Denizens of Nkwen Village in the Bamenda III Sub Division of the North West Region of Cameroon have expressed indignation following Governor Adolphe Lele L’afrique’s outing at the Festival Heritage of Arts and Cultures FEHACU 2021, the first of its kind.
In what was supposed to be a cultural fête, the people say they were taken aback when the Governor came with the same “old stories of the Major National Dialogue, Special Status, Decentralization, creation of vigilante groups and calling on those who are fighting in the bushes to drop their guns among others.”
Many could be heard murmuring in the crowd expressing resentment with some saying in pidgin: “Weti that pa di talk for dey?” [What is that old man saying?} “Na who even invite them for here?” [Who even invited them here? “ that pa don spoil my day, ” [that old man has spoiled my day,] “ Them di fight na for their belly, ” [They are fighting for their stomach] “ If them no talk so like them go sack them so no blame them [if they don’t talk like that they will be sacked, so don’t blame them]” among others.
Wearing a long face, this Nkwen inhabitant by name Pa Azeh told MIMI MEFO INFO that the festival was aimed at taking their minds away from what he described as dirty politics of the country and the repercussions of the Anglophone Armed Conflict.
“FEHACU came to ease the burden brought on us by the ongoing armed conflict, a festival we have not had the opportunity to take pleasure in for five years now. We were not ready to get anything about the unpopular outing of the governor,” Pa Azeh said and furthered that, “Even the separatist fighters were there and did not disturb the event because they also realized that people needed to step out from the pain of the crisis and savor something different.”
Ma Tamanjong was not also happy with Adolphe Lele’s message.
According to her, the authority would have concentrated on the topic of the day which was all about culture and not politics, “These authorities have a way of selling their unpopular ideology reason why they forced us to wait for hours for them to come and be uttering political messages. Even the other traditional authorities who answered present were not at ease. We should not take politics everywhere; it is not healthy for our peaceful coexistence Nkwen.”
Many burst into laughter when the governor said the Head of State President Paul Biya had called him and extended his congratulations to both the Bamenda III Municipal and traditional authorities for organizing such an event.
“Which president, which president,?” they asked softly in the crowd.
Many also articulated that the administration must not be invited to all events and that they should just be informed for them to decide whether to come or not and not give them preferential treatments at the detriment of the local population.
