Buea CPDM uses Biya’s anniversary to appeal to separatists for peace

Hon Emilia Lifaka, CPDM  Leader for Fako, speaking at  37^th power anniversary of President  Biya.

By Christopher Ambe 

Fako III(Buea)CPDM senior apologists ,on November 6,2019,which marked the 37^th anniversary of President Paul Biya’s ascension to the pinnacle of power in Cameroon, used the occasion to strongly appeal to separatists  to give up the fight for the independence of their putative state ,dubbed Ambazonia.

The separatists, claiming to be fighting for the restoration of the independence of Southern Cameroons, a former British-UN mandated territory, insist that Buea is the capital of their putative country.

Over 2000 people have reportedly died in the two English-speaking regions of Cameroon in clashes between separatist fighters and government forces, since the eruption of what is today known as the Anglophone Crisis.

The  37^th anniversary celebration in Buea was  chaired by Hon.Emilia Lifaka,Vice-President of the  National Assembly and leader of the  CPDM Central Committee to Fako Division.It was attended  among other dignitaries by Southwest Governor Bernard Okalia Bilai ,the  Minister of Secondary Education,Prof. Nalova Lyonga;Senator Mbella Moki ;Dr. Amos Namanga Ngongi,former UN Under Secretary-General,and Hon.Meoto Paul Njie,former Director of Cabinet at the PM’s office.

Speaking at the event at Buea Youth Centre,Hon. Emilia Lifaka, Vice-President of Cameroon’s National Assembly and  CPDM Central Committee Leader for Fako Division, pleaded with the separatists fighters still in bushes:

“My children in the bushes, I am speaking to you like your own mother…

“The government has heard and noted your worries; please leave the bushes and return to the comfort of your homes, because there is no other better place like home.

 “Please don’t terrorize your own mothers.Today mothers are even scared to go to their farms, markets or to do anything. Our children are now school drop-outs. You cannot build a community without educated people.”

She appealed to parents whose children are separatist fighters to look for a way and persuade them to drop their arms and become God-fearing. “The Bible says love your neighbor as yourself,” Hon. Lifaka remarked, begging “  our fighting children, to come back so that together we can build this beautiful nation; this land of glory and promise”

The Fako CPDM leader was very thankful to President Biya for what she said were many projects realized in Fako, adding that “we still need more” because “President Paul Biya supports us, likes our division and region.”

But Hon. Lifaka stressed that only a peaceful environment would serve as a condition to ask for more projects  from the Head of State, who is also National Chairman of the ruling CPDM and has ruled Cameroon since 1982.

Speaking earlier, were Buea YCPDM president Njie Frankline Njie; Dr.Mrs.Mbua Hannah Etonde,Buea WCPDM President and Buea CPDM section President, Barrister Mafany Namanga David.

In his address, Njie Frankline claimed that President Biya’s Achievements in his 37 years in power were superfluous.

“For his 37 years in power, we can say with all certainty that [President Paul Biya] has delivered beyond expectations. There is, therefore, no doubt that the remaining years of his current mandate will be marked with greater accomplishments that will spring the country to more economic prosperity”

But the Buea YCPDM president  called for a  speedy implementation of National Dialogue recommendations and the  admission of more Anglophones into national schools such as ENAM,EMIA and IRIC.

 He urged Government to revive the Cameroon Development Corporation (CDC), the second employer after the state, which has been brought down on its knees by the Anglophone crisis.

 Njie Frankline implored Government to “support our youths through the granting of loans from PIASSI and other state agencies charged with youth development”

For her part, Dr. Mrs. Mbua Etonde Hannah, described as a dynamic lady and who has been President of Buea WCPDM for 13 years, commended the Biya administration for what she termed “special love for Fako”, citing improved social facilities such as hospitals and educational institutions.

She described Buea as hospitable and peace-loving subdivision and advocated for more peace, as a prerequisite for more investments.

The Buea WCPDM president stressed need for voter registration in Fako.

In his address,David Namanga Mafany,Buea CPDM President, lauded the development drive of President Biya and  reiterated the urgency of bringing to fruition  the recommendations of the Major National Dialogue, which, many think ,will defuse the socio-political tension caused by the Anglophone crisis.

He stressed that “we should collectively and individually work for social justice in Cameroon” and hoped that separatist fighters would all drop their arms.

The cutting of the 37^th anniversary cake, the reading of a motion of support for the head of state and cultural dances, enlivened the ceremony.

Fako III YCPDM President says President Biya’s achievements are beyond expectations!

*But wants speedy implementation of National Dialogue recommendations,with admission of more Anglophones into ENAM,EMIA ,IRIC etc

By Christopher Ambe

The  Fako 3 YCPDM Section president, Njie Frankline Njie, who  was speaking  in Buea on the occasion of the 37^th Anniversary of  President Paul Biya’s ascension to power,claimed that what President Paul Biya has achieved in his 37 years as Head of State of Cameroon, is beyond expectation.

Below are excerpts of his speech,which  he presented at the anniversary celebration at Buea Youth ,chaired by Hon.Emilia Lifaka,Vice-President of Cameroon National Assembly and leader of the ruling CPDM Central Committee to Fako Division and attended  among other dignitaries by Southwest Goverenor Bernard Okalia Bilai and Minister of Secondary Education,Prof. Nalova Lyonga.

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 " Dear Comrades, 

Destiny has offered us another opportunity to gather here once again under the canopy of our emblematic party on this special occasion that marks 37 years of our champion President Paul Biya at the helm of the State. There is no doubt that our Country has made significant progress under the leadership of our senior comrade in so many domains of national life notably economic, political, social and infrastructural development. As far as politics is concerned, our country was before now the most peaceful in Africa due to the force of experience of our illustrious Head of State.

