By SIMON NDIVE KALLA
The city of Limbe, the town of friendship, joined other parts of the country to celebrate the 54th edition of the National Youth Day baptised “Youth, Peace, decentralisation and participation in local governance for a new Cameroon”.
The event in Limbe, staged at the Manga William Avenue was a colourful one, though it suffered a low turnout. The ceremony took place amidst tight security, following earlier rumour of threats from separatists to disrupt the occasion. The said threats did keep a host of Limbe denizens indoors, for what they termed “fear of the unknown”.
Managa William avenue demonstrating patriotism.
The grand stand was below capacity, as well as the absence of onlookers to cheer the youths as they marched, quite different from the spirit back in the days before the advent of the Anglophone crisis.
Nonetheless, at least six nursery schools, 8 primary schools, seven secondary and high schools, one vocational training school, the Cameroon National Youth Council, CNYC and the Scout bravely answered present to represent the youths in Limbe. The ceremony was animated by the Limbe Municipal ban players and GBHS Limbe ban.
The ceremony which started at 10:22 am ended at 10:57am.
The students marched carrying placards with messages like, ‘Youths let’s use the social media positively’, ‘Grievances are not expressed through the destruction of public property’, ‘We say no to the consumption, trafficking and commercialisation of drugs and other dangerous substance’ among others.
The event was presided at by the Senior Divisional Officer SDO for Fako, Engamba Emmanuel Ledoux with other officials like the Divisional Officer DO for Limbe, Government Delegate to the Limbe City Council, Mayor of Limbe I, the State Counsel of Limbe, Commander of Naval Base Limbe, Honourable MP for Fako East constituency among others in attendance.
The lone political party which answered present was the ruling People’s Democratic Movement CPDM.