Travel agencies heading to the South West Region
from Bamenda this Sunday have had a good business day as many who have decided
to attend the Anglophone General Conference AGC at all cost have opted to leave
well ahead of a proposed lock down of the city in show of protest against the
conference.
The AGC conceived by some
Religious leaders including Christians and Muslim has met rejection from what
is now known today as the Interim Government of Ambazonia with the
communication secretary Chris Anu announcing a lockdown of the two regions for
over five days in a bid to frustrate any planned Journey to and from Buea. |
| Anglophone General Conference (AGC) on Hilltopvoices Cameroon |
The resilience, authority and credibility of
the conveners have inspired many to see hope in the Conference towards ending
the ongoing crisis that has hit the North West for two years now.
“Derick I am not a Christian but I tell you
that the respect I have for Christian Cardinal Tumi given me reason to decide
to travel to Buea for this event. It is going to cost much because I have to
pay hotel and food for many days than I was supposed to if some people did not
come to start telling us about another impoverishment plan for our people who
are already very poor called a lockdown. Tumi is one man who has calls it black
when it is black and red when it is red. We cannot continue to fight a war with
no peace plan my brother I must go to Buea….” Francis tells me at Moghamo
Travel Agency along the sonac street as he prepares to travel to Buea in the
next available. But before we end our conversation he tells me in
confidentially that they are about 100 people he is going along with. “Here at
Moghamo we are about 20 to 30 persons and many others are going with private
drives or other agencies and everyone must leave this Sunday.” He notes adding that “well many English
speaking Cameroonians have been holding pre-events. Let me tell you that last
November 11, 2018 we had a successful mobilization meeting for the AGC aimed at
establishing a platform for dialogue towards a solution to the Anglophone
problem and crisis ongoing. The meeting I must tell you Derick was very
successful. We all want a solution.”
On grounds of trust, Francis shows me two
other women sitting nearby with two other gentlemen. Those are some of the
people I am going with them.
Though they will turn down any request for an
interview initially. I assure them this report maybe published only from Monday
on wards when they must be in Buea already. “Mr Journalists, we dying! Are young
boys are perishes, our education is being quietly wiped out talk less of our
economy. I must be in Buea for us to talk the way forward. We can’t continue to
leave like this. We as Anglophones have suffered in this country under the Biya
regime and a search for common ground has never meant weakness. I tell you that
those who are doing anything to ensure that this event fails do not love our
people and they will not succeed because they are going in their numbers. Many
others have gone and many others are going with us. Others will go by night.”
She admits it will be more costly and even risky by maintains she will go no
matter what.
As I finish my interview with the lady, I
spot Francis from a distance talking to a small group of about five. They have
just arrived in a taxi and from all indications, they are journeying together.
Many
castigate anti Tumi/AGC campaigners in Bamenda
To those who are not going it is not a great
idea trying to stop Tumi and others from creating a platform for dialogue.
“According to my understanding, AAC III is for Anglophones to meet and
establish a common position on what we want and how we want it at least not
these killings every day. Remember we have too many shades of opinions in this
crisis as at now and for anyone who wants a solution to deny the fact that we
need to sit first as Anglophones and agree while hoping that the Biya Regime
will succumb to dialogue calls soon must be making a mistake.” Charles
Tanirform a teacher tells me.
While the debate of for or against continues
in within the seemingly elite class, the food markets are busy as people shop
food for fear of the unknown.
“My brother, those people have guns and we
have only our lives to protect. I have to buy food not because I like but
because if they come out and kidnap or shoot guns that is all.” Julie says I
she buys meat at Bamenda food market.
As bleak as the week seems, the hope of many
is to see the crisis come to an end no matter how.