Pray For Me Dear brothers, The Future Looks Gloomy - Agbor Balla
More and more dissensions are observed between the defenders of the Anglophone cause.
On the night of 28 October in Mamfe (South West Region), the residence of Agbor Nkongho Balla was consumed by the flames. According to several sources, the fire is of criminal origin.
This has caused many reactions on social networks and is widely treated in the mainstream press. For commentators, this is a coup of the secret services of Yaoundé, while for others, more numerous, anglophone extremists are behind this act.
The latter would thus express their disapproval of the positions of this leader of the Consortium, who called a few days earlier for a resumption of courses in the North West and South West regions, at the same time that he clearly spoke out against the partition of Cameroon. Inadmissible for some, who for several weeks already assimilated to "Judas Isacriot", the very one who betrayed Jesus Christ. Agbor Nkongho Balla has for some time been considered a traitor to the Anglophone cause.
The "fatwa" that seems to have been launched against him reveals the widening gap between separatists and federalists, between extremists and moderates. A gap that began to widen as of August 31, 2017, when several protesters jailed with the leaders of the Consortium were released by decision of the Head of State. Many had perceived this act of President Paul Biya as a blow of slack, the result of a "deal", and called to intensify the claim.
The ranks of the extremists, who had swelled and became highly radicalized after the arrest of the leaders, were now pushing for an outright secession of the English-speaking regions. And on the weekend of September 22, protesters took part of the representatives of the Social Democratic Front (SDF), the main opposition party, the English-speaking regions, the menacing of death if they did not give up their mandate as parliamentarians .
The latter would thus express their disapproval of the positions of this leader of the Consortium, who called a few days earlier for a resumption of courses in the North West and South West regions, at the same time that he clearly spoke out against the partition of Cameroon. Inadmissible for some, who for several weeks already assimilated to "Judas Isacriot", the very one who betrayed Jesus Christ. Agbor Nkongho Balla has for some time been considered a traitor to the Anglophone cause.
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| Pray For Me Dear brothers, The Future Looks Gloomy - Agbor Balla |
The ranks of the extremists, who had swelled and became highly radicalized after the arrest of the leaders, were now pushing for an outright secession of the English-speaking regions. And on the weekend of September 22, protesters took part of the representatives of the Social Democratic Front (SDF), the main opposition party, the English-speaking regions, the menacing of death if they did not give up their mandate as parliamentarians .
The embarrassment that had followed in this political formation particularly established in these regions, and which has federalism pegged in its political program, then revealed a lack of common vision in this movement of claim.
Earlier, upon his release from prison, Agbor Nkongho Balla, who is gradually weaving an international fabric after having imposed his voice on the country, has clearly distanced himself from Tapang Ivo Tanku and Mark Barreta, the two leaders who acted as interim Consortium since January. These became radicalized over time, gradually joining the secessionist factions embodied by Julius Ayuk Tabe, president of the "Republic of Southern Cameroon".
Wilfred Tassang, a member of the Consortium Leaders' College (along with Agbor Nkongho Balla and Fontem Neba), who has been in exile since January, has also joined secessionists to "sit" in Julius's "government". Ayuk Tabe.
Earlier, upon his release from prison, Agbor Nkongho Balla, who is gradually weaving an international fabric after having imposed his voice on the country, has clearly distanced himself from Tapang Ivo Tanku and Mark Barreta, the two leaders who acted as interim Consortium since January. These became radicalized over time, gradually joining the secessionist factions embodied by Julius Ayuk Tabe, president of the "Republic of Southern Cameroon".
Wilfred Tassang, a member of the Consortium Leaders' College (along with Agbor Nkongho Balla and Fontem Neba), who has been in exile since January, has also joined secessionists to "sit" in Julius's "government". Ayuk Tabe.
Today, the Anglophone demand movement seems to be at the crossroads of three factions, which nothing brings together: supporters of effective decentralization, federalists and secessionists.
Here is Agbor Balla's message to his English brothers
Tuesday, October 31, 2017 || AGBOR NKONGHO DECLARATION
RENEWING OUR COMMITMENT TO FREEDOMS
My brothers and sisters brothers -
I am deeply saddened to see that part of the house of our
Father in the village was burned on October 29, 2017. Thanks to the
timely intervention of the neighbors, the fire was extinguished before it passed in front
of my father's room. My father was a modest man who instilled in me the
values of tolerance and sacrifice, so seeing his house burned and his
desecrated profanation forced me to pause and reflect on the enormity and
volatility of the task that we waits.