Our national chairman said some few years ago that you cannot stay in power because you want but if you can. His brilliant re-election that was instigated by a positive balance sheet over these years has proven this statement true. It is also clear that the resounding victory of our candidate during the last Presidential election can also be attributed to the intensive work that was done by CPDM Militants before and during the elections so there is no way his victory can be contested by anybody. 

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, 6 November 1982 produced at the helm of our country an extra-ordinary statesman in the modest person of President Paul Biya. His coming to power was greeted with a lot of euphoria from Cameroonians across the political spectrum. The jubilation that was witnessed all over the national territory as history holds it was a clear reflection that he represented the hopes and aspirations of all and sundry. 

At 37 years in power, we can say with all certainty that he has delivered beyond expectations. There is therefore no doubt that the remaining years of his current mandate will be marked with greater accomplishments that will spring the country to more economic prosperity.

 My Dear Comrades, the outcome of the just ended national dialogue is yet to be known but I think I should use this opportunity to congratulate our national chairman for this laudable initiative. 

The youths of Buea Sub Division think that the holding of this major consensus forum that examined the internal affairs of our country will go a long way to change so many things as far as the present socio - political situation in the two English-speaking regions of our country is concern and the nation as a whole. It is always said that after the storm there is sunshine.

This is to say that the people of these two regions under conflict have gone through a lot of difficulties so now is the time to give peace a chance as the Head of State has laid the platform through the national dialogue.

 Ladies and Gentlemen, one of the principal resolutions that emerged from this broad-based discussion is a special status that is in view for the North West and South West Regions but what is preoccupying now is the content of this special status. 

As far as the youths of Buea Sub Division are concerned, we think that the following proposals should be included in this special status if it is validated. They include a fixed number of English - speaking youths to be admitted every year into higher schools of learning such as ENAM, IRIC and EMIA and a specific number of places should be reserved for Anglophones in all public service recruitments. 

I wish to also add that a standard number of English-speaking Cameroonians should be taken into consideration each time appointments of national and diplomatic representation are made.

 My dear youths, The elections of 2013 produced at the helm of our section political leaders that we can now evaluate their output after six years in office. As far as their balance sheet is concern, we saw the good, the bad and the ugly so now is the time to determine our way forward. 

This is to say that the upcoming municipal and legislative elections will offer us a unique moment to put the right people at the right places and those who merit to be maintained will be maintained. The errors of one election can only be corrected in another election so we have to avoid a repeat of the mistakes of the past. 

Dear Elites, our youths are always at the forefront to ensure political victories but once success is achieved we are always relegated to the background.

We are once again ready to accompany the political leadership of our section to success but from now henceforth the youths have to be part and parcel of the decision making body of our section through elective positions because we are now in the critical moment of our lives where we have to build houses, send our children to school and take care of our aging parents.

So looking at this critically I think that more opportunities have to be given to us but for this to happen we have to first of all close our ranks and make collective sacrifices that will ensure that we easily defeat our political adversaries in all upcoming elections. 

Ladies and Gentlemen, over the past decades, the Cameroon Development Cooperation (CDC) has been the main source of employment for our youths within Fako Division and beyond.

Our parents also used the proceeds from this company to sponsor us to school and by extension majority of us went abroad to pursue better lives from the money we gathered from this development cooperation. Today CDC is a shadow of itself because of the socio – political impasse rocking the North West and South West Regions for more than three years now.

Given the fact that this company is our breadbasket there is an urgent need to save it for the good of everybody. I wish to therefore use this singular opportunity, to beg on my brothers and sisters to avoid anything that can completely destroy one of our main sources of income in Fako Division. On the other hand, I am pleading with the Government to accelerate the reconstruction process of CDC so the living conditions of our youths who depend on this company can be ameliorated as fast as possible. 

My brothers and sisters, since we are talking about economic empowerment, I wish to also use this moment to call on the Government to support our youths through the granting of loans from PIASSI and other State agencies charged with youth development. I believe such an incentive will go a long way to boost small scale businesses around our sub division. I also wish to use my voice to call on the State to help our youths who are highly involved in agricultural activities in places like Mapanja, Maumu, wotutu, Lysoka, Tole, Mile 14 and 16 with high quality farm inputs to increase their output and consequently standard of life. 

Most communities around the world have made great progress on public – private partnership so I think it is high time we follow in this direction if not it will be practically impossible for the Government alone to fight against unemployment and poverty. For example, the CDC managements should make it as priority to grant contracts to youths within our division so their financial power will always be guaranteed.

 My Dear Comrades, It is an open secret that Fako Division is the proud host of the police training college that has trained and graduated young Cameroonians from all over the country. 

Our brothers and sisters who have passed through this school can testify that we are indeed a hospitable people because none of them have ever had a problem while studying here but sadly very few youths from our division are admitted in this school. As peaceful host of this police training college, I think our youths should be given the pride of place in every admission. These are the kind of measures that will go a long way to instill trust and confidence in the youths of this part of the country.  

Ladies and Gentlemen, I wish to end this speech with these words of caution. A thief is far better than a hypocrite. I say so because the intention of a thief is clear that he or she means harm and pain from the point of attack but a hypocrite smiles with you, eats with you and talks well about you when he or she is in front of you but sadly such people say the worst things behind your back and most often they mastermind your down fall. 

Hypocrisy is a cancer that destroys trust, friendship and peaceful living together of people. It is more helpful to tell your brother or sister openly about their short comings than to gossip about them in secret which will not help them in any way. One of the ways we can maintain our social cohesion as a section and by extension the country as a whole is to avoid hypocrisy amongst us.

-          Long Live the Fako III Section,

-          Long live the CPDM Party and its illustrious Chairman President Paul Biya;

-          Long Live the Republic of Cameroon.