There Was Another Country

W. Forje

Description

In this comprehensive, well-reasoned, critical, richly documented and boldly argued account on the Anglophone/Southern Cameroons/Ambazonia crisis, John Forje, a foremost scholar of identity politics in Cameroon, offers insightful explorations and explanations of histories and cultures of telling truth to power that have come to be associated with the people of the English-speaking region of Cameroon. The book offers realistic perspectives for the reinstitution of justice, equality, and democratic governance in a country of plenty but lavishing in endemic underdevelopment. Forje argues, among other things, that the current Anglophone crisis is the exhibition of one reality: that more than half-a-century after independence and unification, most Cameroonians are grossly disillusioned with their leaders. The country has had only two presidents since independence - Ahmadou Ahidjo and Paul Biya, with the latter occupying the presidency for 40 years since 1982 and counting. If something concrete is not undertaken now, the cleavages of division would widen to a dangerous end. Dark clouds hang over the future of the country. Uncertainty about national unity and stability is hardly a solid foundation for a country aspiring to be an emerging polity by 2035. There is an urgent need for a broader dimension of political dispensation in Cameroon. The book calls for proper soul-searching, critical analysis, and a new, comprehensive and visionary mindset to build a new country out of the ashes of the existing crumbling or failed polity. The need to re-rail Cameroon on the democratic train and on the path of sustainable development cannot be overemphasized.

Chapter 1: Presidential Call for a National Dialogue

Chapter 2: Fallouts of the Dialogue

Chapter 3: Southern Cameroons in a Ring of Fire: Is there a Way Out?

Chapter 4: Opening the Scroll: Unveiling the National Dialogue Conference

Chapter 5: Governmental Power and Democratic Citizenry Structure, Strategy and Institutional Role

Chapter 6: The Special Status Jamboree Are We Anglophones or Anglo-fouls!? The Great Expectation That Never Was!

Chapter 7: Building A Shared Common Future Hopes and Dreams shattered or what! Addressing Daunting Challenges 

Chapter 8: Thinking in the Android Age Opening the Gates of Return - We Have a Mission

Chapter 9: The Extra Ordinary Session of the Legislative Assemblies: Remembrance, Awareness, Responsibility

Chapter 10: From the Presidential to the Twin Elections

Chapter 11: Resources for a Journey of Hope

Chapter 12: Searching for Decent Democracy or Perpetuating a Domineering State?

Conclusion: War and Peace: The Last Enemy or Friend! Looking Back to The Future

Sujets

• African
• POLITICAL SCIENCE
• Camerún Meridional
• African people
• Ambazonia
• History of Africa
• Southern Cameroons
• World
• Paul Biya

Informations

• Publié par: Langaa RPCIG
• Date de parution: 11 août 2021
• Nombre de lectures: 5
• EAN13: 9789956552641
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 11 Mo

Extrait

There Was Another Country: Southern Cameroons
Popular Resistance, Resurrection or Betrayal of a People
John W. Forje
Fighting for Change: Volume 2
In this comprehensive, well-reasoned, critical, richly documented and boldly argued account on the Anglophone/Southern Cameroons/Ambazonia crisis, John Forje, a
foremost scholar of identity politics in Cameroon, offers insightful explorations and Southern Cameroons
explanations of histories and cultures of telling truth to power that have come to be associated with the people of the English-speaking region of Cameroon. The book
offers realistic perspectives for the reinstitution of justice, equality, and democratic Fighting for Change: Volume 2
governance in a country of plenty but lavishing in endemic underdevelopment. Forje
argues, among other things, that the current Anglophone crisis is the exhibition of
one reality: that more than half-a-century after independence and unifi cation, most
Cameroonians are grossly disillusioned with their leaders. The country has had only
two presidents since independence – Ahmadou Ahidjo and Paul Biya, with the latter
occupying the presidency for 40 years since 1982 and counting. If something concrete
is not undertaken now, the cleavages of division would widen to a dangerous end.
Dark clouds hang over the future of the country. Uncertainty about national unity and
stability is hardly a solid foundation for a country aspiring to be an emerging polity
by 2035. There is an urgent need for a broader dimension of political dispensation
in Cameroon. The book calls for proper soul-searching, critical analysis, and a new,
comprehensive and visionary mindset to build a new country out of the ashes of the
existing crumbling or failed polity. The need to re-rail Cameroon on the democratic
train and on the path of sustainable development cannot be overemphasized.
John W. Forje is an African peace scientist, educator and peacemaker from Bali
Nyongo, North West Region, Cameroon. He has a 1986 PhD (Science and Technology Policy)
from the University of Salford. Widely published, Forje is the author of In the Heat of Africa’s
Underdevelopment: Africa at the Crossroads –Time to Deliver (2019) and Unravelling the
Mysteries of Africa’s Underdevelopment: Changing Africa, One Idea at a Time (2020).
Langaa Research & Publishing John W. ForjeCommon Initiative Group
P.O. Box 902 Mankon
Bamenda
North West Region
Cameroon

