Expectations are high as students await the 2020 examination results. However, there was pandemonium last Monday as fake news circulated on social media that the Cameroon GCE Board had release results. Classified sources say results may not be released before October 2, 2020. This is so following an announcement from the University of Buea extending the date for admission. Notwithstanding, GCE results will be published before October 5, 2020 given that schools will resume on that day.
Wednesday, September 30, 2020
Tuesday, September 29, 2020
This Is What Dr. Fuh Calistus Gentry told CRTV Programme "Inside The Presidency"-A Must Read Interview
Minister Fuh Calistus Gentry, Secretary of State in the Ministry of Mines, Industries and Technological Development, has said Anglophones in the North West and South West regions are more concerned with the advantages they will reap from the Special Status than taking part in illegal protests around the country. Dr. Fuh Calistus Gentry made the statement on CRTV programme, Inside The Presidency.
Harping on the upcoming regional elections, Dr. Fuh Calistus Gentry reiterated that expectations are high among Anglophones especially as president Biya in his wisdom has thought that Anglophones have a cultural identity which they cherish. Here below is the Exclusive interview
Your Excellency, what is your take on the Congolese foreign minister’s description of President Paul Biya as the Wiseman of Africa and the Library of the sub region?
He is absolutely correct in his description of President Paul Biya as the Wiseman of Africa and the Library of the sub region. Many others have hailed the President of the Republic as a visionary leader who has shown himself on the international scene as a peace maker. The peaceful resolution of the dispute over the oil- rich Bakassi peninsular is just one of the many crisis that have projected President Biya as the Wiseman of Africa. Many are politicians but those who are called to lead the nation are few.
What is your take on calls for demonstrations that have as major objective to undermine republican institutions?
First of all, I think the motive behind such calls is not genuine. How can a political party which took part in the 2018 presidential election be claiming today that demonstrations are intended to protest against the electoral system and the crisis in the North West and South West regions? Kamto took part in the presidential election under these same circumstances he is today claiming to be protesting against. We need to put in place a structure, the regional structure which I strongly believe will be the guarantor of peace, especially in the North West and South West regions. There is of course no gainsaying the fact that Cameroonians have been waiting for regional election and the putting in place of Regional Councils. To begin with, you cannot have a president who was overwhelmingly voted for by Cameroonians and you get up one day to call for an uprising against him and the state institutions he incarnates. Let me remind Mr. Kamto that over 70% of Cameroonians voted for President Paul Biya at the 2018 presidential election. In a country, there are pessimists and optimists. The pessimist is going to say there is wind, the optimist will say let there be a change, but the leader says he will adjust the sail.
A leader after voted into office automatically becomes the president of the entire nation. That is what makes President Biya the visionary leader we have known him to be. Ernest Benz says: “Politics is a game of looking for trouble. Find it even where it does not even exist. And putting out the wrong ways to solve the problem and at the end using the wrong diagnosis”. If you march for an issue that affects the rights of an individual, it can be understood. But calling for demonstrations against somebody who was democratically and overwhelmingly elected by Cameroonians is nothing else than insurrection. My advice to Cameroonians is that they should ignore such diabolic calls coming from politicians who have lost touch with reality.
What is your advice to the people of the North West and South West regions in the face of these unwarranted calls for insurrection?
North Westerners and South Westerners are just from the field to select their candidates for the December 6, 2020 regional elections. I think this is what is more important to them at this material moment. I don’t see any Anglophone in his or her right senses taking part in any political party demonstration against state institutions and the president of the Republic. They are rather more concerned about the Special Status the Head of State has given them and the many advantages that Special Status will offer them. They are facing the challenge of putting in place a regional executive that will finish what it is already being done. That is their preoccupation for now. As soon as the lists are published, we want to get our regions move, we want to see the House of Chiefs move, we want to see the place for which we stand as cultural identity being sorted out in this nation. The people of the North West and South West regions, even under very challenging security, still went out to vote because they know that if you leave a vacuum, it creates more problems than solve it. After voting at the 2018 presidential election, senatorial election, the 2020 municipal and parliamentary elections under insecurity, I don’t see any Anglophone ever heeding any call from a political party to embark on a senseless and fruitless demonstration.
Mr. Minister, how did you receive news of the convening of the Electoral College for the country’s first ever regional election?
Of course, like every patriotic Cameroonian, I was very overwhelmed. Many people kept asking when is going to happen. And so the announcement came especially to us politicians from the North West and South West regions as a great relieve because we need these structures to be in place. It is going to accompany the measures we have been taking on the ground.