My father died just before being arrested and imprisoned for initiating the
ghost towns in my capacity as chairman of the Consortium. During and after my
imprisonment, so far, most objective observers
affirm that I am no longer responsible for the current strike action.
However, as a leader in the fight, I do not have the luxury of choosing the
comments (positive and negative) I received, but in the interest of the fight,
let me make the following clarifications:
1. The sanctity of human life is paramount. Every leader has a duty
to make decisions that minimize the loss of life.
2. The freedoms we seek for ourselves must be extended to
all other citizens, regardless of our ideological differences.
3. A two-state federation is a legal process that gives our
peoples the results they seek without the enormous cost of blood and treasure,
although the final form of the state is determined by the people.
4. The right to self-determination is an inalienable right.
5. It is the duty of every leader of Southern Cameroons to be honest
about the choices we face and the cost of blood and
treasure so that together we can chart the best path that will leave
future generations a worthy legacy. our collective potential as a
people.
6. As a parent and leader, I believe that our children should be in school;
However, a return to normal would require the government to attack
completely to the root cause of the current crises that have led to the
closure of the school - even as we explore other strategies to
pressure the government to act.
7. I have and still condemn arbitrary arrests and call for the
release of all detainees. That is why on September 27, 2017 the
lawyers' task force was set up to defend all the arrested people after the
unfortunate events of September 22nd and October 1st, 2017. We managed to obtain the
release of bail and the release of about 200 people of
preventive detention tests. And we will continue to fight for the rest.
8. Any strategy we adopt must seek to minimize the
personal and financial burden on our citizens.
9. When important decisions are made to the people with
arguments for and against, the peoples are in the best position to
make decisions that will impact the current and
future generations .
10. I have always insisted that for a truly
inclusive dialogue , the unconditional release of Mancho Bibixy, Terence
Penn Khan, Tsi Conrad and all the others must be
General amnesty to ensure our brothers and sisters in exile can come to the country
safely.
Together we have come a long way since this phase of our
over 55 fight began in January. In the weeks and months
ahead, my prayer is that we, as people, must create a
healthy environment to debate issues that will not
only affect us , but also those that will be born. Without debate, democracy is
intrinsically compromised.
I pray for the many lives lost, the means of livelihood destroyed,
families torn apart; for those incarcerated and those who have been unable to
return home since this struggle began. Let's all pray for our
nation. Pray also for those who preach hatred against us.
With faith and determination in our cause, I wish to appeal to
calm, understanding and tolerance. I ask you to pray for our
nation and its leaders. I ask you to pray that God grant our
leaders the serenity to accept the things they can not change, the
courage to change the things they can and especially the wisdom to understand
the differences that brought us here or must be considered to
build a nation is tolerant and free.
Today more than ever, I believe that the nation of tomorrow will be a land where
we will be able to exploit our differences and transform our diversity into assets.
We can use our diversity to divide or we can use it
to create a crucible that attracts everyone and creates a strength for good. The
problem of Southern Cameroon is a by-product of the systematic failure
to manage and promote diversity over 55 years, and if our generation
does not practice tolerance, we exclude our opportunity to create the nation
we dream of.
But changing a country starts with each one of us. We must soften
our hearts and accept that together we have been imperfect in our management
of our affairs since independence was granted to us. Now that
we have been blessed to be at the forefront of the fight, mistakes will be made.
I learned from my transgressions and solemnly ask for your forgiveness and
tolerance.
You have the right to have opinions contrary to mine. That being said, I
ask you to continue to engage on these issues, and if we do
not agree, try not to be unpleasant. Ultimately, we
can only succeed if all points of view are included in a
national conversation about the future of our people. If we disagree without being
unpleasant, we can work together to change the lives of our people
for the best. A modern nation is a nation that promotes the construction of
ideological bridges, so that when a disagreement is absolutely necessary,
tolerance can save us from each other.
My comrades from southern Cameroon - all human beings want to be free.
