Cameroon Political Story: Memories of an Authentic Eye Witness

Contents

iii Table of Content Preface………………………………………………………….ix Foreword………………………………………………………. xiii Chapter One My Early Days………………………………………………… 1 At Death of Uncle Iyele D .O. Anderson Visits Lipenja My Father’s Reaction Another Kumba N .A. Scholarship Those College Days The Second World War My Return from School I Meet Zik Chapter Two As a Journalist in Zik’s Press………………………………… 19 I Face D.O. Newington Chapter Three Trade Union Days……………………………………………..25 “Crawley Must Go” A Desperate CDC Move Chapter Four I Become Assemblyman……………………………………… 33 Home Coming For an M.P My Father’s Exit Chapter Five The Eastern Crisis of 1953…………………………………… 39 The Cameroon Bloc The Crisis Shifts to Lagos The Bloc Splits - Endeley Announces Policy of “Benevolent Neutrality” Eastern House of Assembly Dissolved KNC versus KPP 1953 Elections Constitutional Advance: London Conference 1953 iv KNC Wins 1953 Elections 1953 Election Results (Southern Cameroons) KNC Action Group Conclude Alliance (1954) Dr. Endeley’s Government - 1954 Chapter Six LagosReassembledConstitutionalConference; January-February1954SouthernCameroonsGains………………… 65 Quasi-Federal Status Federal Elections 1954 KNDP Launched In 1955 1957 London Conference Senate Representation Chapter Seven Elections 1957-1959 and Constitutional Matters…………….. 77 The 1957 Campaigns KPP Song We Attempt A KNDP/ KPP Government Motomby and Mbile Returned Ideological Conflict - KPP/KNDP UPC And OK Support KNDP The Wind of Change The Endeley - Galega Story Endeley Installed Premier Premier Endeley’s Government - 1958 New Ideological Battle Line London Constitutional Conference 1958 The Southern Cameroons Delegation Foncha Wins the 1959 Elections Foncha Installed Premier as Nkrumah Visits Premier Foncha’s Government - 1959 The Great Debate on Unification I Visit America As Petitioner at the United Nations That “Famous” Letter Chapter Eight Plebiscite Campaign and Results…………………………… 113 Green Box and White Box v CPNC Born Thirteen: Thirteen The Frambo Episode Second Thoughts Plebiscite Day Results by Number of Votes in the Southern Cameroons Plebiscite It Was Glorious To Be There Chapter Nine Interpretation of Plebiscite Results………………………….. 127 Battle Shifts to the United Nations The Last Battle at the UNO (CPNC Delegation April, 1961) Cameroonians Listened In New York - Change Of Heart? We Return Together Bamenda Consultations June 1961 Chapter Ten The Foumban Conference and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Cameroon………………………………………... 137 KNDP Does It Alone During Provisional Arrangement 1961 Elections The Mensah Commission 1961 Election Results More Faithful Fall Honourable Motomby–Woleta Passes Provisional Arrangements Cracks in the KNDP Premier Jua’s Government 1965 Chapter Eleven KNDP Breaks Up……………………………………………...161 Jua Heads Coalition Government The Spirit of a National Unity Muna Becomes Prime Minister A Happy Surprise I Meet an Angry Fon The Bafut Succession Of 1969 Premier Muna’s Government - 1968 vi Chapter Twelve My Closing Days……………………………………………… 181 The Tanjong Committee of Investigation Inescapable Conclusions The Irony of Fate I Lose another Friend My Exit 20til May 1972 “Peaceful Revolution” Some of the Actors in the “Cameroon Political Story” Chapter Thirteen The National Party Idea……………………………………… 203 Cameroon’s Ever Unfolding Political Scene Faith with the Spirit of Our Ancestral Past Chapter Fourteen The Unfinished Task…………………………………………. 209 Our National Parliament: The Goo of Dossiers and Late Pay: The Question of Priorities: Chapter Fifteen The Cameroonian Character…………………………………. 215 Chapter Sixteen Cameroon Takes Its Stride…………………………………… 221 Exit Ahidjo, Enter Biya Biya Asserts His Time Biya Surmounts a Mighty Coup A Tribute to the Heroes of the April Coup Of 1984 Chapter Seventeen Rudolf Douala Manga, a National Hero……………………..235 The Execution of Rudolf Douala Manga and Adolf Ngosso DinEye Witness Testimonies: Signatories Fate of the Bell Dynasty (Alexander Douala Manga Bell) vii Chapter Eighteen Milestones Here and There…………………………………...249 The First Thirteen Motomby-Woleta Was My Friend Uncle Paul Came and Went An Era Passes (Dr E.M.L. Endeley, 1916-1988) Foncha Has A Place Twenty Years in the Wilderness (1972 - 1992) More Outstanding Actors Cameroon Republic Prime Ministers Row (1958 - 1999) Chapter Nineteen The Return of Multiparty Politics……………………………. 271 Paul Biya Speaks For Democracy Multi- Parties Return Achidi’s Stormy Time Musonge Mounts the Stage Changing Of the Guards at CDC Chapter Twenty The Cameroon Political Balance Sheet………………….. 283 viii ...