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Reactions to Bishops letter (Very Mixed feelings from West Cameroonians)

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The Bishops letter dated 29th April on the current Anglophone crisis has sparked mixed feelings as many believe they still do not understand the problem but playing the moral part on the crisis without understanding the situation. The Bishops are bent on promoting Decentralization and social Dialogue yet ignoring the release of those arrested and demilitarization of the regions yet calling for schools to resume. Many have read this letter and have the following to say:

The Bishops of Cameroon have spoken well, like the respected men of God that they are. They have provided a succinct diagnosis of the problem and rightly noted that it has evolved from a trade union issue to a political, administrative to constitutional issue. We all know that this escalation of the problem is due to the bad faith, excessive violence, murder, mayhem, and disdain of the government. The bishops offer a way out of the crisis that I think is reasonable: a dialogue that concerns the institutional form of the state, and reinforces the separation of powers between the executive, the judiciary, and the legislative. Biya needs to get that off the ground, They also want the state to “decide the destiny of the detainees according to appropriate judicial procedure.”

With all due respect to the men of God, I think they fail to understand the nature of the Biya regime. Biya is has only one way of communication and governance–rule by decree. In 35 years in power, he has not demonstrated a culture of dialogue or compromise. He engages only in monologues. The word dialogue does not exist in Biya’s vocabulary. How can the bishops expect Anglophone civilian political detainees who are charged with death penalty offenses to receive justice in a military tribunal? I fear that the bishops of Cameroon did not read the message the Holy Father, Pope Francis gave to President Biya when he visited the vatican last month. The Pope clearly told Biya to “respect human and minority rights” of Cameroonians! That is a clear reference to the atrocities perpetrated in the Northwest and Southwest regions. http://www.news.va/…/pope-francis-receives-president-of… The Bishops want dialogue between the parties. That is a good thing. There is just one small problem. Who is going to dialogue with the government when the Anglophone leaders are in jail? The Bishops need to tell Paul Biya one Latin phrase: habeas corpus! Release all the Anglophone political detainees. They have to remind him what the Pope told him, namely, that he has to respect human and minority rights in Cameroon. Left to itself, the Anglophone problem is slowly spinning out of control before our very eyes. The bishops of Cameroon mean well, but their message may be too little, too late to move Paul Biya. You can’t teach an old dog new tricks. Lyombe Eko Prof. at Texas Tech University but hails from Buea.

Aboh Anjah Martin questions if the Bishops have the legitimate write to call off the strike;

“Did this bishops organize any strike in Cameroon if no then why is it that they are those trying to call off the strike?”

Mark Bara laments on the letter stating that; “You must have read a certain Communique coming from the Bishops Episcopal conference signed by Bishop Samuel Kleda. They are calling for resumption of schools, end of ghost towns etc. In fact, the wordings of the Bishops sounded exactly like the CPDM government prepared text delivered to them in a holy masked because it failed the test woefully. In fact, we can grade it -5/20…I am by this short notice calling on Southern Cameroonians to reject the Bishops of Cameroon latest communique signed by Bishop Samuel Kleda. That Communique which fails to even call for the release of our people, it does not meet the aspirations of the Southern Cameroons people…The communique from Yaounde signed by Bishop Samuel Kleda is another form of tyranny and slavery. Enough.”

Ndzi Kibuh hammers that “Bishop kheda and his Episcopal council hate the TRUTH, the Bible says know the truth and the truth shall set you free”.

” It is worrisome that Bishops with all respect will involve themselves in such dirty political game masterminded by the Biya regime. God is supreme no matter what.” Marie Sengue

“Bishops who do not realize the arrest of innocent citizens, Bishops who do not demand for fair treatment of all are culprits in disguise…” Lestrong WCam

“This is worth nothing… See who is talking about decentralization here? We don pass that stage…. Finally the francophone bishops are simply doing something else. They need to understand what SC needs” Don Papi

” I expected u start by urging Biya to release those who can dialogue nonsense.if you want to use God’s name be honest and call a spade a spade” Gillian Lemma

“Total nonsense.see Bishops playing politics. at what time are they calling parents to send their children to school.to go study what? At what time?Has the school year not ended or they are talking of next year?they are threatened by the case against them?sorry they are out of topic” Enesto Akanga