But the most important is the path we choose to get our
freedom. It is also important to know if we are doing it in a way that
provides a solid foundation for future generations. We started
this struggle as a non-violent movement and, although I recognize and
have been extremely critical of the violence against our
people, my belief in non-violence has not changed. To accept
the idea that we can only control our destiny through the barrel of a
firearm is to create a society where the only people who decide our
fate are the people with the biggest guns. Violence is never the
answer because it weakens our moral position. Violence boils the
blood, but it kills the soul. And in the 21st century, we should focus on
how we build a nation that is just, prosperous and free - because if
we do not, our people risk being left behind as the
world changes.
Since I came out of prison, I have been consulting with many
of our leaders - but most of all, I have been in direct contact with the
people on the ground. Our problems are real, difficult and ubiquitous. There is
no area, town, village or district in southern Cameroon that is not
affected. As such, we need to think deeply and
comprehensively about how we overcome our task. If a
leader tells you that it can be solved by a strategy, they have not thought about these
issues as seriously as we should.
I do not have the answers - but I'm supremely confident that people are doing it.
And if we are to create a new society that works for all, the
first step on the path to change is a renewal of our
commitment to tolerance. Without tolerance and freedom of thought, we
risk creating a society where we are led by people who have the
strongest megaphones, unlike the people who have the best ideas.
I do not believe this is the kind of future we want for our children -
because the character of our speech will ultimately define the fate of our
people.
I appeal to each of you to think about the use of many
other ways to achieve our goals. A political plan works for the
government, but we must think beyond. What is the plan for people?
If the government calls for dialogue today, what measures should
we take? If elections are called today and we
are not represented at all levels of the electorate, what does this
mean for our struggle? If we do not participate in the process, how
do we influence the results? If negotiations are taking place today,
how can we ensure that the terms of reference will meet the
collective aspirations of our people? I can go on and on with
questions - but although I can categorically say that we do not
I do not agree on the answers, I hope that even those who
disagree with me will agree that flourish and choose the
answers that promote the interests of our people.
My dear brothers and sisters, I dream of a future where every Southern Cameroonian lives
in a true democracy - a nation where the diversity of thoughts, words
and actions continually feeds the tree of unity. This nation begins
in your heart and in mine.
I will pray for you and ask you to pray for me in the
critical weeks and months ahead.
-Felix Agbor Nkongho's
neighbors, the fire was extinguished before he passed the room
of my father. My father was a modest man who instilled in me the
values of tolerance and sacrifice, so seeing his house burned and his
desecrated profanation forced me to pause and reflect on the enormity and
volatility of the task that we waits.
My father died just before being arrested and imprisoned for initiating the
ghost towns in my capacity as chairman of the Consortium. During and after my
imprisonment, so far, most objective observers will
say that I am no longer responsible for the current strike action.
However, as a leader in the fight, I do not have the luxury of choosing the
comments (positive and negative) I received, but in the interest of the struggle,
let me make the following clarifications:
1. The sanctity of human life is paramount. Every leader has a duty
to make decisions that minimize the loss of life.
2. The freedoms we seek for ourselves must be extended to
all other citizens, regardless of our ideological differences.
3. A two-state federation is a legal process that gives our
peoples the results they seek without the enormous cost of blood and treasure,
although the final form of the state is determined by the people.
4. The right to self-determination is an inalienable right.
5. It is the duty of every leader of Southern Cameroons to be honest
about the choices we face and the cost of blood and
treasure so that together we can chart the best path that will leave
future generations a worthy legacy. our collective potential as a
people.
6. As a parent and leader, I believe that our children should be in school;
However, a return to normal would require the government to
fully address the root cause of the current crises that have led to the
closure of the school - even as we explore other strategies to
pressure the government to act.
7. I have and still condemn arbitrary arrests and call for the
release of all detainees. That is why on September 27, 2017 the
lawyers' task force was set up to defend all the arrested people after the
unfortunate events of September 22nd and October 1st, 2017. We managed to obtain the
release of bail and the release of about 200 people of
preventive detention tests. And we will continue to fight for the rest.
8. Any strategy we adopt must seek to minimize the
personal and financial burden on our citizens.
9. When important decisions are presented to peoples with
For and against, people are in the best position to
make decisions that will impact current and
future generations .
10. I have always insisted that for a truly
inclusive dialogue , the unconditional release of Mancho Bibixy, Terence
Penn Khan, Tsi Conrad and all the others must be
General amnesty to ensure our brothers and sisters in exile can come to the country
safely.
