I Spit on their Graves: Testimony Relevant to the Democratization Struggle in Cameroon

Ben Muna Opts for Political Harakiri

77 Ben Muna Opts for Political Harakiri I have not yet laid my hands on the issue of JEUNE AFRIQUE in which Marc Yared reported his interview with Ben Muna. But, if what is reported about it in the Newspapers is correct, then it can confidently be predicted that Ben Muna has voluntarily chosen the path of political perdition…of political suicide. In fact, the same assertion could be made solely on the basis of Ben Muna´s interview with Julius Barthson and Patrick Sienne in CAMEROON POST, No. 159, April 16, 1993. Last year, this column had cause to write about Ben Muna and his premature abortive bid for the SDF presidential candidacy. (See Campost, September 24-Oct. 1, 1992). The said bid nearly caused an earthquake of rage among the grassroot supporters of the SDF. But in that situation, people seemed to be angrier with Ben Muna for the simple fact of being his father’s son than for his sheer presumptuousness in imagining that he had what it takes to challenge Fru Ndi. Apart from genealogical considerations and the fact that he occupies considerable physical space, what other quality could lead Ben Muna to the illusion that he could be elected President of Cameroon? As an advocate of meritocracy, yours truly, stepped in to emphasize that children should not be held responsible for their parent’s actions and to advise Ben Muna that he needed time and assiduous hard work to dispel the prejudices people have against him for being his father’s son. 78 Godfrey B. Tangwa (Rotcod Gobata) In the interview with Barthson and Sienne, which is full of incoherent contradictions and conceptual gaffs, Ben Muna claims that he is a “man of the people, not a bourgeois.” This is evidently false. If he were in any way close to people at the grassroots, he would surely be aware that Anglophones (West Cameroonians) are generally extremely bitter against his father and that many have always considered him (Ben Muna) a serious liability to the SDF on that account. There is no doubt that Solomon Tandeng Muna´s political opportunism and chameleonism are what helped the dictator, Alhaji Amadou Ahidjo, to neutralize the likes of Augustine Ngom Jua and John Ngu Foncha thereby facilitating his 1972 coup d´état in which he annexed West Cameroon. During the All Anglophone Conference (AAC) in Buea last month, many people appreciated the fact that both Foncha and Muna were present. Foncha´s candour in admitting the limitations within which he negotiated the union with La République du Cameroun drew a lot of sympathy. Muna´s declared commitment to the present Anglophone cause also impressed many people. The general feeling in the crowds was that we should now forgive these two patriarchs and forge ahead with our struggle. But I heard at least one person declare that, while he had forgiven Foncha, he could never bring himself to forgive Muna. His reason was that Pa Muna not only sold us but was very selfish as can be seen from the fact that he used his position and influence to place all his children in very lucrative positions in La République. A story is still told how he once tried to impose Ben Muna as the legal adviser to the CDC. The attempt only failed when some people over played on the fact that Ben Muna is not exactly a bright lawyer, having taken twice the required period to earn his law degree. Children should not be held responsible for their parents’ faults, even for what they become through their parents’ fault. They should be held responsible for their own actions. 79 I Spit on their Graves: Testimony Relevant to the Democratization Struggle The actions by which we can so far judge Ben Muna indicate that he might have inherited strong political characteristics from his father. This being the case, it can be confidently asserted that Ben Muna has no political future at all, not a chance, if we succeed in democratizing. But, if we fail, it is possible that France could help him along because of their pathological fear of John Fru Ndi. Some people are talking of a possible or even imminent split within SDF. Personally, I don’t see any such possibility. If Ben Muna decides to quit the SDF, I can bet that he will not be able to take up to 12...