After Njeuma's Exit, Where Is Her Female Bakweri Successor?

By Francis Wache

Dr (Mrs) Dorothy Limunga Effange Njeuma is a lady who dazzles both her friends and foes.I first fell in love with her (figuratively, of course) far back in 1975 as a student in the University of Yaoundé, Cameroon's lone University then.

Anglophone lecturers, in an exercise of intellectual masturbation, had organized a debate on a topic that has slipped my mind.At the end of the debate, members of the audience were invited to make their contributions.

Dorothy took the floor. She immediately made her independence clear. "I'm not speaking because my husband is on the panel," she said. She then proceeded with a flourish.
At the time, we had just received lectures in our Linguistics course on Received Pronunciation, RP. "That is RP," I told myself gleefully.

I craned my neck to see the owner of the mellifluous voice. My eyes caught a dapper lady. There was a glint of pride in my eye. These were the Anglophones that made us proud.
There was Prof. Bernard Nsokika Fonlon that francophone students scrambled to listen to.

There was Minister Emmanuel Egbe Tabi who sent the roof of one of the amphitheatres almost splitting when, on a CNU intimation mission, all he said was: "My dear students, I salute you!" Frogs screamed: C'est l'homme qu'il nous faut. ("That's our man!)" It will be recalled that the post of Prime Minister had just been created and they were looking for some one to fill it.

When, in that year, Ahmadou Ahidjo, the iron-fisted autocrat, decided to progressively part company with the West Cameroon Headmasters and appointed Dorothy Limunga Njeuma as Vice Minister of National Education, my admiration for her soared.

Sadly, when Njeuma was alleged to have been conscripted to dilate the GCE exams, my esteem for her dipped. It was not clear what her role was but the fact that she could allow herself to be manipulated by those who wanted to francophonise the GCE was enough for us to cry for her to be pilloried. Fortunately, the storm passed. The GCE imbroglio left Limunga unscathed. My esteem for Auntie Limungs (as we jocularly called her) wavered.

My respect for Njeuma reached its nadir when, in the run up to one of the heavily flawed and massively rigged elections, she sat impassively as a political xenophobe shrieked that the eyes of all Come-No-Gos - opposition supporters - should be gouged.

I winced. Njeuma did not flinch. She sat on the dais, stoic, sphinx-like. I was numb with fear.Until the election came and passed, I lived through horrifying nightmares. Each time, Njeuma's face loomed and sneered at me. Reminiscent of the Rwanda genocide, I could distinctly hear her snickering that I was a cockroach and needed to be crushed.

When UB erupted into violence, I respected her mien and sangfroid as she struggled to contain the unrest. Despite the howling students, she did not bulge. That was a show of leadership for you. Even after Yaounde stepped in and established calm, she criticized the "egregious promises" made by the Minister. She relentlessly maintains that stance today.

When, recently, I learned that she had been canonized as one of the Saints of ELECAM, I was at once delighted and disappointed. Delighted because, in another time and another place, Njeuma would have been an ideal appointee for an outfit like ELECAM. Disappointed, also, because she is too dyed-in-the-CPDM-wool to ever be redeemable.

In fact, she is one of the 12 political CPDM Cardinals who anoint Cameroon's Pope. She can resign a million times from the CPDM but nothing doing. The CPDM virus has been her food and drink for the last 35 years! She is not a snake who can just slough off such indoctrination with the stroke of the pen. Except, of course… well…

Her CPDM hyena spots aside, she has had, in all fairness, a distinguished and honourable career: University don; Cabinet Minister; Director of the Buea University Centre; pioneer Vice Chancellor of the only Anglo-Saxon University of Buea; Rector of the University of Yaounde 1 and, yes, Member of the Politburo of the ruling CPDM party.

Yes! Yes!! Yes!!!
Also, the fact that she groomed two of her erstwhile Private Secretaries - Peter Agbor Tabi and Paul Njie Meoto - to become Ministers tells us a lot about her mentoring savvy, doesn't it?.

But, really, Sita, where is your successor in the Bakweri bloodline? Don't they say that good leadership nurtures new leadership in its wake? In any case, I suggest that, as soon as you return home, you should promptly convene The All Bakweri Female Leadership Forum. During that event, we'll anoint your heiress.

That's why I'll be honoured, Auntie, if you could indicate to me the day of your Small Soppo Homecoming. I'll certainly be there - with Effeti - in my sparkling sanja. We'll come along with timanabusa, kwakoko and frothing palm wine agogo to celebrate the return of a valiant native daughter.

One thing I know, though, after all is said and done, is that Iya Limunga has not said her last (political) word. Not yet.