Together we have come a long way since this phase of our
over 55 fight began in January. In the weeks and months to
come, my prayer is that we, as people, should create a
a healthy environment to debate issues that will not
only affect us , but also those that will be born. Without debate, democracy is
intrinsically compromised.
I pray for the many lives lost, the means of livelihood destroyed,
families torn apart; for those incarcerated and those who have been unable to
return home since this struggle began. Let's all pray for our
nation. Pray also for those who preach hatred against us.
With faith and determination in our cause, I wish to appeal to
calm, understanding and tolerance. I ask you to pray for our
nation and its leaders. I ask you to pray that God gives our
leaders the serenity of accepting the things they can not change, the
courage to change the things they can and especially the wisdom to understand
the differences that have brought us here or must be considered to
build a nation is tolerant and free.
Today more than ever, I believe that the nation of tomorrow will be a land where
we will be able to exploit our differences and transform our diversity into assets.
We can use our diversity to divide or we can use it
to create a crucible that attracts everyone and creates a strength for good. The
problem of southern Cameroon is a by-product of systematic failure
to manage and promote diversity for more than 55 years, and if our generation
does not practice tolerance, we exclude our opportunity to create the nation
we dream of.
But changing a country starts with each one of us. We must soften
our hearts and accept that together we have been imperfect in our management
of our affairs since independence was granted to us. Now that
we have been blessed to be at the forefront of the fight, mistakes will be made.
I learned from my transgressions and solemnly ask for your forgiveness and
tolerance.
You have the right to have opinions contrary to mine. That said, I will
request that you continue to engage on these issues, and if we do
not agree, try not to be unpleasant. Ultimately, we
can only succeed if all points of view are included in a
national conversation about the future of our people. If we disagree without being
unpleasant, we can work together to change the lives of our people
for the better. A modern nation is a nation that promotes the construction of
ideological bridges, so that when a disagreement is absolutely necessary,
tolerance can save us from each other.
My comrades from southern Cameroon - all human beings want to be free.
But the most important is the path we choose to get our
freedom. It is also important to know if we are doing it in a way that provides a solid foundation for future generations.
Here is Agbor Balla's message to his English brothers
Tuesday, October 31, 2017 || AGBOR NKONGHO DECLARATION
RENEWING OUR COMMITMENT TO FREEDOMS
My brothers and sisters brothers -
I am deeply saddened to see that part of the house of our
Father in the village was burned on October 29, 2017. Thanks to the
timely intervention of the neighbors, the fire was extinguished before it passed in front
of my father's room. My father was a modest man who instilled in me the
values of tolerance and sacrifice, so seeing his house burned and his
desecrated profanation forced me to pause and reflect on the enormity and
volatility of the task that we waits.
My father died just before being arrested and imprisoned for initiating the
ghost towns in my capacity as chairman of the Consortium. During and after my
imprisonment, so far, most objective observers
affirm that I am no longer responsible for the current strike action.
However, as a leader in the fight, I do not have the luxury of choosing the
comments (positive and negative) I received, but in the interest of the fight,
let me make the following clarifications:
1. The sanctity of human life is paramount. Every leader has a duty
to make decisions that minimize the loss of life.
2. The freedoms we seek for ourselves must be extended to
all other citizens, regardless of our ideological differences.
3. A two-state federation is a legal process that gives our
peoples the results they seek without the enormous cost of blood and treasure,
although the final form of the state is determined by the people.
4. The right to self-determination is an inalienable right.
5. It is the duty of every leader of Southern Cameroons to be honest
about the choices we face and the cost of blood and
treasure so that together we can chart the best path that will leave
future generations a worthy legacy. our collective potential as a
people.
6. As a parent and leader, I believe that our children should be in school;
However, a return to normal would require the government to attack
completely to the root cause of the current crises that have led to the
closure of the school - even as we explore other strategies to
pressure the government to act.
7. I have and still condemn arbitrary arrests and call for the
release of all detainees. That is why on September 27, 2017 the
lawyers' task force was set up to defend all the arrested people after the
unfortunate events of September 22nd and October 1st, 2017. We managed to obtain the
release of bail and the release of about 200 people of
preventive detention tests. And we will continue to fight for the rest.
8. Any strategy we adopt must seek to minimize the
personal and financial burden on our citizens.
