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Chapter 3 - North and South West: Factors in Reunification
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67 Chapter 3 North and South West: Factors in Reunification A Case of Identity The strength of the nation at large depends on the coherence of the individual families, ethnic groups and larger units that constitute it. And, since much of the art of nation building from disparate polities is done by using the rear mirror of history to chart the way forward, the examples of the rise and decline of old nations and states is usually taken as models. For Cameroonians, the example of Germany its erstwhile colonial master is most instructive. Theirs was a conscious and deliberate option in which they took off with 300 principalities or states in 1648; coalesced into 39 at the Treaty of Paris in 1815, then again in 1849 and finally in 1871 unified as the German Empire under the hegemony of Prussia with Count von Bismarck as Chancellor and Frederick William I as Emperor. This was a clear case of unity in diversity and not unity in uniformity with states like Hannover, Bavaria and Prussia itself retaining their identities within a Germany, whose political, commercial, industrial, naval, military and imperial might became globally overwhelming and even threatening. Therefore, it is illogical and impractical to conceive of a solid unity of the whole (Cameroon) without considering that of the parts that embrace it. Thus, to place the North and South West Regions that until 1972 constituted the State of Southern and later West Cameroon, as anything less is clearly being oblivious of the historical hallmarks, lessons and milestones through which the present Regions passed, conscious that people are products of their past. It would also be tantamount to dismissing the bases on which anyone can talk of an “Anglophone problem” or their marginalization within the larger Cameroon unit. With the passage of time, political intrusions and even some disguised English-speaking Cameroonians by word and deed have distorted the historical concept of the ‘State’ of Southern/West Cameroon. This is extensively and rapidly being eroded and fading into the textures of; a “minority group”, section, or even being attributed 68 tribal connotations and equations. Much worse, there are those who regard the Anglophones as nothing more than insatiable trouble makers and rabble rousers, who deserve no undue attention. It is such culpable ignorance that this work sets out to redress. Such of course is oblivious of the historical origins of the North and South West Regions and far removed from the point of departure on 1 October 1961, the significance and invincibility of which was engraved in Article 47(1) of the Federal Constitution. Reunification and independence on which it was mounted historically remains a political decision, the dissolution of which paradoxically was predicated on unsubstantiated economic excuses. However, the socio-cultural, economic and ethical traits are indelibly ingrained in the consciousness of the people. Historically, Cameroon comprises Anglophones Francophones distinguished by culture, language and geography. Without reference to this foundation, there can be neither reason nor basis for talking of an Anglophone problem. This is the basis for corporate feeling, identity and the platform from which to declare such distinctiveness and be recognized as such. By the way, it was Southern Cameroonians (NW and SW) who sought for and fought for reunification at a time when French Cameroonian political leaders were still dabbling with ideas of fusion into France as an extension of the French Overseas Community. This was one major reason which Endeley claimed led him to turn his back on “reunification”even with Dibongue the leader of the French Cameroon Welfare Union. The logical excuse was that Southern Cameroons could not be contemplating reunification with French Cameroon which was toying with becoming an overseas territory of France.96 The real tragedy is that since the parting of ways of the influential troika comprising Mr: Ekontang Elad and Doctors Carlson Anyangwe and Simon Munzu, who like the magi in Bethlehem ably galvanised the Anglophones and infused in them a sense of identity, focus and purpose, the Anglophone cause has since become a spent force. Presently, with so many discordant factions with voices contradicting 96 In the recent past, especially during the political campaigns in the 1990s, there was fervid talk of Sawa connections galvanising South Westerners against the North West but this pretty soon vaporized. [3.238.12.0] Project MUSE (2024-03-29 07:31 GMT) 69 each other’s values and demands, there is an endemic crisis of leadership. Were the powers that be ready to address the so...