Voice Of The Oppressed

Poem: Madiba Mandela

By Neba-Fuh

To Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela On His 90th Birthday

Constant quest for equality, undeterred
Bastion of courage, revealed
Yearning for freedom, undaunted
Unrelenting stamina, tested;

Unruffled and unquelled vision
Imbued in freedom's mission
Incarcerated in Robben island, void of sympathy
Unable to metamorphose activism to apathy;

Cameroonian In Barefooted Protest

Culled from www.bbcnews.com

A Cameroonian who has just finished a barefoot trek across the UK told the BBC his sore feet were worth it to raise awareness about African issues.

It took Emmanuel Neba Fuh 17 days to complete the 200km (125 mile)- walk from Derby to Downing Street, the residence of the UK prime minister.

The Mugabe Problem:A fight against neo-colonialism,Western Propaganda or African Economic Liberation Struggle?

Neba-Fuh

The Mugabe saga is a complex situation that has ushered many simplistic explanations and theories with little quest for logical accuracy.

African Rulers-The Dregs of African Leadership

By Neba-Fuh

Egypt's resort town of Sharm El Sheikh is host to the world's most dreaded dictators meeting under the banner of the African Union Summit. Amongst them is Zimbabwe's junta leader Robert Mugabe, who recently hijacked people's power by performing a one-man -show , after constantly intimidating his challenger-Morgan Tsvangirai and his supporters resulting to deaths, in a run-off  'election' that was  a clear  slaughter of democracy. A once respected African liberation hero, Mugabe is now defecating on the platform that projected him to the apex of the list of African liberation fighters.  An octogenarian  like Robert  Mugabe  should be enjoying a well-deserved rest just like his contemporary-living legend and ace freedom fighter- Madiba Nelson Mandela is doing.

Mugabe is exhibiting a severe case of senility, that is not only disgracing his family, the Zimbabwean people, but Africa as a whole.

Who Really Owns Bakassi? Part 2

The Bakassi Story -Part 2

By Nowa Omoigui**

In the first installment titled "The Bakassi Story", we reviewed a very brief summary of the history of the dispute starting from the Treaty between England and Old Calabar in 1884 all the way through to the ICJ judgement of October 10, 2002.  Those who want more information about the fall of Calabar should consult “Politics and Society in South Eastern Nigeria” by KK Nair or “Old Calabar 1600-1891” by AJH Latham. A nice summary is available in “The Fall of Nigeria – The British Conquest” by Obaro Ikime (Heinemann, 1977).  In Part 2, we shall focus more specifically on the twenty-five-year period from 1950 to 1975.

Who Really Owns Bakassi?

Neba-Fuh

The disputed oil rich peninsula of Bakassi has its history and it's only through this history that clear judgement can be made on the ownership of this strip according to international law. The International Court of Justice(ICJ)'s  judgement on the dispute was holistic, Bakassi was handed to Cameroun and Nigeria grudgingly succumbed to the ICJ's decison. This grudge has been constantly evident by the numerous casualties that have occurred even after the 2002 ICJ ruling. Will the Bakassi Palaver ever be over? How do we situate British Southern Cameroons in this whole issue?

Today, We present a two part  chronicle concerning Bakassi since colonial time, as reported by a Nigerian. It is a must read!!!

An Eye On Bakassi

By Neba-Fuh

Bakassi peninsula is a border strip  extension into the Atlantic Ocean ,between Southern Cameroons and Nigeria. The discovery of  huge deposits of the crude oil brought this formerly neglected  stretch of the land into the limelight.

Normally, if Southern Cameroons was self- governed , the peninsula would have had all the amenities and facilities necessary for any integral part of the territory to function. Roads, schools, hospitals and other government services will not be a matter of negotiability but an unconditional right of the people of Bakassi. As is expected, any border area has a tendency to trade with its neighbours, in this case Nigeria, but to ignore the administrative, social and economic lives of the people is a glaring example of  how the Yaounde oligarchy has constantly neglected the welfare of the people of Southern Cameroons. The Bakassi dispute brewed up in 1981, when 'United' Republic of Cameroon almost went to war with Federal Republic of Nigeria. Clashes reignited again in the nineties and the case was later to be settled at The Hague by the International Court of Justice(ICJ) in 2002

D.O and Soldiers Abducted in Bakassi

Last year, 21 soldiers of Cameroun were killed by  'unidentified gunmen' in the disputed oil-rich peninsula of Bakassi situated in Southern Cameroons.
Seven months after  that  attack, these forces have once more come under another attack. Recently nine people - A Divisional Officer, a Senior Army officer and seven other soldiers were attacked by 'unidentified gunmen' as their boat try to dock at the peninsula. Three of the soldiers managed to escape by diving into the water and swimming to safety, while the other six were abducted including the Divisional Officer.

