By Cassimanda
The change merrymaking lackeys like to
talk about how things will keep getting better. But when things happen contrary
to what they said, they pull out the "S" word - sacrifice. Yet none
of them is ready to sacrifice any of their privileges, positions, and power for
others. As the CPDM is in the field reorganizing its basic organs, traveling in
and out of Lebialem is not only a nightmare but demands fasting and prayers. I
recalled what Rick Gaber said about these politicians in his book “people of
the lie”. He said that the politician is a type of creature known for its tendency
to lie, make a mountain out of a molehill, exaggerate, and use all kinds of frantic
or pretentious attention-getting tactics o lie. There would be no exaggeration
if the statement is contextualized to fit the plight of the beloved Lebialem people(home
of my friend Aminateh Nkemngu).
I have often heard people say that it is
forbidden to make noteworthy judgment psychiatric therapy on the neglect of the
roads by the Biya regime and that making such a critical judgment is like
writing satanic verses that lead to divine sentence. But let the word go forth
from this time and medium to friends and enemies of progress alike, that the
torch has been passed to a new generation that will talk than die in silence. The
cry from the wilderness is indicative that where the road reaches, humanity
lives and development follows.
A friend posted a picture of the state
of nature of the road to Lebialem and is pains akin. Lebialem has been cut off
from the rest of the country. In fact if a free society cannot help the many
who are poor, it can never save the few who are rich, says the impressionist.
However, anyone who would maladroitly
sit on the fence to declare that the Lebialem Road is not a necessity or a
priority should be considered as being in a state of sin. Being a respecter of
the institution that President Biya incarnates and the powers that he wields, I
do not understand whether it is not another form of subjugation of the
Anglophones. Anyone who has been on this road any of these days
will agree that no pregnant woman can dare. The story of the road is not only
that of pools of water; a trap to kill. It picture may look pathetic but the
truth is that traveling from Dschang to Menji, Wanbane and Alou demands two
sets of dresses, one for the mud and
another to wear at the destination. The state of nature of this road has made
it in such a way that it is the nature of the weather that determines the
transport fare.
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Even though there is a statement in the
Bible which states that people should pass round for judges on others, I
believe it is often quoted out of context because the Bible still tells us that
people should be judged if their acts are injurious. I am aware that this
critical judgment analysis is badly needed. It is imperative because the Lebialem
(Banwa) people are weeping silently and the bells of anguish are being heard
signaling that Lebialem Division may cease to exist in the map of this country.
I am also aware that this bit will offset many people (especially those who are
turning around Dschang, whereas they are supposed to be in Lebialem to reorganize
the much cherished CPDM party. What about the Lebialem Vuvuzelas (Hon. Bernard
Foju et al) of the regime. Even so, who is even going to twist my arm for
speaking the truth? Is it not a right for the people of Lebialem to have a good
access road and even enjoy more? Besides, should they not be compensated
for voting the CPDM as it is claimed by the vuvuzelas. Or it is true that the
rigging was massive as decried and reported in quarters. If anybody
takes this view of mine for misconduct, believe me it is a constructive rudeness.
And if today some of our leaders no more command the powers they use to
exercise, it is because of the copious counterfeited promises they make. I
recall how a friend, Aminateh in a pathetic piece once wrote that “So the two
months abandonment of the corpse, it would appear was to give way for minor
improvements on the terrible road. And behold the day of burial finally came.
Newspaper reports hold that the remains of Prince Jacob Lekunze were abandoned
to his family members and a few colleagues from the Prime Minister’s Office. The
DO Misaje ,Nkweti Simon who hails from Wabane suffered a ghastly car accident
while returning from the burial and as we speak, his car is beyond repairs.
Thank God for sparing his life. So where was Prince Lekunze a prophet? At home
where he could not reach and nobody knew where he was coming from or in Yaounde
and Bakassi where nobody knew where he was going to?” In fact, here are some recondite things that
push us to mull over the strange absence of man’s kindness towards man, or
better put of man’s wickedness to man. I wish I were eloquent enough to put
down on paper the picture that comes to me from the restrained of anger. I need
not dwell upon the authenticated horrors of the Nazi internment camps and death
chambers for Jews. That it was not only tragic but a kind of insane horror. In reality, Lebialem’s part in this state of
nature of the road is tragic. The essence of tragedy is not the doing of evil
by evil men but the doing of evil by good men, out of weakness, indecision,
sloth, inability to act in accordance with what they know to be right. Hence,
there is nothing to be done except to live every moment without a thought to
the next. The state of nature of this road has made Lebialem Division an Island
on land which makes them to feel and to be powerless to influence the life of
society by which their own life is governed.
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Today, thinking and feeling are more and
more separated from each other, and this separation leads either to an almost
schizophrenic intellectualism or to a neurotic, irrational emotionalism. Only if
emotions and reason are brought together can man function in a way which makes
life interesting and hence creates the possibility of a productive life. To put
it briefly, what Lebialem people need is not political speeches, if need be (s),
they need three MPs (one per sub Division) who can tell their story.
The question that comes to mind is
whether the CPDM in Lebialem is a “dance of the vampires”. In 2011, 2013
elections, Lebialem division ended up with over 80 percent score for the CPDM,
the best in the South West Region, so to say. Whether these results were
manufactured in a laboratory or were the wish of the people is a question to be
answered. But retributive justice has led to the division losing two key
positions from the same party they so much love in less than one year. So was
it a prayer of the people?
As a division that owes all its good
things to Christendom, there is no gainsaying the fact that the population of
Lebialem undeniably turned to God to hear their prayers and deliver them from
the evils of all season bad roads, information hoarding, influence
trafficking, eye for eye politics and above all sidelining of local people from
the “dog eat dog” sharing of the crumbs of CPDM loyalty.
When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)
Lagos (AFP) 
