The Emeritus Archbishop of the Douala Metropolitan His Eminence Christian Cardinal Tumi, who has been very vocal against the Biya’s regime, has condemned acts of violence perpetrated in the Anglophone regions. Tumi who revealed that nothing good came out of the July 1961 Foumban conference, says there is no future for Cameroon, with the current regime in place.
Cardinal Tumi was speaking to La voix du koat on the ongoing socio-political situation in Cameroon, during an interview at his residence yesterday Monday August 21, 2017. Talking about the July 1961 Conference in Foumban, His Eminence Tumi said: “They signed nothing at Foumban. Prime Minister John Ngu Foncha (who was a former Catholic teacher) did not have the power to negotiate, because Cameroon was under the tutelage of France and England. The French who supported Ahidjo, were at the conference. But England and the United Nations who was to validate the act, were not present. There has never been a document about what happened in Foumban. People went there to drink wine. There is an anglophone problem. British Cameroons was already a country. It was managing itself and had a well organized administration, a prime minister. If decentralization had been established, there would be no problem, it would have avoided future problems in other parts of the country. ”
To resolve the Anglophone crisis, the Head of State Paul Biya created the Commission for the Promotion of Bilingualism and Multiculturalism, chaired by Peter Mafany Musonge. But for the fact that according to the Archbishop, “Cameroonians did not hear the slogans on integration, bilingualism, to integrate. How many Cameroonians are bilingual? How many people from different tribes get married? So we do not need that. We were not expecting this commission. I do not even know what it is for. Paul Biya knows what to do to solve this problem.
Previously, when he went to Bamenda, he gave all his speeches in English. Today he pretends not to know how to speak English. He should not be sending officials to the English-speaking people because all the people in this government are sell outs. And when some arrive, they-dare-express themselves in French, which provokes the population. The people are calling for federalism, but to deceive people, the government and Laurent Esso speaks of secessionism”.
That said, there is a difference between demands and vandalism. Reason why Christian Tumi deplores the acts of some who burned the flag of Cameroon. “We can forgive the person, it’s passion, but it’s unacceptable. All violence is unacceptable. They cut off the hand of a girl who was going to write the exams. That is unacceptable. We can forgive them, but it is punishable by the law”.
Asked about the way forward in the multiple crises plaguing the country, the 87 years old retired Prelate said: “As long as the current party is there, I hope for nothing. We must love Cameroon. If elections were transparent, we could hope for a change. I do not see how we can alternate in Cameroon. Even if political parties of the opposition get together, they need the financial means. The DOs, SDO, Governors, are all from the ruling party, even if they are not all militants from the heart.”
The Prelate recalled how during the days of federalism, all civil servants were banned from militating for a political party, which is the contrary today. “Civil servants use tools, state owned cars to militate for the ruling party.” Young people who should drive change “are discouraged. All of them want to leave. I have come to the conclusion that instead of a civil war I prefer the current situation. In times of war, it is the innocent who suffer, ” regrets the Cardinal.
He however encourages those working for the construction of Cameroon, and affirms all his availability to the Un Monde Avenir NGO.
Culled from La voix du koat interview, minor edition by BaretaNews for clarity
4 comments
I do not want to hear the word “the people are calling for federation” which people and how is their ” calling expressed?
Full independence is the landmark outcry till date. No mingling with the wolf anymore.
Thanks
We all know including cardinal Tumi that the majority of Ambazonians want independence. But there is even no discussion about federation like the one of 1961. A two state federation. Tumi is right about Biya and his criminal CPDM people. I see the worse coming.
That word federalism is baiting my stomach just as it baits that of president Biya,I don’t just want to hear that. Even babys knows that southern Cameroon(AMBAZONIA)needs her RESTARATION and NOT federation. WE the southern Cameroonians are out to free ourselves from annexation NOT federalism. Cameroon is in this present situation because this our so called leaders have always wanted to hide the truth. YOU CAN NEVER HIDE NOR KILL THE TRUTH. Even if you succeed in killing the truth, You CANNOT Bury IT. Unfortunately this is what our leaders have been trying to do. You leeaders,you can testify by yourselves that you have failled us the youth of today. Because of you love for lies the youth had no choice than to go on the street to face the bullets of your untruthfulness, lies telling. Yuo are now cying of bunt flags, who is burning them? YOUR LOVE FOR LIES is doing that, your love for bribry and corruption is doing that. Who sent the people on the streets, your bribry and corrution to hide the truth. Since we have noticed that it pains you when the flag is burnt, we shall keep burning untill you learn to call a needle a needl. To clarify the the air, what most Southern cameroonians(AMBAZONIANS) needs now is TOTAL LIBERATION not federation. YOU SHALL KNOW THE TUTH AND THE TRUTH SHALL SET YOU FREE.
Burning the flag is a proper mean to show dissatisfaction.