Interim Government of Ambazonia; Expectations are very high in the Homeland

Ambazonians in the homeland have been reacting to the unveiling of the full interim government at the weekend by the Interim President of the Federal Republic of Ambazonia, Sissiku Ayuk-Tabe. BaretaNews’ political team went down the streets of Ambazonia, particularly in the Southern zone to listen to reactions from the masses on the new development and their suggestions to the nominated persons and the entire government.

The first stop of the team was at Muyuka where they interacted with a good number of Bike riders. The bike riders were all excited that the government has finally been formed and advised the IG to ensure that the revolutionary momentum is upped because in the past weeks it has reduced and some people seem to be feeling that Yaoundé has succeeded in suppressing the people. Speaking to BaretaNews, one of the bike riders identified only as Gerald noted that “Bros, we are still recovering from what these people did to us in Munyenge, Bafia and Ekata last week. I hope the government has come to hold them pay back. As u can see, most of our friends bike riders who were arrested are still there in Buea and we cannot fight this La Republique forces because we don’t have the methods… Hope you know that they seized even our cutlasses we use to work cocoa? I hope Sissiku and his officials will make us to believe more in them and that we did not go into this strike in vain because nothing has been achieved… that’s for me ooh”

In another reaction, an Ambalander simply identified as Messape, a rubber tapper with the CDC in Muyuka said he was very excited with the formation of the Ambazonian government. “…we were thinking that this strike is over because we have only been watching the past evens on the SCBC here and were not seeing recent events of the strike… You know those people don’t come into the CDC camps where we are to attack because they know we are their slaves. If the arrest us, nobody will tap the rubber. We have been seeing most of the killings but on SCBC. We hope Sissiku’s government will come and take over Southern Cameroons very soon so that we can earn better pay from this CDC ‘ njogmassi’ work”.

Furthermore, an SCNC activist in Malende-Muyuka, who calls himself Chief Ayamba Junior, posited that “… the Interim government is very balanced and the people are very qualified. What surprised me most in it is the fact that the Vice President was not Mr. Tassang Wilfred, but somebody on ground zero. If Tassang has accepted his new post, then he should really be a humble man… What we want from the IG now is action. We cannot go back to where we are coming from. That will be very disastrous for people like us. You see, I don’t speak anyhow now in public because I have been set up for arrest. If I didn’t know you and your father personally, I couldn’t have talked to you about the struggle… Our president and his Cabinet really need to make this place boil again. It will not be good for January to come and places are just normal, then our people wouldn’t take us serious again… but I know we must succeed this time around”

In the main time, the Federal Capital of Ambazonia, Buea has been calm in the past days, but heavily militarized, with the exception of Muea where homes were invaded last week and bike riders severely beaten and their bikes confiscated by colonial forces. It was very difficult to get personal views of the people on the streets as many are afraid to mention anything related to the struggle to anyone especially if the individually is on known to them. However, listening to small groups of church goers after church on Sunday, BaretaNews could here them talking about the formation of the Interim Government. “… this man called me at midnight to get up and see those appointed by Sissiku… these guys are serious ooh… I hope this put La Republique again in panic mood” one of them said. “Oboy, this struggle looks like its dying in Buea here ooh, but Bamenda no di shake. Ekema di glad as place quiet so… seriously, I hope these guys do something this December that will shake the world. We cannot just waste one year and return to normalcy… e no be possible” one of them responded.

Generally, the reactions of the people on ground about the IG are positive. Their only worries seem to be the contrary voices coming from some of the leaders like Dr. Ebenezer Akwanga, President of the Southern Cameroons Youth League (SCYL). According one of the Postgraduate students at the University of Buea, any leader who has refused to joined the Coalition of the Willing should leave the IG do their work peacefully. ” Ebenezer, Boh Herbert and others should go ahead and do their own part to free us. At the end of this revolution, people shall be rewarded for the visible work they did to free Ambaland under this generation of youths fighting… they should prove to us that they are committed to our freedom… everybody cannot lead at ones… If every body in the village sweeps his compound, the whole village would be clean” he explained.

A good number of citizens on ground are also worried about the momentum that has been slowing down and they really hope to see it return through the actions of the IP and his team in the days ahead. Those against the IG so far appear to be mostly unionist and Federalists who see it as just a repetition of what different groups have always done at different times in the struggle – forming governments without achieving Restoration of Independence.

BaretaNews is therefore by this challenging the IP and his team to prove naysayers wrong this time around. It is an opportunity which the people of Southern Cameroons/Ambazonia have given them to pen their names down the annals of the history of the Independence Revolution. The positive reactions and the excitement on ground zero must serve as positive energy for them to do their work without being distracted by those who dispute or don’t believe in their leadership. As they match forward in the task of nation buildings, they must equally not hesitate to embrace any opposition to the government who suddenly sees the need to work together as a team. To all Ambazonians, this is the time to rewrite your own history. Providence has put it in your hands this time around. Its either you seize this revolutionary opportunity and claim it once and for all or falter and live in slavery forever.

Agbor James, BaretaNews Political Analyst