Comments

[DR TAN OF CAMEROON]

MR FRANCIS WACHE.
I MOST COMMEND YOUR POSITION AND OFFICE IN THE POST INSTITUTION.
I DONOT WRITE HERE AS , A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE SOUTHWEST.
I AM NOT ALSO EMOTIONAL WITH YOUR WRITE UPS. IF SHE DID SOME OF THE THINGS , YOU ACUSE HER OF, THEN IT COULD BE SAID TO BE WRONG. BUT TWO WRONGS DONOT MAKE A RIGHT.
DONOT CALLED DR FOLON, BECAUSE YOU WANT TO CALL A DOG A BAD NAME TO HANG IT.
YOU ARE BEING DEVISIVE HERE, AND IT,S A SHAME.
THEY SHOULD NOT REPLACE PEOPLE BASED ON ON SEX OR TRIBE.

DR THOMPSN NTUBA

[Pride]

Dr Ntuba,

You must not write in bold capital letters for us to read. It is a put-off.

Secondly,you might have to re-write your posting above because it is just so obscure to understand.

[Tekum Mbeng]

Splendid writing by Francis Wache! This kind of writing nurtures the soul, regardless of the topic.

[Legima Doh]

I greatly the appreciate the heights that Njeuma could go to.Every sort of thing in the La Republique regime at the end boiled down to a daughter standing for the oppressor of her people and against the fight for liberation for her own people.Such greatest as described by Francis shall be considered a great treason.It doesn't matter whether it as a minister, a professor, a political bureau member and so forth.What is the overall legacy to her motherland?I left the answer to the forum.
God bless our motherland.
Legima Doh,
ScNc,UK

[rexon]

Comrade Legimah: Well spoken. Holding positions while betraying your own people is valueless. Cameroonians are more or less concerned about the power and wealth people accrue in life and not with the values they represent while accruing this power and wealth. In a perfect country, every CPDM buffon would have been in prison.

[Watesih]

If only appointing,not electing people could transform them into demons,and bestow them with the right to ask for the eyes of their countrymen to be gouged out,if only appointed officials could be so icy when their children are slaughtered in institutions they pretend to head,if only the sole aim of accumulating posts and end up being thrown to the wolves in the name of conducting elections,then there won't be any need for proud parents to nurse hopes of seeing their own daughters enter the political arena.As long as Njeuma got all her appointments from the CNU and CPDM,and is ready to follow the corpse to the grave,Cameroonians think all her qualifications cannot even qualify her to be a nanny to the daughters of Barrack Obama.Young Cameroonians who could naturally rise to her level have been brought down by the Police guns under her watch,and she is still ready to dare the whole Cameroonian people once more.All Biya is counting on is her wolfish wizardry,and knows she will deliver.

[red flag]

great piece watesih.

[red flag]

TAN is a confused man
If one doesnt have an interest in society,he then doesnt have any thing good to offer. Which french camerounese would
support the de-colonization of 8m british southern cameroonians, none, is it because
they are fools no. because the hate fairness, thats their culture, in french africa, soo, If TAN is from british southern cameroons, and hedoesnt support goodness andindependence for his countrymen, then he isnt fir to air here.
because ours is based on facts of history and what weask for is to be let alone. soo we can build our country for our children.
Thats not much for any nation to ask for.
EVEN FRENCH CAMEROUN WOULD HAVE ASKE FOR THE SAME, IF NIGERIA WAS illegally occupying their country.

[Bob Bristol]

The whole notion of grooming a successor is a complete failure in the context of Cameroon. Juema is not the only person to answer that question. The Biyas ,the Fru Ndis and the like should have tried their political heirs if power mongering had not been their central motive. When the "seniors" would learn to play the role of deputies, advisers and counsellors, there will be a solid base to cultivate transformational tendencies in Cameroon.

The lack of trust has destroyed every value we have as Cameroonians. When you set a pace, you become role model to others, when these "others" get a chance, they can rely on your advice.

May God see us through this nightmare.

[MOTABENAMA]

Wonderful Show of Journalism Francis. There is a lot of truism in what you wrote. Let the charlatans say what they like its their business. Those with great minds and the ability to call black black and white white will without any hesitation applaud you for this piece of honest writing. Some Cameroonians are so deeply blinded by this stupid, callous and unnecessary believe that if we hail from the same part of the country we have to support each other. Nation building and any form of patriotism and national pride is an absent factor in the minds of Cameroonians that's why they support people on silly grounds. If you look at this article and read it very well, if all is deciphered, i do believe the writer points out some of the wonderful achievements of Dorthy Njeuma, however, like any infallible person, she had cases many and some of which i know where she faltered. So man dont listen to detractors, do your job which is educating the public and you shall always be hailed by people like us who admire the wonderful work you are doing

[DR TAN OF CAMEROON]

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN.
CAMEROON CANNOT BE REBUILT, WITH BRICKS OF HATRED. SO MANY THINGS ARE ARE WRONG WITH OUR , COUNTRY. WE MOST LOOK FOR SOLUTIONS.
SOME ELEMENTS , ARE OUT TO DIVIDE AND DESTROY. WE CAN NOT CALL PEOPLE , FRUSTRATED ASYLUM SEAKERS, AND SAY THEY ARE ALL FORM BAMENDA, WARNING, AS WE DID, BECAUSE SOME OF A PERSON FROM THE SAME PLACE LIKE US, USING WORDS LIKE , HE SAID THERE ARE MORE HEALTH FACILITIES IN BAMENDA , THAN KUMBA. WE KNOW HOW TO MANIPULATE OUR LITTLE SELVES. GROWING UP PROCESS?
I HAVE OPENLY FOUGHT THE CPDM AND THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE. THE POST PUBLISH SO MUCH OF MY STRUGGLES AND PRESS CONFERENCES.
I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN CALLED RADICAL BY MY OWN PEOPLE , FOR INDEPENDENCE OF MIND.
THE POST IS NOT THE SOCIALIST CHRONICLE NOR L,ACTION.
MANY OF OUR PARENTS ARE THE SAME. LIKE THOSE ABOVE. LET THE DISCUSSIONS CONTINUE.

