By NOELA EBOB BISONG
Few months after the much-talked about Major National Dialogue MND, which some held was going to mark a turning point in Cameroon’s history, notably in terms of its franco-anglo romance, as though to point out that the MND was not such a remarkable event after all, frontline Anglophone activist, Barrister Nkongho Felix Agbor (Agbor Balla) has reiterated the fact that a two-state federation remains the panacea to the country’s deadlock in its two restive English-speaking regions.
Agbor Balla took to Social Media on Monday, January 27, 2020 to state that:
“A two state federation is the Solution to the crisis. Any other solution be it decentralization, 10 state federation or a special status are only stop-gap measures. We shall have to go back to the drawing board to address the fundamental issues.”
This recent outing by the ace Cameroon legal mind denotes one of frustration with the current state of affairs even after the MND. He was one of the key players during the event, a member of the Decentralisation committee, wherein some telling recommendations emanated. Balla was confident that ‘something’ will come out of the MND.
Shortly after the MND, in a lengthy exclusive interview he granted The SUN, Agbor Balla had said though not enthusiastic since the form of the state was not on the agenda, he was positive about the MND and was waiting to see what becomes of the recommendations. “It’s true that the ‘form of the state’ was not on the agenda but in the final report from that commission, they did mention that some people had raised the point that Federation will be the solution to the problem. It recommended a ‘special status’ which is not what those of us who stand for federalism will want, but I look at it as a long journey that we are going. We just started; the dialogue cannot solve the problems, but at least it is a step in the right direction. I’m more focused and interested in what will be in the special status; can we use what the Quebecers have as an example; could it lead to an amendment of the constitution to include the ‘special status’ of the North West and South West regions in the constitution…”
Talking about what he thought could make up the Special Status content, Balla brought forth a document spelling out what ought to be, which he presented to France’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Jean Yves Le Drian last October 23, 2019. He told Le Drian that the Special Status “provides an important opportunity, if handled correctly, to respond to several demands underlying the unrest in the Anglophone regions, and are awaited with optimism by a large number of moderate Anglophone actors.”
He also beckoned that “Please encourage the Cameroonian authorities to take a participatory, constructive, and inclusive approach to developing the content of the Special Status framework for the NW/SW. As at the National Dialogue, Anglophone constituencies (education unions, legal unions, religious bodies, civil society, political leaders) should be allowed freely to discuss, debate, and propose what content is most appropriate for the Special Status for the regions. Government should avoid imposing, or developing the content alone, without wider public support in both regions.”
Barrister Nkongho further implored Le Drian to “Please encourage Cameroon’s Government, while maintaining all its regions under the national umbrella, to focus on identifying areas where enhanced devolution, or self-management of certain domains, will enable all components of its population to realize their full potential, and thus in diversity, contribute to building a stronger Nation. Please offer your continued availability (and that of international partners) to support the Cameroonian authorities and all actors in the crisis, to implement and make this a reality.”
Though he never at any time drifted from his position of Federalism, perhaps the announced Special Status, described by many as scanty in content and not fit to solve the dilemma in the North West and South West regions (as atrocities continue) has caused Agbor Balla to re-echo what he believes remains the ultimate solution to the crisis.