By Chief SML Endeley (Retired Chief Justice)
In the English -speaking part of Cameroon between independence and reunification,the administration provided education, health, order and the political atmosphere was liberal. The young administration was moving well. Before reunification, the people felt divided in the two separate administrations of Cameroon that had been one under the Germans. For example, we had two stars on our national flag. I wonder why Britain who defeated the Germans in the First World War did not get all of Cameroon. In the 1972 referendum, we were certainly coming back to what we were under the Germans — that is oneness. Cameroonians longed to live more closely with their brothers as justified by the referendum results. That was natural.
Reunification has made us contribute wholesomely to development. In addition to coming back to what we were before, under the Germans, we of the English speaking part of Cameroon succeeded to free ourselves from the Nigerians who did not like us at all. They treated us very badly. For example when Dr. Emmanuel Endeley, for reasons of the poor treatment, bolted out of the Nigerian Assembly leading a Cameroon Bloc of 13 Southern Cameroons representatives, the Ibos stoned him at their Kano Airport. Back here in the then Southern Cameroons some Nigerian traders forced us, gentle Cameroonians, to buy anything you dared to price in the market. And many other forms of maltreatment.
Talking about advantages of re-unification, we have the land - laws which are mutually beneficial and today we have the new Criminal Procedure Code drawing a lot from what existed in the English speaking part of Cameroon. But let me remind you of one thing, I do not like the term Anglophone or Francophone because before colonization we had existed as Bakweris, Bangwas, Ewondos, Doualas and any other tribe. Cameroon is not a god — made State. It is the product of colonization. So, with re-unification we are in the process of building a Nation. Ahidjo said he would do everything to reap the best out of colonial past.
I wish that we move forward like a Nation. Cameroon has an image we can be proud of. I pray that we continue to live in peace. Seditious tendencies do not make any sense to me. In present-day Cameroon, would like to see corruption eradicated. I support and wish that the fight already begun by President Biya continues. Corruption has gone so far that only the Green Revolution is keeping us today. Let Cameroonians avoid all acts of violence, thank God that football is keeping us together".
Originally Pulished in Cameroon Tribune
Forward Ever…
Emmanuel TATAW - Cameroon Tribune [19/05/2006]
The 34th anniversary of a Cameroon, one and indivisible, will be celebrated tomorrow nation wide. Rich in symbols, the national day is an occasion when Cameroonians sink differences, suspend all judgments on national life and celebrate an identity, an institution and a Republic that has earned for itself the sobriquet of an "island of peace and stability". For a single day in a lengthy year, a nation holds its breath in awe, in a moment of collective communion in the holy shrine of the Fatherland. May 20 is a day in the life of a nation, a people that recalls and re-enforces the tenets of a collective heritage. It re-awakens and re-ignites patriotic flames. It provides a rare opportunity for the citizenry to eulogise the fruits of peace and nationhood.
May 20 represents a level ground, an image of a starting point for the construction of a virile and prosperous democratic dispensation. It emits rays of an umpire, the ombudsman that sets the rules, delimits the edges and blows the whistle on deviance.
In its 34th anniversary, the symbols and images of May 20 get added meaning and strengthen our collective resolve to consistently stay the course, hold the fort to the advantage of future generations.
Spates of bloody civil wars, political quakes beyond our borders, raging infernos in neighbouring countries re-enforce the pre-eminence of May 20. As a totem of nationhood, the day reminds every citizen to live his life for something, more important than his life alone. Anyone who has never lost himself in a cause bigger than himself has missed one of life’s vital experiences. After building a strong foundation for unity and cohesion in the past decades, the goals of democracy and economic prosperity today evidently re-enforce pillars of stability.
May 20 transcends the mileage of political parties and electoral mandates. It remains a day to glorify an entity, a people and a heritage. Symbols of the Corporate will — the flag, the national anthem, the Republic and all who incarnate them, are all ingredients of unity and national cohesion today and tomorrow. Unity, justice and democracy are inextricably interwoven in the symbols of May 20.
The future of a Cameroon, one and indivisible, remains pegged on the collective resolve to inject democracy and good governance into genetic components of our polity. "The care of human life and happiness", Thomas Jefferson stressed, "is the first and only legitimate object of good government."
The objectives of the New Deal crusade of President Paul Biya remain the protection of the common good. In this light, nothing is left to chance in creating opportunities for all in a level playing field.
