By DOH JAMES SONKEY
The visiting Commonwealth Secretary General, the Right Honourable Patricia Scotland QC has urged the President of the Republic of Cameroon, Paul Biya and the people of Cameroon to “resolve any differences through peaceful dialogue.” The august guest was speaking at Unity Palace in Yoaunde on the second day of her visit to Cameroon last December 19, 2017 during a state luncheon offered her by the Presidential Couple, Paul and Chantal Biya.
After expressing “great sadness” on the escalation of violence in the North West and South West regions in the ongoing socio-political unrest, the Commonwealth SG, Rt Hon Patricia Scotland urged Cameroonians “to embrace peace, unity; and resolve any differences through peaceful dialogue.”
She stressed that “a prosperous Cameroon, is a prosperous Africa, and a prosperous Commonwealth.”
During a tête-à-tête described as cordial, President Paul Biya and his guest reviewed the rich and fruitful cooperation ties existing between Cameroon and the Commonwealth since the former’s accession to the Gentlemen’s Club in 1995.
In her speech at the state luncheon, the Rt. Hon. Patricia Scotland disclosed that “Cameroon is a very important and much treasured member of the Commonwealth family.”
Before leaving Unity Palace after the audience, the Commonwealth SG, Patricia Scotland was decorated by the President of the Republic, Paul Biya with the rank of Grand Officer of the Order of Valour which is the highest honour awarded to a foreign dignitary.
During his toast at the State luncheon, the Head of State while regretting that “terrorists have hijacked the strike action initiated by purely professional corps and are now killing the military, reiterated his willingness to dialogue, but without failing to “restore order and punish those guilty of these murders”.
He used the occasion to take stock of the socio-political and economic situation of the country marked in particular by the war against the terrorist group Boko Haram and the grievances raised by trade unionists in the North-West and South-West regions. President Paul Biya equally briefed the Secretary General of the Gentlemen’s Club on measures taken by the Government to appease the situation in the North-West and South-West Regions.
The Rt Hon Patricia Scotland who met with several top government officials in the country during her visit including, the Minister of External Relations, Lejeune Mbella Mbella, Senate President, Marcel Niat Njifenji, House Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon Cavaye Yeguie Djibril etc is expected to meet with various leaders of political parties in Cameroon on Thursday, December 22, 2017 before she leaves the country.