9. When important decisions are made to the people with
arguments for and against, the peoples are in the best position to
make decisions that will impact the current and
future generations .
10. I have always insisted that for a truly
inclusive dialogue , the unconditional release of Mancho Bibixy, Terence
Penn Khan, Tsi Conrad and all the others must be
General amnesty to ensure our brothers and sisters in exile can come to the country
safely.
Together we have come a long way since this phase of our
over 55 fight began in January. In the weeks and months
ahead, my prayer is that we, as people, must create a
healthy environment to debate issues that will not
only affect us , but also those that will be born. Without debate, democracy is
intrinsically compromised.
I pray for the many lives lost, the means of livelihood destroyed,
families torn apart; for those incarcerated and those who have been unable to
return home since this struggle began. Let's all pray for our
nation. Pray also for those who preach hatred against us.
With faith and determination in our cause, I wish to appeal to
calm, understanding and tolerance. I ask you to pray for our
nation and its leaders. I ask you to pray that God grant our
leaders the serenity to accept the things they can not change, the
courage to change the things they can and especially the wisdom to understand
the differences that brought us here or must be considered to
build a nation is tolerant and free.
Today more than ever, I believe that the nation of tomorrow will be a land where
we will be able to exploit our differences and transform our diversity into assets.
We can use our diversity to divide or we can use it
to create a crucible that attracts everyone and creates a strength for good. The
problem of Southern Cameroon is a by-product of the systematic failure
to manage and promote diversity over 55 years, and if our generation
does not practice tolerance, we exclude our opportunity to create the nation
we dream of.
But changing a country starts with each one of us. We must soften
our hearts and accept that together we have been imperfect in our management
of our affairs since independence was granted to us. Now that
we have been blessed to be at the forefront of the fight, mistakes will be made.
I learned from my transgressions and solemnly ask for your forgiveness and
tolerance.
You have the right to have opinions contrary to mine. That being said, I
ask you to continue to engage on these issues, and if we do
not agree, try not to be unpleasant. Ultimately, we
can only succeed if all points of view are included in a
national conversation about the future of our people. If we disagree without being
unpleasant, we can work together to change the lives of our people
for the best. A modern nation is a nation that promotes the construction of
ideological bridges, so that when a disagreement is absolutely necessary,
tolerance can save us from each other.
My comrades from southern Cameroon - all human beings want to be free.
But the most important is the path we choose to get our
freedom. It is also important to know if we are doing it in a way that
provides a solid foundation for future generations. We started
this struggle as a non-violent movement and, although I recognize and
have been extremely critical of the violence against our
people, my belief in non-violence has not changed. To accept
the idea that we can only control our destiny through the barrel of a
firearm is to create a society where the only people who decide our
fate are the people with the biggest guns. Violence is never the
answer because it weakens our moral position. Violence boils the
blood, but it kills the soul. And in the 21st century, we should focus on
how we build a nation that is just, prosperous and free - because if
we do not, our people risk being left behind as the
world changes.
Since I came out of prison, I have been consulting with many
of our leaders - but most of all, I have been in direct contact with the
people on the ground. Our problems are real, difficult and ubiquitous. There is
no area, town, village or district in southern Cameroon that is not
affected. As such, we need to think deeply and
comprehensively about how we overcome our task. If a
leader tells you that it can be solved by a strategy, they have not thought about these
issues as seriously as we should.
I do not have the answers - but I'm supremely confident that people are doing it.
And if we are to create a new society that works for all, the
first step on the path to change is a renewal of our
commitment to tolerance. Without tolerance and freedom of thought, we
risk creating a society where we are led by people who have the
strongest megaphones, unlike the people who have the best ideas.
I do not believe this is the kind of future we want for our children -
because the character of our speech will ultimately define the fate of our
people.
I appeal to each of you to think about the use of many
other ways to achieve our goals. A political plan works for the
government, but we must think beyond. What is the plan for people?
If the government calls for dialogue today, what measures should
we take? If elections are called today and we
are not represented at all levels of the electorate, what does this
mean for our struggle? If we do not participate in the process, how
do we influence the results? If negotiations are taking place today,
how can we ensure that the terms of reference will meet the
collective aspirations of our people? I can go on and on with
questions - but although I can categorically say that we do not
I do not agree on the answers, I hope that even those who
disagree with me will agree that flourish and choose the
answers that promote the interests of our people.