What are the stakes in these elections?
The stakes are quite high. I was very impressed with the desire of candidates from all shades of society, former members of government and former general managers. They all believe that they have a role to play in rebuilding and taking part in the development of their regions with the putting in place of the Regional Councils and the House of Chiefs. The enthusiasm and expectations are very high among Anglophones of all social backgrounds. I talk like one just back from the field. It came at the right time and I am sure that we will be starting the New Year 2021 with something very special that the president has given and has made it work.
As an Anglophone elite, how is the advent of regions determinant?
It is very determinant because when people want to put technology as a lead word, whether you call it federalism, whether you call it decentralisation or what- ever name, what matters is the content. For us in the North West and South West regions, we want to say the president in his wisdom has thought that Anglophones have a cultural identity which they cherish. He has said it even on international scene and that he wants to allow that evolve in the most orderly manner. To me as an individual, it is something that will create a new awareness and a new diversity in this nation, which is unique in Africa. This will only come to make Cameroon a new kind of breed where colonial past is going to be a melting pot to create some- thing that does not exist in Africa.
How will the putting in place of Regional Councils accelerate Cameroon’s decentralisation process?
We are going to see vibrant young people, especially the ones that my party (the CPDM) set out for, with the putting in place of Regional Councils. In doing the selection of our candidates for the December 6 Regional Election, we reserved a sizable quota for women and the for the youth. We are going to see the whole fabric of society, enthusiastic to take the destiny of their regions into their own hands. They are going to be at the centre of key decisions regarding the development of their regions. We are going to will a new kind of power, which if we leave Yaounde and go down, we will lis- ten to them. They will be running things and we only fit our ideas to theirs because it is their region. They will automatically have the destiny of their people in their hands. The enthusiasm with which the announcement of the Regional Election was received by especially Anglophones, tells it already the difference the put- ting in place and functioning of Regional Councils will make with regards to the development of the North West and South West regions. There is of course, no gainsaying the fact that Regional Election is coming as the last phase of the democratic process which H.E President Biya started instituting in this nation in four phases. How would the coming of Regional Councils help in resolving the conflicts in the North West and South West regions? We have a national government. We have had a government right down at the level of the councils. There was this vacuum in the bill, which is the Regional Council and the conflict we have is not linked to the councils, not linked to a division, it is linked to a region. I believe that with the coming of these structures, it is going to fill the vacuum in Buea and Bamenda where we will have responsible men from all facets; especially given that every subdivision will be represented in these Regional Councils. They will bring to the table the uniqueness of the problems in their council areas and divisions with the mastery of these problems that we, the contemporaries to these regions don’t have. Remember that members of the Regional Councils will be coming from the base. They have lived with these problems and will be coming to give the assurance that the president has kept to his words. The president has responded to everything since this crisis started. We are going to see the very people responding. They have the mastery of each subdivision and division and equally master the pressing development needs of these areas.
Much has been said about the Special Status for the two English-speaking regions. What in your opinion will this make Anglophone regions different from the eight other regions?
Like I said, even in the United Kingdom, power is divulged into different entities. You don’t call it the Federal Republic of Great Britain. It has a nomenclature so many people are basing on, those who talk on federation and the rest. But this is a devolution of power to the base, which allows each region to handle things according the pressing needs of their people. It is going to be a kind of quasi government that has been created with Commissioners taking charge of different the development needs of their areas. The Chairman of the Region and the House of Chiefs will both be handling different issues that affect their regions. I think this is a starting point, a great move and I believe that those who are sincere, will know that this is a move in the right direction and that it can only make life better in the North West and South West regions. It can only meet the aspirations of people who by their Anglo-Saxon nature like a lot of self- governance. This, of course, is what Anglophones have have been clamouring for. Just the very fact that these two regions will have their House of Chiefs give it the Special Status I have been talking about. Remember the nostalgia the peo- ple of these two regions grew up with. That is why they clamoured for this. And for those who want the word Federalism, it is the content and not the name that matters. The North West and South West regions are going to have the House of Chiefs and these chiefs are going to look at issues that concern and reflect their traditional values. We are living a rebirth of what people had looked up to and I think from next year, this country would breathe some good air that would attract the attention of other African countries.
You talked about the enthusiasm that was manifested by potential candidates for the Regional Election. Who do you think should be the idle candidates for these positions?
