"Je suis le Cameroun", or a reaction to a reaction to "Je suis Charlie"

Are you one of those inspired to shout "Je suis le Cameroon" out of anger at the big deal made by the international media in response to the Charlie Hebdo killings by radical jihadhists? Many wonder why the Charlie Hebdo killings are such a big deal since Boko Haram has been killing Nigerians and some Cameroonians for no better reason than extremism, and some of these people have created their own alternatives of the "Je suis Charlie" tag. Some talk of "I am Nigeria" and I dare say you too, if you are from Cameroon, might want to think, "I am Cameroon" or "Je suis le Cameroun" depending on your side of the Mungo.

I agree with you but only condemn Boko Haram because of indiscriminate killing which is never any solution to a problem. In fact, I cannot add my voice to those who want to use it as an excuse to sweep Cameroon's problems under the carpet. We still have problems, Boko Haram or not, it is even a minor issue that is being dramatized. It is a backwater insurgency that can adequately be handled by the armed forces. It is a military and not really a political issue because you will agree with me that all the worthy political forces in Cameroon are resolutely against terrorism or conquest of power by arms.  

 

But my friend, to accept to be a second class citizen because of Boko Haram is not my idea of the "Cameroon our founding fathers" set out to create. Let us bewary of injustices that precede and are in good course to succeed Boko Haram. They are many and one should never tire to.....speak up against any relegation of Anglophones to secondary status, any disrespect of minority rights. Just the fact that Anglophones are compelled to flee to the diaspora for any decent livelihood is enough prove that Cameroon as it was, before Boko Haram, is not fine and will not be so after Boko Haram.  

In fact, these terrorists have succeeded in causing psychosis in weak minds who are now seeing Boko Haram apoligists in every dissenting voice questioning Biyaism and its shortcomings as well as other ramifications of France teleguided Francophone supremacy in Cameroon. Some proof, (if anyone still needs it!):

 

A massive recruitment into the police force is on-going and no single announcement was provided in English, does this mean that Mbarga Nguele wants no Anglophone candidates or that he does not know that the French and English version ought to be released concurrently? When I write "Cameroun" in large, bold letters followed by "Cameroon" in small and diminutive letters on official documents, am I saying that "Cameroon" in English is lesser than "Cameroun" in French? Is it a nonverbal message to Anglophones that they should never dream of equality? I wonder.

 

I am discovering your movement now and will be highly interested in any movement that has emancipation of Anglophones in Cameroon as part of its agenda. That is only when I can say "I am Cameroon". Saying so now will also mean endorsing all what is going on in Yaounde. We must learn from Turkish President, Erdogan's example. He hurriedly joined the "Je Suis Charlie" march not knowing that he had subscribed to more insults on his religion and prophet. He made a u-turn and banned the distribution/circulation of this paper in his country's internet. 

 

Declaring "je suis le Cameroun" could also mean approving of all the underhand methods used to divert the Limbe pipeline and natural deep sea port to Kribi, diverting power Generation from Menchum Falls with limitless potential to makeshift plants in South East Cameroon, paying no dime to South Westerners in Cameroon for petroleum while paying billions to Nsimalen village for airport, while paying billions to East and South region natives for forest exploitation.  

You see, one cannot be Cameroon, for as long as these things last. Brother, you may have a privileged position to see Cameroon better than I do, but these things, even if they do not affect all of us, do affect some of us and need to be redressed because none of us is free till all of us are free. Beware of using Boko Haram as a silver bullet to coerce Cameroon's old demons into submission...they will resurge. At that time, some of us will regret being "Je suis Cameroun".