SCNC ‘leaders’ divided over October 1 celebration

From Michael Ndi in Bamenda
 

Barely two days to October 1, the day Anglophone extremists consider historic because to them it is their Independence Day, leaders of the movement that champions secession are divided over celebrations to mark the day.

The leader of one of the factions of the Southern Cameroons National Council, SCNC, Thomas Nwancham stirred the honest nest when he issued a controversial statement announcing that activities to mark the 54th anniversary celebration of the Independence of the Southern Cameroons initially planned to hold on October 1, 2014 have been postponed. Nwancham in the statement that is already receiving cat calls from various SCNC interest groups, had stated that: “this decision was taken in aftermath of the death of Chief Ayamba. And it is necessary to permit SCNC carryout an internal-reorganization, which should consolidate and strengthen the mother movement, by reducing its existing number of wings”.

The release further outlines that: “..may our emphasis on the only one date of 1st October be understood to reaffirm this date and one other, as the indelible mark of Southern Cameroons 1961 independence. To this effect, we appreciate its recent recognition by the government of La Republic du Cameroun as President Biya courageously transferred his purported reunification jubilee to February 20, 2014...’’

The release further urges the international community to arm-twist the Yaounde authorities to exhibit even greater understanding towards 1st October 2015, so that “we would celebrate the event without the habitual disruptions, arrests, detentions, and torture”.

In a sharp response to Nwancham’s statement, another SCNC faction chairman, Nfor Ngalla Nfor has questioned whether it is reasonable to postpone a national day celebration. Hear him: “Was Nwancham first of all working with Chief Ayamba?”, he questioned. Nfor Nfor went further to stress that when people have nothing doing they always look for issues to hang on. “It doesn’t surprise me. When we were arrested and detained in 2010 and 2012 in Buea where was Nwancham?”

Falling short of saying he suspects government’s hidden hand in Nwancham’s statement calling off this year’s celebrations to mark Southern Cameroons’ independence, Nfor Nfor has declared that come rain come shine, celebrations would hold throughout the North West and South West regions on Wednesday October 1, 2014. Hear him: “Celebrations will hold throughout Southern Cameroons come Wednesday. Just wait and see what will happen...In fact, we are going to commemorate our confiscated independence.”