Armed conflict in NW, SW: Time to consider ceasefire.

The festive season is an exciting time of festivities, celebration, merriment, reconciliation and forgiveness, not only in Cameroon, but the world over.

Sadly, in the past six years or so, people of the North West and South West Regions have celebrated it in the shadow of insecurity and phobia, devoid of any fiesta.

This time around, renowned peace crusader, Ntumfor Barrister Nico Halle, has called for a ceasefire, to enable all Cameroonians enjoy the celebration without fear of bullets whistling through their backyards, kidnapping for ransom and even death.

He made the appeal as he received triple awards to add to the numerous distinctions he has been bestowed within Cameroon and globally for his consistent, persistent and committed one-man fight for peace. 

According to Nico Halle, “there can be no genuine peace in any society in the absence of core moral values, which include love, justice, harmony, equity, accountability, respect, fairness and the fear of the Lord”.

His fear of the Lord, which Biblically is the "beginning of wisdom", may explain the presence of prominent Christian leaders of the Catholic Church and the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon, including His Lordship, Bishop Immanuel Banlanjo Bushu, Bishop emeritus of the Diocese of Buea, and the Parish pastor of CIBEC congregation, Rev Albedine Asoh, during his last week's award ceremony.

Speaking at the event, the Chairman of the occasion, Bishop Immanuel Bushu, said he was happy to be part of the recognition of someone he had heard of many years ago.

The prelate said he was pleased to be associated with Ntumfor Nico Halle, whom he described as a genuine citizen of Cameroon. 

Bishop Immanuel Bushu thanked those who had chosen to celebrate Ntumfor Nico Halle's achievements while he is still alive. 

“...when you do so, it helps them improve their goodwill towards others...encouraging him to work harder," Bushu said. 

He added that, “sometimes, we grow up powerful in all aspects and turn to think we are standing on our own, but there is not a single thing that happens except God allows”.

“We do not celebrate because things are all good, but celebrating takes humility...We celebrate the gift God has given him in crusading peace," the Man of God said.

Taking the cue, the Naija Diaspora Magazine Excellence Award, an initiative of Ismaila Adegbola, was conferred on Ntumfor Barrister Nico Halle, for his role in promoting peaceful collaboration between Cameroon and Nigeria.

"The award celebrates those who have been fostering relationships between Nigerian and Cameroon, and Ntumfor is one of them. At its first edition, the award recognised people who impacted communities positively, contributed significantly in fostering community improvement and had left an indelible mark on diaspora excellence," he said.

Adegbola, a Nigerian, said Ntumfor Barrister Nico Halle's efforts in promoting peace globally, fighting hate speech and xenophobia, couldn’t have gone unnoticed. He described Nico Halle as a patriotic Cameroonian and a true servant of God.

As an apostle of peace, Ntumfor Nico Halle could not have been bathing in adoration, especially during the festive season when the blood of his compatriots is being spilled in the North West and South West Regions, be it from soldiers, civilians or separatist fighters.

The fighting, call it a war, conflict, crisis or situation, has been going on for seven years. There are credible reports that it has caused over 6,000 casualties, about half a million Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs and some 70,000 refugees and counting.

How can Cameroonians ‘living together,’" be in a festive mood with such activities dripping with blood during the Christmas and New Year festive season?

That is why at The Guardian Post, we join the globally acclaimed peace crusader, Ntumfor Barrister Nico Halle, to appeal to the belligerents to declare a ceasefire during the celebrations. 

Who knows, it can morph into the separatist fighters in the bushes dropping their weapons permanently.

It will not be strange for such a gesture of strength and magnanimity, which is common during conflicts and pandemics. 

In 2020, the United Nations, UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, called for a global truce in conflict zones to protect vulnerable civilians from the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic.

“The fury of the virus illustrates the folly of war,” he said, mentioning no specific country by name. 

“...I am calling for an immediate global ceasefire in all corners of the world. It is time to put armed conflict on lock-down and focus together on the true fight of our lives,” Guterres added. Cameroon ignored it. 

During World War I, there was a Christmas Truce from December 24-25, 1914. 

It will therefore not be new for the belligerents in the North West and South West Regions, to heed the humble supplication of Ntumfor Barrister Nico Halle, a peace crusader, who has not only been serially recognised in the country, but at the global stage for selfless service to humanity and God.