” Rubbish!!! The bishop that value country stability and financial motivation as school subsidies need to be recalled by God because he has missed the line of his calling already. No single francophone support the freedom of anglophones even their clergy!!! If you are my church leader, you must act in line with Christian norms or we disown you. That we have already done for any one who still wish to enter into covenant with injustice!!!” Grace Siefrank

“Its a pity for Cameroon. Bishops are too carried away from the path of the people. What humanity do they want to protect with that crap. Shame to those Bishops”  Illoh Ikenge

” Since the crises sparked off 6 months ago, I have been to Church on many occasions and have listen to Mass Intention with captions like:
– For Peace to reign in our beloved country Cameroon
– Asking God to grant peace in Cameroon etc….
Bidding prayers or Prayers of the faithful have also taken same suit and coining. I have NOT heard any Prayer in church supplicating for retributive and equitable Justice. Does this pretext challenges Pope Pius X’s (he himself a Conservative Roman Catholic) assertion that “where there injustice there is no hope of peace because peace is the work of justice”? Cameroon’s painful troubles are embedded in the number of gross unjust and hidden agendas inflicted on Southern Cameroonians for 55 years. Let us do Justice then peace will reign!” Tangka Eric

Mbilam Samson Jumbam thinks that the letter does not reflect that written by the Bishops of Bamenda Ecclesiastical Province reiterating that; “The current Letter proves nothing but complacency of Francophone Bishops. How long have they taken to react to the Anglophone crises? The message is teleguided. After all, petrol bonds will flow”

Shey Tatah Sevidzem

Shall the Catholic University Institute of Buea (CUIB) betray or Unite?

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Shall the Catholic University Institute of Buea (CUIB) led by its president Fr Nkeze George Jingwa be the Lone Private University at the University games in Bamenda? Rumor has it that they arrived yesterday already with a 90 man delegation.

Photo credit CUIB

The message that has been circulating online with a negative connotation given to its president Rev, Father Nkeze George Jingwa shall be analysed below based on the trend of events.

“The Private University of Rev Fr George Nkeze, which in the public eye passes for an institution of the Diocese of Buea is already in Bamenda with a delegation of about 90 students to take part in the Universe Games. They arrived Bamenda a today, a day earlier than the official time of arrival for the delegations of participants.”

photo credit CES Buea

Yes, the university games are scheduled from the 22nd to the 29th of April. Arriving on the 19th of April, 3-4 days before the event entails a whole lot of things, extra cost in both accommodation and feeding, extra cost in security measures but also give them room to rehearse on the ground ahead of the games. The church teaches more on assisting the needy, of what use shall an institution spend huge amounts to provide for 90 students and maybe their guardians for 4 days when this shall weigh later on the parents and students be it on the high paid fees or lack of school facilities to make education affordable for all? Could this be some kind of misdirected charity or a ploy to extort more money from the Government and the organizers? Whoever is paying for this should think of the doctors working in deplorable conditions, poorly equipped hospitals, lack of good roads etc.

“This arrival was planned early enough by Fr Nkeze to be sure that nothing disturbs his arrival, not even the trial of the Bishops of Bamenda and Kumbo. It looks like this is the only Private University in the Southern Cameroons that is going to participate in the games.”

CUIB for credit

Yes, there is no doubt that this year’s games shall be marked by the absence of private higher institutions in the NW and SW regions due to the strike that has been going on for 6 months. Even the Equinox TV reporting yesterday confirmed to have been on the field and confirmed that schools have not been going on in these regions, as such they can not participate in the games since they are closed. For CUIB to be reported as already landed in Bamenda, can be interpreted by many as not only the lone private school but as the school that has betrayed the Anglophone cause. This is not the first time Fr Nkeze is being linked to as betraying the Anglophone struggle. In the mid January 2017, the interim consortium attacked Fr Nkeze on this same issue which led to the Executive Assistant of the Institution Lynn Nanyongo Masua sending out a disclaimer that Fr Nkeze was in the USA and had not done anything as such.

CUIB

“Fr Nkeze does this with impunity always. He does not even bother that his Bishop has been booked by government. What does Fr George Nkeze want to teach the Diocese of Buea and the Universal Catholic Church? What is he up to?”

