The Dangerous Fallouts Of UB Strike

By J. Tanch Buea

For most, the University of Buea strike has come and gone but for those perceived by the Vice- Chancellor as causing it, the threats to life, career and studentship have just begun. The unfolding drama can potentially spill out of control. It is apparent from a review of the extensive comments of the handling of the strike by Dr. Dorothy

Njeuma online that some have read her tendency to cast a simple student strike in ethnocentric terms as capable of igniting a Rwandan-like Hutu/Tutsi pogrom in Cameroon. The signs are clearly ominous.

The authorities insisted from the onset that the events in the University was either a Northwest conspiracy to militarily take over the University or an insurgency by the SCNC to achieve the same objective.

It is obvious to any keen observer that this attempt at deceit through self-delusion was the result of two factors. Firstly, being an Ahidjoist adept at the totalitarianism of the past, the VC regards the use of maximum lethal force as the best method of breaking a strike by kids too young to be her grandchildren.

She considers genuine dialogue with our children whom she has uncharitably labelled hooligans as amounting to bending "over backward to pat them on the back as if what they have done is right". The implication is that it is demeaning for her to do so since the “students, parents and lecturers criticise and run down” the regime every day.

Secondly, there is also the profit motive in presenting the crisis as an SCNC insurgency. It was by this that the government was scared into sending enough gendarmes and police to guard the University against the “SCNC and its guerrillas.”

This way, the VC's sister who strangely won the contract to feed them at the battlefields of the University would make money. When SYNES UB branch indicated in their communiqué that the VC was unwilling to stop the strike, the naïve did not see this link! Rather, sadly, for the scheme, the visit of the Minister of Higher Education bust the bubble because there were no guerrillas of the SCNC or from the Northwest in sight.

We are told that a list of about 16 mostly Graffis and SYNES members at UB have been prepared for either elimination by thugs already imported for the purpose or the sack. The DVC Research, Prof. Emmanuel Chia, as well as one of the most dynamic deans on campus are heading this list.

The misfortune in the whole of this is that no one seems to consider the repercussions that is certain to ensue, if the threat is carried through. Are we so naive to assume that the Graffis will sit idly by while their elite sons are liquidated in UB? Or, perhaps, the naivety is attributable to the idea that the Graffis are so populous that they will not notice the elimination of a few of their children?

It may be recalled that in a speech replete with provocative extremism by the VC and published in The Post of June 6, 2005, it was asserted thus: "It is a shame that so-called Anglo-Saxon values which we are supposed to cultivate at the University of Buea are being turned upside down by some teachers with the complicity of some parents.

It is certainly not in the Anglo-Saxon tradition for students to refuse to dialogue…It is common knowledge that members of SYNES UB  have contributed little or nothing to make the University of Buea beautiful. Rather, they have continued to nurture a culture of lawlessness through their persistent defiance of authority and by instigating students to riot and to destroy…"

As a sit-tight leader, one expects the VC to be incensed by the call by SYNES UB for her to resign over her inability to resolve the strike, yet find her allusions to Anglo-Saxon values at UB embarrassing.

The refusal to dialogue may or may not be Anglo-Saxon, but how a woman who has hung on to her position as VC for over 13 years in total defiance of the decree creating the University of Buea finds the moral authority to yarn about Anglo-Saxon values and lawlessness is truly incredible.

Is respect of the law creating an institution like UB not a basic Anglo-Saxon tenet? Rather than accuse SYNES UB  of lawlessness, the VC should address the  outrageous lawlessness of her tenure. It is rational to assume that the lawlessness that permeates the appointment of the leadership of UB would inevitably be transmitted downward and not otherwise.

  The contempt for a plurality of thought and opinion at UB is demonstrated in the University's hatred for SYNES as shown in her speech above and refusal to recognise an independent student union body, in spite of the advice of her boss, the Minister of Higher Education.

This is not Anglo-Saxon, but rather an oppressive method of managing a university, which is bound to fail because times have changed and things must change either peacefully or through strikes.

Regardless of the nostalgia for the one-party style of managing universities under the Ahidjo era, a management style where threats are issued to students to go to class or be dismissed can no longer be sustained in UB. Nor, would the University afford to revert to the era of banning courses (as some have suggested) such as political science because of their so-called potential for subversion.

It is ludicrous to say that SYNES UB has not contributed to the beauty of the University when the school once placed members of this union on mission to Yaounde to source for credit and this, they successfully did to the relief of all and sundry.

SYNES members, it may be recalled, teach courses, supervise research projects and publish in standard journals. Is it being suggested by this assertion that only those who issue contracts to their kith and kin at UB are contributing to the beauty of the University?

