Cameroon Political Story

Namaso Mbile

Description

The Cameroon Political Story is a long journey through the eyes and actions of the author himself. It is a mix between Mbile�s memoirs, a bit of his biography and the Cameroon political story, heavily weighted in favour of that part of the Republic formerly identified as Southern Cameroons, later West Cameroon, now South West and North West Regions. The story is told in the interest of the Cameroonian youth and scholar who have often complained of the inadequate recording by political leaders of the life and deeds of their times. It is the story of an African boy of humble village beginnings who rose to participate in the making of a modern political community. It is hoped the book provides useful knowledge on the history, growth and constitutional evolution of Cameroon, a country which after more than a century of administrative metamorphosis settled to its present statehood in 1961, a Cameroon reborn.

Sujets

• Politique
• History

Informations

• Publié par: Langaa RPCIG
• Date de parution: 26 juillet 2011
• Nombre de lectures: 4
• EAN13: 9789956717828
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 6 Mo

Extrait

Memories of an Authentic Eye Witness

Memories of an Authentic Eye Witness

Cameroon Political Story Memories of an Authentic Eye Witness Nerius Namaso Mbile

Langaa Research & Publishing CIG Mankon, Bamenda

Publisher: LangaaRPCIG 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.africanbookcollective.com

ISBN: 9956-717-77-0 ©N.N. Mbile 2011

DISCLAIMER All views expressed in this publication are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Langaa RPCIG.

Dedication I have decided to dedicate this book to six men, three of them posthumously. The first is Mr. H.O. Anderson, Assistant District Officer, Kumba, th who on 27 April 1933 at Lipenja awarded me a scholarship, under the then Kumba Native Administration, for five years study at Kumba Government School. Mr. Anderson is reported to have died at Enugu, as a young administrative officer in 1941. In consequence, I have been robbed, by his untimely death, of the opportunity of ever meeting and showing gratitude to a man whose singular decision set me off on the path that serves me to this day. The second is my dear father, Mbile wa Ngembeni who, despite his limited exposure to the blessings of education, invested all he could afford to send me to school. The third is Mr. Henry Anjeh Usim, from Isangele, a college chum in Calabar, Nigeria, and bosom friend who, as Forest Officer Meme/Ndian, was killed in November 1971 in the creeks off Bamusso, reportedly by Nigerians sea marauders. The fourth is Nfor Solomon Ashu Arrey of Ossing, Manyu, who from the death of my father has virtually filled his place and is today my most intimate political compatriot, father and friend. The fifth is my friend and companion, Chief Deah John Ngoh, of Malende - Kumba, with whom I have shared personal attachment for the past thirty years. The sixth th and of course by no means least, is President Paul Biya who, on 6 November 1992, ended my years of virtual isolation in the political wilderness and by his leadership qualities of courage, tolerance and the acceptance of democracy with a human face, has produced a peaceful, stable Cameroon Fatherland, in which such a work as this has been possible. Since independence in 1961, Cameroon has grown to more than double its population, while others around us have been steeped in tragedy and war. Indeed, to these six men I have humbly dedicated my contribution of the Cameroon political Story. As all wade through its pages in search of authentic knowledge of our history, may they be richly rewarded with fruitful assimilation of its contents. Thus shall my humble effort be not in vain, but of eternal value to those, who, urged by the thirst to know, shall come to draw from this fountain.

Table of Content Preface…………………………………………………………. ix Foreword………………………………………………………. xiii Chapter One My Early Days………………………………………………… 1 At Death of Uncle Iyele D .O. Anderson Visits Lipenja My Father’s Reaction Another Kumba N .A.Scholarship Those College Days The Second World War My Return from School I Meet Zik Chapter Two As a Journalist in Zik’s Press………………………………… 19 I Face D.O. Newington Chapter Three Trade Union Days…………………………………………….. 25 “Crawley Must Go” A Desperate CDC Move Chapter Four I Become Assemblyman……………………………………… 33 Home Coming For an M.P My Father’s Exit Chapter Five The Eastern Crisis of 1953…………………………………… 39 The Cameroon Bloc The Crisis Shifts to Lagos The Bloc Splits - Endeley Announces Policy of “Benevolent Neutrality” Eastern House of Assembly Dissolved KNC versus KPP 1953 Elections Constitutional Advance: London Conference 1953 iii

