Re: Why The SDF Will Boycott May 20 Celebrations

By Neba-Fuh

I read with keen interest the firm stand by the Social Democratic Front, SDF to boycott this year's 'National Day' celebrations published in the web edition of The Post Newspaper Why The SDF Will Boycott May 20 Celebrations
It should be recalled that the strategy of boycotting National Day celebrations is not a new phenomenon in the Cameroons and of course, it is not the first time SDF is staging a boycott.

The Southern Cameroons National Council, SCNC under its Vice-Chairman , Mr Nfor Nfor Ngalla, has all along advocated the boycott of May 20 festivities, due to the historical manipulation and incongruence as a result of the  May 20 1972 'referendum'.

Of all these calls for boycott , none has held Southern Cameroonians spell-bound like the May 20, 2000 call for boycott by SCNC spearheaded by Nfor Nfor Ngalla of the SCNC.
The controversy that surrounded that call for boycott then was due to the fact that the principal groupings in the Southern Cameroons  territory - The SDF and the SCNC contrasted on the issue of boycott.

The SDF through its hierarchy castigated the leadership of the SCNC for calling on a boycott of May 20 , 2000 festivities. But the irony then was that the Yaounde branch of the SDF did boycott the celebrations that year.

Despite the fact, that the SCNC and the SDF have different declared official agendas, it was surprising then that a simple democratic strategy like a 'boycott' could put them at loggerheads, thus confusing the masses. The Chairman of the SDF was relatively more popular then, and it was like his stance on issues was law to many Southern Cameroonians. Differing with the Chairman then was like playing with fire. His personality cult has begun to swell, and one could face the wrath of the masses for daring to do so.  It would be a matter of time for many to realise, what a few awakened Southern Cameroonians had already deciphered.

In an article published in the Post newspaper, an undisclosed 'legal practitioner' warned Nfor Nfor Ngala for going against the opinion of the Chairman- "his call for the 'non-boycott' of National day celebrations that year (2000), highlighting 'reconciling Cameroonians' as his reason".

Below is a reaction then to that article, published in The Post (2000) :

Fru Ndi, Nfor Nfor, And The May 20 Boycott(2000)

Sir,    

I read with keen interest, all the reactions carried by your newspaper, concerning the boycott and 'non-boycott' of the SCNC and SDF, respectfully, of the May activities as published by The Post No  0175 of Monday May 22, 2000.

   

What pricked my imagination and intellect most, in the articles caption "SDF ignored SCNC Boycott Call" and " Fru Ndi Criticizes SCNC Leadership", is not the difference in approach pertaining to the Southern Cameroons problem, but the cowardice, egoism and lack of ingenuity, manifested by many a Southern Cameroonian, since this awareness sprang up.

   

In the article captioned "SDF Ignores SCNC Boycott", an 'observer', who is a 'legal practitioner' wondered how Mr. Nfor Ngalla Nfor, ( SCNC Vice Chairman) could risk calling a boycott of May 20 activities in contrast to Mr. Ni John Fru Ndi's(Chairman of SDF) appeal for active participation in the 20th May activities. Fortunately or unfortunately the name of this 'legal practitioner' was not mentioned. But as an observer, Mr Legal Practitioner, you should have recognized the right to boycott in any 'democratic' setting. You should have analyzed the raison d'etre for 'boycott' or 'non-boycott', not from the messenger of 'boycott' or 'non-boycott' but from the idea behind the significance of the 'boycott' or 'non-boycott'. That is , the charisma of the messenger of 'boycott' or 'non-boycott' should not be the sole parameter to give credits to a call to boycott or not .

   

Nfor Ngalla Nfor

Mr 'observer' you should learn to muster courage to boycott, even if you are the only one that is convinced that your action is right. Mr Nfor can not be a 'killer' simply because you heard the SDO of Fako being sensational about the massive attendance of May 20 festivities.

Isn't it myopic on your part, to measure 'opinion' on important issues such as the Southern Cameroons problem, mainly on May 20 activities?  

I am sure that, to you, that is already a referendum. Remember that May 20 festivities in Cameroon have always been grandiose even when your so-called 'charismatic' leaders used to call for a boycott. Mr legal Observer, sit up and stop being feeble- minded.

   

A hero yesterday is not a hero forever. Critics have never been and will never be respecter of personal charm or charisma; for them, what matters is how substantial one's political idea is at any given point in time. Mr Fru Ndi's utterances concerning his party's decision to take part in May 20 activities, depict a man , who has left the substance and is chasing the shadow.

   

By sharply criticizing the leadership of SCNC, in his attempt to address the Southern Cameroon issue, Fru Ndi once more proved to the Cameroonian people that he is not unaware of the political blunders he has been spearheading in his party. By sarcastically calling the leaders of the SCNC to be organized and united in order to succeed, he is trying to remove a speck in somebody's eye when he has a log in his.

He is just emphasizing the route to success which many Cameroonians has often cried out to the opposition parties since 1992- that the only way to eject the Etoudi Oligarch , is for the opposition parties to unite. Difficult but not impossible! Isn't it, Mr Fru Ndi?   

Mr Chairman, your political alignment makes it impossible for you to outrightly advocate 'secession' ( which I prefer to term 'restoration of Southern Cameroons State'). This , we understand; but by fully participating in the May 20 activities (except in Yaounde) under the umbrella of trying to 'reconcile' Cameroonians, your party under your leadership was defecating on the platform which you became a hero.  

Let the difference in opinion and approach between you and the leadership of the SCNC, not let you take the lose/lose option. By doing this you will be giving the ruling party and its illegal government, a technical advantage. Sir, if you are running out of steam so soon, do not hesitate to hand over the command baton of your party, soonest.

How do you 'reconcile' people when their victory was stolen, when dialogue has failed, when your party's militants are harassed everyday, when your party is openly cheated both in legislative and municipal elections, when all Cameroonians( especially Southern Cameroonians) are desperate?   

 Remember that the SCNC struggle is not an 'Anglophone problem' per se; rather, it is a foremost Southern Cameroons problem spearheaded mostly by Anglophones. Don't we have some people born East of the Mungo who are Anglophones?   

Therefore, Mr Fru Ndi, the issue you raised about " people being less Anglophone or more Anglophone than  others" is simplistic.

In an article published in The Post No 0152 on Monday, December 27, 1999,page 4; captioned "The Last Cry Of The Millenium" ,emphasis was made in trying to educate us on the Southern Cameroon issue. I quote "...They,( Southern Cameroonians) should not look at it( Southern Cameroon problem) as a political party affair, be it ruling or opposition. They should look at it as a Quest For Justice That Was Denied".

Let's learn to 'reconcile' only when we've dialogued, not because of fear. Sit up Southern Cameroonians, the train is on motion.
Steven Neba-Fuh, Buea

Comments

[HENRY BAFURA]

Southern Cameroonians need to wake up. Because if we donot we will continue to remain one of the last countries in the planet. It is very inpossible for someone who does not know the use of what we call mbanda (the kitchen hanger where we use to dry food to prepaire bad season)to rull a country well. How many Cameroonians can beleive that Ethiopia , Uganda ,Sudan ,just to name a few have more better infrastures of all types more than Cameroon? If we want make a good and happy life for our generation, then we should do all our possible best to come out from the hands of these serpents call them selfs La Republic