The Nigerian community in the North-West region has been advised to stay away from politics and to remain law abiding to their host country Cameroon. The firm message was delivered by Ibrahim Mohammed Bashir, Nigeria’s Consul General based in Buea.
Addressing Nigerians based in the North-West regional headquarters Bamenda, July 28 at the Bamenda congress hall, Bashir maintained that with the current socio-political upheavals rocking the Anglophone regions of the country, they have recorded one or two incidents of loss of lives but it wasn’t deliberate.
“Naturally in life, in a situation like this, there could be a collateral damage unintended. So please I want you to keep it up, stay out of politics, stay out of anything that is going to cause us problems and if you cannot improve on what or where we are today, I want you to keep it up. So far, so good and I commend you all. Even us as diplomats, we commit ourselves to the laws of our host country”, he cautioned and lauded his subjects.
In relation to his official mission to install the newly elected officials of the Nigerian Union for the North-West, the Consul General, who has served as diplomat for closed to 30years, rated the process as being free, fair and credible.
“I also wish to commend the electoral body and members, who did a fantastic job to ensure that the reason we are here today is a success.”
Regarding some challenges the foreigners receive from what the Nigerian diplomat termed as overzealous government officials, speaking in the presence of Mezam SDO, representative of the North-West governor, the chief of cabinet at the governor’s office and some elders from the Nigerian community, promised it will be addressed.
“I am also mindful of your complaints about what you are going through in the hands of some of our overzealous government officials. This is not only peculiar to Cameroon. They are everywhere. I am not trying to make a case and I’m not trying to justify any misconduct, but naturally in any society, you have some overzealous ones. Some bad eggs. Even in our country, especially with men of the security, you will always have the good and the bad ones. We are going to address it at the highest level. Take my word”, he reiterated.
In this line, he added
“Please the only way to solve this is constant dialogue. Talk to them and make sure that all your documents are up to date. As I’m talking to you now, despite all the diplomatic vehicles I have, the only time I get detached from my ID card is when I’m going to sleep. So, that is to tell you that your residence permit, or whatever you have, make sure that it is always besides you”.
Talking on the beauty of coming together as a united Nigeria through the freedom of forming their own local association, the Consul General called on them to identify themselves with the umbrella Nigerian body so as to make the workload of the host country very easy.
“Let us reduce the level of misunderstanding and disunity among us to respect the one umbrella Nigeria union body which will make our work very simple”, he further explained.
While saluting the Nigerian Union in the region for their ground rocking and thunder shaking turnout and high sense of arrangement, he encouraged them to forge ahead the rotatory system of presidency and advised that the unity is worth emulating as it makes them stronger.
The event that ended with awards to some out-gone executive members also gave room for the diplomat to announce his return to the region, this time around for a one week stay where he will use it to listen to his people and also propose solutions to some of the challenges they face in Cameroon.
“When next I come, the Consulate is going to hire a hall and more to that, I intend to stay here for a minimum of five days. I want to take as many projects as possible and to also give you my ears and attention. We talk on how to move forward and I know some of you would like to propose solutions. Nobody knows all. So therefore, I would like to listen to you, we work as a team to find solutions all for a harmonious relationship and for coexistence in this place”, he concluded.