My dear brothers and sisters, I dream of a future where every Southern Cameroonian lives
in a true democracy - a nation where the diversity of thoughts, words
and actions continually feeds the tree of unity. This nation begins
in your heart and in mine.
I will pray for you and ask you to pray for me in the
critical weeks and months ahead.
-Felix Agbor Nkongho's
neighbors, the fire was extinguished before he passed the room
of my father. My father was a modest man who instilled in me the
values of tolerance and sacrifice, so seeing his house burned and his
desecrated profanation forced me to pause and reflect on the enormity and
volatility of the task that we waits.
My father died just before being arrested and imprisoned for initiating the
ghost towns in my capacity as chairman of the Consortium. During and after my
imprisonment, so far, most objective observers will
say that I am no longer responsible for the current strike action.
However, as a leader in the fight, I do not have the luxury of choosing the
comments (positive and negative) I received, but in the interest of the struggle,
let me make the following clarifications:
1. The sanctity of human life is paramount. Every leader has a duty
to make decisions that minimize the loss of life.
2. The freedoms we seek for ourselves must be extended to
all other citizens, regardless of our ideological differences.
3. A two-state federation is a legal process that gives our
peoples the results they seek without the enormous cost of blood and treasure,
although the final form of the state is determined by the people.
4. The right to self-determination is an inalienable right.
5. It is the duty of every leader of Southern Cameroons to be honest
about the choices we face and the cost of blood and
treasure so that together we can chart the best path that will leave
future generations a worthy legacy. our collective potential as a
people.
6. As a parent and leader, I believe that our children should be in school;
However, a return to normal would require the government to
fully address the root cause of the current crises that have led to the
closure of the school - even as we explore other strategies to
pressure the government to act.
7. I have and still condemn arbitrary arrests and call for the
release of all detainees. That is why on September 27, 2017 the
lawyers' task force was set up to defend all the arrested people after the
unfortunate events of September 22nd and October 1st, 2017. We managed to obtain the
release of bail and the release of about 200 people of
preventive detention tests. And we will continue to fight for the rest.
8. Any strategy we adopt must seek to minimize the
personal and financial burden on our citizens.
9. When important decisions are presented to peoples with
For and against, people are in the best position to
make decisions that will impact current and
future generations .
10. I have always insisted that for a truly
inclusive dialogue , the unconditional release of Mancho Bibixy, Terence
Penn Khan, Tsi Conrad and all the others must be
General amnesty to ensure our brothers and sisters in exile can come to the country
safely.
Together we have come a long way since this phase of our
over 55 fight began in January. In the weeks and months to
come, my prayer is that we, as people, should create a
a healthy environment to debate issues that will not
only affect us , but also those that will be born. Without debate, democracy is
intrinsically compromised.
I pray for the many lives lost, the means of livelihood destroyed,
families torn apart; for those incarcerated and those who have been unable to
return home since this struggle began. Let's all pray for our
nation. Pray also for those who preach hatred against us.
With faith and determination in our cause, I wish to appeal to
calm, understanding and tolerance. I ask you to pray for our
nation and its leaders. I ask you to pray that God gives our
leaders the serenity of accepting the things they can not change, the
courage to change the things they can and especially the wisdom to understand
the differences that have brought us here or must be considered to
build a nation is tolerant and free.
Today more than ever, I believe that the nation of tomorrow will be a land where
we will be able to exploit our differences and transform our diversity into assets.
We can use our diversity to divide or we can use it
to create a crucible that attracts everyone and creates a strength for good. The
problem of southern Cameroon is a by-product of systematic failure
to manage and promote diversity for more than 55 years, and if our generation
does not practice tolerance, we exclude our opportunity to create the nation
we dream of.
But changing a country starts with each one of us. We must soften
our hearts and accept that together we have been imperfect in our management
of our affairs since independence was granted to us. Now that
we have been blessed to be at the forefront of the fight, mistakes will be made.
I learned from my transgressions and solemnly ask for your forgiveness and
tolerance.
You have the right to have opinions contrary to mine. That said, I will
request that you continue to engage on these issues, and if we do
not agree, try not to be unpleasant. Ultimately, we
can only succeed if all points of view are included in a
national conversation about the future of our people. If we disagree without being
unpleasant, we can work together to change the lives of our people
for the better. A modern nation is a nation that promotes the construction of
ideological bridges, so that when a disagreement is absolutely necessary,
tolerance can save us from each other.