There Was Another Country:
Southern Cameroons
Popular Resistance, Resurrection
or Betrayal of a People
Fighting for Change
Volume 2






John W. Forje













Langaa Research & Publishing CIG
Mankon, Bamenda Publisher:
Langaa RPCIG
Langaa Research & Publishing Common Initiative Group
P.O. Box 902 Mankon
Bamenda
North West Region
Cameroon
[e-mail]
www.langaa-rpcig.net



Distributed in and outside N. America by African Books Collective
[e-mail]
www.africanbookscollective.com





ISBN-10: 9956-552-38-0
ISBN-13: 978-9956-552-38-2

© John W. Forje 2021




All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any
means, mechanical or electronic, including photocopying and recording, or be
stored in any information storage or retrieval system, without written permission
from the publisher


Dedication


This book is dedicated to the courageous efforts of Hon Joseph M.
Wirba, all the victims of the politics of assimilation and annexation
since 2016; the 13 members of Eastern House of Assembly – Enugu,
Nigeria and the Founding members of the Southern Cameroons
Legislative Assembly, 26th October 1954, and to “The Takembengs”
that their efforts were not in vain but for the overall good of the New
Cameroon Society in the making; the Social Democratic Front (SDF),
other progressive political parties and conscious thinking individuals
that brave the storm for the progress of a democratic country in the
making; the victims of Ngarbuh, the slain students in Kumba on 24th
October 2020 and others who have spilled their blood in the cause of
constructing a brave new Cameroon nation.
Acknowledgement


This edition of the book is a follow-up to Volume 1 which tried to
outline some of the outstanding historical development of the Southern
Cameroons taking into consideration and tracing some of the major
events from British Cameroons representation in the Legislative
Council of Nigeria, representation in the Nigerian Federal House of
Representatives, and the Eastern House of Assembly in Enugu –
Nigeria; and finally the creation of the Southern Cameroons Legislative
Assembly on 26th October 1954. All these developments evolved
under the Richardson, Macpherson, Oliver Lyttleton (Viscount
Chandos) and Allan Lennox-Boyd (later Sir Alan Tindal, later Lord Boy
of Merton) Constitutions. The dramatic turn came on 11th February
1961 with the plebiscite that sealed the political self-determination only
to crown it on 1st October 196 with the marriage of British and French
Cameroons constituting the Federal Republic of Cameroon. Southern
Cameroons was given the appellation of West Cameroon and French
Cameroon became known as East Cameroon. Neo-colonialism spurs
the ongoing conflict in the country.
In keeping with the argument of the book, the ideas are straight
forward; it is what you do with them that count. So, whilst I am
indebted to many scholars whose works have been reference points,
the real meaning of the outcome of the work ultimately rest upon the
perception and response of the readers. In this regard, the final
acknowledgement is to you, the reader for taking your time to extract
what can be extracted from the following pages and making good use
of it for the common good of our society and humanity. The message
is clear: after more than fifty years of a union between the two countries
and putting an end to the yoke of colonial rule, we are now more than
ever before challenged to usher new changes in the lives of the people
and not to fall back into ancient practices; mortal for the country and
its citizens. We must inclusively and fearlessly steer this great country
through the stormy seas into a successful country that we want it to be,
one major problem of the future is to achieve a full recognition of the
fundamental human rights for all citizens. The democratic
empowerment of every citizen, his/her political participation remains
an important political right as key dimension in determining the quality
of and institutionalisation of democracy and good governance in the
country.
We can rightly question whether there was and still exist a
wellarticulated strategically designed conspiracy by the international
community mounted against the peace-loving people of Southern Cameroons? It highlights the good, the bad, the ugly and the reality of
politics, and to stir deepen thoughts and feelings about the tragedy of a
country struggling for self-determination, liberty and sovereignty from
every possible angle.
Empowered citizens are, thus, citizens who are equipped in different
manner with various ways to participate in politics, policy making and
nation-build. We should not deny the noble human rights to the people
of Cameroon. It is most important for all the stakeholders bridging
ethnic divides and to work towards a common and positive policy
facilitating the bringing of the two sides together to counter negative
influences that lead to fear, exclusion, mistrust and violence. We
harbour a demonic state of mind and hatred against the people of
Southern Cameroons for speaking their minds about the
structurefunctionalism of government and governance system.
It has been my good fortune to have seen the various challenges and
changes the country has gone through and to have known many of the
great players in the process in which I have lived. Thus, the book series
is hoped would help from others to further stir the debate on
Cameroon unification and nation-building within the country, Africa
and beyond. Without the help and support of several people, this
particular edition and Volume One would not have become a reality. I
am very grateful to all those who contributed towards the realisation of
this book in its final shape and without whose enduring commitment
the book could not have been concluded successfully. I wish to record
my profound thanks and appreciation to all who have made many
valuable suggestions, and who with others, reduced my illegible scripts
and thoughts into the final readable product. A number of people have
helped shape my thinking about the publication, either in personal
conversation or from reading the iconic writing on some the issues
presented here. I am deeply grateful to the editors of the various
newspapers that cited in throughout the book. I equally owe a great
debt to various authors cited. A good n