DR NTUBA THOMPSON MD PH. D

[DR TAN OF CAMEROON]

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN
THE DARKEST PART OF THE DAY IS TOWARDS DAWN. I BLEED FOR CAMEROON WITH WHAT IS GOING ON. DO I BELIEVE IN INTERNET STRUGGLE? NOT AT ALL. DO I BELIEVE IN UNTESTED FREEDOM FIGHTERS? NOT AT ALL. WHEN CAMEROONIANS , ARE READY TO DESTROY OTHER CAMEROONIANS , IN THE NAME OF POLITICS, I FIND IT SICKENING. LIKE ONE OF OUR SPEAKERS SAID , WHEN HE WAS WARNING , AND ABUSING, [CAN WE WRITE WITH OUR NAMES , IF WE ARE COURAGEOUS], THERE FAINT OF HEART SAY , THEY WANT TO KILL THEM. PARADOX[FREEDOM FIGHTERS].
GOD TOLD GIDEON TO REDUCE AN ARMY OF THOUSANDS TO 300 ABLED PEOPLE. WHY DO WE ALWAYS USE DIFFERENT STANDARDS. THERE ARE CAMERROONIANS THAT MOVED FROM ONE PARTY TO ANOTHER, IN RECENT PAST. WHAT DID THE POST DO. WROTE ALL THOSE THINGS ABOUT LYDIA EFIMBA, DID ANYBODY COMPLAIN. WHEN SOME INFORMATION COMES OUT THAT , CERTAIN PEOPLE IN CERTAIN PARTIES , HAVE HAD PREVIOUS MEMBERSHIP IN THE CPDM, WE GET EMMOTINAL AND START THROWING TANTRUMS. ARE SOME CAMERRONIANS , MORE SUPPERIOR BECAUSE THEY BELONG TO CERTAIN PARTIES.
IF NOT OF THE CONFUSION IN CAMEROON THAT PARTISAN POLITICS HAS CAUSED, WATER AND OIL, DONOT MIX.
DO WE MAKE THE DIFFERNCE BETWEEN, POLITICAL PARTY POSITIONS AND THE PUBLIC SERVICE. I REMEMBER WHEN MANDELA CAME FROM PRISON , AND WAS TRING TO ENGAGED DECLERCK IN AN INTELLIGENT MANNER, PEOPLE OF SHORT SIGHTEDNESS, WERE SAYING , HE WAS SELLING AWAY THE STRUGGLE. WHEN HIS OPPONENT WAS RIGHT, HE WAS QUICK TO SAY SO, WHILE ACKNOWLEDGING HIS OWN MISTAKES AND FIGHTING FOR WHAT WAS RIGHT AND NOT WHO WAS RIGHT. WE ALL HERE AND OUR LEADERS , ARE ALWAYS RIGHT, WHY ARE WE STILL
WRITTING.
I KNOW WHAT JOURNALISTS CAN DO, KNOWING THE PSYCHOLOGY AND INCLINATIONS OF THE PEOPLE THEY DEAL HERE WITH.
TODAY A PAPER WILL WRITE CONDEMNING MBELLA MOKI, THE NEXT DAY THEY ARE SAYING ALL THE GOOD THINGS MBELLA MOKI IS DOING IN BUEA. WHAT A METHOD. AFTER WE MOST HAVE COMMITTED OUR SELVES IN OUR COMMENTARIES.
SOME READ BETWEEN THE LINES, SOME ARE EXCITED TO TALK ABOUT PEOPLE THEY HATE.
WE WANT ALL TO SEE THE REASONS WHY WE SHOULD CHANGE. LET IT START WITH US.
DR NTUBA

[Fon.]

Dr.Tan,
I Wish to point out the following because you have repeated them so many times and it can´t be taken for granted.
"AFTER WE MOST HAVE COMMITTED OUR SELVES IN OUR COMMENTARIES." There is a difference between "most and must". you have repeated it many times; find out.
"AND WAS TRING TO ENGAGED DECLERCK IN AN INTELLIGENT MANNER,"
What is "TRING"? (trying).
"TO ENGAGED" You don´t know that if a verb comes after "to", it can´t be in past tense?
Which language did you use for your PHD?

In addition, you must be very obstinate/mulish. How many people here have suggested that you use lower case letters?

