Give Anglophones another Referendum, They Will Vote to Leave Cameroun – Cardinal Tumi Courtesy Cameroon Journal

Courtesy Cameroon Journal

Cameroon Journal, Douala, June 29, 2015 – Cardinal Christian Tumi, retired head of the Roman Catholic Church in Cameroon in his characteristic audacity and candor, has said the divide between Anglophone and Francophone Cameroons has grown so wide that if another referendum was to be conducted today, Anglophones will without hesitation, vote to leave the union. In a kind of retrospect, the Cardinal thinks the union was a curse. If it was a blessing – as the Francophone would suppose, he wonders aloud why Anglophone Cameroon remains so underdeveloped over 50yrs since reunification. “I am sure that if the English speaking part of Cameroon were independent, that area would have been far more developed than what we have today.” The cardinal said.

You have been keeping a low profile lately. What have you been up to?
Not much. I have been concentrating on writing books and remember I am on retirement.

I am sure you are aware of the Anglophone Lawyers ultimatum demanding that government revisits re-unification terms, what is your appreciation of that move?
Personally I have always been for a Federal System of government where states are managed by elected governors and own a parliament. Regarding the problem of bilingualism in courts in the English speaking part of the country, I would be surprised that a good lawyer or judge won’t be able to express himself in English perfectly. It is irrational to send non-English speakers to preside over courts that conduct proceedings in 100 per cent English. So I think the move the lawyers took was very correct.

And the six months ultimatum they gave the government to rectify the situation?
No. I don’t like ultimatums because if they don’t react in six months what will they do. However, the idea of Federation is laudable.

Do you think given the pressure now from lawyers that government would respond in six months?
I don`t think so. They should know their government. We know that even if you give an ultimatum of one year, nothing will happen. You know we are dealing with a government that keeps reminding the people that `do what you like` and does not listen to the people and they are ready to react militarily to quell down any opposition and uprising. It`s sad.

Do you think the Anglophone problem in Cameroon is real? 

Yes of course, I believe in it. I am sure that if the English speaking part of Cameroon were independent, that area would have been far more developed than what we have today. Take a simple example like Kumba-Mamfe road, it`s terrible. What impression does it leave on the people? Of course, that they are marginalized.

Have you personally experienced any problem in Cameroon because you are Anglophone?

No never. Some people do not even know that I am an Anglophone (laughs). I studied in France you know. But when I observe the whole political set up, I get the impression that certain ministerial posts like finance, military, education, secretary general and so on are reserved exclusively for Francophones. And directors of certain parastatals like SONARA, CAMTEL are Francophones and Anglophones are always sub-directors. I think this is a serious problem because qualified Anglophones also have the right to have political ambition. It is said that Fru Ndi won the election in 1992 and that if he were a Francophone he would have been President of Cameroon. But France said that an Anglophone can never be President in Cameroon. If a referendum is organized for Anglophones today the results will be quite different.

That is to say?

 That is to say many Anglophones if not all will not vote to continue to live with La Republique. I received an old man from Mamfe and he was sitting right here in my office. And he told me that he came all the way from Mamfe to ask me whether what the young people in SCNC are fighting for is correct. I told him that they have a point and he thanked me and left immediately. So you can see how deep the problem has become. It is growing and spreading every day and unfortunately government is giving a deaf ear.