Enshrine Protection of Anglophone Minority in Constitution, 40% Quota in Appointment, Recruitment & Government Projects

What would anglophones gain if the national dialogue finally ends with lofty resolutions whereas the constitution does not guarantee their protection?The answer is nightmarish to imagine. That is why the leader of the United democratic party is tabling a foresighted statement at the forum to protect Anglophones in a United Republic of Cameroon. Hear him.

1. That an article be enshrined in Cameroon’s Constitution for the protection of minority Anglophones of the North West and South West Regions with not less than 40% quota in appointments, recruitment and government projects.
2. Put an end to the appointment of people of Francophone extraction by parental heritage,as Anglophones in the government and Para-statal.
3. Sanction Anglophone members of government linked to lies telling and hate language that has escalated the crisis and replace them with upright political and administrative personalities who are people-oriented.
4. Urge the Head of State to sign a Decree for the discontinuation of cases in Military Courts against the Anglophone agitators and MRC leaders and militants, for peace and harmony.
5. Reverse the Presidential Decree of 1984 and respect the Referendum of 1972 and the Parliamentary Act that named Cameroon “United Republic”, in respect of cultural heritage and diversity.
6. Sign a Decree granting amnesty to Anglophone agitators during the crisis at home and abroad to foster national reconciliation.
7. Ensure that the resolutions of the Major National Dialogue are implemented sooner than later and before the convening of any elections in Cameroon.

Here are some key observations influenced the UDP position:

• Considering the fact that the Anglophone Elite started agitating when a Presidential Decree was signed in 1984 abolishing the appellation of Cameroon’s name, “United Republic of Cameroon”, which was put in place by a REFERENDUM of 1972 and an act of Parliament in conformity with Cameroon’s cultural diversity and heritage; The Former Bar President, Barrister Fon GORJI DINKA, took the matter to Court and thereafter, launched the Ambazonia Republic.
• Considering the fact that America and Great Britain have never changed the name of their countries, which the founding fathers put in place in respect of their cultural heritage viz “United States of America” (USA), “United Kingdom of Great Britain” (UK) respectively,
• Considering the fact that the Multiculturalism and Bilingualism Commission along with the National Disarmament Commission NDDR and the Anglophone Ministers in government, have failed to resolve and handle the Anglophone crisis properly which has escalated, illustrated in the failed “Back to School Campaign” in 2017, 2018 and 2019,
• Considering an arguable point in the Head of State’s speech on the 10th September 2019 stating that Anglophones are not marginalized,
• Considering another point in the Head of State’s speech on the 10th September 2019, that the State does not have enough posts to satisfy all
  the Regions, Divisions, Sub-Divisions, and villages, but yet, Mezam Division alone features with four (4) members of government while Boyo, Bui, Menchum and Meme Divisions with qualified, experienced, political, administrative and loyal sons and daughters have been crying in the rain,
• Considering the fact that agitating sons and daughters of the South West and North West Regions at home and abroad, have succeeded to awaken feelings of the Anglophone community on the Anglophone marginalization,
• Considering the acknowledgment by the Serving South West Governor during CRTV Radio and TV newscasts of 13th September, 2019 that things are bad with the economy of the Region reduced to a low ebb, indicative that things are no more under control,
• Considering the manifest hypocrisy by some Anglophone members of government, demonstrated where one of them denied the existence of an Anglophone problem. But when appointed the Minister of Territorial Administration, he quickly stated that the Anglophone problem has now been half-solved,
• Considering that Cameroon and Canada share similar linguistic cultures,but the minority Francophones in Canada are given political and administrative power to inspire a sense of belonging with the blessings of the majority Anglophones,
• Considering the fact that since the inception of Multi Party Politics in 1990, no Anglophone Political Party Leader has been appointed into the government, but over 20 Francophone Political Party Members have been appointed into the government,
• Considering evidence of the marginalization of Anglophones in key Cabinet positions as in the Ministry of Defense and where all the three (03) Members of Government, Minister Delegate, and Secretary of State in charge of Gendarmerie are all Francophones, Ministry of Finance, two (2) Francophone members of government, Ministry of Water and Energy with a Francophone Minister and another Francophone as the Director General of the Oil Refinery, SONARA and two other Francophones at the helm of the Cabinet portfolios in the Ministry of Public Works and Ministry of Justice in which two (2) Ministers in charge of two legal systems are all Francophones.
• Mindful of the fact that the extremists in the government derailed the Head of State from his policies of appeasement and negotiation, to embark on the policies of confrontation and aggression – to combat the Anglophone agitators, acts that have resorted to killings and destruction of property,
• Mindful of the fact that the extremists in the government derailed the Head of State from convening the National dialogue much earlier, knowing fully well that a stitch in time saves nine, for the Anglophone crisis is political and can only be solved politically and not militarily,

Bochong El Hadj LAWAN BAKO is Commander, Knight of Valour