It is important to note that the oil rich peninsula of Bakassi has been a disputed border area between Southern Cameroons and Nigeria, but La Republique du  Cameroun  usurped the  former's right to sovereignty by taking up the case . In 2002, the International Court of Justice ruling deny the right of ownership of Bakassi by Nigeria. The soldiers of La Republique du Cameroun have been stationed there since the ruling following a seemingly piecemeal 'handover' process.

Unfortunately, these military forces of Cameroun have not showed the might, they always claim, when they are clamping down on unarmed citizens protesting, or crushing Southern Cameroonian activists advocating self-determination through non-violent methods.
Where they should be happy to trigger, they don't!!

Obamism and The Dream Syndrome

By Neba-Fuh

Barack Hussien Obama has just obtained the Democratic nomination to run for the post of President of the United States of America. He has a probability of one half to make history as the first man of African descent to become President of the USA.

The news of his nomination hit the world's airwaves like a firestorm. The euphoria was record breaking, the excitement was unstoppable all around the world. Some people even forgot that this was just a nomination and he has to face off with the old war veteran, John McCain of the Republican party.

Africa joined in the euphoria and excitement on the anticipation of seeing one of theirs in the White House. From Nairobi- Kenya to Yaounde- Cameroon, from Harare-Zimbabwe to Khartoum-Sudan, the news was palatable. The news must have first broken out to the upper classes in these countries. Those who could afford cable TV. Among these classes are Africa's dreaded dictators. They too joined in the celebration and anticipation.  How can we not be excited to see a son of direct African paternal parentage vie for the topmost post in the world? Why should African rulers not be excited about it?

    

Obama Triumphs!

US Elections: Barack Obama wins Democratic nomination for President

(culled from www.guardian.co.uk)

Barack Obama has made history by beating Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination and becoming the first African-American with a viable chance of winning the White House.

Obama's victory effectively brought to an end Clinton's bid to become the first US female president.

It also confirms Obama's reputation as a political giant-slayer, who after less than four years in the US Senate brought down the couple credited with creating the Democrats' most powerful political machine.

Obama will now face the Republican John McCain for the prize of the presidency in the November 4 general election.

A 'Virgin' Tribe Discovered

By Neba-Fuh

'You can move a child out of a village but you can not move  the village out of the child' goes the popular adage! News of  the world's  recently discovered  un-contacted indigenous tribe came like a bombshell as anthropologists, sociologists as well as indigenous rights activists continually ponder on the possibility of more undiscovered virgin group of people, who may be seeing us as 'aliens'.

Recently, occupants of a hovering aircraft noticed a group of people in the heartland of the Amazon dense forest, just around the borders demarcating Brazil from Peru.
Later on, the people ran for their safety while their 'army' of  warriors- fewer in number and made up of hefty looking men emerged, all painted in red and aiming their traditionally  made bows and arrows at the aircraft, ready to defend their homeland. (see photograph ).

The Social Democrats -18 Years After

By Neba-Fuh

It's now 18 years since the Social Democrats launched their activities as a political party under the banner  'Social Democratic Front' in the grassfield country of Bamenda. That was on May 26 1990. Those who were witnesses to this history making event would recall the anxiety at that time. After more than two decades of Ahidjo's totalitarian rule during which he introduced the one party system, coupled with Biya's eight years of inaction and false promises, Cameroonians were yearning for change.

That change was heralded by the Social Democrats who painstakingly drafted a vision for a new Cameroon through their meticulously engineered manifesto. The 'draftsmen' were  a melange of fine intellectuals, freedom fighters, civil servants  businessmen etc. The then 'wind of democratic change'  blowing across  Africa, gave the opportunity for the Social Democratic Front to be launched.