One would naturally sympathise with the VC's pathetic position at UB, particularly as she noted in her speech: "anyone who comes near the Vice-Chancellor is an enemy to the rest of the staff."  But has she asked herself why?

Isn't that to be expected when she maintains a network of spies, attempts to sack staff who do not agree with her, suspend the salaries of scores of lecturers who are away on study leave, etc? Can one sow bitterness and hate but expect to reap peace and love?

  At what point would the cherished Anglo-Saxon tradition of resigning when things become untenable as they seem to be the case at UB be considered? The choices remain hers.

Comments

[Francis Nche]

Dr Njeuma is still living in the University dark ages before the internet era. Due partly to shame and embarrasment to the outside world, she is not willing to allow a website for UB. Her fears is that she might enter the Guiness book of records to be the first Doctor who after 22 years of PhD has never even published an abstract and yet she is a VC of a University. What is remarkable is that there is no shotage of Professors since the DVCs are all professor.

She may also be afraid that in the website her CV might be exposed which might be stuffed with questionable credentials. I think it is time for UB to have even a poorly build and never upgraded websites as in the University of Yaounde.

[Myra]

You guys criticise Mme Njeuma as if she is the was Cameroonian who has ever lived,who is living or who will live.Why not spend some time to look at the good things she has done for UB and the entire country.

As for all those wishing her evil,how is that going to help you.Is digging her graveor wishing her soul to rest in peace while she is still living the solution to the crisis?
A politician once said,the devil you know is better than the angel you don´t know,no one can tell the future,just pray for the best and donot return evil for evil.

[Tita]

U guys can talk about Ma Njuema but please leave Endely out of this.He is not the VC and who told you he has not published? You better check it again because I just read a publication of his about the CO2 accumulation in Lake Nyos.During the strike he tried to talk to the students but they would not listen to him.What do you really want him to do?

For those who think we are only thinking about the negative things that the VC has done,I don't see any problem with that.Where on earth have you heard that a person is criticised for doing good things? Yes,she has managed the resources of UB well,has realised some good projects which I think she will be remembered for.On the other hand, she has brought down the standard of education at UB.What happened to all the renoun UB professors? Where is prof Nyamjoh,Prof Njeuma (her husband) prof Jua etc.I think UB will be a better place if in addition to the infrastructures that She has developed we have all the profs around.

We are happy that she has succeeded in one area which is a rare accomplishment for a true Cameroonian but she has failed in another area and from every indication she lacks the ability to strive in that area.It is therefore logical to try somebody who has the potentials to succeed in the area that she failed.I think that is the only way UB can progress.

Tita

[to all]

Njeuma has done alot for you UB and deserve to be credited for that. If you compare UB and the other universities in Cameroon that sprang at the same, UB is miles away. Infact i want to say she is a good administrator but got some aspects that needs to overhauled. Like everybody, she has bad part. I want to caution all to be realistic in giving coments.

[MBECHA]

Well MYRA,
Even God at times returns evil for evil otherwise there would be no hell for those who choose to think away from His commandments. Anyway, I never return evil for evil but I think the paroxysm that spurts from many an angry voice in this forum is a sign that the actress has out-played her time and needs to walk out with the little honour left.

Shakespeare writes that when good trangresses it becomes patched with evil and when repentance is done the good patch rises and covers the filth that had been dorminating it. Madam the VC has done a lot of good for UB but I am afraid she is now covering all the glitters with the grey patches of greed and intransigence. We were still little toddlers when Paul Biya came up with the New Deal of Communal Liberalism. Musicians and griots sang his foresight. Women lulled their babies to sleep with lullabies invoking his vision. But today the same women console their hungry babes with the slogan that "one day sun go shine." Our primary school teachers composed Biya's speeches into songs and our innocent lips tuned them on February 11 and May 20. He gave us hope and inspiration with pictures of him tending succulent green pinapple fruits. But then, we have grown alongside communal liberalism and today we are full grown ass men and women but communal liberalism is still to rise from the womb of the abyss into which Biya's idiocy dumped her. Now all wish he had never walked on the face of Cameroonian politics.

When Njeuma took over as VC of UB 13 years(?) ago it was like she had Midas' golden touch. But She cannot claim to have changed everything alone. Even Midas depended on the geni. Yes, for the past 13 years, Madam the VC has tried her best to wash the linen of UB brighter than snow. But then, as the years have worn on the scum gathering at the bottom of the sceptic tank is finally overflowing. Unless it is flushed out, an infection would spread like a leprous spot through our very essence.

Every sun has its noon. The Paul Biyas, the Njeumas, and you name the rest of their cohorts have outlived their usefulness and should walk out.

As a poet says above, we'll sure weep for them when they fall.

