Last week, Cameroonians watched in awe as Bello Bouba Maigari toured the peaceful streets of Bamenda after using the tarred Mbouda-Santa-Upstation-Nkwen-Mankon Road. Bello Bouba, in a rare show of political hypocrisy, even went ahead and published a “plan to solve the crisis in the north west and south west if elected president”. Cameroonians are now wondering why for over decades that Bello Bouba has been in “power”, he did not make these proposals to the government that was paying his salary. Even as President Paul BIYA in his political wisdom and fatherly approach to solving problems, organized the Grand National Dialogue, sent delegations to meet the diaspora, created the presidential reconstruction plan, sought and obtained funds to rebuild the regions, created DDR centers and offered a wide-ranging amnesty to youths of the NW and SW who were deceived to join armed groups, no one heard any proposal or declaration from Bello Bouba Maigari and his UNDP political party. Even as President Paul Biya repeated in all his messages that any youth in the bushes should come out and be pardoned, Bello Bouba never supported this effort. He has been conspicuously silent during all the over eight years that the crisis has rocked the English speaking regions of Cameroon.
As concerned Issa Chiroma Bakary who has suddenly realized that there is a problem in the NW and SW, his sudden ability to solve the problem if elected president is seen by Cameroonians as the height of political hypocrisy and demagoguery. Even as government spokesman, Issa Chiroma and his political party never denounced the armed groups and never proclaimed their support for President Paul Biya’s multiple measures. His sudden love for natives of the NW and the SW is a clear mockery of the people who have suffered and died in this crisis. Today, he is claiming that he will solve the problem, and President Paul Biya is not working.
The case of Akere Muna is even more pathetic. His father and family did not do anything to develop the region directly contributing to the problem. He has never visited his native MOMO division to call youths to drop arms and has never denounced the rebels. He spends all his time in the Francophone regions of Cameroon and criticize President Paul Biya’s efforts to resolve the crisis. He refused to take part in the Grand National dialogue and never made any proposals. Today, he claims he represents anglophones and his election alone will end the crisis.
Josuah Osih, who claims to be the leader of the SDF party is also claiming his election will end the crisis. The north west region which is the bastion of the SDF has never seen Osih try to call for peace. Today he too is criticising President PAUL BIYA.
No wonder, anglophones have placed their confidence in President Paul BIYA and the majority are working with him to seek solutions to the crisis.
On the 12th of October 2015, no one will be surprised if president Paul Biya win’s over 80% of the votes in these two regions. Peace is coming back thanks to President Paul BIYA not Bello Bouba, issa chiroma, akere muna or josua osih. /
