Colonel Oussoumanou Babikir , ostracized for being law abiding
It is not that often I that heap praise on any member of the Cameroonian Armed forces. The reason is simple: their savagery in handling the current crisis makes it hard for any rightful person to give them any modicum of respect .
And one reason, why they can’t and will never win their war in Anglophone Cameroon is because of their propensity to abuse the people of that region. Abuse is even an understatement. No day goes by without a story of horror committed by them coming from Anglophone Cameroon. Yet, you still find some people looking for justification for their ignominious acts.
However, within that largely disrespectful Corp, known mostly for wanton destruction and burning of houses as recently seen in Azi and Muyenge , there are nonetheless some good ones who make at least the army and the country proud. And whenever, I shall see such, I will make the world know that, all are rotten tomatoes.
Among the good, respectful and Republican soldiers in the Cameroonian Army is Colonel Oussoumanou Babikir. Certainly they might be plenty like him, but drown in an ocean of men and women whose best deeds are to rape, steal and kill innocent civilians. Colonel Oussoumanou Babikir, who was former sector Commander for the South West region of Cameroon deserve praise.
For his was the one who boldly and openly denounced the excesses of the Cameroonian army in their operations in Anglophone Cameroon, especially in Kembong and Ekok. This happened at time when the government of Cameroon with the help of their journalists were claiming that, all was fine. Colonel Oussoumanou Babikir, did not only speak out against Cameroon’s military brutality ,he threatened to court martial Colonel Jacques Olivier Nstama , aka the butcher of Ekok and General Donatien Nouma, commandant of the Rapid Infantry Motorised Brigade, BRIM.
Colonel Oussoumanou Babikir was relieved from his post in the South West region and sent to the North West, to replace General Robinson Agha. It was an appointment decided by President Paul Biya . Strangely, Colonel Oussoumanou Babikir never assumed his new function, but has been replaced by Colonel Mpans, formerly a commandant in Nkambe. Why? That’s most officers and also the rank and file within security forces are asking.
But there’s a reason ,Colonel Oussoumanou Babikir, who is a magistrate by profession and a graduate of the National School of Magistracy, ENAM, whose thesis is believed to have centred around the legality of the 1961 unification of both Cameroons, says to anyone who cares to hear that, the current crisis can’t be solved militarily but only politically.
Perhaps his approach does not appeal to the warmongers and those who think, the Anglophones wants to wrestle from them, the political power that, Ahmadou Ahidjo gave them in 1982.
Others within the same military claim, those who worked hard to scuttle the appointment of Colonel Oussoumanou Babikir are : Joseph Oum 11, SDO for Manyu, the Governor of the SWR ,Okala Bilai and General Donatien Nouma. Why? Those who floats the above thoughts say: the fact that Colonel Oussoumanou Babikir, threatened to court martial his colleagues who have been abusing the locals with impunity feared for their future and career, hence they hatched out a smear campaign .
What is refreshing is that, within a military with such a horrible record, there are still some men and women within who have value for human lives and also have great respect for the rule of law.
By Elie Smith
1 comment
He knows the root causes of the crisis,conflict and war.He is being honest.That is the virtue of a man who speaks the truth and believes in justice.