Why should Fr Nkeze bother when he is allegedly receiving assistance and support of the Regime? It is even said that the regime assisted in the transportation and security of students when upon return decided to continue to keep the school running. Fr Nkeze in February based on the Open letter to the Interim Consortium leaders that circulated challenged them and according to the message on his Facebook page by Walters kimah and i quote.

“Canon Law regulates the powers of a Diocesan Bishop. Can. 391 (1), “It is for the diocesan bishop to govern the particular church entrusted to him with legislative, executive and judicial power according to the norm of law.”

Can. 394(1) “A bishop is to foster various forms of the apostolate in the diocese and is to take care that in the entire diocese, or in its particular districts, all the works of the apostolate are coordinated under his direction…”

The Bishop is the proprietor of schools, colleges and universities within his jurisdiction, and everything is coordinated “under his direction.” The Bishops of the Ecclesiastical province just issued a letter telling the government they did not close any schools.”

If the Bishop is what he claims to defend, then why should Fr Nkeze choose to go to Bamenda to fulfill a government call to an event and ignore that of his boss which is mobilizing stuidents to appear before the Buea High court on the 24th of April. Does it mean that he prefers to run the school with the Government and not with the Bishop and the church?

The contradiction of Fr Nkeze’s actions again come in when he in the same letter states:

“The Anglophone struggle is against the government and elites who have and enjoy political power. It is against the forces of law and order and the police who militarize and brutalize our citizens. It is for a two-state Federation. It is for the release of all Anglophones locked up in jails with no due process. It is against CRTV that propagates lies, and it is for the restoration of the internet in our zone. The reason why I supported Dr. Agbor Nkongho was because he articulated these issues in the most succinct, clear and non-violent manner. He did not attack people even when they disagreed with him. He always repeated that he did not have the monopoly of knowledge and solicited advice to strengthen the struggle. He knew all anglophones did not support the struggle, but was ready to persist in his belief. That is why I joined this struggle. I contributed as an intellectual with my vast knowledge in political science and Law. I articulated the problems and solutions, but never advocating for Biya or the Betis who do not support us to be killed or harassed. This is the struggle I know and subscribed to. ”

Are his actions based on the fact that he should not be attacked because he disagreed with the idea of no schools to address the anglophone problem or that is his own way of standing with the struggle to get those released by working with the regime that has put all on captives?

Fr Nkeze therefore needs to be watched closely if one needs to look at the Fr Nkeze of 2015 22nd June when Median post Newspaper reported that he made a comment to the Cameroonian Youth on how to be Self reliant and Job creative and the Fr Nkeze of today.

“youths need to realise that the developmental goals are a vision, and that they must be at the centre because it concerns them. He urged government not to stop seeing the youths as a thread to their position or people always ready to go on strike but as people whose needs and views need to be taken into consideration since their future depends on how the government invest on them.  Discussions at this Youth Symposium were under the theme, “Emergence before 2035, myth or reality”; wherein, participants presented pictures of a Cameroon they want and are working for. The views ranging from a self-sustainable Cameroon, a Cameroon free from the pangs of bribery and corruption, a society of peace with accountable and reliable leaders, and a host of others.”

When Bishop Bushu of Buea wrote that the Priests of that Diocese have never accepted and received him, was Fr Nkeze amongst? Or is he amongst those spearheading this rejection and thus reasons for his actions?  What really is Fr Nkeze up? People do really change.

Shey Tatah Sevidzem

 

Did the court of First instance summon only the Bishops of Bamenda?

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The allegations that three out of the 4 mainstream churches in the Anglophone region of Bamenda  summoned to court (Catholics, Presbyterians & Baptists) have been declared as mere rumors by the Presbyterian authorities as they argued that such a summon had not reached the moderator yet. “The Communication Secretary of the PCC, Rev Mokoko Mbue Thomas said it was only a rumor and told reporters that to the best of his knowledge the PCC Moderator has not been summoned except the said summon is still to reach them.” CIN

Nothing has been heard from the Baptist authorities but the Bishops of the catholic church have made the summon public, and it is even all alleged that the Archbishop announced in church Friday 14th during Friday service that he and his collaborators have been summoned before the court of first instance in Bamenda because of some “silly” allegations on the 21st of april 2017 and that Christians were welcome to accompany them who are also part of the accusations.