My comrades from southern Cameroon - all human beings want to be free.
But the most important is the path we choose to get our
freedom. It is also important to know if we are doing it in a way that provides a solid foundation for future generations.
We started this struggle as a non-violent movement and, although I recognize and have been extremely critical of the violence against our people, my belief in non-violence has not changed. To accept the idea that we can only control our destiny through the barrel of a firearm is to create a society where the only people who decide our fate are the people with the biggest guns.
Violence is never the answer because it weakens our moral position. Violence boils the blood, but it kills the soul. And in the 21st century, we should focus on
how we build a nation that is just, prosperous and free - because if we do not, our people risk being left behind as the world changes.
Since I left prison, I have been in consultation with many leaders of our struggle - but above all, I have been in direct contact with the people on the ground. Our problems are real, difficult and ubiquitous. There is no area, town, village or district in southern Cameroon that is not affected. As such, we need to think deeply and comprehensively about how we overcome our task.
If a leader tells you that it can be solved by a strategy, they have not thought about these issues as seriously as we should. I do not have the answers - but I'm supremely confident that people are doing it.
And if we are to create a new society that works for all, the first step on the path to change is a renewal of our commitment to tolerance. Without tolerance and freedom of thought, we
risk creating a society where we are led by people who have the strongest megaphones, unlike the people who have the best ideas.
I do not believe this is the kind of future we want for our children - because the character of our speech will ultimately define the fate of our people.
I appeal to each of you to think about the use of many other ways to achieve our goals. A political plan works for the government, but we must think beyond it. What is the plan for people?
If the government calls for dialogue today, what measures should take us? If elections are called today and we are not represented at all levels of the electorate, what does this mean for our struggle? If we do not participate in the process, how do we influence the results? If negotiations are started today.
How can we ensure that the terms of reference will meet the collective aspirations of our people? I can go on and on with questions - but although I can categorically say that we do not agree on the answers, I hope that even those who disagree with me will agree that flourish and choose the answers that promote the interests of our people.
My dear brothers and sisters, I dream of a future where every Southern Cameroonian lives in a true democracy - a nation where the diversity of thoughts, words and actions continually feeds the tree of unity. This nation begins in your heart and in mine.
I will pray for you and I will ask you to pray for me in the coming weeks and months to come ..
-Felix Agbor Nkongho
how we build a nation that is just, prosperous and free - because if we do not, our people risk being left behind as the world changes.
Since I left prison, I have been in consultation with many leaders of our struggle - but above all, I have been in direct contact with the people on the ground. Our problems are real, difficult and ubiquitous. There is no area, town, village or district in southern Cameroon that is not affected. As such, we need to think deeply and comprehensively about how we overcome our task.
If a leader tells you that it can be solved by a strategy, they have not thought about these issues as seriously as we should. I do not have the answers - but I'm supremely confident that people are doing it.
And if we are to create a new society that works for all, the first step on the path to change is a renewal of our commitment to tolerance. Without tolerance and freedom of thought, we
risk creating a society where we are led by people who have the strongest megaphones, unlike the people who have the best ideas.
I do not believe this is the kind of future we want for our children - because the character of our speech will ultimately define the fate of our people.
I appeal to each of you to think about the use of many other ways to achieve our goals. A political plan works for the government, but we must think beyond it. What is the plan for people?
If the government calls for dialogue today, what measures should take us? If elections are called today and we are not represented at all levels of the electorate, what does this mean for our struggle? If we do not participate in the process, how do we influence the results? If negotiations are started today.
How can we ensure that the terms of reference will meet the collective aspirations of our people? I can go on and on with questions - but although I can categorically say that we do not agree on the answers, I hope that even those who disagree with me will agree that flourish and choose the answers that promote the interests of our people.
My dear brothers and sisters, I dream of a future where every Southern Cameroonian lives in a true democracy - a nation where the diversity of thoughts, words and actions continually feeds the tree of unity. This nation begins in your heart and in mine.
I will pray for you and I will ask you to pray for me in the coming weeks and months to come ..
-Felix Agbor Nkongho
Source - CamerounWeb
Pray for me dear brothers, the future looks gloomy - Agbor Balla
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