[lamptey]

Foolish Mr. Francis Nche, do you know how the University of Dschang, Douala and IUT Bandjoun rcently ended up with brand new websites? They were designed by their students in some cases, or by alumni. If, as you claim, the VC does not want to develop a website as you falsely claim, what stops members of all those UB alumni associations parading the streets from building one? Is it the expertise that they lack? the money? NO!!

Don't we just love handouts!!!!

What is a website compared to the digital connectivity that UB boasts of which is a great tool for learning and research for both teachers and students????

Let UB ex-students contribute their quota to the development of their school or simply SHUT the F* UP!!!!

[Pascal]

Lamptey or whatever that means. Seems you are just writing from an abyss of ignorance. For your information, the UBAA(i.e. the UB Alumni Association) is a young association which has during its short lifespan done an admirable job like granting scholarships to deserving students and you name it. What is designing a website compared to these things. For your information any website must meet the aspiration of the people at the top and Dr. Njeuma's aloofness towards this group does nobody any good. I remember how we tried in vain at interceding during the hot days of the UB strike. So, Sir, it's not like this group is doing just nothing as you'll want to make believe. The earlier Dr. Njeuma comes down her high horse, the better for everyone and UB.

[Lamptey]

Pascal,

I happen to be a UB alumni and I witnessed first hand as the UB Ulumni associations both in Cameroon and the US could not even agree on a simple appeal for calm. Go and check the archives of the UB_Alumni forum at yahoogroups!. So please do not tell me about the association trying to "intercede in vain" in the crisis and being rejected by Njeuma. Dat one na lie! Njeuma has become every fool's doormat. I beg comot me dey!!

An alumni association does not need to be 100 years old in order to design a website for the mother institution .. or for itself for that matter. When do you think the Douala and Bandjoun alumni associations were created?? 1980???

Once again, we all want to eat where we did not plant. So let's assume that Njeuma, like most people of her generation in Cameroon are yet to grasp the full potential of the web (even the President of the Republic's website has been "under construction since 1997...) What have the UB alumni members, who have been exposed to this technology and know how to use it, done to bring the UB administration up to speed? Is there one document out there sent by the association to UB authorities that was ignored? NO!! Has the web issue ever come up in any discussion betweeen the association and UB authorities? NO!!

Man take responsibility and accept that we have generally failed our alma mata even if we might be individual success stories.

I.T. people use the term "turn key solution" whereby a complete product is presented to a client ready for use. All of you running your mouths about a website will get my respect only when you can deliver a complete website to UB. If the administration refuses it at that time, we can talk. But until then, let's just zip it!

And please, also stop that nonsense about the association giving "Scholarships". You and your kind are really getting on my last nerves!!!

[Christotpher Ngosong]

I can feel the pain of UB growing stronger than that of frontal headache, comments reserved !!!

[frank]

If an alumni association in goodfaith effort designs a website, it may or may not be accepted by the University, but the university will have no power to stop it. It can continue living as an excellent"unofficial" website. You are proferring excuses instead of acting. Do something for your alma mater, and try to calm things down.

[ackermann]

frank,there is something wrong with u.Whats the sense in creating an unofficial website for a university?How many unofficial university websites do u know?whats the meaning of a university by the way...?maybe u don't know the definition,so please go back to your books rather than talking nonsense,which just add pains to my swollen eyes...

[PETER]

I think that there is nothing wrong with madam vice chancellor of the university of Buea.The problem is with the LECTURERS who have decided to behave like sheep and dunkies.The lecturers do not believe that they are capable of effecting any meaningfull change at the university and within the country.Considering what i have said i will like to congratulate a few of them who have done everything to try to open the eyes of the sheepish ones.
How on Earth can the so call LECTURERS listen to the Minister, informing them on their faces that if they are not satisfied with the conditions at the university, they should leave and go abroad as others have done instead of staying around and faning students strikes.All these sheep remained silent without a word to the Minister.I wonder if actually these so call university LECTURERS,PROFESSORS,Ph.D Holders,do deserve the respect the population have been giving to them.
QUESTIONS:
1)IS IT THAT THEY ARE NOT SURE OF THEMSELVES?
2)ARE THEY SO AFRAID OF THEIR JOBS THIS MUCH?
3)DO THEY ACTUALLY HAVE THE CERTIFICATES THEY CLAIN TO HAVE?
4)THE ACT OF REMAINING SILENT,IS IT AN INDICATION THAT THEY CAN NOT BE EMPLOYED ELSEWHERE?
5) ARE THEY AWARE THAT THE POPULATION IS LOOKING UP TO THEM?
6)IS IT BECAUSE MOST OF THEM ARE FROM THE NORTH WEST AND ARE AFRAID OF INTIMEDATION FROM THE ADMINISTRATION?
7)IS THE MINISTER AFRAID THAT SOME LECTURERS ARE HIS POSSIBLE SUBSTITUTS,AND NEED TO BE SENT AWAY?
These so call Lecturers must seat up to correct the wrongs of the society.They must stand up as one force to help in the running of the NATION.
I think that in the future such attitudes from the Minister should be corrected,to let him realise that STAYING IN THE COUNTRY IS BECAUSE OF THE LOVE FOR ONES NATION AND NOT FRUSTRATION.
I ALSO THINK THAT THE MINISTER SHOULD HAVE BEEN DOING ALL IN HIS CAPACITY TO ENCOURAGE THOSE OUT OF THE COUNTRY TO RETURN,INSTEAD OF ASKING THEM NOT TO THINK OF COMING BACK.

