By NDIMUH B. SHANCHO, DOH J. SONKEY & NOELA E. BISONG
Hopes of millions of Cameroonians from the North West and South West regions and the future of the two English speaking regions of the country hover over the content of the‘special status’ recommendation, considered key harvest from the September 30 to October 4, Major National Dialogue that took place in Yaounde.
A vast majority of people from these two regions, who had during the pre-dialogue consultations suggested different forms of federation including but not limited to a return to the federal system of 1961 to 1972, had come to the dialogue table to push through this agenda as a way of arresting the Anglophone crisis that has costed the lives of about 3000, razed hundreds of villages and displaced over 500,000.
After five days of abortive attempts to push through this agendum, the two Anglophone regions ended up with a “special status” in accordance with section 62 sub 2 of the constitution. Though a bit contented with the special status as it has the propensity of granting special autonomy to these regions like the federalism they were pushing for, this major recommendation from the Commission for Decentralisation and Local Development, has reaped more questions than answers as it remains cloudy.
With all hope now directed towards the raveled “special status”, many are Anglophones who believe the success of the historic Major National Dialogue is dependent on the content of this special status.
To Dr. Simon Munzu, whether or not the Major National Dialogue will be something to write home about will depend on the content of the special status.
On his part, human rights activist and President of the defunct Anglophone Consortium, Felix Agbor Balla, says “if these words are to have any effect, the constitution must be amended to enshrine this special status”.
Meanwhile, many have, like Senator Honoré NGAM of Boyo Special Constituency and Professor James Abangma of SYNES-UB, speculated a possible restoration of the “glory days of West Cameroon during which West Cameroon enjoyed significant attributes of statehood such as a house of assembly, a prime minister, government, judiciary and English as the official language”.
Though the first time in the history of Cameroon that two regions are allowed to enjoy a specific status, “special status” is an old concept which different countries in the world have used and are still using to administer different regions or states that face geographical and socio-economic disadvantages like hilly terrains, strategic international borders, economic and infrastructural backwardness, non-viable state finances and some socio-cultural specificities.
In a release signed by party chairman, John Fru Ndi, dated Sunday, October 6, the Social Democratic Front party tells government to copy Canada’s example in implementing ‘Special Status’ to the country’s Anglophone regions: “There are many Autonomous Territories in the world which are imbued with special status, but the Quebec model appeals more to Cameroon by virtue of a similar heritage. In Canada for instance, French-speaking Quebec, a province among thirteen provinces, is vested with attributes of statehood that include a House of Assembly, a Premier, and a Government as well as a distinct administrative system”.
Major National Dialogue sets pace for peace in Cameroon
Curtains have been drawn on the Major National Dialogue that held last September 30 to October 4, 2019 at the Yaounde Conference Centre with most of the delegates leaving the nation’s capital satisfied after contributing to setting the pace for the restoration of peace in the security-challenged North West and South West regions.
Setting the tone at the opening ceremony of the Major National Dialogue last September 30, 2019, the Chairperson of the Dialogue, Prime Minister and Head of Government, Chief Dr Joseph Dion Ngute said “It is now up to us to show how we want to make history: do we want future generations to remember that we were unable to find consensual answers to concerns that are not insoluble? Or, do we want to be considered as true “peacemakers” in resolving this crisis that has deprived many of our children of their Parents, their education, and threatened their future sometimes irreversibly?”
The PM reiterated that “It is in order to put an end to these acts of violence, and to enable the North West and South West Regions to regain the necessary serenity for the full development of the people living there, that the Head of State decided, in his memorable speech to the nation on 10 September 2019, to convene this Major National Dialogue.”
Participants during the dialogue according to the PM are men and women who love peace and progress included representatives of public authorities, international and non-governmental organizations, associations, political parties, trade unions, companies, the Diaspora, clergy, intellectuals, journalists, traders, armed groups, traditional leaders and other opinion leaders.
Shockwave declarations at Major National Dialogue
All was not smooth at the Major National Dialogue as some freethinkers decided to talk out of the box defined by the government at the plenary, thereby making declarations that produced shock waves shortly after the PM opened the dialogue.
Such was the case with the National Chairman of the opposition Social Democratic Front, SDF Party, John Fru Ndi, who while saying SDF would withdraw if their proposals are ignored declared that “We must put in place a constitutional drafting committee which will prepare a new federal structure for Cameroon because decentralization has killed the community development spirit which used to be the hallmark of the Federal State of West Cameroon and appointed officials moved in to enrich themselves and impoverish the citizens of this potentially rich but poor country. We therefore stand before history to make or mar the future of this country.”
On his part, ruling CPDM party Permanent Delegate to the West Region, Sultan Ibrahim Mbombo Njoya shocked many especially his party officials by declaring that “the problem facing Cameroon is that of power alternation, proposing that the constitution be revised to limit the mandate of the President of the Republic to 5 years renewable just once.
Prominent Human Rights Advocate, Barrister Felix Nkongho Agbor Balla declared that “Federalism is the least thing to be accepted by those who took up arms against the state in the North West and South West regions. Our country is composed of peoples who gained their independence on two separate days, in two separate months, in two different years. One, the Republic of Cameroun, on January 1, 1960, the other, Southern Cameroons, on October 1, 1961. The Anglophones in the former Southern Cameroons are not just inhabitants of two regions in Cameroon but recognized as a people by international law.”
Former Minister Rene Ze Nguele categorically asked government to give federalism to Anglophones because they are not used to the centralized system of governance like Francophones.
Though deliberations at the level of the various commissions were equally marked by heated debates on opinions and positions expressed by participants, recommendations which placed national interest above that of individuals were adopted, prominent among which was that requesting the President of the Republic to accord special status to the North West and South West regions.
At the closing ceremony, the PM while congratulating all the participants for their show of patriotism promised to faithfully transmit the general report to the Head of State, Paul Biya for appreciation and action.
It should be noted that a host of former ex-fighters attended the Major National Dialogue, wherein through various spokespersons explained the reasons for their actions, asked for forgiveness and their readiness to work with the state. The Cameroon diaspora in attendance equally donated in cash the sum of FCFA 2.7 million to support reconstruction in the country.