Years ago Cameroon was a largely colonized nation but in 1972 the constitution of the United Republic of Cameroon was adopted by the Union Nationale Camerounaise headed by President Ahmadou Ahidjo and later under the leadership of Paul Biya. The constitution was amended and Cameroon was provided its present name. Since then, Cameroon celebrates the 20 of May presided over by the head of state in Yaoundé and the governors who represent the head of state in their various regional headquarters.
The day makes us recall the sad memories of martyrs like Charles Okale,Theodore Mayip Matip,A.N Jua and John Ngu Foncha who fought tooth and nail to see the country free from oppression. Some were tortured and others beheaded for the course of freedom. All these just to see a united and indivisible country.
However, many Anglophones argue that Cameroon has no single date of independence. The United Nations Trust Territory known as French Cameroun achieved independence from France on 1st January 1960 and British Southern Cameroons changed status from a Trusteeship territory under British administration to a federated state on 1st October 1961. Although French Cameroon celebrates this day with gaiety, Southern Cameroonians have in recent times preferred to commemorate 1st October, the day the British flag was finally lowered in the South Cameroon as a more appropriate date for the event. Coupled with recent wranglings, many see no need to celebrate this day with the rest of Cameroon.
Last year, North West lawyer, Barrister Bobga Harmony in a press briefing declared that Anglophones have no reason to celebrate this day as it has no legal backing. The legal luminary spat venom on the issue and prophesied a crises if care is not taken. He told the government to be keen in handling the Anglophone problem else it culminates to a big sore. Just about a year after his caution, Cameroon is expiriences a strife as the voice of the Anglophones have been raised coupled with arrests and detaintion of many.It is obvious that his prophesy came to pass. Unfortunately, he too was caught in the web of the spiders.
He spoke and was a victim his prediction. What is worst is the fact that those we thought we could look up to, now shy into thier shells and leave clergies to speak out.
“Some argue that since Southern Cameroon has less infrastructure and the ratio of Anglophone ministers to those of French origin is small, we can not claim to be one. It is glaring that Anglophones cry foul to marginalization since they are the minority. They add that this discrimination is political, economic and even social as common situations arise in daily life that bring strife. Secession then becomes the only solution, they say. The idea of federalism is even fading as polls on social media favors secession.
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