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In our childhood times, our parents would warn us not to associate with some neighbours viewed as evil. So, we would play the good child, by hurriedly reporting any of our siblings who dined with the evil neighbor while our parents were away.
In childhood, we owe 100% of our loyalty to our parents and depend on them for everything.
We view them as infinitely powerful superheroes and would hurriedly threaten to report anyone offending us to our parents – “I will report you to my father when he comes back; you are dead.”
We also view others as not of good faith as our parents – that is why a baby would resist attempts to be taken from the mother or father by some unknown person; some alien up to no good.
Yes, the Limbe chiefs epitomize crying babies. Mathew Takwi says, the ‘Royal Beggars’.
A thousand of their citizens have been brutally murdered in a senseless war – they would not raise a finger. Their communities get deprived of SONARA royalties (which are paid in Douala), and they would send motions of support to Ngola but engage in a street battle with their colleague over a symbolic key handed to Ni John Fru Ndi, as if to say Limbe is no longer the town of friendship or any Cameroonian can no longer settle anywhere of his or her choice. The language in the documents from the chiefs is so excellent, and regrettably informs the public that education alone does not truly emancipate people.
When the Bakwerri chiefs stepped out of captivity some months ago, their first media stop was at MINAT Yaoundé with the iconic Minister Atanga Nji who is endowed with a flair for radicalization and extremism. Like crying babies, they keep running to Daddy to expose their emptiness and 100% dependency! The igwe must hear this.
Weep not child! In a storm, the strength of a tree is in its roots, not its leaves! The sun (Ngola) may not shine everyday but the roots (your people) would hardly fail for a day. That is where your loyalty should be and their worries and concerns should primarily be yours first and you must speak for them in all honesty, and through them, you hold higher power to account.
Palaces welcome people who bring good tidings; cola nuts and wine are shared in fraternity and blessings are generously served out; “Go my son and bring home more game from your hunt – our blessings are with you”. That is our culture.
Chief Manga Williams, by offering the gift, and thereafter, submitting an apology to your peers and requesting the gift back, you demonstrate your maturity and preference for peace. You take quick steps to bury the hatchet, as it’s all much ado about nothing. A mature man would not beat a crying baby – he would rather just distract the baby with some flashy thing and he or she would stop crying and then peace can return to the home.
The seed of division sown amongst brotherhood is a window of opportunity for an alien to tap in and exploit. Keep running to Daddy or Mamma after 21, even at 40. Keep playing the baby even at 100, like Chief Mukete would utter a few words at the Senate and receive some cheers swept away by the wind of time, instead of actually working on a substantial private member bill that can be introduced to discuss the crisis in a house supposed to guarantee the balance of power. Afterall, tomorrow always comes with hopes, but there is no other better time than now to be manly enough.
Crying babies, grow up and learn to be strong. For childhood should only be a stage in life, not some permanent position. Each time you run to Igwe, you profess your babylike status and Igwe is happy to pocket you and your brain all the time – ‘Yes, I know my (foolish) son. I need just to toss some 30 pieces of silver coins monthly and he can even sell his throne; Am I not Fon of Fons, afterall?’
In the grassroot, there is no palace, not even one, without the symbol of a lion or warrior.
There is no palace that has not rewarded bravery by awarding the red feather to courageous hunters.
Hence, the one at the throne must not be chicken hearted – he must not be a crying baby or a Ngong dog that would run to the master at every challenge.
Be strong and enjoy your royalty; much more comes with integrity than servitude and sycophancy – and by that, no one takes you for granted. In the grassroots, we love our chiefs and Fons and hold you in high esteem and would not want to see anyone rub you in mud. The more you behave like crying babies, the more ‘Okalai be Lie’ will ask you to march with your citizens on May 20th. Be strong.
By: Akaba James