KNC Wins 1953 Elections 1953 Election Results (Southern Cameroons) KNC Action Group Conclude Alliance (1954) Dr. Endeley’s Government - 1954 Chapter Six Lagos Reassembled Constitutional Conference; January - February 1954 Southern Cameroons Gains………………… 65 Quasi-Federal Status Federal Elections 1954 KNDP Launched In 1955 1957 London Conference Senate Representation Chapter Seven Elections 1957-1959 and Constitutional Matters…………….. 77 The 1957 Campaigns KPP Song We Attempt A KNDP/ KPP Government Motomby and Mbile Returned Ideological Conflict - KPP/KNDP UPC And OK Support KNDP The Wind of Change The Endeley - Galega Story Endeley Installed Premier Premier Endeley’s Government - 1958 New Ideological Battle Line London Constitutional Conference 1958 The Southern Cameroons Delegation Foncha Wins the 1959 Elections Foncha Installed Premier as Nkrumah Visits Premier Foncha’s Government - 1959 The Great Debate on Unification I Visit America As Petitioner at the United Nations That “Famous” Letter Chapter Eight Plebiscite Campaign and Results…………………………… 113 Green Box and White Box

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CPNC Born Thirteen: Thirteen The Frambo Episode Second Thoughts Plebiscite Day Results by Number of Votes in the Southern Cameroons Plebiscite It Was Glorious To Be There Chapter Nine Interpretation of Plebiscite Results………………………….. 127 Battle Shifts to the United Nations The Last Battle at the UNO (CPNC Delegation April, 1961) Cameroonians Listened In New York - Change Of Heart? We Return Together Bamenda Consultations June 1961 Chapter Ten The Foumban Conference and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Cameroon………………………………………... 137 KNDP Does It Alone During Provisional Arrangement 1961 Elections The Mensah Commission 1961 Election Results More Faithful Fall Honourable Motomby–Woleta Passes Provisional Arrangements Cracks in the KNDP Premier Jua’s Government 1965 Chapter Eleven KNDP Breaks Up……………………………………………...161 Jua Heads Coalition Government The Spirit of a National Unity Muna Becomes Prime Minister A Happy Surprise I Meet an Angry Fon The Bafut Succession Of 1969 Premier Muna’s Government - 1968

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Chapter Twelve My Closing Days……………………………………………… 181 The Tanjong Committee of Investigation Inescapable Conclusions The Irony of Fate I Lose another Friend My Exit 20til May 1972 “Peaceful Revolution” Some of the Actors in the “Cameroon Political Story” Chapter Thirteen The National Party Idea……………………………………… 203 Cameroon’s Ever Unfolding Political Scene Faith with the Spirit of Our Ancestral Past Chapter Fourteen The Unfinished Task…………………………………………. 209 Our National Parliament: The Goo of Dossiers and Late Pay: The Question of Priorities: Chapter Fifteen The Cameroonian Character…………………………………. 215 Chapter Sixteen Cameroon Takes Its Stride…………………………………… 221 Exit Ahidjo, Enter Biya Biya Asserts His Time Biya Surmounts a Mighty Coup A Tribute to the Heroes of the April Coup Of 1984 Chapter Seventeen Rudolf Douala Manga, a National Hero…………………….. 235 The Execution of Rudolf Douala Manga and Adolf Ngosso Din- Eye Witness Testimonies: Signatories Fate of the Bell Dynasty (Alexander Douala Manga Bell)

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Chapter Eighteen Milestones Here and There…………………………………... 249 The First Thirteen Motomby-Woleta Was My Friend Uncle Paul Came and Went An Era Passes (Dr E.M.L. Endeley, 1916-1988) Foncha Has A Place Twenty Years in the Wilderness (1972 - 1992) More Outstanding Actors Cameroon Republic Prime Ministers Row (1958 - 1999) Chapter Nineteen The Return of Multiparty Politics……………………………. 271 Paul Biya Speaks For Democracy Multi- Parties Return Achidi’s Stormy Time Musonge Mounts the Stage Changing Of the Guards at CDC Chapter Twenty The Cameroon Political Balance Sheet………………….. 283

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