In A Lighter Mood: May 20 1972 And The Dead Cow Joke...

In A lighter Mood: May 20 1972 And The Dead Cow Joke in Cameroonian Pidgin English

If you understand Pidgin English, then this is for your lungs only. You might need to watch it twice to get the joke.

In A Lighter Mood: Mistaken Identity

In A Lighter Mood: BBC Mistakenly Interviewed Cab Driver Instead of IT-Expert

Sometimes, destiny tosses us to a corner where without any forethought we have to improvise. That's when adrenaline comes into action. This was the case of a Congolese cab driver-Mr Guy Goma, resident in Britain. He just found himself in somebody else's seat -Mr Guy Kewney-An Information Technology expert who was actually the person to be interviewed, was suppose to answer basic questions about the legal battle between the Beatles' Apple Corps and Apple Computer over the use of an apple symbol; on the BBC that time.

Watch the video above. This incidence happened last year. Read the transcript of the interview below:

Transcript of Interview

Karen Bowerman: Guy Kewney is editor of the technology website Newswireless.

KB: Hello, good morning to you.

Mr Goma: Good morning.

KB: Were you surprised by this verdict today.

Mr Goma: I am very surprised to see... this verdict to come on me because I was not expecting that. When I came they told me somehting else and I am coming. So a big surprise anyway.

KB: A big surprise, yeah, yes.

Mr Goma: Exactly.

KB: With regards to the costs involved do you think now more people will be downloading online?

Mr Goma: Actually If you can walk everywhere you are going to see a lot of people downloading the internet and the website and everything they want. But I think eh It is much better for development and eh to inform people what they want and to get the easy way and so faster if they are looking for.

KB: It does really seem the way the music industry's progressing now that people want to go onto the website and download music.

Mr Goma: Exactly you can go everywhere on the cyber cafe and you can take, you can go easy. It is going to be an easy way for everyone to get something to the internet

KB: Thank you. Thanks very much indeed.

(culled from MAIL ONLINE)

20th May-The day They Stole Our Star

By Neba-Fuh

It should be recalled that the flag of 'Federal Republic of Cameroon' after the 1961 Plebiscite fiasco was  made up of three equal strips of green, red,yellow and two gold-coloured stars embedded on the green strip. The two stars signified the 'coming together' of two separate entities-Southern Cameroons and La Republique du Cameroun. History tells us that this unholy union officially took place on the 1st of October 1961.

One cannot over emphasize the treachery of the 11th February 1961 plebiscite that was orchestrated by the United Nations, engineered by the British. It was an abortion of justice to deny Southern Cameroonians the right to autonomy. It was a manipulative political paradox to force a people to attain independence by 'joining' either La Republique du Cameroun or the Federal Republic of Nigeria. How can one be 'independent' by 'joining' ?

Poem: Vanity

 By Neba-Fuh   

Mankind's joy rests in the memories of his deeds,
As subtle inward thoughts procreate devil's ploy or virtuous sacrifice,
Even in the temple of doom, breathing beings seek to render fraters breathless,
Just as if oxygen suffices not for all. What a world  !
    

Cameroon For Sale!

By Fuh Ngwa

There was once a country blessed with natural resources and manpower. A country of milk and honey that has been ruined within a quarter of a century by a man I will call '‘Mobutu of Cameroon”. When I compare the things Cameroonians have missed to the ones they have achieved, the ones they have lost to the ones they ought to have gained, there is no room for pride. If a free society can not help the many who are poor , that very society can not save the few who are rich. Where cats are hairdressers , the rat will go about with unkempt hair, for wealth is accumulated in the few hands of infidels and the majority are languishing in abject poverty which is better experienced than defined.

Days of Reckoning?

By Neba-Fuh

Nature is a complicated aide,because it helps you trace your path when you take the route to evil, and later leads evil shooters to your hideout when the day of reckoning comes.

Corruption in Cameroun: Forjindam dismissed and detained

It has been reported that Mr Zacchaeus Forjindam, the longest serving General Manager of National Shipyard and Engineering Company- 'Chantier Naval' has answered 'present'  to the call of  "Operation Epervier"- Biya's outfit to arrest and try his cohorts. Forjindam was dismissed and arrested immediately after a board meeting that held yesterday. It should be recalled that Mr Zacchaeus  Forjindam is a fervent RDPC member, who supported the constitutional manipulation in Cameroun, that has paved the way for Mr Biya to rule till death. 