I won’t fix idealism to candidature. There is a minimum requirement. Those who want to go into the Regional Council should be literate enough to stand up and listen to issues concerning this nation. You need a minimum qualification to read the basic texts that are given for interpretation just like it obtains in both the Lower and Upper Houses of parliament. You should be able to read and write to have a good mastery of how things work out in this country. Notwithstanding this, what I saw in the diversity of candidates, former regional delegates, divisional delegates, former parliamentarians, and former members of government gave to understanding that the candidates who would take part in this election are people of mettle. These are people who have worked and retired back to the regions, they have lived the current crisis in the North West and South West regions, they have lived the national life of this country and would be bringing in this wealth of experience for the development of these two regions.
You of the CPDM, the party in power, how was the selection done within your party itself? What were you concerned about?
Within our party, we were concerned about women being represented, 30 percent, we were concerned about the youth representation, we were concerned about people with diverse opinion, people with diverse experiences and the fact that our selection was broad-based, people came in from all shades of life, no restrictions. At the end of the day, it was the people on the ground who decided the kind of candidates whose names they forwarded for investiture.
How did they do that, did they contribute in the selection?
Yes, off course. The party hierarchy at the base, the Sections worked with the mayors and opinion leaders in the different council areas. We were only there to receive the opinions that they sent to us. And our criteria and everything were based on what the base selected and forwarded to us. They chose their candidates and I think that was the beauty of the CPDM selection exercise. We are going to see plurality, diversity and all kinds of people with rich experience on how this nation is governed and should be governed.
As the Secretary of State in the Ministry of Mines, Industries and Technological Development, how do you think regions and council areas can make use of their natural resources to be able to improve on their sources of income?
We just finished elaborating on the text of application, which concerns us. Our part in the presidential decree on local authorities, Section 156, which says that you have to make available non-concessionable mineral substances available. We have to transfer our powers. This means that they are minerals that you don’t need a mining concession in order to exploit it. You have sand…all those things that are limited to Cameroonians only. So, we are divulging all that power down to the councils; even if they will need our expertise in order to guide them. That also means that in the future, councils can create companies which can run a quarry that will give them revenues. These are all innovations and the spirit behind this law is to make sure that people are empowered at the base to make money. The law is there and we are wait- ing for the text of application. How will this really happen? That is where we are now. We have already sent out copies to the Ministry of Decentralisation on how this text should be elaborated. From there, it will go to the Prime Minister’s office for the text of application. At the end of the day, many people will see themselves being able to sit in their council areas and have access to the mining industry that has been divulged in their own area, which is a wealth-making and making the lives of the people better.
In other words, if a company comes to an area to tar a road, the council should be able to supply quarry materials to the company instead of the other way round?
That is not what I am saying, most of the time we have a concession reformulation which comes with clauses, which says that a country must give that company a quarry. Those are international clauses which we cannot go against. I am saying that a council on its own can create a company under the new dispensation which will carry out some activities. But if a road construction company comes without the international clause that the government has to give them a quarry, that will still be the case. We have to respect as a nation, international obligations which come with financial assistance that is given to us.
Mr. Minister, how is the situation in the North West and South West regions, one year after the Major National Dialogue?
As I said from the beginning, a leader must always be in the middle and so that the opinions can be diverse. At the Major National Dialogue, MND, people came up with different opinions. That of course, was the right step in the right direction. Today, we have so many people who have left the bushes and come out because they have understood that President Biya and his government care so much about the wellbeing of the people of the two English- speaking regions. We had so many people who never understood the consequences of what this was, but today, they have understood. They are assisting in making sure peace returns to the two regions and equally making sure that people do not create havoc on their own lives. They were seeing their lives in ruin and today, they are trying to package back their lives. Many of the recommendations of the MND are being gradually implemented with firm instructions from the Number One Cameroonian, H. E President Biya. The MND was just the right step in the right direction. It was a forum where people were given the opportunity to express their views and everybody listening to the other. People were allowed to express their views and I think this is healthy for a great nation like ours. Today, we are reaping the fruits of that frank dialogue at the MND and more fruits will come. I think it has done a lot to break down the tension that prior to the holding of the MND prevailed in the North West and South West regions. Everybody is now focused because we know the conflict in the North West and South West regions is not what the people want. Human life is precious.
What in your opinion is the way forward for the crisis in North West and South West regions?
