Sylvester Gwellem
16 May 2008
opinion
Bamenda — I have worked with the Betis for over 26 years and during this time I learnt a few things from them.
First of all, they are a one track minded people. This means that intellectuals and cocoyam sellers reason and think alike when it comes to their sovereignty. If all the Ministers, Directors, Service Chiefs, army generals and even drivers came from the Beti ethnic groups, none of them will feel that they are hurting any Cameroonian from a different tribe.
None will even imagine that people from other tribes should be angry.This explains why tribalism has become a religion to them. Even Bishops, Pastors and Priests of the Beti ethnic group are also involved in this tribalism.
To buttress this, English and French are no longer the two official languages of Cameroon. The new official language is Ewondo. You enter any office in Yaounde or any of our Embassies abroad, it is Ewondo that is spoken. It could be considered the height of provocations and madness for a man from Njinikom based in Yaounde, to "parlez en Ewondo".
Yes, it is Forjindam who first mooted the idea of constitutional amendment. He was the one whose language against the opposition has been very insolent and uncouth. Unfortunately, it is Forjindam who has become the first victim of Beti mafia.The Betis could not understand how an Anglophone instead of Beti could occupy such a high profile post of Director of the Cameroon Ship yard in the name of Forjindam.
Worst of all, from the Northwest Province, "bête noir" of Biya's government.There is no gainsaying that Forjindam built the Douala shipyard from nothing to something. Ships from neighbouring countries can now come to Douala for repairs, thanks to Forjindam.It will not be long for the Douala ship yard to collapse like a pack of cards.
It is regrettable that the CPDM barons in Santa are jubilant over the mighty fall of Forjindam. These are the people who took tons of money from him during the July 22 twin elections. It is true that poor people are most often vulnerable. Because of their poor situation, they can easily be manipulated.
This is the position of Anglophones in this country. Most of them have become more catholic than the pope for want of something to eat. Anglophones all over the world are people of principles.
Why should Santa CPDM rejoice over the mighty fall of Forjindam. Our system is fraught with contradictions. When it comes to admissions into the University of Buea, regional balance is introduced. Why is it that Forjindam was not replaced by a North westerner or an Anglophone? Who is fooling who? Instead, a Beti man was fished out from a dustbin in the name of Bikoro to replace him.
Where is the regional balance here? Now, there is so much talk of the Kribi deep seaport. What had become of the natural deep seaport in Limbe? What are the South westerners saying about it? Motions of support have their own limits and we have seen this.
Anglophones used to be a very powerful minority in this country but because of greed and lack of foresight, they have become lawns on the national political stage. What is the way forward?
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Hi folks!!! Thank God that my lame prophecies are coming to pass. Sometimes ago, I wrote in this very forum that it was Fonjidam who first coughed out the unfortunate idea for a constitutional ammendment and I even warned that he should be on the watch out because, Biya is like Hitler, he can dine with You in the morning and in the evening he signs your very death warrant. So it has come to pass.
Next on the list will be his own very wife Chantal. Just keep your fingers crossed.
But Mr journalist!!!! Your job is to sensitive… [Read Full Text]