Very Important Dictators-Why do African Rulers not quit?

By Neba-Fuh

              Fierce looking, worrisome dictators
              Sitting on their brains
              Ruling without rules
              Trampling nature's rights on the innocence
              Clamping them with steel clippers
              Forgetting tomorrow must still come
              Thinking retribution will forget
              knocking at their doors...

Africa's trauma has been exacerbated  by the continuous clinging to power by its old tyrants.  The clowns don't just  know when to leave, or even how to leave.  They rule their nations as if they were  private farms. They drug themselves with the people's stolen money, hoping to get out of the mess  unscathed. Impossible!  The recent happenings in Cameroon where the regime could not bridle  the temptation to manipulate the constitution against the people's wish ,in order to allow its ruler not to relinquish power, is just one of the worst scenarios Africa experiences everyday.

After Constitutional Manipulation, Cameroun's PM-Inoni Ephraim speaks

The less-executive Prime Minister of Cameroun- Mr Ephraim Inoni granted an interview to BBC Africa. This is the first elaborate reaction by a Southern Cameroonian member of the regime, since the recent manipulation of the constitution spearheaded by Biya in collaboration with a  handful of traitors.
The interview was conducted in English by Randy Joe Sa'ah and in French by Thiery Hot and Herve Yonke.

Below is the section of the interview conducted in English.
Right after, is the section conducted in French, for those who understand Voltaire's language

Reduced Jail Terms for Suicide Embezzlers

Jail sentences of previously convicted 'suicide embezzlers' are being reduced, on condition that they pay back a  greater chunk of the money embezzled. The latest case is the ruling by the Appeal court on the Ondo Ndong case. We had earlier suggested such a move but criticism poured in tagging us as 'sympathizing with the regime and embezzlers'.(read: 'Suicide Embezzlers' below) The idea was to emphasize the better option of reclaiming the people's money from these bandits. The latest move by the regime to pursue this option was not unexpected. The recent civil servants' salary adjustments ,while ignoring this year's budget with regards to expenditure and revenue was precipitated as far as this regime is concern, in order to manipulate the constitution to allow Biya to rule till death. Now the regime is going back into its embezzlement reserves to foot its bills-the salary adjustments. Billions are needed. The embezzled money has to be recovered-those hoarded by those embezzlers still enjoying illegitimate liberty, as well as, those patronizing the prison premises of Kondengui.

The question is: Who will manage the recovered funds, if ever they are recovered?? These same thieves??

 

The Constitutional Manipulation and the Southern Cameroons Problem.

Neba-Fuh

There is one  thing that is as sure as death- retribution-The reward or punishment we receive or experience for what we did or didn't do. The headstrong decision to ignore the people's will and renew as well as  legalize a totalitarian regime in Cameroon is the last straw that broke the camel's back. Biya and his cohorts have invited the people's wrath on them.  His  wish  to rule till death(Article 6(2)) with the hope of escaping punishment (Article 53(3)even in satan's heaven will only be an interlude of bliss in his perpetual nightmare.

Is it not in this generation that we saw Samuel Doe of Liberia being paraded naked in the streets of Monrovia? Is it not in this generation that his successor Charles Taylor was whisked away in handcuffs and is being tried for crimes he committed against his people? What about the Idi Amins, the Bokassas,the Sadams etc? Just like all dictators, they paid their prices. How dare he minimizes History.

The adoption of the bill in Parliament and its immediate aftermath look rosy. The trigger-happy military have been deployed to rest the case on the innocent population, but rest assured that, the courage of  true patriots surpasses the fear of the bullet of a gun. The time will come when the people will get hold of their nation and punish all  those unpatriotic cowards joking with their destiny.

The Callisthenics Of Our President

 

By Fuh Ngwa

 

When our president took over power in what  seemingly appeared to be a bloodless coup d’ etat, Cameroonians failed to realize that this was a classical case of a smart subordinate who can outshine the master. When his predecessor realized what had happened and wanted to stage a come back, there was that outburst of cry from the populace not to touch the ‘God sent’ who then was as soft as the palm of a newly born baby. Cameroonians equally failed to understand that while praying for the best they have to prepare for the worst, for even churches have lightning conductors.

