Delving into history, I understood why our forefathers accepted to form a Union with La Republic du Cameroon in 1961 and formed the Federal Republic of Cameroon with the flag bearing two stars for better future generations as reflected in the anthem “Land of Promise, land of Glory! Thou, of life and joy, our only store!”: one for the British Southern Cameroons (formerly administered by Britain) and the other for French Cameroon (formerly administered by France). Unification failed to deliver the promises of glory, joy, love, and peace… Instead in a bid to control the natural resources of British Southern Cameroons, the chalice of a federation was emptied and refilled with the salty waters of a United Republic and later to the acidic vinegar of a complete Republic of Cameroon with one star, characterised by oppression, exploitation, suppression and marginalisation of the Anglophone minority by the Francophone majority government.
This fostered the emergence and propagation of the Southern Cameroons National Council (SCNC) whose main objective is the redemption of Southern Cameroons from the fangs of the gruesome and cruel political, economic, and social exploitation and marginalisation by the Francophone central government in Yaounde. In other words, the prime objective of the SCNC is to fight for freedom and Complete independence from French Cameroon. This Organisation sparked a dream in me which, like Martin Luther King’s was not only to wish for but to work for the complete liberation and independence of Southern Cameroons. I am in total support of Southern Cameroons advocated for by the forerunners of the SCNC most of whom are either in the diaspora, in prison, or in their graves killed by la Republique soldiers. How was I to exercise freedom of expression in the lion’s den? The SCNC which I cherished to belong to and really wanted to carry on its activities to the fullest, unfortunately, has been banned in Cameroon. Apart from secret meetings held by its members in the background, any of its members who dare mention the organisation, hold its banner in the streets or mention its objectives is either imprisoned or shot dead on the spot, irrespective of gender. Being an SCNC member in the Cameroon territory is synonymous with death.
I found myself confined in a room with inexpressible emotions bubbling but I dared not protest for fear of being killed by La Republique soldiers. Finding myself in the UK I could live my dreams of expressing my mind on the enfranchisement of my Southern Cameroons: where like the Biblical Moses I’m on a mission to liberate my people too, wishing to stop at nothing till I accomplish it. We will push the fight till we get our independence bearing in mind that freedom has never been served to anybody on a platter of gold.
By IRENE NJETA
