By DOH JAMES SONKEY
All eyes are now focused on the National Assembly and the Senate as Parliament opened its doors in Yaoundé for another one month of political business March 12, 2019.
While serious business cannot take place within these few days mandate of the Provisional Bureaus of the Upper House headed by Eldest Senator, Nfon V.E Mukete flanked by two youngest Senators and of the Lower House headed by Eldest Member, Hon Enow Tanjong flanked by two youngest MPs, expectations remain high as to what the Permanent Bureaus will do as soon as they will be voted into office in the days ahead.
The tone on if the National Assembly and the Senate can dare to bypass government measures on key state issues was given from the very beginning in the speeches of the eldest MP and Senator promising that “Parliament will strive more than ever before to consolidate the great harmony that has always existed between the executive arm of government and the legislative arm.”
In an attempt to woo sympathy from Ambassadors and representatives of International Organizations for the regime, Hon Enow Tanjong in his speech stated that “you who are the privileged witnesses of Cameroon’s efforts, may I, through you, appeal for the International Community’s solidarity, understanding and objectivity in the handling of the crisis in the North West and South West regions of Cameroon. It is no secret to everybody that the secessionists are committing violations of unparalleled magnitude; assassinations, arsons, forceful conscription of children, rape of young girls, abduction of school children and teachers etc.”
Reacting to the speech of the Eldest Member of the National Assembly who said he is convinced that the international community will help put a final end to the crisis if it supports government’s measures and initiatives, SDF’s MP, Joseph Mbah Ndam fumed that “We as the people’s representatives, how did we keep quiet over a period of three years only to come now and make feeble calls on the international community. What have we been unable to do and why did we not do it as a sovereign nation. I only hope that this Parliament may be able to become more vigorous in looking for final solutions to Cameroonian problems. It is ridiculous that the regime has for the past three years been unable to solve the deteriorating armed conflict in the North West and South West regions despite the clamour for an inclusive dialogue.”
After congratulating and wishing well to Chief Dr. Dion Ngute Joseph and his new government for their appointment last January 4, 2019, Hon Tanjong and Senator Mukete both commended President Paul Biya’s peaceful solutions to the Anglophone crisis and saluted his will to fight against the embezzlement of public funds.
The March 2019 Ordinary Session of Parliament is opening up at the time international pressure from the US and the European Union is mounting on government to free Kamto and all arrested CRM militants, and to immediately end the Anglophone crisis.