By Ngamndamue Wuseni, Ph.D
On the occasion of the celebration of World Peace Day, the observation of the manifestations of the prolonged so called Anglophone crisis, the Fighting strategies of the separatist fighters, the redressing policies of the government and the resulting consequences on the population and their environment is the core of this write up, a call to unified action and a voice for the oppressed.
If man were to reflect on his actions, humans would be left at the mercy of natural disasters, for all crises are man-made but for natural disasters. Even so, man contributes to natural disasters.
The Plight of Bamenda
Ooh Bamenda, doom songs are heard louder, no one to listen, the blinds missing, no one to lead, the children drown in tears of widows, the weak sustain their weekly needs just in two crowded days where no one wants to be left behind, and the oppressors dine on wines and sail on innocent blood. They see and refuse to smell! Feel, but term it water, blood! human souls, cubes of sugar and calamities as professionalism!
Let it be known to the world today and now that the Bamenda man is suffering and needs help. If man’s cruelty, fanned by selfish interest, greed, pride, arrogance and protected by political and diplomatic manoeuvres, has failed to recognise human values, dignity and sanctity, then let it again be known to the world that heaven weeps that the purpose of man’s existence has been aloof with temporary worldly material deceptions.
Cameroon’s Wealth and Responsibility
Ooh Cameroon, thy welfare will win and toil in love and peace, as our fatherland’s wealth, no tongue can tell, is a beautiful cradle of our fathers’ undulating rosy hills and valleys from North, South, East and West. How are we fulfilling our obligations to our land of promise and glory, honouring the devotion, and serving the people continuously?
The answers to these questions lie in our hearts each. It is simple: peace, love, humanity, development, disarmament, normalcy and you name the rest. Bamenda yearns for help; however, the government, along with the separatist fighters and the population, preaches peace while simultaneously acting as if at war, expects positive outcomes despite adopting and implementing ineffective measures, and chooses deception even though it desires truthfulness. It is time we search our consciences, if at all we still have them! How can a whole Region be ravaged, economically crumbled, and normalised as a Monday ghost town, a weak or two ghost town, and now a one-month ghost town, and yet it is normal? No one sees it as an issue? Presidential campaigns and elections programed, Prime Minister’s visit to Bamenda again and again, school resumption, all in ghost town. Who are we fooling? In the 21 st century, ICT, digital and Artificial Intelligence age, What is the end of this juxtaposition? Who is responsible for this? Again, who is responsible for this and why? What is the future of Cameroonian? Can we each provide answers to these questions?
Separatist Fighters and the People
The separatist fighters would say we are fighting for the people, yet they fight the people, we are freedom fighters, yet they enslave and cave the towns and that we want independence to liberate our land, yet they fight to liberate a barren land with no organization , no purpose and no procedure. It should be made very clear to whoever, that, the government maybe right to say it is ‘terrorism’ if the warriors (boyses and battle fighters) fail to recognize the roles of local farmers (farmer-fighters) at fighting hunger and ensuring food security, the roles of medical personnel and health facilities (health-fighters) at ensuring wellness and health rehabilitation, the roles of developers (development-fighters) at ensuring balance growth and prosperity, the roles of teachers (education-fighters) at educating, enlightening and orienting minds towards dos and don’ts and the roles of infrastructures, monuments and vegetation (natural-fighters) at keeping the heritage, providing shelter and safety. For as long as the crisis lingers, persistent failure to recognize one another’s roles for a unified purpose, would only result to nurseries of division, hate, self-interests and further, a fertile ground for the ‘enemy’ and opportunists to exploit.
Government Actions and Skepticism
On the other hand, the resolute utterance and actions of the government continue to nurture the atmosphere of scepticism toward trust, disarmament, social inclusion and integration, and unity. It must be said and understood, without any ambiguity, that acting rightly and timely is a panacea that no degree of military, financial, political and diplomatic mobilisations can outsmart. Before now, when the war was still at the level of internal crisis and protests, weapons had not permeated, the fortune hunters had not radicalised their tactics and gymnastics, the separatists had not thought up petrifying communities for exaggerative sums of money, almost a million souls had not been killed and villages ravaged, Hippocratic relationships had not been built and so on and so forth. Yes, what amount of money can the government offer as empowerment and employability packages after disarmament would appropriate the illegitimate sources? Has the military option been more productive or destructive? What about Major National Dialogue (MND), which is counter to minor inclusive but purposive dialogue? What about the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Centres (DDRC) counter to Decentralised Sustainable and Inclusive Youth Empowerment Programs? What about the Presidential Plan for Reconstruction, PPR, in the midst of escalating crossfires and confrontations? Think about the cost of detached specialised military troops counter to ceasefire! Must we be the ones to notify the powers that be that all these measures are but a decorative and beautified window for misappropriation, partial and non-delivery of purposes, yet with very deceptive statistics and reports that contradict the field reality?
A Call to Valorize Peace
Is it not time to re-strategise, reprioritise and valorise peace over war? Bamenda yearns for peace. The suffering in Bamenda is untold; the frustrations on the faces are bold enough for the blind to see, for the dead hearts to feel and for the internal silence and tolerance to reverberate into an international hullabaloo. Bamenda yearns for help. Why the silence?
Oh God in heaven, come to our help, save our nation, Cameroon, and our Region, Bamenda, wherein their indigents have oppressed, and send down to us from Yourself a helper and a protecting friend, a president, leaders and institutions that would value our lives, fulfil Your purpose to us and treasure us over fame and materialism.
Personal Reflection
Finally, as we toil in hopes that Fate must be lived, I am searching my heart to free it from hatred and to ensure that I am free from harmful thoughts for myself, others and the environment. If we must attain talking peace and acting peace, then you must start with yourself too. Together, let’s build a united, peaceful, safe, and sustainable life on land, in water, and in the air. Let us instil in ourselves the love of gentle ways and regret for the errors of the past, for the most beautiful Cameroon tomorrow is in our actions now!!
About the Author
Ngamndamue Wuseni, Ph.D, is a Social Economist, Entrepreneur, and Advocate for Sustainable Development Goals and livelihoods. He serves as the President of the Continental Youths Empowerment Network Association (CYENA), where he champions youth empowerment, peacebuilding, and community development initiatives across Africa. Passionate about social justice and human dignity, Dr. Wuseni continues to raise his voice for peace, unity, and sustainable progress in Cameroon and beyond.
Disclaimer: This article is an opinion piece written by the author in their personal capacity. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views, policies, or official position of MMI News.
