International peace crusader and youth leader lectures peers against arson and the importance of education

Global peace crusader or international repute and a fine youth leader, Molinge Henry Nyoki, who for years now has been championing, coordinating and reinforcing the peace revolution under the World Peace Initiative in Central and West Africa as its coordinator, has called on youths in Cameroon to distance themselves from arson and arsonist, embrace their education and let politicians play their politics.

Speaking to this reporter, in Buea at the heels of his departure to Benin where he will be co-organizing a peace fellowship, Molinge Henry pinpoints strong factors which according to him and from his experience in conflict management can be just what Cameroon needs to get out of its current deadlock. Read on…

You will be co-organizing an international peace fellowship program to take place in Benin republic earlier next month.  What is the Amani fellowship is all about and who are those eligible to attend?

The main reason of the youth fellowship program is to discuss peace in Francophone Africa as well as to train the youths to become peace agents so that upon their return they can become peace crusaders in their respective countries.

Why francophone Africa? Well as you well know we have done a lot of peace projects in Africa and we got to realize that most of our participants are from the English speaking regions so we decided to organize a program strictly French program for our brothers in the francophone states of our wonderful continent which hardly knows any peace. We target youths from countries like Cameroon, Burundi, Gabon, Mali, Niger Ivory Coast, Congo, and Benin among others.

Molinge Henry Nyoki

How many participants will the fellowship be taking to Benin?

We are looking at bring together thirty participants from at least twenty countries in Francophone Africa for a period of two days. And it should interest you to know that we foot every bill from transport, accommodation and what have you.

Obviously you should have some set objectives and target that at the end of the two day fellowship you aim at attaining. Can you enlighten young Cameroonians on what they stand to benefit by attending the peace fellowship program?

What we aim at achieving is to train and impact youths on peace building especially the peace-in peace-out concept which entails learning how to be peaceful with yourself so as to be at peace with the people around you. So we want to ensure that upon their return to their various countries, African youths who are always at the forefront of protest and conflicts can become agents of change and preachers of peace. We want them to drop their weapons and pick up their books.

Why Benin when it’s a relatively peace country, why give pock to a Muslim when there is a hungry Christian just nearby?

Well we chose Benin because the last regional conference peace fellowship we had in Africa took place right here Ombe, South West of Cameroon. Its true Benin is a relatively peaceful country currently but it’s better to bring people on good soil and impact them with knowledge so that upon their return to their various countries they can take up the fight and implement the peace in peace out concept spear headed by the World Peace Initiative.

We equally try to make it rotatory, you can well recall that in 2013 we were in Senegal, 2015 we were here in Cameroon and now in 2017 we are taking it to Benin where we have a very strong base and dedicated fellows.  We try to accord equally chance to all to host the peace-impacting conference.

Molinge Henry in one of his numerous media campaigns 

You are a youth leader and a peace crusader and am sure you have been following the current happenings in Cameroon where over fifty-four of the eighty youths of your age group who were arrested and transferred to yaounde were granted amnesty by the head of state. Do you stand with the school of thought who think the gesture is coming a little too late?

Well I personally believe that if the government had handled this crisis when it just started we would never have been here. The problem is that when all this started last year, it was over neglected and that’s the reason why we find ourselves in such a mess. About the release of the leaders of the struggle and some fellow youths, I personally think it’s a very good thing which the president has done but I still do not understand why some people have been released and others remitted in custody.  

I find it provocative to an extent, because if you release some people and you keep some in jail meanwhile they were all arrested for the same cause and you call that amnesty then am sorry but we are going nowhere. The government is already doing something very good so they should just pull through to the end and they will see the results.

What do you recommend as the next step to completely restore normalcy in Cameroon especially in its English speaking regions?

First will be the release of everyone arrested in connection with the Anglophone crisis and secondly that the government should engage in frank and sincere dialogue with all stakeholders. If the government thinks that by just releasing the leaders of the consortium and some youths everyone will go back to work and school then they should have a rethink.

Before people got arrested it’s because they identified a problem or problems which need government’s attention. So I say now is the time to sit down, strategize and see how to grant all this request so as to ensure that all Cameroonians are happy wherever they find themselves in the national triangle.

You will agree with me that the government has shown good faith and has done a lot as regard the plight of the protesting teachers and lawyers.

Has all the problems been solved is the question you should be asking. If I complain about something, you arrest me and jail me up and months later you tell me I can go home, I beat you the day I get home I will remind you that I ask for this and you are yet to do grant it. So until am satisfied, then we are not yet there.

Last Monday schools resumed in Cameroon for the 2017/2018 academic year but information from the North West and South West regions hold that school resumption was less than 10%. It seems our children risk losing another academic year.

Ok let’s be realistic, in as much as I believe we problems that need solving, not even Rome was built on a day. So I personally believe that children should be left to go to school while politicians do their politics. And one more thing, anyone who believes that he has any contribution to make to for the betterment of the nation I will advise that person to form a political party and not just sit at home, open his Facebook page and be inciting, threatening and warning people against going to school.

The children have the rights to go to school, how can we talk of a future of any nation without educated youths? How can someone even dare to tell children to stay at home? For another academic year, no this is inacceptable. People will not sit in the USA and Belgium are schooling and working, their kids are schooling over there and they want us to sit at home during three day ghost towns and jeopardize our children education. Never.

A new phenomenon is currently sweeping through the North West and South West Region just like the Arab spring and this is the rampant and uncontrollable burning of Schools, public buildings and private property and a majority of those engage in such acts are youths. Do you see arson as a solution to the current deadlock?

No no and no. I do not agree and will never support nor stand beside with any youth who goes around destroying be it private or state property. That is the apex of foolishness. It takes several years to put those structures in place and you cannot burn it just out of rage. No, it’s completely wrong; if you are a youth and you believe there is a need for change, do this by speaking out. Copy examples around the world and stop such barbaric acts.

There is a way you sell your ideas to people without threatening them or burning their property because I can assure you that people are fed up but due to the fear that their property might get burnt, they prefer to die in silence.