BaretaNews editorial desk has been observing with keen interest issues within the Anglophone Civil Society Consortium. Amidst the ongoing Southern Cameroons crisis, controversies sets into the Consortium based on some internal misunderstanding which at the time of writing, our team is yet to grasp the in-depth causal forces. At this point in time, objectivity and logic are essential in order to avoid more of such controversies. As it is, top Southern Cameroons social media activists Mark Bareta and Tapang Ivo rest their case and continue to stand for a collective good and urged every Southern Cameroonian to follow their likes and focus on the struggle. According to them, the struggle is bigger than everyone else.
This was made public following a joint statement by the duo. Mark Bareta of BaretaNews and Tapang Ivo Tanku a freethinker writes:
“It has been a while since we sent out joint statements. The last statement was before the 17 January 2017 decision appointing us into the Consortium. On this note, we want to make known the following affirmations for all those who follow us and our fellow Southern Cameroonians.
1. After observing the social media hype and razzmatazz, we would love to state that on no account should anyone call home to say students should go back to school or that the civil disobedience should stop. You must not do that. Not in our name and for no reason(s). We understand that citizens are somewhat frustrated. But remember that the enemy is probably laughing by now. There are many who just want to sit there and see us fail. Don’t give them that opportunity. Tell our enemies to know that despite our differences in the Southern Cameroons state we want to build and not destroy, there would always be a participatory democracy and we can only rise up stronger above our differences whenever we fall. It is a taboo to even think of stopping this struggle now. We must reclaim our lost Southern Cameroons state.
2. We must intensify the winning struggle more than ever before. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. The next time we will get this will be in 200 centuries. We must think about our unborn generation. History must not repeat itself. Never!
3. We must halt all castigations and insults of our leaders in public. Everyone is a leader because we are unique in the role we play in this struggle. We must criticize and do so respectfully so that a leader who reads you understand you mean well. We must avoid unnecessary blackmail. It dampens the resolve of our leaders and people.
4. We must focus on the struggle and along the line learn to forgive. Remember this is the period of Lent, and Easter is around the corner. As Christ will be crucified soon, let him die with our worries, our sins, our betrayals and our hatred. And let Easter rekindle the hope of the Southern Cameroons people. Let us be born anew. We should avoid politicking. We should fight as if we were the only soldiers left on the battlefield.
5. We should not fight on the same road with travellers heading to the same destination. We should avoid eye contacts and stay on course. If you can, dig out your own shortcut, create your own road and fire on. Be your own army and stand by your confidence. Let us instead complement each other – knowing that every road leads to Buea, Southern Cameroons. Remember, it does not matter who arrives first. What matters if we all arrived safely. Avoid accidents. We need every passenger to be safe and sound.
6. We call on our respective followers to avoid hate speech and propaganda, especially against our own fighters using the social media. We must learn to go high whenever others drag us low. Only one thing needs our energy, resolve and commitment now – The Winning Struggle. We must pour out all negative energy on the big elephant – President Paul Biya and his gangster “unitary” political system.
7. With or without Mark Bareta and Tapang Ivo Tanku as members or leaders of the Consortium, this winning struggle must continue. Remember that no one Southern Cameroonian is indispensable. We must believe in our own selves and actions to bring positive change and help the struggle to win fatly.
Therefore, you are your own formidable army. Remember to follow the WINNING STRUGGLE AND NOT INDIVIDUALS. Be the drivers of your destiny. Remember, ghost towns continue Mondays. You must make it happen by calling and texting home even if you do not get it from us. Thank you, Southern Cameroonians.”
In response, Southern Cameroonians were pleased with their reaction owing to the fact that the duo have always stood their ground for a common good. Randomly, BaretaNews gathered that their reaction was a “sign of maturity” and more importantly a “reaction of true patriots”. BaretaNews editorial desk thinks that this statement has gone a long way to rekindling the enthusiasm of many Southern Cameroonians in the struggle.
BaretaNews Editorial Desk,
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4 comments
This is redeeming. I applaud your sense of maturity and readiness to move on in the right direction. We are all young babies in something we have never been thought to handle. It is so important that weaccept that as we crawl along,bwe will fall many times before we can finally walh tall. Humility and tolerance are definitely our spieces to stay the corse
It’s tough to be on the front line catching all that hell but at the same I’m amaze at how fast we’ve mature.
I really admire those of us whose loyalty to the struggle is unconditional.
It was reported on Concord news and social media stating that, these two men have been expelled from the consortium team, they are both great for social media information, their zest for change and getting diasporas to be involve in the struggle, it was a shame because every Southern Cameroonian is fighting for the same causes, if there is a disagreement or difference within the members, they should have a meaningful dialogue instead of spitting Vernon in the public, if any member is suspected of taking bribes from LRC to sabotage the struggle, then they must be sacked, LRC is trying to confuse and distract some vulnerable group members, everyone in the team is working hard for the better of all Southern Cameroonians so they need to succeed to the end and never to give up this time!
Great sense of maturity. I respect Mark Bara and Tapang lvo for working towards unity despite all the attacks and criticism they have been receiving. Let’s all work towards unity and success even when there are internal misunderstandings. This fight is greater than anyone’s ego.