Can you imagine that your Writam-pen almost got
buried in the crowd at the Bongo Square today morning? I was wondering in which
language Popol was going to address Cameroonians. At last, he spoke in English.
Let me tell you that it was good English and not slippery like his ministers. But
the speech had no substance. Anyway history is history except otherwise. When Popol
arrived at the Bongo Square, I observed that he decided to change his seat.
Chantou sat on his right. It seems he did not want to chat with somebody. Or this
is another innovation. This is just a signal that truly, Popol is determined to
introduce the post of vice President.
In his speech he started by congratulating the
people of the South West Region for the warm welcome given him and wife,
Chantou. He said the South West Region has always being very close to his
hearts. Trust Popol, he talked of the reunification of Cameroon without
mentioning its architects like late President Ahmadou Ahidjo, Foncha, ST Muna,
Endeley etc. Can we say that this was intentional? Popol in his speech thanked
the United Nations and other friendly nations who worked for the independence
and reunification of Cameroon. Like the heroes of reunification, Popol said he
was glad to rewrite history by walking on the same soil the architects of
independence walk on some 53 years ago. You know Popol knows how to flatter. I listened
to him praising himself for changing the face of Buea. He said that the level of litercacy in Cameroon is about 90%. Can you imagine that Popol said that there are 12 airports and 4 International airports in Cameroon? And there are 2260 hospitals in the country. I told you that Popol is
a good juggler; now he talks with statistics. I hope you heard what he said about Buea. Popol knows very well
that Buea was the capital of Southern Cameroons, former capital of West
Cameroon and today the capital of the South West Region. Yet Popol beat about
the bush without addressing the issue at stake but finally confirmed that Southern
Cameroons got its independence on February 11, 1961. So Popol wanted Cameroonians
to sing which Anthem? Is this an attempt to colonize Southern Cameroons or to
show the world that it is two separate nations with two different anthems ruled
by one President. The Anglophone problem which has ignited secessionists tendencies
were completely ignored in the speech. Surprisingly, Popol has again dribbled
Cameroonians. It has been a tradition that everywhere he goes; he dishes out
development projects. But it is not the case in Buea and the South West Region.
Can we say that Southwesterners are not good at lobbying for development
projects or Popol has changed his strategies? I am sure Abgor Tabi, Mengot,
Philip Ngwesse and co, the regime
vuvuzelas would never be forgiven for not lobbying for projects as expected. I saw
signs of disappointment on the faces of South West elite(s) when Biya concluded
his speech without any Presidential largess. I hear mayor Patrick Ekema is on
heat for not addressing the problems of the South West Region. The mayor of
Buea was more concern with Buea. You heard what he said that even though Buea
is the capital of South West Region, it is a sub Division. Buea is the only
regional capital without a city council. Can you imagine that even though Buea
is the capital of the South West Region, the Capital of Fako is Limbe? I just
spotted the chiefs with scares on their faces.
When News Breaks Out, We Break In. Minute by Minute Report on Cameroon and Africa
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