and stooges, Nico Halle has been sacrificing for the nation over the years in all honesty. He is not a card-carrying member of any political party.
Given his clean records as election observer in the North West Region between 2001 and 2007, Nico Halle’s recent peace outing to the North West and South West cannot be a pursuit for political capital.
Asked to state the capacity in which he embarked on the 14-day visit to the two Anglophone regions, the President of the General Assembly of the Cameroon Bar said:
“I went to the North West and South West Regions to preach peace. I went there as a simple Cameroonian who loves Cameroon. I very much like what JF Kennedy said when he made his inaugural speech in January 20, 1961: don’t ask what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your nation. And so, I am asking myself what can I do for my nation Cameroon? What will I sacrifice for, if not form Cameroon? I don’t think that I am rich, but I am rich in people. People pray for me and encourage me in what I am doing. Detractors have no place in my life.”
“There are spoilers who would have wished that this crisis continues so that they can make money. I know there are people who make money during crisis. I feel so sorry for those who exploit the crisis to position themselves. I am not interested in all of that.”
Nico Halle is known for fighting ills like corruption, election rigging, and has remained incorruptible till date. He however does not claim perfection. He is attached to spiritual and moral values. “Peace crusading is my own mantra, it is my mission handed to me by God. I will die as a peace crusader,” he says.
Ntumfor paid glowing tributes to President Paul Biya for his wisdom in resolving the Cameroon-Bakassi crisis.
Hear him: “I am praying to God almighty that our Head of State who is father of this nation should use the same wisdom and magnanimity which he and his brother, former Nigerian leader, President Olusegun Obasanjo displayed some 11 years ago in order to solve the Baksassi crisis which was even more explosive and that could cause a bloodbath; millions of Cameroonians and Nigerians would have perished. I am praying that God should endow President Paul Biya with that King Solomon wisdom so that he can solve the ongoing crisis. 11 years ago, it was an international problem; this one is a local problem. We badly need that wisdom. I am praying that he should use that wisdom for this problem to be resolved.”
The peace mission to NW, SW
The international peace crusader has since January 2017 been on his knees, praying for a peaceful end to the Anglophone crisis. He has begged the Head of State to free all those in detention as a result of the Anglophone crisis that started in October 2016. He has also been requesting President Biya to grant amnesty to all those who are on self exile and the organisation of genuine dialogue.
Ntumfor says he decided to step up his peace crusading mission when the crisis in the North West and South West Regions escalated into an armed confrontation between security forces and civilians. He says the killing of civilians and security officers has deeply pained him, reason why he embarked on the 14-day peace mission.
For 11 days in the North West Region, the international peace crusader had a chat with Governor Lele L’Afrique Adolf, and Brigadier General Agha Robinson Ndong, Commander of the 22nd Motorized Infantry Brigade. He also met the various military and security chiefs in the region.
Ntumfor also discussed with teachers, lawyers, members of the civil society, pastors and fons with whom he preached the message of peace and made a claa for restrain.
He moved to Baba II village where he met with Ni John Fru Ndi, National Chairman of the Social Democratic Front (SDF) party. Ntumfor also held talks with El Hadj Lawan Bako, Chairman of the UDP; the Government Delegate to the Bamenda City Council, Vincent Nji Ndumu; Dr. Nick Ngwanyam of the St. Louis University Institute of Health; Tameh Valentine, president of the Teachers Association of Cameroon and Afuh Stephen of PEATU.
Ntumfor also moved to off licences where he mingled and popular locations where he mingled and chatted with all strata of society. He also used his contacts in the divisions and subdivisions to disseminate the message of peace and a call for restrain.
Nico Halle re-echoed his plea for the Head of State to address the nation with a soft tone so that peace can return. He has also been requesting the creation of a peace and justice and reconciliation commission made up of people of integrity, honour and proven reputation. To him, such a platform should champion inclusive dialogue. Objective, genuine, transparent, impartial and fruitful discussions should be handled so that these issues that are pitting one against the other can be laid to rest.
“Once this is done, tensions will drop and there will be the need to demilitarise both regions. There should also be the full restoration of internet in the North West and South West Regions. The internet blackout is causing great commercial hardship. I am doing this on my knees, pleading with the head of state,” Ntumfor Nico Halle said.
He says this crisis was poorly handled at the beginning, but believes that peace is possible.
His words: “We should all acknowledge that mistakes have been made over the years and then we sit down and talk as a family and address those mistakes. The Head of State acknowledged that in his last end of year speech. We salute some of the measures he instructed a few months after. The hope is that if they were to be fully implemented, they will handle the lawyers and teachers grievances. Over and above that, there are still other grievances that the commission I am suggesting should handle.”
Ntumfor says peace does not exist in a vacuum. “Peace is a bi-product of love, justice, equity, good governance, transparency, accountability, patriotism, the respect for human rights, respect for the constitution and the fear of the Lord. These are the core spiritual and moral values that need to be put in place for any sustainable and lasting peace to exist. Once these values are not there, the peace will be fragile.”
Ntumfor Nico Halle also preached the gospel of peace in Manyu, Meme and Fako Divisions where he called the civilians and security forces to exercise restraint.
For over five hours in Mamfe, the venerated peace crusader met with Oum II Joseph, Senior Divisional Officer for Manyu. He was then taken on a guided tour of the area by the local police chief. He visited the site where two soldiers were killed. From the office of the legion commander, General Milingi Donacien and the head of public security in Mamfe, Nico Halle preached peace and called for restrain.
In Kumba, Ntumfor held talks with Meme SDO, Ntou-ou Ndong Chamberlin; the Government Delegate to the Kumba City Council, Victor Nkelle Ngoh; security chiefs and a cross section of the population. He frowned at the killings and destructions, underlining the urgency of a return to peace and normalcy.
In Fako Division, the legal luminary with over three decades of practice chatted with Governor Okalia Bilai Bernard before he moved to attend the second semester conference for governors in Yaoundé. He held working session with Engamba Emmanuel Ledoux, Fako SDO; Rt. Rev. Fonki Samuel Forba, Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon (PCC); Rev. Babila Fochang George, PCC Synod Clerk; and Njie Kale, PCC Education Secretary.
Nico Halle was also received by the various security chiefs in the division. He prayed at almost every stop, preaching the gospel of peace.
Speaking to The SUN, Ntumfor Barrister Nico Halle extended words of encouragements to Cameroonians living in the Northern Regions.
“I also extend peace and love to our brothers in the extreme north who are suffering with the Boko Haram phenomenon. I thank the army that is doing everything to eradicate Boko Haram in the north. When we are praying for our brothers in the North West and South West, we should not forget our brothers in the extreme North who are under the scourge of Boko Haram. My prayer is that God should bless Cameroon and I challenge all Cameroonians to be peace crusaders.”