Biya ‘francophonises’ Commonwealth parliamentary conference

·       Fru Ndi, Asonganyi, Nfor Nfor say Biya has confirmed hatred for Anglophones
 

By Sylvanus Ezieh Acha’ana and Amindeh Blaise Atabong on special assignment in Yaounde

Cameroon’s head of state and vice patron of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, CPA, Paul Biya, on Monday sent shock waves across the national and international scene when he addressed the over 700 delegates to the 60^th conference of the association in French language.

It was widely-speculated that President Biya would use Monday’s opening ceremony of the 60^th CPA conference; holding on Cameroonian soil not only to prove that he is bilingual but most importantly to show-case the host country’s bi-cultural nature.

Many had even concluded that after hearing President Biya speak impeccable English at the re-unification anniversary celebration in Buea plus the fact that the previous speakers at Monday’s conference, Tsimi Evouna Gilbert, Hon. Cavaye Yague Djibril and Marcel Niat Njifenji had addressed delegates in the Queen’s Language, Biya would just complete the party by addressing members of the Gentlemen’s Club in English.

All such expectations and speculations however came crumbling like a pack of cards when the president delivered his close to thirteen minutes speech completely in French, except for the word “Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference” which he pronounced once because it could not be translated.

Observers who criticised Biya’s outing; describing it as ‘francophonising’ the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association conference have been asking whether the deputy patron of La Francophonie can address the body’s conference in English. 

 The CPA delegates who are used to the most widely spoken language in the world – English, were noticeably worried as some attempted to get interpretation headsets while others who could not bear the ‘insult’ simply ignored whatever the president was saying in a language strange to them. 

In a sharp reaction from the SDF national chairman who was present at Monday’s ceremony, Fru Ndi pointed out that Biya’s action was not only a clear message that he detests English and Anglophones but also that the president used the CPA conference to francophonise Anglophones. Hear Fru Ndi: “ I do not speak French but if I were to address La Francophonie members, I will at least say Bonjour in French...Mr Biya did not even care to tell his guests welcome in English...”  

For his part, civil society out-spoken critic, Tazoacha Asonganyi took the relay from his former party chairman; saying Biya had demonstrated to the world by how much he hates Anglophones in Cameroon. Hear him: “ I am tired of Mr Biya...he has failed to move Cameroon forward...we just have to live and wait until he disappears from the scene...’’.

In another outburst, the SCNC vice chairman, Nfor Ngalla Nfor rather ‘congratulated’ President Biya for making the world know that he is the president of a purely French-speaking country. While also corroborating that Biya has demonstrated his hatred for Southern Cameroonians, Nfor Nfor concluded: “When a colonial power takes over a country, they do everything to impose their own language, laws and values”. 

Enter 60^th CPA conference

The confab of international repute which began on October 2, is being staged under the theme: “Repositioning the Commonwealth for the post 2015 development agenda.”

For the past days, CPA delegates from Africa, Asia, Australia, British Isles and the Mediterranean, Canada, Caribbean and the Atlantic, India, Pacific and South East Asia regions have been brainstorming on issues related to democracy, sustainable development and the parliament.

Speaking during the launching ceremony, the secretary general of the Inter Parliamentary Union, Cameroon-born Martin Chungong advanced that the Commonwealth has been so engaged in the emancipation of women to the extend that it was high time the CPA members deliberate to change the name from ‘Gentlemen’s Club’ to ‘Gentle People’s Club’.

Chungong was bent on the fact that CPA members should ensure true parliamentary democracy especially in member countries where the legislative arm is a rubber stamp.

For his part, the president of the executive committee of CPA, Sir Alan Gordon Barraclough Haselhurst showered praises on Cameroon for the brilliant performance of the Indomitable Lions and for winning the 2019 AFCON bid. Sir Alan was optimistic that by the end of the 8-day conference, delegates would have brainstormed on better strategies to re-situate member countries especially Cameroon in achieving the Millennium Development Goals.

Going by the speaker of the Ugandan parliament, Rebeca Kadanga, Cameroon has been a wonderful host. She lauded the hospitality which the delegates have been entreated to and described Cameroonian cuisine as spectacular while “entertainment is splendid”.

While the head of state ordered for a minute of silence for the departed CPA secretary general, Dr. William Shija, Cameroon’s speaker of the national assembly, Hon. Cavaye Yegue seized the opportunity to extend his condolences to Biya who lost his mother-in-law.