 

 

The Pandora's Box Has Been Opened (II)

Great leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela who fundamentally adopted non-violence as the strategy for their struggle, sometimes contemplated the violent option.  When a people's struggle for liberation are stifled by an egoistic manipulative tendency to oppress them even at their lowest, then violent tendencies start cropping in. Violence is an impulsive uncontrollable  outburst usually manifested out of frustration.

The bill just adopted by Parliament, to give Biya a laissez-faire joystick to toy around further with the Cameroonian people even after 25years of a failed regime is frustrating.  Let the 157 simpletons who voted for that  bill amending the constitution to allow  Biya to rule till death and be unaccountable for his crimes, not make a toast yet with their champagne glasses.  The suffering Cameroonian people whose sores have been spread with salt will not stop at lamenting. They are meticulously weighing the options-violent or non-violent. The latter may just be what the CPDM quislings have pushed the people to.

Below are excerpts culled from 'The Sacred Warrior'-
The liberator of South Africa looks at the seminal work of the liberator of India
By NELSON MANDELA

Poem: Wrecked Roon *

Neba-Fuh

Ravaged reckless quisling- Captain of Roon,
Craved in carnal quest for cannabis,
Drowned by the  exigent thirst for rum,
Full of faulty overload of French cuisine,
As Mademoiselles  toy with your extortion key.

Constitutional Amendment-The Pandora's Box has been opened (I)

Neba-Fuh

The Pandora's box has been opened and this time even hope may not survive.
The egoistic extremes of the regime have been manifested. The people's patience has been stretched. The options are now clear and any action by the people to claim their sovereignty can not be  unjustified, be it conventional or otherwise.

Suicide Embezzlers

By Neba-Fuh

The much talked about 'Operation Epervier' is catching up with the big shots. The recent arrests of former Minister of Finance and Minister of health , Abah Abah Polycarpe and Olanguena Urbain respectfully, are recommendable, and it's like the trend is moving up to even a highly recommendable arrest by the people in the future-that of the highest ranking embezzler of the nation.

We have cried loudly and clearly of the people's money misused and unused ;and the best option to tackle this corruption issue now is to see  how part of  this huge chunk of money stolen, can be returned to the people. Many opposition figures and prominent civil society members  have been reflecting on this.
It is worth noting that all the high profile arrests  this far can not sum      
up to  1% of the suicide embezzlers in Cameroon.    

A Black Man In A White House?

By Neba-Fuh

To be indifferent to the American presidential election is to be indifferent to the future of the world. Whether you love the U S   or not, is immaterial. The fact is that US must affect you wherever you are in this world. The land of opportunities,The world's biggest economy, the world's greatest military might, the world's...., the world's... etc.

The 2008 presidential election in the US is an epoch of this century. There is a possibility that a black man will  move  into The  White House. There is also another possibility that a woman will be the Commander-in- Chief of the World's most sophisticated army.

Since America's more than 200years of independence, neither a black man nor a woman has ever been the President of that country. But what makes it even exciting is that this time the black man is of  African descent specifically from Kenya.

Senator Barack Hussien Obama will make history by becoming the first black man of African descent to reach the apex of the world's only, but 'dwindling' superpower.

Poem: Black Uncle Sam *

By Neba-Fuh

Anytime we lack
We think it is Black,
Even when they win
We never let them in.

CPDM -23 years of stagnation

Neba-Fuh

When Bamenda hosted the 'ceremony of change of name' from  the Cameroon National Union(CNU) to the Cameroon People Democratic Movement(CPDM), on the March 24, 1985, many a Cameroonian then  reserved their doubts on the intents and purposes of this new outfit.  After all, we  thought we  had just graduated from the repressive regime of fellow comrade Ahmadou Ahidjo.
Today, time has exposed what would become the source of the malaise to a majority of  fellow Cameroonians. Molding the CPDM from the dregs  of the CNU, was the last straw to eclipse the shadow of the personality cult late Ahidjo had built.