Bishops from Nso

Archbishop of Bamenda

 

Bishop of Kumbo

Here are the scanned copies of the Summon of the Roman Catholic Bishops in the Ecclesiastical Region of Bamenda . Some major points/accusations worth noting; the complaint accuses the church of not paying teachers hence affecting or depriving the state of enjoying taxes, want to win the sympathy of teachers and parents for collecting money and not paying teachers and most interestingly for me demands the church to pay 150 billion francs cfa for the damages while jailing the church leaders.

If the Catholics have to pay the price, what of other church authorities? CIN reports that “The PCC has 22 Secondary schools, 233 Primary and Nursery schools with 640 and 980 teachers respectively. All these schools have remained closed since the strike action began.” Does this mean that they have been paying their taxes and teachers and therefore should not appear before the court?

The Muslims have a good number of schools and teachers as well, but they have not been accused meanwhile schools have also been interrupted likewise the Baptist institutions. Shall the government look into their cases later after dealing with the Catholics? Could the Catholics alone have stopped the strike if they asked their schools to resume?

It should be noted that during the PM’s visit, the Catholics and other authorities promised to keep their premises open and that it was left on the parents to decide when to send their kids to schools, but the parents had opted for security of their kids than education.

After reading the summons and the counts, Gwaranko Mdzeka had this comment to make; “The government of this nation,just like any with of its ‘type’,is a specialist in diversion.the government must know like us all,that her failure to give subventions to private / confessional sectors of our educational system,has contributed also to the non payment of these teachers.has the government,now throwing the first stone paid the contract teachers she employs ? Has any one dragged them to court ? These are the last tricks of a ‘dying dog'”

The Church leaders have opted to write to the faithfuls and also asked them to accompany them to court.

Why should the church and religious leaders be used as “escape goats” for the failed school resumption? Who did not do his homework well. With the religious leaders called up to court, might change then events of things and this can again be another ploy to buy time for the struggle and carry out more arrests disrespecting the orders of the UN that has called for release and dialogue.

Shey Tatah Sevidzem.

“Chanctou Challange” as the Presidential couple met the pope

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It was the second time as the presidential couple, Paul and Chantal Biya met with the Pope today in Rome. The Pope granted President Paul Biya a 30 minutes audience. The Two leaders discussed the role the Church plays for the development of the country, especially in the fields of education and healthcare.

We learn from a statement released by the Holy See Press Office, that the discussions were cordial, and highlighted the good existing relations between the Holy See and Cameroon.

The Zenith reports that they spoke about the importance of favoring national cohesion, whilst giving precedence to the richness of various historical and cultural traditions of the country, in respect for human rights and the rights of minorities.  The President later met with the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and Secretary for Relations with States, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher.

Our First lady Chantal Biya was seen performing the Bidoung Pkatt “Challenge” or call it “Chantou Challenge”  when she bowed as deep as she could to kiss the hands of the Holy Father. A gesture that shows her humbleness and uniqueness. A natural woman who never forgets her background even as seen from her steps as she is always being ushered and easy to miss them.

This visit to the pope by the head of state has been interpreted by some analyst as a ploy to get Pope Francis to visit Cameroon as his predecessors St Pope John Paul II twice and Pope Benedict xvi.

Shey Tatah Sevidzem

How Many People accompanied President Paul Biya to Italy?

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The news of the Yaounde 1 choir to accompany the president to his state visit in Italy was received as a shock and surprised to many especially those based here at home (Cameroon). About 50 students were flown to Italy, more than 5 Cabinets ministers and many without portfolio joined the presidential couple. With these groups put together, one could come to the neighborhood of more than 100 people. This gives the estimate of more than 100 Million to be spent on transportation and logistics alone by the delegation excluding that to be spent by the Ministers, diplomats and the presidential couple. Theirs might be in a special budget.

Many are of the opinion that tax payers money should be used to rescue emergency situations back home like in the health care industry, providing more infrastructure and medical care to many who can not afford. Images of patients needing attention and care flourished all over the social media as examples of where such funds could be put to use.

For the students selected and who had the opportunity to perform at the chapel of the Italian president, they insistingly claimed that their trip to Italy was at the invitation of the Italian president Sergio Mattarella in relation to the state visit of President Biya and not the other way round. Is this what these students need at this time of their career?