My last question: Why did you not write to exonerate Dr.Fonkam Azu'u? Little tribalist.
See my comment after the interview of Mr.Azong Wara.

[pforkou]

I was also wondering which language Dr. Tan used to get his/her Ph.D.

But we should also remember that anybody can throw a Ph. D behind his or her name in a forum like this. I doubt if this Dr. is real.

I remember anybody who was wearing a white coat and selling drugs was called a doctor. I also had a friend of mine who was an undergrad from Nigeria being called a doctor because he was reading lab. science; being called a doctor confused him and he opened a clinic in Mutengene.

Doctors beware, Francis is watching you people.

[rexon]

Motabena,

Njeuma is a honorable woman, who worked for us Anglophones, protecting our interest and defending our rights on many occasions (esspecially the distribution of scholarships when she was vice minister of education and after). Many Anglophones (myself included) would fight anyone who want to hurt her for the sake of our love for her. She showed this love but faltered on several occasions when being pressured by our enemy. Her actions are not different from the Muna's and the Foncha's. So we also have the right to remind her that in her quest to remain in power, she made some disturbing decisions:

1) She held the microphone in my own eyes in one of the CPDM rallies and was preaching cam-no-go during the heated political atmosphere of the 90's.

2) She did not speak out when Southern Cameroonian students were being killed indiscriminately by the regime. Probably, she wanted to protect her job and that is why we are bringing this to her attention.

3) She is currently a member of ELECAM, a corrupt organisation designed to rig elections and we all hope she resigns.

As our mother, that is where she betrayed her honorable role model within our community. We are still working very hard, albeit peacefully to ensure she died honorably, except she wants to behave on the contrary.

Cheers.

[Tekum Mbeng]

Rexon,

You are attempting to skillfully re-write history. The reverence is noted. Now, we understand who was behind the rigging of the Honours List system established by Adamou Ndam Njoya for GCE Exams! Was it Ma Dorothy Limunga Njeuma ????

We often wondered why better qualified students, usually from the Western and NW regions were by-passed for weaker students from - guess where.

History is yet to catch up with those who undermined excellence in Cameroon and thrashed the constitutional rights of younger Cameroonians by taking ethnic bias to national level. It is a simple exercise of reconciling Honours Lists with names that actually got overseas scholarships.

D-Day shall come and history will be written about the deficiences of the gods and goddesses that once ruled Cameroon.

Pa Mbeng

[MOTABENAMA]

Rexon,
I will admit i do respect your views and or impression about Njeuma being honourable. But i will also like to draw you attension to the fact that i can say all i want to say because i owe her no form of loyalty courtesy of what i gained from her in terms of scholarships. Even if she did give scholarships, i want to think it was given to you out of merit except otherwise.
However, i want to make this clear that our society is very heavily characterized by greed. People go into politics in Cameroon not with the view to serve but to have their pockets loaded. I remember one lecturer throwing tantrums on students of Uni Buea who decided to march with CPDM T-SHIRTS in 1995. Today that same person is singing praises on to CPDM because he has a good position. Where is the desire to serve? National integration and national unity is based on the foundation of Cameroonian diversity in terms of cultures and people. One thing i do hate is the North West South West dichotomy. We are so stupid to spend valuable time and energy dwelling on that when we are being seriously marginalized by our French speaking brothers. Njeuma did her best but her best is not good enough which such statements as come no go. I replied to this ad because some one spoke so ignorantly of Francis Watche whom i think is a commendable writer.

[rexon]

Motabena,
I feel confortable to exchange pleasantries with you because u bring interesting ideas for us all to reflect on. We truly do not comment about these CPDM people because we hate them. They are our parents, brothers, sisters, etc. They are human beings too, but they are just too dangerous and most often behave like animals. We do not hope for revenge or to cause pain to them but sometimes, we wonder why they always want to cause pain to Cameroonian people.

I have not benefitted anything directly from the largess of any CPDM pundit. However, I personally know alot of good things done by some CPDM people like Njeuma, Meoto, etc to some graffi friends of mine, but most often, i cannot reconcile it with some of the things they do (or even know others are doing and they cannot speak out against them). Take for example, this NW/SW affair, some like the two i listed above have helped many NW people that i know knowing fully well that they are Graffi's. These people were not their relatives but were just desperate for help, so there was no conflict of interest. Now, this was at thesame time that they were preaching Cam-No-Go (or listening to others preaching it) at political rallies. The question is: What really goes on in the mind of these people? It is for such reasons that i feel we just need to push these people of the CPDM out.

So to speak, what drives me personally to comment here is because, when i see Cameroonians (Southern Cameroonians or citizens of La Republique du Cameroun) in very difficult situations and they are being manipulated, i turn to figure out myself in their position. I therefore tend to think i have a moral responsibility to bring change to their lives. That is a personal thing that have nothing to do with the politics and is very natural to me. It does not matter to me how much i am abused or how much risk i take, it is personal. I do not take what belongs to the majority and if i have to gain anything in life, it should be through my talents and hardwork.