To reach precise goals in life, we have to take the offensive. No one can sit back and wait for things to happen, we have to make them happen. In a democracy there are issues and symbols that unite and constitute the basis of nationhood. Civic responsibility requires that even political formations with desires to grasp power, should avoid actions that rock the collective boat of national survival.
The future remains bright given concerted actions taken today to build instruments of good governance, transparency and justice. Today’s crusade to eradicate corruption and poverty, are all indices of resolute steps to permanently build a strong and united heritage capable of resisting the schemes of a handful of adventurers always ready to toy with our collective emotions. Cameroonians of all walks of life must eschew divisive gimmicks, tribalism, favouritism and all other ills that attempt to erode the strong symbols and images of May 20.
As a collective heritage, peace and unity remain a screaming barometer of our national identification. Cameroonians of all political colours should remain dedicated to this achievement that remains a rare gift for our progeny. The world turns aside to let a people pass, who know where they are going. Our road map was clearly and precisely elaborated thirty four years ago, there can be no turning back.
Posted by: Alex | May 19, 2006 at 03:35 PM
In French or Gaullist Africa, most of the French colonies ended up with a variation of the national motto that France under occupation of nazi and Vichy rule had instituted. The nazis had found it necessary to substitute TRAVAIL, FAMILLE, PATRIE (work, family, fatherland) in place of LIBERTE, EGALITE, FRATERNITE (liberty, equality, brotherhood) as the French national motto.
In DeGaulle's implementation of the nazi blueprint in French Africa, he also declared that local "Chiefs and notables will be cultivated and empowered. They will be held PERSONALLY responsible for power. But the only independence they will ever want will be the independence of France." Not much has since changed.
As Southern Cameroonians lament the brutal invasion, occupation, plunder, dismemberment and colonization of their country, DeGaulle's descendants and their petainiste French implanted acolytes in Africa will be very proud of bromides being prounounced by the cultivated Retired Chief Justice Endeley.
And of course, we must thank the pravda of the bush -- Cameroon Tribune -- for bringing the learned chief's view to our attention. What a muse.
Posted by: sj | May 21, 2006 at 01:06 PM
Local old and young turks bootlickers are still very much around and are ready to sustain the colonial machine of terror and oppression by celebrating a famous International fraud passing as National Day. Unfortunate that the international Community have be condoning these fraud,yet they say they are to see and or bring justice the world over?By the dint of a dictators ink,20 th May has become a National day and some ignorantly swings their arm in what is call national day celebration without quering what happened that faithful day.Wimp bootlickers like the journalist of Cam Tribune may just be eating where he has been placed.No amount of spin and doctored rubbish will stop AMBAZONIA.The colonial
Junta is friable and thus will fall.No dispute about this point.Tataw can can all kinds of piffle he can.Don't forget that There is doomday.
Posted by: Ndiks | May 23, 2006 at 01:20 PM
ENDELLEY THE CHIEF SUPPORTS THE OCCUPYINGFORCES OF FRENCH CAMEROON ON HIS
BELOVED SOUTHERN CAMEROON,( WHAT A SHAME)
THE OTHER ENDELLEY. I MEAN EML ENDELLEY
WILL BE TURNING IN HIS GRAVE NOW.
FOR THATS JUST THE EXACT OPPOSITE OF WHAT EML ENDELLEY STOOD FOR 50 YRS AGO;
HE SAID: EITHER SOUTHERN CAMEROONS, JOIN NIGERIA, OR BECAMME A TOTAL INDEPENDENT COUNTRY BY ITS OWN RIGHT, HE FROWN AT THE SUGESTION BY FONCHA OF JOINING FRENCH CAMEROON, TODAY THIS OLDMAN WHO IS SUFFERING FROM ABNATIA. HAVE SOLD HIS PEOPLE AND SOUL FOR A FEW FRENCH FRANCS
TO BUY, WHISKY AND MAKANJU. JUST AS AFRICAN CHIEFS SOLD THEIR SUBJECT 500 YRS AGO FOR SHELL AND COWRY.
SHAME ON CHIEF ENDELLEY. IF AT ALL YOU WERE
ELECTED TP GAURD THE TRADITIONAL THRONE, THEN YOU MUST BE DETHRONE. FOR YOU ARE
NOT WORTH A STONE.
Posted by: DANGO TUMMA | May 28, 2006 at 10:05 PM