[Alioum]

I found some ignorant people here. How can you attribute UB's infrastructure to Njeuma as a success and poor quality education as a failure. Infrastructure hould not be a success at all because quality if suppose to be a product of good infrastructure and not the other way round. I would prefer to sit in the open air and listen to the look-alikes of Fonlons than sit on cushions and listen to trash.
Call a spade a spade - Njeuma has been a disgrace to UB, period.

[Ashu A]

True Change can only be derived from the actions of the people and political leadership finds its truest moment when it acts upon the authentic will of the people. The students have taken the actions, let the political baboons act upon the will of the students.
Remember , NO RISK NO REWARD....so then lets try an angel we do not know than keep a devil we know. Njeuma should step down and give chances for other ideas ....or i gues she too is dreaming of greater achievements like her senior boss Biya?
God help US..
And Mbecha...thanks for reminding Myra that Evil can be return for Evil ..otherwise there will be no hell...Ignorance is purnishable by law remember.

[Atemlefac]

Yes Peter and Ashu we must realise that RISK is an important component of development.Fru Ndi took some risk and today we are able to reason better than yesterday.Many had to pay a price for that development.
The students took Risk and lost TWO of their friends;their families will feel great pains,but i wish to say that they remain heros, for the great sacrifice that will help to shape our Universities.
Let the LECTURERS at the University of Buea come out of fear and face the tigers and lions that are out to distroy our University.EXAMINING OUR SOCIETY WITH HORNESTY PLEASE LET THE OLD FOXES GIVE WAY TO THE YOUNG AND DYNAMIC CAMEROONIANS.CHANGE BRINGS LOTS OF DEVELOPMENT.IT IS TIME .

[Kitstuffer]

I nearly remained silent, but felt compeled to make a statement. Let some of us not use this "njangi house" to fan separatist tendencies, neither should we dare try to point fingers at individuals. I am a true reader of conscience from an opinion point of view. I will like us to give ideas that could help us build a better environment for our children. You all know UB has its standards that are perculiar with our culture (Anglosaxon). These values can hardly be compared to the other state intitutions, say University of Yaounde or Doula etc. Those of us who passed through the then UNIYAO can testify with you that UB should be held in high esteem by any right thinking Anglophone. As for the activities of Njeume in UB, all there is to see in it is that, truely she made a nice start. As you must know, most of such appointments are political. She was thanked for something with that possition and as such her being there for up to thirteen years is not of her will. It is not because she is the best. All we have to do now is to stand up as one man and woman and say " she has outlived her usefullness". The only way to do this is to post inteligent articles to official press organs calling her off. I am sorry that at her age she does not know how to calm down children on strike. She leaves her itching back and goes to scratch another person's own. shame to her. How could she blame the strike on proffessors?. If there is one thing she will be most remembered for, it will be that she nearly distroyed the UB.

[DJ]

Ackerman wrote:

"Whats the sense in creating an unofficial website for a university? How many unofficial university websites do u know?"

FYI, the cameroonian state univesity system has one central / official website, with the domain name "uninet.cm". The original plan was that each State university would have an official website created by the Ministry of Higher Education, as a subdomain of uninet. However, because of too much centralization and plain ineptitude, only the university of Yaounde I has some semblance of a website under uninet. And other universities can do nothing about this.

As a result ALL other universities and university faculties that are on the web today have created unofficial websites; personal initiatives by teachers, students or alumni. While most of these websites are very amateurish, they at least serve the noble goal of introducing their institutions to a wider world.

Find below a sample of these sites, whose design is well within the compentence of UB students the world over.

1. University of Douala
- http://www.u-douala.cm/

2. University of Dschang
- http://www.uni-dschang.org/index.php

3. University Institute of Technology, Bandjoun
- http://www.iutfv-bandjoun.net/

4. Department of Engllish University of Yaounde I
- http://www.freetocharities.org.uk/yaounde/

5.School of Journalism (ESSTIC)
- http://www.esstic-uy2.cm/

6. School of management (ESSEC) University of Douala
- http://www.essecdouala.com/