On a general note, Cameroonians are generally too inconsistent. That is the reason why Biya is still able to manipulate us till date. One moment, some are in the opposition, the nextday, they are banging the doors of CPDM buffons to win favours. This is quite disturbing. How can we rely on such people? Moreover, if your relative is appointed to government, you automatically have to support the government: quite hypocritical.

We have told Cameroonians alot of things even through this forum that if they had listened, Mr Biya would have been unable to manipulate us today, but because of greed, where are being betrayed everytime we want to work out a strategy to throw out the regime. The strategy to outsmart us through elecam was not designed today. And there are many other tricks to come. Why can't the literates help to liberate the poor and helpless? It is all about tribes now but about a people as all tribes are suffering. But in the process of liberating ourselves, we must respect the right to live of everybody. That is what i stand for.

Cheers.

[Tekum Mbeng]

The word "graffi" is just as offensive as "come-no-go" to present natives of the grassfields.

It is an irony that people whose ancestors once shared the coastal rain forests before migrating onto the grassfields are today branded strangers in their own ancestral back yard. Jingoism breeds divisiveness.

[fidele]

Ladies and Gentlemen,
You do not have to be upset with Dr.Tan. He is such a recalcitrant fellow who does not want to change inspite of all the good suggestions. He must have received his phd from a certain school in Ekona. It reminds me of a certain class four drop-out from my village who suddenly became a doctor after making a few trips to Ekona.I look forward to locating this little-known school. He is just a jerk.

[SouthWest]

That was a nice piece by Francis Wache.
Rexon made a fine case. We do not hate our brothers and sisters who're flirting with the CPDM. Afterall in our families we have some of ours taking part in the spoil. It just that this folks simply are a danger to us all.

Madame Njeuma's public service should be appreciated. I just happen to hold the view, the way politics work in Africa, sometimes even the most honest are corrupted so easily.

[CountryFowl]

Folks,

We will be able someday to permanently bury this kind of sick rhetoric as soon as everyone is able to re-educated themselves that the identity of a human being is not based only on genes or biology & the particular geographic background from which a person comes from.

For example, many people in Cameroon profess a serious affiliation to religious institutions & swear by the holy books. The " holy book " states clearly that man is a spiritual being. So if people take the holy books seriously and believe in what it says, why do they not overlook this cheap rhetoric of cam-no-go, graffi, sawa et cetera and make attempts by also educating themselves and their neighbors rigorously to see this fundamental truth, that individuals are in a deeper sense brothers and sisters, even if they do not come from the same biological roots.

On the side of logic and reason, with a little scientific outlook. For starters there are no cells within a human being's body which we can pin point and say this is a Graffi, Sawa, Hausa or Bakundu cell.
Are there any molecular structures within a person's biological makeup that we can define and categorize as Graffi molecules...?? or Bayangi, Banso or Bakossi molecules...???
The answer is absolutely no.
So why do we categorized and labeled people constantly.....??
By the food they eat, clothes, belief systems, customs or other superficial & transient habits et cetera...???
In other words can the functional tools which human beings develop and use for their adaptation to environmental conditions define a person's identity...???

So why are people classified according to geographic regions, cultural heritages and environmental influences....???
What are the reasons for these classifications...???
Off course there should be some form of nomenclature and classification, so we are able to distinguish, A, from B, and C from D, so society and the family unit can function properly.
Should classification be taken beyond its true function and use for other nefarious & dark purposes....????

Individuals can be university dons, ministers, directors et cetera or even have plenty of titles behind their names, it is really not an indication that they are not limited in their ways of thinking or that they will not continue to perpetuate prejudice or bigotry.

One problem we have in our society is that, we respect & worship the titles, we will listen to & give everything to the man or woman who says they are from Columbia, Harvard, Oxford or Imperial college. We will allow into our homes without any question, the man who turns up in a fine suit & rattles off in polish English or French. We will not bother for one second to check the character. At the same instance we will kick the mouth of the bend skin or truck pusher and spit in the face of the people who we think are lower. off course then we will listen wholeheartedly to the bigotry and prejudice of the big people, because they have a title or they are prominent members of society...!!!!

Could the people have paid any attention to this Madame had she been a buyam sellam...???? it can be that even the woman who sells puff puff by the roadside has more empathy & love than some of the tigresses, hyenas, & serpents hiding behind the facade of academic degrees & societal successes.

[UnitedstatesofAfrica]

"Each time, Njeuma's face loomed and sneered at me. Reminiscent of the Rwanda genocide, I could distinctly hear her snickering that I was a cockroach and needed to be crushed." - Mr. Wache

Doesn't it irk you when Africans compare any ordeal they ever had to the Rwandan genocide? I mean, seriously? good grief!

AS FOR DR TAN OF CAMEROON,
I have asked you, where did you get your PH.D? I really want to know because you can't spell to save your life. But again, this is the internet so anything goes.

[Ma Mary]

Manifestations of naked hatred cause people to reflect on genocide in Africa. Rwanda just happens to be the most publicized, but within recent times, the extermination program against the Igbos in Northern Nigeria, Ahidjo and the French tried to exterminate the Bamis in la Republique. Then there is the Pool in Congo, the murder of hundreds of thousands of Algerians (France again). Fear of genocide is a normal if subconscious fear, and Rwanda is just code.