A cross section of the CPDM militants in Italy (Europe) and some French speaking Cameroonians cheered as the president paraded and was accorded military honors. The English speaking on the contrary were spotted with placards protesting from restricted positions as the police blocked them from the scene.

President Biya in his press conference acknowledged the situation in the two Anglophone regions promising to do everything to bring peace and calm in the regions, stating that Cameroon is united and rich in its diversity.

The state visit of president Biya has not been an issue as it was but normal to return the visit based on the invitation. The problem Cameroonians have is the misdirected charity that takes place during this visit. It has become a tradition that public funds are misuded anytime the president leaves the country for another. Those in the diaspora can testify this and it is often used as an opportunity for both the diplomats and those who sacrifice to go welcome him to make some extra cash.

It suffices enough to suddenly create a CPDM ward (branch) and get some of the attire and the Cameroon flag shared by the diplomats.

I happened to have enjoyed from this source of charity and can speak with facts.

In 2009 while studying in one of the Universities in Scandinavia, President Biya was invited amongst other presidents of the world for the COP15 (Climate Change) in Copenhagen. When news reached  Cameroonians in Copenhagen, i was convinced to call for a meeting to seek ways on how to welcome him and present our issues. I was acting as the interim coordinator of a newly created group called “Goodwill”.

In that meeting i found myself debating alone and supported by just one lady who later change sides that the meeting was a CPDM meeting. A group i never knew existed suddenly became very strong active. They must have learnt from other countries how easy it was to make money.

To make the long story short, we had to agree at some point when the Ambassador came to form a neutral group to welcome the president. I was asked to coordinate this new  group purposely to Welcome President Paul Biya. The Hotel was reserved for the president with a 17 man delegation. Our president came with 62 and there was no space for them, knowing Copenhagen as a not very big town to host all the delegates. This number 62 excludes those brought by the ministries, so you can alrerady have an estimate yourself. He had to stay in the private home of the Honorary consul Axel Juhl to provide space for his delegation. (Usually military men)

But guess what? We stood in the snow for hours at the entrance to the consul, and when the moment came, he drove passed as if no fly existed. We retired to the hall where we had prepared dinner worth 8 Million for a crowd of less than 50.

It was at this Hall that money was distributed to us. I stood my grounds and with the “holier than thou attitude” not to collect any dime as i saw almost everyone rushed for their share. The owner of the Hall Mr. John Njombua scolded me of my foolishness; He said and i quote; “Look Shey Tatah, i know you as a man of honor, whether you collect of not, the money has already been budgetted as spent…someone else will fake a signature and have, it is our tax payer money, i collected because of ther many hours i spent on the snow…”. Do i need to remind you of the “speed” i shamefully ran for my own share? We all received about 100.000 Frs each and something special of course for the Coordinator.

On the president’s departure two days later, i received a call from the Ambassador, he was still at the airport to accompany the president and be sure that he left for France. In this Call, the Ambassador did not speak long; this is what he said to me: (Mr Shey Tatah, the president is about to leave, is it possible to meet with some few Cameroonians and say thank you? I still have some Change.) Yes you read right, he still had some change, meaning after having spent all that much, there was still some to share out while our people are suffering back home.

In 30 mins, i called him back to confirm the venue, a student hostel where i lived had a very nice Bar and all we needed to do was to buy drinks. In less than two hours, news spread like wild fire and more than 50 Cameroonians were there. The white guys who lived at the Hostel and came to the bar benefitted from our hospitality but not generosity of cash. They drank to their satisfaction. We went home with an extra “change” of about 50,000 Frs each.

This story is to paint the picture of how much money is displayed and spent when the president leaves the country. You can then imagine how much money leaves the country. So do not be surprised to see even protesters going for their Gombo when it is time for it is their right and Money.

Do we therefore need to take people from Cameroon along when we have enough in the diaspora already? Share the money to the students, buy them laptops,(laughs) equip the Schools and provide them scholarships not flight tickets for 2 days.

News reaching me  states that some have already escaped to their networks, some stranded and some still thinking whether to return or not. Yes during such moments, Business men and women use their “heads” to get visas for many to travel and become illegal. Lucky ones end up legal but do not be surprised that some of these might use the present crisis to seek asylum. Relatives and friends of others already came to Italy to pick them up to their various countries in europe as they still have valid tourist visas.

Shey Tatah Sevidzem