By Atia Tilarious Azohnwi
Chiefs and elite of Manyu Division have called on President Paul Biya to show clemency to all those imprisoned in connection with the Anglophone Crisis as a way of promoting the spirit of national reconciliation. Though they did not mention names, one cannot lose sight of Sisiku Ayuk Tabe, a bona fide Manyu son who is among those arrested in Nigeria and extradited to Cameroon.
The appeal is one of many contained in a communiqué that sanctioned a June 16, 2018 meeting of Manyu chiefs and elite intended to examine the socio-political and security situation in their division.
Below is a full reading of The Manyu communiqué:
The Manyu communiqué
Chiefs and Elite of Manyu Division, meeting in Yaoundé this Saturday 16th June 2018, under the chairmanship of His Excellency Victor ARREY-NKONGHO MENGOT, Minister in charge of Special Duties at the Presidency of the Republic and Patron of the Manyu Elements Cultural and Development Association (MECDA), to review the socio-political and security situation in their Division of origin, marked by an armed conflict that has disrupted the ordinary course of life in the Division,
RECALLING past initiatives undertaken to bring about peace and a return to normalcy in Manyu Division, notably through:
Advocacy campaigns to educate and raise awareness to the benefits of education and economic activities to the community,
Open political discussion forums attracting broad participation,
Direct contact and exchanges with local socio-economic professional and cultural groups,
Town Hall meetings with the population of the 4 Sub Divisions,
Appeasement missions across the Division.
DEEPLY REGRET the dislocation of economic activity and the disruption of community life in Manyu Division
VEHEMENTLY CONDEMN the killings, violence, kidnappings for ransom, and destruction of public and private property across the Division
DECRY the manipulation of youths through social media postings emanating both internally and externally, particularly from the diaspora, pushing them towards radicalization, drug abuse and endangering their lives through armed confrontations with security forces
TAKE STRONG EXCEPTION to the emerging culture of hate speech which is setting youths and communities against one another
ENCOURAGE our internally and externally displaced brothers and sisters and children to return home
NOTE WITH SATISFACTION that although the functioning of schools continued to be disrupted in some parts of the Division, effective presence of candidates for the 2018 GCE examination reached the commendable rate of 94%
CONSEQUENTLY
EXTEND an olive branch to our youths who have taken up arms and urge them to drop their weapons and return to their respective communities.
CALL on our youths to contribute to the creation of an enabling environment favourable for the construction of the Mamfe-Akwaya , and the Bakebe-Menji-Dschang Roads.
APPEAL to the Head of State, President Paul BIYA, to consider the convening of an all-inclusive, broad-based dialogue to examine urgent questions of national interest.
APPEAL to the Head of State, President Paul BIYA, in promoting the spirit of national reconciliation, to show clemency to all those imprisoned in connection with the Anglophone Crisis.
APPEAL to the Head of State, President Paul BIYA, to envisage the implementation of an Emergency Reconstruction Plan to rebuild villages and other infrastructure destroyed during the Anglophone Crisis.
APPEAL to the Head of State, President Paul BIYA, to contemplate the urgent creation of a Special Rehabilitation and Reinsertion Fund to assist the return of internally and externally displaced persons to their respective communities, and in facilitating the resumption of their normal lives through agricultural and economic activities.
AND FINALLY
Reaffirm our unflinching support and attachment to the Head of State President Paul BIYA and the Republican Institutions he incarnates.