[UnitedstatesofAfrica]

...So thinking of Njeuma's "looming" face has now become as brutal as the Rwandan genocide? are you kidding me? how utterly disrespectful

[Watesih]

USAfoolca,
I told you sometime ago that all the English you succeeded to learn after your escape from the scorch-earth campaign by the French on the land of your ancestors does not qualify you to understand what we are discussing here.Wache is not comparing Njeuma's face to the Rwandan genocide.He is comparing the perceived snickering of hers,treating him for a cockroach that needed to be crushed.Snickering means laughing in an unpleasant way at something obnoxious.You are a butterfly that thinks himself a bird.Do you remember the traditional ruler whose face you described as ugly not long ago? If not,then I will ask you to go back to the story talking about the Fon of Bafmeng taking over as the leader of the Northwest Fon's Union.When you describe others as ugly,people should fall over themselves,and when others do same their attempt becomes utterly disrespectful.Shame on you little Bamileke! You are a slave for the regime,but don't forget that the little money given to you will never wipe away what the successive regimes of Ahidjo and Biya did to your ancestors.

[Ma Mary]

"...So thinking of Njeuma's "looming" face has now become as brutal as the Rwandan genocide? are you kidding me? how utterly disrespectful"

Frankly, I don't know. Who are the architects and promoters of the cam-no-go campaign of ethnic cleansing? I most certainly hope she is not one of them, in which case it would be baseless projection of fear on Wache's part. If she is one of them, then the projection would be appropriate, even if it is disrespectful.

I strongly object to ethnic stereotyping and whipping up of sentiments. Can you deny that you have rained insults here on Bakweris and other indigenous tribes of the Southern Zone of the Southern Cameroons?

[UnitedstatesofAfrica]

Ma Mary, I find it grossly ironic how you claim to be "strongly object to ethnic stereotyping and whipping up of sentiments". Considering your ethnic attacks, generalizations and comments on this forum, I laughed when I read that read. I literally laughed out loud. You even went as far as suggesting a long list of tribes I belong to simply because I refused to agree with you on certain pertinent issues.

And now you are accusing me of raining insults on the Bakweris and other indigenous tribes of the Southern Cameroons. Once again, you are engaging in shameless sensationalism. What I have always said on this forum is that there is a sharp divide between the NW and SW and unless this issue is addressed, Anglophones will always remain inferior to La Republique? why you may ask? because in order for Anglophones to succeed in this battle, we need a united front against La Republique, not a divided one. And this is where I have a problem with the SCNC because they have chosen to ignore this problem of NW/SW divide. How do you intend on starting a car without the engine? you are kidding me?

As someone from the North West who has lived all his life in the South West, I can tell you with confidence that Anglophones lack unity. You know it, I know it, there's no need to beat on a dead horse. I was constantly being insulted for being a "cam-no-go", Bamenda girls were always looked down upon and called "contri",the church which my family attended for 20 years protested when my uncle was placed in charge of a building project. Why? because he was a "graffi". Most South Westerners even think that "Bamenda" is just one big village. They forget that Bamenda is a lavish and booming towns and the villages in Meme Division are not even part of Bamenda. Ignorance at its pinnacle. And the SCNC wants NW and SW to get into a union? now that is what I would call a recipe for genocide.

[UnitedstatesofAfrica]

Hahaha, WateSHIT, you never seem to amaze me with your audacious foolishness. You are so full of SHIT, I hope you recognize that. Are you still mad at the comment I made about the ugly chief? hahahhaha. Na ya Papa? hahahaha. So should I call a car, a bicycle? the man was UGLY and I said it. Why should it come as a surprise to you? get over yourself you pseudo-intellectual. NONSENSE!

[Looktwice]

XXX It is a shame that Francis Wache can practice such petit journalism. You will never match Njeuma’s standards not even in your next life. I used to respect you Wache, but the degree to which you have misrepresented Njeuma - a respected citizen and an achiever - is the meanest thing a so-called editor should do. No matter what you write, the people know the truth.

[Watesih]