Poem: Rising Tide *

By Neba-Fuh

Greater perverse ambition, orchestrated
By con zealots,
Disdainfully calling the limping wimp
In power crutches, to trek a mile further.

By Neba-Fuh

Greater perverse ambition, orchestrated
By con zealots,
Disdainfully calling the limping wimp
In power crutches, to trek a mile further.

Poem: Flying Ashes*

Neba-Fuh

I see a nation's equilibrium perturbed,
Caesar's treasury brimful
Of peasants' peanuts;

I see a nation's equilibrium perturbed,
Caesar's treasury brimful
Of peasants' peanuts;

Complexities of Religiosity

Neba-Fuh

This is holy week. A week when Christians commemorate the death and resurrection of Jesus-The Christ. The tenets of Christian belief center around the resurrection-the act of rising from the death. Religiosity is a complex phenomenon. This phenomenal aspect of religiosity is not what tilt us to our religious beliefs, but the simple fact that man is prone to be religious. What makes religiosity complex is the fact that it is centered on facts and beliefs. The aspects of religiosity that are not provable(not facts), are considered beliefs, making religion one of the  known concepts that ignores the proof paradigm. The logic aspect(logos) may or may not be as important as the non-logical aspect(pure belief borne from faith).

Southern Cameroons -The Way forward

Neba-Fuh

 

The Southern Cameroons issue is one of the most important minority rights problems in the 21st century, but also the least activated as well. It is like a laboring woman who is not giving birth. We have all been caught up in the cozy confines of rhetoric, thinking that the solution will solely spring  up from without.

Neba-Fuh

 

The Southern Cameroons issue is one of the most important minority rights problems in the 21st century, but also the least activated as well. It is like a laboring woman who is not giving birth. We have all been caught up in the cozy confines of rhetoric, thinking that the solution will solely spring  up from without.

The Last Cry of the Millennium (1999)

By Neba-Fuh

This piece was written on the eve of the new millennium. It was a call for action to all Southern Cameroonians.

Interdependence is a voluntary venture often sought by an independent individual or a group of individuals, for the good of all the parties concerned. When one is independent, he is self- reliant, that is, dependent on himself. Any interaction between two independent entities for their mutual benefit, is what is known as Interdependence.

Therefore, one cannot claim to be in the state of interdependence without passing through the independent state. Furthermore, when an independent entity decides to be dependent at some point in time, it immediately ceases to be interdependent. 

Independence is a state of mind that can only be achieved , not given and when you seek it you must first cut all the 'strings attached' to your wish. There is no such thing as 'dependent' independence. What we call political or economic independence of some western nations , is actually political or economic interdependence.

In Retrospect!!!!

Selected  articles and reactions by this author;
some of which were published by The Post Newspaper between 1999 and 2007

Salary Adjustments- A fallout of the Upheaval or Government's Plan?

By Neba-Fuh

On the 7th of March 2008, Paul Biya signed two decrees adjusting the monthly wages by 15% and house allowance by 20%, of state personnel.

The decision was the fallout of the council of Ministers meeting that took place that same day chaired by Mr Biya.

Reading through the press release announcing the salary adjustments issued by the Secretary General of the Presidency, it is stated that the council 'had a single item in its agenda namely a special statement by the head of state'.

That special statement was: ' a series of short and medium term measures intended to provide first solutions to the IMPATIENCE being expressed'

Biya-The Frightened Dog That Barks

By Neba-Fuh

Two kinds of dog bark- a charging dog and a frightened dog.

Reviewing Biya's declaration to the nation during the four days' strike in Cameroon, one can see a frightened ruler- a frightened dog barking.

Violence is a piece of lexicon strange to the Cameroonian context; not because Cameroon doesn't deserve its own dose of it, but because the people have been tolerant to a regime that works against their common interest.

A Life Fulfilled ( To BB, -one year after)

A year just leapt passed!
We wailed in pain, that fateful March day,
In wonderment of Nature's unexplained course.

Yours, was a life fulfilled,
Constantly greasing your  brain nerves with  intellectual oil.
Stiffening your stance on evil deeds,
Never hating the doers.

You molded young scholars with ethics clay,
Feeding their intellect with literary
masterpieces,
You toiled for a better society,
Living the realities of the folks you defended.