By Atia Tilarious Azohnwi
The North West/South West Peace Movement on Cessation of Violence has been created in the wake of a deepening crisis in Cameroon’s English-speaking regions, the brains behind the initiative have said.
“This is a movement for peace. It is a movement for guns to stop sounding. It is a plea. We sons and daughters of the North West and South West Regions have been victims of all the violence and destruction that has taken place in our dear regions. And we have seen that all these is a complete waste of time and resources,” Hon Chief Mbile Nobert Nangia told state media Sunday.
The former Member of Parliament on the ticket of the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM) party and traditional ruler of Lipenja 1 Batanga said guns must stop being heard as a precondition for dialogue to start.
His words: “We started on the premise of ‘revandication’ [expressing grievances] and I am sure even the furthest Cameroonian, be he from the Far North or the deepest part of the East region has at last understood what it is when people say there is an Anglophone problem. That having been achieved, we believe that the deaths, the destructions, the economic setbacks that we are all going through are a complete waste. And we beg that let the enabling conditions for an inclusive dialogue, which has always been the wish of everybody be set. That is, let violence cease. Let guns stop being heard. Let the people feel free to express their minds. Come out of their houses, take part in debates…”
The one said to be the head of the initiative, Hon Enwe Francis said it is the time for every right thinking Cameroonian, especially those from the restive regions to put on the thinking cap of peace.
Though Enwe and Mbile said the North West/South West Peace Movement on Cessation of Violence otherwise known as the Anglophone Peace Commission is apolitical, many have said it is a “CPDM arrangement”. Mbile and Enwe are card-carrying CPDM members.
“The co-signatories of the document we put up as a press statement are: Hon. Chief Mbile, Hon. Francis Enwe, Barrister Henry Ngale Monono and Dr. Nick Ngwanyam. These are like the face…this is not a closed up movement. We believe that in the end, it will include everybody…we tell them to take off their party colours when they come in,” Mbile said.
Mixed reactions
The Mbile-Enwe-Ngwanyam-Monono initiative has however been received with mixed feelings.
Ndifor Richard, a social critic and historian fears this new commission may well be to undercut the efforts being made by Christian Cardinal Tumi and other convenors of the Anglophone General Conference, AGC. The AGC has even had the blessings of Ms. Allegra Baiocchi, United Nations Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator.
“I will propose that this commission be dissolved and its members [should] offer their expertise to the Tumi commission so that we focus on one initiative and work to achieve peace and justice for the people of the North West and South West regions,” Ndifor said.
‘The Grand Master Koumfor’ Barrister Kameni John Sichui said the Mbile-Enwe commission is welcome, but cast doubts on the credibility of some of its initiators.
“Politicians to the core should not be the face especially as these two former and current CPDM parliamentarians have represented their party at the highest level,” he said.
The lawyer adds that: “No matter the intention of the commissioners, their first outing never portrayed them as apolitical. Please Barrister Prince Monono and Dr Ngwanyam that I know very well should champion this cause. Chief Mbile is a poor communicator and might have given a “false alert” that this group is teleguided by “Their Brother” who is Head Government [Chief Dr. Joseph Dion Ngute]. Secondly to look for peace talking about travelling at home and abroad without disclosing your sources of sponsorship might taint this very laudable mission. Chief Mbile and Hon Enwe might not be the best of faces to champion this wonderful initiative especially now that the crisis is considered the brain child of a particular political party and the secessionists.”
AGC kingpin, Elie Smith speaks out
Elie Smith who has been criss-crossing the globe to consult stakeholders ahead of the Anglophone General Conference told The SUN that they are unmoved by the Mbile-Enwe initiative.
Hear him: “The Anglophone General Conference is on and doing good. We agreed in our last conveners meeting held in Bamenda on January 12, 2019 that we had to carry out a General and consolidated consultation of Cameroonians, both French and English-speaking Cameroonians.
“It has to be made abundantly clear that, even though, the problem is intrinsically of the Anglophone regions, it is also that of all Cameroonians. Hence we were mandated to go to North America, precisely the United States to meet with our compatriots.
“It is something we have done. And we were glad to discover that our brothers and sisters who are for restoration were cooperative and willing to talk or dialogue or negotiate. The preceding terminologies vary depending on where you stand ideologically.
“All their suggestions and proposals were taken or noted and will be submitted to the conveners. So, anybody who thinks the Anglophone General Conference is in the doldrums is making a monumental mistake. We will have to meet with other stakeholders and after which, we will make our points clearer. But we remain firm and focused in the believe that an Anglophone General Conference should be first held in Cameroon before it be held elsewhere, should necessity warrant.”
“We are not competing with anyone. Any initiative that will contribute in bringing peace to the people of the South West and North West regions is welcome. However, what must be made clear is that, we are not opportunists who want to exploit the suffering of our people for our selfish ambitions. We at the AGC, we have never promoted myopic misogyny of any kind or stoke tribal or ethnic tension as some who have suddenly morphed into doves, who are in reality wolves.
“We have never shied away from expressing our views on the fundamental reasons why we are where we are currently. So, we will humbly and respectfully avoid making or accepting people to compare us with any group or nascent initiatives however noble they might be. Ours is driven by love and where there is love, there is tolerance. Hence, no member of the AGC is tribalo-reactionary, as they now populate the political scene. Our people are at a crossroad and they must be salvaged at all cost.”