USAfoolca,
What language are you using here?
Hear you:"I laughed when I read that read".This is somebody who claims to be an intellectual!He stumbles on words and toss them around with glee.Next time ask people ,"Are you kidding me?" not "You are kidding me?".These are the fall outs when an idiot is forced to be what he is not.Now lets juxtapose your madness and see the abyss you have pushed yourself into.From:"...So thinking of Njeuma's "looming" face has now become as brutal as the Rwandan genocide? are you kidding me? how utterly disrespectful",to:"So should I call a car, a bicycle? the man was UGLY and I said it".
What is therefore your bone of contention?
You have finally shown your stupidity today wasting your time about the NW/SW divide.According to you Anglopnones are inferior to La Republique because they are divided.Sir,tell the world today!Why are the Bamilekes inferior in La Republique? Get it today,that Anglo-Bamis have problems in Cameroon because of their culture.They are people who have communal values,that the French deemed dangerous to their colonial quests in Cameroon.It is this very unity among Anglophone and Bamileke entities that has kept them going in a difficult political situation.This we understand very well,and your masters in power do not.That is why they still send you here to sow seeds of discord.
My second point has to do with the flimsy excuses and ridiculous examples you give as signs of disunity among Anglophones.You talk of "Cam No Go";"Contri".This is not very different from people in La Republique calling the Bamilekes"Sale Cochon";"Famla",yet the Bamilekes have continued to cosy up to the rest of La Republique,and continued to talk about unity .That is the reason you have been sent here to fight the SCNC.Your mission is to safeguard the unity of La Republique,even if the Bamilekes are vomited there.I used to wonder what was driving you to keep playing games about the NW/SW dichotomy,until today when you started talking about "contri".Sir you have been sent to provoke Anglophones ,but you will never grasp the essence of our lives.
Anglophones stood up as one and fought for the GCE board and got it.Anglophones stood up as one and fought for a University in Buea and got it.Anglophones stood up as one and organised the AAC 1 and 11.Anglophones stood together to bring multipartism to Cameroon.Within this time,on the streets of Buea and Bamenda some petty people with petty minds,were still calling some "Cam no go", "Contri".Most of the things you say here come from your fears and naivety.For example you say Southwesterners think Bamenda is just a big village,and you immediately counter this with your own understanding of the issue,by saying Bamenda is a lavish and booming town.We all know what is wrong with you.You are insecure because you are the product of the conflicting forces that have bedeviled our society for 30 years now.You pretend to be Anglophone,yet you lay emphasis on that which divides and should divide us,and not the fact that we should highlight our strength.You say you lived in the Southwest Province.You were surely attracted by the life situation there or chose it to hide from those prosecuting you.That SW is alive as a result of all the efforts of all Anglophones,and if you were attracted to it,its because Anglophones did not think calling each other "Cam no go" can stop them from developping it.
The last lesson I will like to give you is that as a product of war from the French, and goodwill from Anglophones,you should never forget history.The French ,as recent as the 1950's exterminated Bamilekes.
Out of a population of 3.5 million people in the West Province,500,000 were slaughtered.Your grand parents had the good fortune of hiding among us.And you their offspring sees no other way to pay back than by practising the same tactics that put you in this situation.Anglophones are as resilient as the Bamilekes! That you know,and stop wasting time!I will end up with a question,and I just want you to answer it without going into any shouting encounter.You say you are from the Northwest.Why are you the one fighting tooth and nail for the SCNC not to make its voice heard,and on what capacity are you doing this? Tell the world the relationship between fighting for self autonomy and people on the streets calling each other "contri".Over to you!

[Watesih]

Should read persecuting you.

[UnitedstatesofAfrica]

WateSHIT,

I see you have dissected and analyzed and read in between the lines of all my posts to find grammar errors. Hahahaha! I just love how I unintentionally give idiots like WateSHIT homework and make them sweat without even trying. Suffice to say, I could hardly find any sense in lengthy chunk of nonsense which you, WateSHIT, just wrote. The best part of this postnewsline drama is to see how nincompoops like WateSHIT get so worked up on the internet. They argue, and scream and scratch and wail. They make outlandish accusations, call people agents of Biya, dictate tribes for everyone and even attempt to tell us who we are and what kind of life we live. Mind you, they say all these things to faceless individuals on the internet, people they have never seen or known and will probably never see or known. Hahahahaha. And then the fool talks about "The last lesson I will like to give you". lol! lol! It just keeps getting better and better and the Lord knows I have great skills in manipulating these pseudo-intellectuals. I will gun all of them down...one by one LMAO!!

[UnitedstatesofAfrica]

Ma Mary

Just so you know, I find the word "nigger" (especially when being uttered by a prejudiced white person) just as offensive as the word "graffi". Why? because both words are deeply rooted in prejudice. They stem from hate, ignorance and intolerance. So, don't you dare the minimize the impact of such derogatory and offensive language on Northwesterners...especially hardworking Northwesterners who have made a good living out of their lives IN THEIR COUNTRY. Nowhere in the constitution does it say that NorthWesterners are suppose to settle and find work only in North West. Last time I checked, they were called Cameroonians.

I find your attempt to minimize the hate behind the word "graffi" and even "Cam no go" outrageous, insincere, and blatantly shameless. If you would have faced such persecution, I wonder if you would still be singing "Kumbayah". It is easier for people like yourself, who are unharmed and watch from a distance, to beneath some variables beneath rug. I would advice you to put on a lens and take a closer look

[UnitedstatesofAfrica]

to bury*

[Watesih]

USAfoolca,
We English speaking Cameroonians are very resilient.It's now beginning to dawn on you that you took on the wrong people.I can see you slowly going into your shell.You have now gone from insulting our women to giving them advice.Read what I wrote earlier about "Cam no go","graffi","contri" and know that these things are not enough for you to capitalize on to promote hatred amongst us.I have given you examples of major achievements we made together with small minds like you calling some "Cam no go".When you describe people as ugly,pseudo-intellectual,wench,you surely forget to know you are quarreling with yourself.You did not answer my question.Here it goes again:"You say you are from the Northwest.Why are you the one fighting tooth and nail for the SCNC not to make its voice heard,and on what capacity are you doing this? Tell the world the relationship between fighting for self autonomy and people on the streets calling each other "contri".Over to you!

