After MINAT’s accusation of endorsing “terrorism” in NW, SW: Hon Nintcheu’s immunity reportedly on the line!.

After MINAT’s accusation of endorsing “terrorism” in NW, SW:

Authoritative sources have hinted The Guardian Post that government is considering exploiting further options to make real the threats found in Atanga Nji’s March 12 release. 

The action on the table of government, we are told, is possibly getting the National Assembly currently in session to lift the immunity of Hon Nintcheu.

Within the corridors of power, Nintcheu’s visit to jailed separatist leaders at the Kondengui Maxim Security Prison on March 9, is said to be still fueling anger. 

The anger is said to be in tune with the tone of the release of the Minister of Territorial Administration, in which Sisiku Ayuk Tabe Julius and Co. were described as “terrorists” responsible for the chaos the armed conflict in the North West and South West Regions has produced.

Doubling down on ‘stubborn’ political actor?

The Guardian Post gleaned on good authority that the counter release of the opposition coalition platform, Alliance for Political Change, APC, to Atanga Nji’s warning has not also gone down well with those in power. 

Hon Nintcheu, who is National Coordinator of the APC, signed the release, telling off Atanga Nji and vowing to press on with the movement’s activities, ahead of the 2025 municipal, legislative and presidential elections.

In the APC release, the platform had reiterated that Hon Nintcheu will not relent in his efforts of working to contribute to peace in the North West and South West Regions. 

The release had reminded the powers that be that even at the level of the National Assembly, Hon Nintcheu has remained uncompromising on the need to seek a way out of the crisis.

Usually-dependable sources at the National Assembly and within government circles, have hinted that the leader of APC, Hon Nintcheu, will only see his immunity not lifted, if God is his neighbour. 

Our very dependable sources say authorities are already inching towards activating the procedure to get the National Assembly lift Hon Nintcheu’s immunity.

If this is done, The Guardian Post gathered, the MP could be exposed to judicial proceedings. While debates have remained vague on the justifications for which such an action may be taken, the storm in the tea cup for Hon Nintcheu could be his visit to separatist leaders.

Government and Minister Atanga Nji in particular, has remained unbending in his argument that engaging “terrorists” who have caused killings and destruction in the North West and South West Regions, and talking about a political transition, as Nintcheu did, is synonymous to endorsing the actions of the separatist leaders who are serving life sentences at the Kondengui Maximum Security Prison.

Revisiting Atanga Nji’s veiled message to Hon Nintcheu

When Minister Atanga Nji issued the stern release on Tuesday March 12, 2024, he was clear and firm in his warning. 

He had indicated that “the status of Member of Parliament or politician does not authorise anyone to defy State authority with impunity, stir up rebellion and make offensive remarks about authorities and exhibit the deliberate intention to constantly undermine public order”.

The member of government had stated that: “Any attempt to organise any activity under” the opposition coalitions pushing for a political transition “or any other names of the same type in the pipeline, will henceforth be considered as a provocation of war…”. 

On what he had said was a “worsened” situation owing to Hon Nintcheu’s visit to the jailed separatists, Atanga Nji, without mentioning names, had regretted that opposition coalitions: “have gone as far as giving unacceptable pre-conditions to government in favour of these dangerous terrorists”.

APC denies giving pre-conditions on NW, SW crisis

In its sharp rebuttal to Atanga’ Nji’s outing, the APC, in a release same Tuesday March 12, had denied giving pre-conditions to the government on engaging separatists to end the crisis in the North West and South West Regions.

In its release, the platform said Hon Nintcheu “has never made any prerequisite or demand whatsoever to the government, in favour of the prisoners of the Anglophone conflict, unless we consider as such the public proposal for the release of the said prisoners as part of the search for a political solution to the crisis”.

Giving a dog bad name to hang it?

While reports of lifting Hon Nintcheu’s immunity have not yet seen the light of day, there are those who have been lampooning the idea as government looking for a way to cut off key voices from the political space. 

Many say such a push is synonymous to giving a dog a bad name to hang it.

With the presidential election fever already heating the polity, pundits say more of acrimonious confrontations will intensify in the coming days and months.