“The Press should take the lead in bringing peace and sanity to this nation because all other structures have failed. I challenge the press to take the lead because you have all it takes to take the lead and turn things around for our good, good of our children, grandchildren”, Barrister Ntumfor Nico Halle told executives of the Cameroon English Language Newspaper Publishers Association, CENPA, who visited him recently to formally get his acceptance as their Legal Adviser.
The legal luminary, who felt honoured by the position, pledged impeccable support to CENPA and the Cameroon press. “I have a lot of respect for the press because there is no development anywhere in the world not accompanied by the press. If corruption is being fought, that is the press; if you hear moral decadence is being crushed, that is the press; the press plays a central role in the moralization of this country and that’s why I unconditionally stand behind the press”, he stated.
Meeting at a time when the country is plagued by arm-conflict in the North West and South West Regions, the international peace crusader underscored the need for a reflection on how the country can come out of the stalemate: “Our heart bleeds when we see gendarmes, police and civilians slaughtered; when we see our brothers fleeing from bullets into the forest, into neighbouring countries; when we see our property (private and public) being destroyed; when we see our children deprived education for the last three years. We can’t remain indifferent when we see corruption, embezzlement, and looting both in the circular world and local churches. These are issues we should address to sanitise our society,” he stated.
The venerated barrister called for an effective back-to-school in the North West and South West regions, but underscored the need for a conducive environment for such.
The CENPA Legal Adviser congratulated the press on its contribution to the level of development, respect of human rights, accountability, transparency and patriotism in Cameroon today. Even though they are “spoilers” destroying what the press is doing, he urged media men and women not to relent, for every good work is rewarded, he holds.