Peace had barely returned to the center hosting 184 ex Separatist fighters who started a protest on Monday February 1st 2021. They complained of haven been in the center longer than they were assured. Read our previous article
Programmed to be in Buea on Thursday February 4th, the special envoy of the Prime Minister came 24 hours earlier, Wednesday February 3rd, urgently address the situation.
She was accompanied by an inter_ministerial delegation from the Ministries of Fishery and Animals husbandry, Youth Affairs and Civic Education and that of Agriculture. Potential ministries that can Facilitate the employment possibilities of the ex Fighters.
In a hall full with tension, plackcards visible at every end calling for their release back home, only an assuring message from the special Adviser of the Prime Minister, Madam Doh Belta could savage the situation. It was her third time at this Center sent by Prime Minister, Joseph Dion Ngute. She regretted the fact that alot would have been done at the center Early enough if not of the coronavirus pandemic that caused a global standstill late last year.
After these following words of hers, the hall went wild in euphoric flames.
“The incidence which occured on monday the 1st did not leave the Prime Minister indifferent. As a father who has your interest at heart has sent me to you. Under his instructions, i have come to announce the graduation of the second batch of this Center effective from today“. Doh Belta, declared.
Madam Doh went ahead to give out physical cash of One Million Frs CFA to the Director of the center inorder to speedily Facilitate the documentation process of the second batch of 70, especially in the Production of their National Identity Cards .
More jubilations filled the space when a physical cash of 3 million frs CFA was handed over to these Returnees as upkeep allowance from the Prime Minister. Every one entitled to approximately 16,000 Frs
As the first 70 chosen celebrate, it took the Deputy National Coordinator of the DDR centers, Col. Francis Ekoss, tact to convince others that their turn is ahead. He however promised to do his best with the Government in ensuring that these Returnees are Reintegrated into Society.
While chanting the popular patriotic song “Paul Biya, notre Président”, luring the August guest into her car, Madam Doh Belta reminded them of the need to remain patriotic and continue to invite their peers in the Bushes to drop their arms.
The official date for this graduation ceremony is yet to be fixed.
MBAKU Jude
STANDARD MIRROR 