[Danny Boy]

Forumates,
been reading from the sidelines and craving for any inspirational input into our debate. It dawned on me that in our angst we have forgotten posterity in our arguments here, the main reason for exchanging banter or "insults" on this forum.
There is no denying the fact that this woman has done so much for Cameroon. The writer of the article paints a political obituary of sorts. He could be right. Therefore, we should be focusing our attention on the part this person has played in our lives and on the legacy she leaves for generations to come.
Rather than read half truths, she should be encouraged to write an auto-biography. Pa Foncha, Muna, Endeley and others have gone, without their words in print or on tape! Who is at a loss here? Our kids who will want to understand who these giants or dwarfs were!
As a pointer, how many know that Mrs. Njeuma whilst studying in the UK was the President of the Student's association? You need to read the minutes of her executive and AGM meetings, to understand why for instance her visit to the UK as Vice Minister of National education was a nightmare! Whilst studying she was a radical, but on returning home and having her hands greased, she forgot that she left a generation behind.
That is my trouble with her and many others who have betrayed the fraternity at home and in the Diaspora. Greed and feebleness.
Her tears when confronted by her former executive here in the UK said it all. She is but human.
Ma Njeuma, I apologize on behalf and should you want to go, peace.

[Watesih]

Danny Boy,
This article is very balanced.Trying to paint it as political obituary,is once more trying to run for the safety of those who err.The writer started off by presenting Njeuma in her best colours.He gave us enough reasons why he admired her for so long,and he finally settled on how the hope he had for her turned into exasperation.He also presented enough examples why Njeuma went from a star to a distraction.He even ended by saying nobody should ever count her out.So where is the political obituary? Sir our problem is not with her life story,but the fact that she has continued to accept dangerous assignments from the regime.If Biya writes an autobiography now,how will that change the fact that he is responsible for our plight? Its good you say we should focus on the part she played on our lives.The part she played in your life is betraying the fraternity where you live,and the part she has played in the lives of the rest of Cameroonians is accepting dangerous assignments from the regime,and doing everything to execute them.It is a little heartbreaking to see you transform yourself from a defender of rights to an apologist.

[Danny Boy]

Mr. Watesih,
this is the caption of the story;

"After Njeuma's Exit, Where Is Her Female Bakweri Successor?"

I am not a feminist nor am I from her tribe, but speaking as somebody who has had to endure her political machinations. Do I take it your meaning of apologist is because of my apology to her?
I hope not. Over the years she must have forgotten the reception we gave her here, in Pa Pondi's office. Pa Pondi was the ambassador then, before being transferred to the Americas!
You want to know what transpired? Good, but I will not divulge. You see when I talked of her political obituary, I meant it in all honesty. What do you know of Jua, Abendong, and many others?
However much we disagree on what she did or did not do, posterity would like to know how important she thought she was.
I am no apologist, but would have loved to be Pa Foncha's ghost writer on his auto-biography!
Think about it Pal.
Blessed be Cameroon.
Danny Boy.

[Ma Mary]

Ma Mary has never been associated with ethnic divisiveness of any kind.

Ma Mary is a Southern Cameroons nationalist. Period.

[UnitedstatesofAfrica]

Ma Mary

Just as I suspected, you didn't address the issue I pose to you. Once again, I will remind you that I find the term "graffi" just as offensive as the word "nigger" (esp. when uttered by a racist white person). So, don't ride your higher horse and tell me to sing Kumbayah with people who are prejudiced against me and my kind.

[Jude Ade]

Well spoken Mr Wache! A leader who does not cater for his /her people is a dictator.Njuma is one.She has no successor because gone are the days of such leadership.Cameroon is gearing for a new dawn.The Anglophones need a leader who listens.

[Abdel Cabrini]

The power of love and unity between the SouthWest and North West build over the years can not be destroyed by a group headed by Mr Francis Wache and his collaborators for failing to have a sense of foresight,a spirit of reconciliation.forgiveness and unity.
Should we continue to pin point falsely or truely the errors of all Anglophones ever in the CNU and or CPDM governments? If yes then we should drop the concept of Liberating Southern Cameroons.
When we fought for the GCE,Multi party,UNIBU ,AAC 1 and AAC 2 we fought as one without Auntie Limumga or Pah Achidi Achu,so it is unacceptable for Mr Wache to come from were ever to divide the Anglophones.
Mr Wache is therefore warned to stay off divisive journalism,for Southern Cameroons have been through alot,both mentally and emotionally.
Our leaders made some errors,that we should forgive,learn from and build a better Southern Cameroons,not for us to kill them.
God Bless the Southern Cameroons.