Anglophone crisis is a ticking time bomb - Chief Molinge David

One time president of the Fako Chiefs Conference, Chief Molinge Ikome David has said that the Anglophone crisis is a ticking time bomb which if not well handled can explode into something else. As though he was a prophet, in an exclusive interview granted The Guardian Post, during the first week of November 2016, the traditional ruler of Upper Muea chiefdom in the locality of Buea, Chief Molinge David Ikome, issued a clarion call on the government of Cameroon to act fast and engage in a constructive dialogue with representatives of aggravated Anglophones so as to contain the crisis while they still can.

Apparently, his suggestions were not heeded as the government not only ignored his proposals but failed to tactfully handle the crisis which has escalated to an uncontrollable height.

Chief Molinge Henry who later that month addressed the Council of chiefs during their come-together, urged the council to make a public statement about the Anglophone crisis and to propagate the values of national unity and togetherness. He equally urged the council of chiefs to use their respectable positions and the powers to engage in discussions with their subjects on the importance of approaching the crisis which was still at the strike stage wrongly.

chief Molinge

Being one of the first traditional rulers to make a public statement about the crisis which had just entered a new dimension after the civil society in solidarity with Anglophone lawyers and teachers decided to join the strike action, Chief Molinge, in a chat with this reporter noted that government’s responds and the criterion it was implementing in handling the strike action would backfire in the nearest future.

He not only used the forum to call government to order about the atrocities committed by combat ready security  forces but equally emphasised the need for frank dialogue where both parties will freely table their grievances for mediation.

The erstwhile councillor of the Buea council who has not been in the best health situation lately, however told this reporter that “it’s not all that bad, the government if determined can still do something to remedy the situation”

The time to act is now

The vocal traditional ruler, who despite his poor health decided to comment on the current state of affairs, put the blames at the doorsteps of the government. To him, if his warning had been heeded, the nation would not have been here today.

Here him “how can you arrest somebody’s brother, children and husband, lock them up for months yet you expect that they should do nothing about it…no normal human being will tolerate that.”

Quizzed on what could be done to remedy the situation and ensure that things return to normalcy, the venerated and highly celebrated traditional custodian was categorical that
“dialogue I tell you is our only hope. If the government does not engage in dialogue with the Anglophone leaders and prefers to engage in a war with them, then we should expect the worst for we know that no government has ever won a war against its own people.” He retorted.    

With regards to the act of keeping children away from school and attempting to get government to give-in to demands, chief Molinge snapped that, “It’s very bad for us to pull children out of school for a political mater, we cannot compromise the education and future of our children, let children return to school and politicians engage in dialogue and attempt to find a solution to this problem.”

To him, the unjustifiable and barbaric burning down of schools, public and private property is uncalled for. While condemning in strong terms all acts of arson the soft-spoken king of Upper Muea called on the government to remove the armed military men who on a daily basis parade the streets of Buea.

While recommending that security be send out as from 6PM, Chief Molinge pointed out that the mare presence of a uniformed officer holding a loaded gun instils fear in the minds of parents. While extending his condolence to the bereaved families, the custodian ancestral laws and customs observed that “I fell very bad because people are dying on a daily basis, no chief will be happy to hear his subjects are been killed the way we experience this days.”

Calling the police to order, Molinge David Ikome, urged them to be professionals and avoid using guns on protesters who according to him have all the rights to protest.