The way forward is for all of us who come from these regions to focus on what the President of the Republic has given us-the Special Status and the many benefits that come with it. We must make sure we put all our energies behind the Regional Councils and the House of Chiefs and get down to work as one people. We equally have no choice but to support the Reconstruction Plan for the North West and South West to build back our lives and our regions. The reconstruction process of these two regions is not just about development projects but equally psychologi- cal. We need to build back our lives and get down to the centre of making this country an emerging nation. We should not be on the sidelines. Rather, we should be at the centre of making this nation a great country in Africa.
When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)
Back2School: Hon. Agho Oliver Donates to Pupils, Students
Hon. Agho Oliver, Member of Parliament for Bafut/ Tubah in Mezam Division of the North West Region has again made another landmark donation to the needy. Hon. Agho who has been described by impressionists as the most formidable young politician of all politicians has donated school materials to pupils and students. Ahead of the 2020 Back to School campaign, Hon. Agho storm Bafut and Tubah sub Division respectively to share with the needy. The political philanthropists according to the expressionist is being described as a cheerful giver. Before handing over the didactic material and schoolbags to beneficiaries, Hon. Agho Oliver used the occasion to underscored the need for children to be allowed to go to school. To him, education is the key to the future.
Harping on the importance of education, Hon. Agho emphasized that "we know it already and no one understands it better than we do. There was a time children were prevented from going to school and the time have come for them to resume school". He announced that he brought 19200 exercise books, 2000 Pens, 180 mark sets, 228 rulers, 2016 erasers, 200 school bags, 2000 face masks and many other school items.
Flanked by the administration and council executives who all applauded the young dynamic MP for his astuteness and frequent donations to the needy. Present to give the ceremony royal blessings were also the fons of Kejom Kiekum, Bambili. Infact, almost all traditional rulers were present. What was never said in speeches was said in songs as myriade of dance groups displayed the rich cultural heritage of the localities.
It is worth mentioning that Hon. Agho Oliver had earlier this year donated bundles of zinc estimated at over 10 million FCFA to 30 families in Bambui and Bafut. He equally donated a generator to the police on the demand of the population and before that, had supported Muslim faithful with cartons of sugar, tea and others during the fasting period. Besides, when he visited the Lamido of Sabga, he also made a stop over at Sabga Health Center where he communed with patients on sickbed and paid all their bills.
The back to school distribution ceremony can be described as the highest crowd pulling event ever in Bafut/Tubah in recent times. Fru Brian, one if the beneficiaries from Bafut expressed joy and gratitude to the MP for the timely donation. He promised that he will use the support for the purpose it is intended. That is, go to school and produce good results.
Back to School: Hon. Agho Oliver Donates to Pupils, Students
Hon. Agho Oliver, Member of Parliament for Bafut/ Tubah in Mezam Division of the North West Region has again made another landmark donation to the needy. Hon. Agho who has been described by impressionists as the most formidable young politician of all politicians has donated school materials to pupils and students. Ahead of the 2020 Back to School campaign, Hon. Agho storm Bafut and Tubah sub Division respectively to share with the needy. The political philanthropists according to the expressionist is being described as a cheerful giver. Before handing over the didactic material and schoolbags to beneficiaries, Hon. Agho Oliver used the occasion to underscored the need for children to be allowed to go to school. To him, education is the key to the future.
Harping on the importance of education, Hon. Agho emphasized that "we know it already and no one understands it better than we do. There was a time children were prevented from going to school and the time have come for them to resume school". He announced that he brought 19200 exercise books, 2000 Pens, 180 mark sets, 228 rulers, 2016 erasers, 200 school bags, 2000 face masks and many other school items.
Flanked by the administration and council executives who all applauded the young dynamic MP for his astuteness and frequent donations to the needy. Present to give the ceremony royal blessings were also the fons of Kejom Kiekum, Bambili. Infact, almost all traditional rulers were present. What was never said in speeches was said in songs as myriade of dance groups displayed the rich cultural heritage of the localities.
It is worth mentioning that Hon. Agho Oliver had earlier this year donated bundles of zinc estimated at over 10 million FCFA to 30 families in Bambui and Bafut. He equally donated a generator to the police on the demand of the population and before that, had supported Muslim faithful with cartons of sugar, tea and others during the fasting period. Besides, when he visited the Lamido of Sabga, he also made a stop over at Sabga Health Center where he communed with patients on sickbed and paid all their bills.
The back to school distribution ceremony can be described as the highest crowd pulling event ever in Bafut/Tubah in recent times. Fru Brian, one if the beneficiaries from Bafut expressed joy and gratitude to the MP for the timely donation. He promised that he will use the support for the purpose it is intended. That is, go to school and produce good results.