STANDARD MIRROR

Fru Ndi lambasts DDR of Fai Yengo, weighs on AGC3 of Cardinal Tumi

Since the creation of the National committee for the Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration of militia fighters in the North, North west and South west regions on December 4th 2018 by president Paul Biya, voices have not stopped articulating on it’s functionality. People of every sizes, educational stands, professions and opinions, have been debating on the issue. This too couldn’t have just gone pass the National Chairman of Cameroon’s most renowned political Party, Ni John Fru Ndi, who has been so articulate and most active in the opposition front since multipartism in the early 1990s.

In a press conference granted at his Ntarinkon residence, Wednesday 12th December 2018 concerning the DDR, he started by saying, ” I want to congratulate Fai Yengo Francis for his appointment. On the other hand, tell him to accept my sympathy because, he has been given a hideous task”

According to the SDF iconic politician, the commission on the promotion of bilingualism and multiculturalism was created for same motive, but Prime Minister Philemon Yang has failed to apply task and wisdom. So DDR is a sham.

John Fru Ndi, added that, the process of DDR is a whole project that the Government needs to study because, orientating “Drugged Amba Boys” back to society isn’t just by words of mouth. He says, Mr Biya’s soldiers too need to down their arms.

He urges President Biya to learn from French President, Emmanuel Macron, who have similar issues with trade Unionists in his country fee days ago, but has gone down to discuss with his people.

Answering a question to the quality, calibre and credibility of the people who are manning the commission, the Chairman regrets that, the choice is solely that of CPDM loyalists, and allegiance will be paid to their leader.

As concerns the AGC3 of Cardinal Tumi and other church authorities, he stated;

“The anglophone General Conference of Cardinal Tumi and other prelates is a thing i stand for. We must sit down and see where we went wrong. We have to start talking somewhere. If they can’t contribute as opinion leaders, then i can’t go to church.”

On a way forward, Fru Ndi who had earlier suffered arson of his Hometown villa worth more than 100 million frs perpetuated by separatists say, everyone must stand firm to seek a way out of the crisis. He believes the crisis is an unfinished business of the 1990 struggle if his party, SDF.

Ni John Fru Ndi has been the most contested rival of President Paul Biya since 1992, but ceded power at a convention of his party, SDF, in April 2018 to Joshua Osih for the October 7th Presidential polls. He remains the chairman of the party that lost it’s prestigious second position to Maurice Kamto’s CRM in the said election aforementioned.

Alachu-Mankon, Bleeds of Terror. One Soldier killed, above 10 shops Razed.

Saturday December 8th, till the moment of this post, Denizens of Alachu-Mankon, North West region, Cameroon, are yet to find solace and serenity. The community has been deafening with gunshots and characterised by total paranoid. A local market that served the community over the years is in ruins.
The immediate cause of the situation, is the assasination of a military officer who lived in the neighbourhood for many year. The act, done by Armed Separatist fighters. He was ambushed and murdered in cold blood in his apartment by the roadside. The said officer had been out of the country for a mission. A local confined that us , Upon his return from Equatorial Guinea, he was advised to relocate, owing to the rising tension that targeted military officers. He hesitated.
His murder in the early hours of that morning, was good enough to transport a special team from the BIR ( Batallion D’intervention Rapid) camp to the scene. The BIR (Military force), is permenantly stationed at the “Bamenda Airport, a distance less than 300meters to Aluchu Village.
At about 8pm, same day, many people especially young men had to relocate to nearby villages and bushes, for fear of clashes. Then, when military arrived again in the evening, they could only retaliate by setting shops in the village ablaze. Reacting to STANDARD MIRROR investigators, villagers and victims who opted anonymity say, the military burnt down their shops.

“Its the army that did that burnings and our prayer is that, God should touch the heart of our president to solve this anglophone crisis. It’s is the cause of the burnings of our shops. We are innocent” Says a victim.

3 buildings host the shops set on fire, and are on both sides of the highways, closest to the Presbyterian church. They deal in Pharmaceutical products, Decor shops, Provision store, Tailoring Workshops, Eating Parlours, and other petite items. One of the victims says, his provision store is worth above 2million Frs CFA, and he has gone bankrupt.

Many inhabitants at Alachu-Mankon, still live under fierce tension as military trucks are spotted regularly in the area. Some have resorted to the nearby Bushes, as their new habitats. “We discuss only for about an hour in the public and rush back to the bushes. We are scared of military as they accuse us of feeding the Amba boys. Life is tough and all we need is Frank Dialogue between the 2 parties”. Says another villager.

Since the crisis went sour late 2017 with the upshoot of armed groups, the civilian populations in many areas of the Northwest and Southwest regions have been trapped in the middle. Crimes perpetuated by either the military or Separatist fighters on themselves, are settled on innocent civilians. Reports of looting, gruesome killings, kidnapped and ransom taking are common.
Local rights groups, Non Governmental organisations, international bodies, nations and agencies like US Government and UN, have called for both parties to drop arms and respect the fundamental rights of the citizens.

Cameroon government had last month, created a Commission to Disarm the separatist and reintegrate them. However, experts say, its a far fetched venture, as the process in itself doesn’t include both parties.

The University of Bamenda, UBa , sends out 5327 into the job market.

The convocation ceremony of Saturday December 8th, held under the patronage of higher education minister and chancellor of academic orders, who was represented by NW Governor Adolf Lele L’Afrique.
The occasion pulled a little over 5,000 attendees who braved the security odds in the Bambili community, on a day that also saw the neutralisation of some 3 members of the separatist group of the Ambazonia Republic, by Cameroon military forces.

In her convocation speech, the vice chancellor of the institution, Prof. Theresia Nkuo Akenji, appreciated the commitment and selflessness of her administrative and academic staff, towards the success of the students and the institution. She applauded the resilience of the graduands, in the tough schooling atmosphere, to have gone through the academic year. While paying tributes to staff and students affected during the school year, and those who died in cause of the crisis in the region.
NW Governor, representative of the minister of higher education, called on the young professionals, to remain true to virtues of national interest like patriotism, Peace, and love for service. He warned them against the bad attitude of civil servants who abandon duty, especially in rural areas, for urban cities in search of greener pastures.

Guest speaker at the 8th Convocation, Prof. Kashim Ibrahim Talla, professor in Liberal Arts and is an African folklore writer. In his motivational keynote address, he pointed out morality and honesty as indispensable aspects in any professional career and called on the student to emulate examples of trustworthy academicians like the venerated Prof. Fonlon N. of blessed memory.

The academic citadel, UBa, created in 2010, has fast risen to one of the best rooted state higher institutions, with 12 full functional establishments. The 8th convocation also saw the graduation of the first batch of medical doctors from the faculty of health Sciences, while the first batch of students from the faculty of Arts as well was graduated.

Distinguished graduating students in academic performances, backed home financial assistance from 25 to 300.000 FRS each for exceptional results in their various domains. The prizes, all donated by political elites as well as the university family. One of such notable prizes is that of Senator Regina Mundi, of 200.000 frs, for a female student in leadership role.
The best graduating student, of the university for 2018/19 graduating batch, kinyuy Tatiana Ngalim from the faculty medical laboratory sciences , scored a GPA of 3.75 on a scale of 4.

Talking to the students after the ceremony, they were happy for haven taken the challenge in the academic strive, but think more opportunities for youths out of school could help in bringing their efforts to fruition.

Cameroonian universities over the years, have graduated more students than the available jobs in the national market. Fears continue to be cast on how to tackle unemployment amongst graduated youths in the country.