Advocacy for Anglophone President intensifies
Some English speaking politicians and public figures have been multiplying their pleas for Cameroonians to give an Anglophone the chance to become the next President of the Republic of Cameroon. These pleas follow President Paul Biya’s response to a French journalist that it will only be at the end of his current mandate in 2025 that he will decide whether to run for another term in office or step down.
This was during a press conference he granted alongside French President Emmanuel Macron who visited Cameroon for the first time from July 25 to the 27, 2022.
Read also: Biya-Macron press conference, a case of scripted journalism
Many Cameroonians especially disgruntled Anglophones interpreted President Paul Biya’s response as him saying he will still present himself as candidate in the next Presidential election with a sure victory as in previous elections.
It started with the outlawed Anglophone consortium leader and now a Human Rights advocate, Barrister Agbor Balla. The President of the Centre For Human Rights and Democracy in Africa (CHRDA) in a statement recently expressed his wishes that a person from the English speaking parts of Cameroon becomes next President.
His view has been strongly supported by Njang Denis, President of the Popular Action Party, PAP.
“I call on all Cameroonians West of the Moungo in particular and the Cameroonians in general to rally behind an Anglophone candidate who is the reflection and aspiration of the people’s legitimate choice. Separation to me, is not an option because Francophones and Anglophones have no problem of leaving together as a people. The problem Cameroon has, is an institutional and constitutional problem. If the institutions and constitution are drafted to reflect the aspirations of the people and not an individual or some individuals, I think it would go long to strengthen our bond of living together” The PAP Chairman wrote.
Njang Denis of the PAP believes Francophones have had enough bitter pills from the Biya regime in every sphere.
“From my personal statistics, a vast majority of the Francophones are in favour of an Anglophone President. There’s already a notion and believe amongst the Francophones that the Anglo-Saxon system is the best in all aspects. Most of them are of the opinion that in terms of management, administration, honesty hard work, discipline and rigour, anglophones are always the best. Of course it’s no news 70% of the pupils and students in the Anglo-Saxon schools are from Francophone background” he added.
According to the PAP and Barrister Agbor Balla, with an Anglophone in power, the war in Anglophone Cameroon will come to an end.
