After 63 years of Francophones as Heads of State: Time for Anglophone to be president!.

It is a Cameroonian reality of two States that reunited, seeking to build an exemplary nation for all its sons and daughters without discrimination. 

From the sweet-talking in crusading reunification to historical gatherings, such as the Foumban Constitutional Conference to other gatherings that followed, several things happened and are still happening.

Despite experiencing shifts from a federal structure, for which most are still calmouring for a return to today, to the May 6, 1972, unilateral decision by the First Head of State, Ahmadou Ahidjo, to change the country to a Unitary State and his successor; Paul Biya’s change of the country’s name from the United Republic of Cameroon to La Republique du Cameroun, in 1984; Anglophones have remained patient.

Aborigines of the North West and South West Regions were supportive of President Ahmadou Ahidjo’s 22-year leadership. They have also even more than ever before, given unrivaled support to President Paul Biya, in the last 42 years and still counting.

The records thus show that in over 63 years since independence and reunification, the chummy smiles, commitments to uphold brotherhood, equality and a unique Cameroonian experience, have not played out in all facets of national life. 

It has been six decades plus of Francophones occupying the highest office of the land, while Anglophones have been faithfully and impatiently playing second fiddle.

Times have changed, and increasingly, analysts say the absence of an Anglophone as Head of State of the Republic of Cameroon does not tie with declarations of founding fathers of Francophone extraction.

At best, when they campaigned to lay the groundwork for what is today Cameroon, they put up a genuine posture with traces of justice and equitable sharing of the national cake.

63 years after independence and reunification, analysts say now is the time for an Anglophone to also run the affairs of State in the spirit of fairness, national unity, living together and national integration that Francophones have been parroting.

Observers are unanimous that anything short of this would merely raise more questions than provide answers. 

Creating the enabling environment for an Anglophone worth the salt to become Head of State, pundits say, will make for one of the urgently needed diffusers to the persistent cry of Anglophone marginalisation in Cameroon.

Cameroon, not Francophones first 

Having and backing an Anglophone to be Head of State, those versed with the political dynamics of Cameroon say, is not a favour but a matter of going to equity with clean hands. 

Given the challenges facing Cameroon and the multiplicity of grounded Anglophone grievances, advocates of the building of a solid Cameroon say not having an Anglophone as Head of State for all these years alone sends an unclear message to Anglophones. 

Historians have repeatedly cited cases of some Francophones in the corridors of power referring to Anglophones as “enemies within the house”.

Observers say if Francophones have had the highest office of the land for this long, their professing of patriotism and unity should also be seen in allowing an Anglophone be the Decider-ln-Chief of the country’s destiny. 

Those who say they are unshaken in this line of argument insist and rightly so that, we cannot jump into talking about a united Cameroon when the handwriting on the wall shows only Francophones first. 

To show that holding the coveted and demanding office of the President of the Republic is about Cameroon first and not a Francophone affair, putting an indigene of either the North West or South West Region at the Unity Palace is the best way to infuse hope for a better Cameroon going forward.

Times have changed, let’s face our realities 

Many, especially those within diplomatic circles and the corridors of power, are not new to the topic of having an Anglophone as Head of State. This, they say, will build trust and equality in nationhood. 

There have been reports across decades of paranoia among highly placed officials about such a happenstance. 

Analysts, however differ, saying the need for an Anglophone as Head of State should be treated as a “must” in building a truly united Cameroon.

Countless times, reports have emerged, citing Heads of State and leaders of Cameroon’s colonial master (s) categorically rejecting the idea of an Anglophone becoming Head of State. 

Political scientists argue and strongly so, that any country that still holds to such dictate, be it real or fake in walking into the future, could only be likened to powder keg.

They insist that the need for an Anglophone as Head of State is no longer and should not be based on what someone somewhere is saying for selfish reasons but on the cast iron facts facing everyone. 

No one, they say, can deny that two successive Francophones have been in charge and so asking for an Anglophone Head of State in the interest of all is morally and politically right and even more urgent now.

Given the importance of the issue at hand, analysts say, it is time for Cameroonians to reflect and look themselves in the face without recourse to any external pressure and admit that, truly an Anglophone should not just give a shot at the office of President of the Republic, but actually rule the country.

There are some who say the topic should be treated as patriotism that needs no intervention from any foreign country. They say, it is about Cameroon that must save its soul from the headache of trying to run from its shadow.

Anglophones not asking too much 

Several generations have mulled discussions around the need to have an Anglophone at the Unity Palace, but analysts say, the growing concern around the issue makes for genuine reflection and urgent action. 

They say Anglophones asking for the position of Head of State should not be seen as asking too much.

Contemporary Cameroon, bookmakers say, needs an Anglophone at the helm of the Presidency. Those heralding the idea, say the soul of the nation is beaconing for such to heal and to revive itself and face the future without regret or dissenting voices.

Please, don’t throw dust into eyes of Anglophones

Within Cameroon, an Anglophone is an indigene of either the North West and South West Regions and not any Cameroonian who can speak English.

Within the context of the clamour for an Anglophone as Head of State, bookmakers say Francophones mustn’t confuse the situation to mean the need for just any Cameroonian who speaks English, to become Head of State. 

They are vehement that the argument remains that of having a national whose roots are in either the North West or South West Regions, to serve in the highest office of the land.

Like Martin Luther King, Anglophones have a dream

Anglophones like American Baptist preacher and philosopher, Martin Luther King Jr, who dreamt and it came to pass that a black would ondbday become President of the United States of America, USA, also have a dream for Cameroon.

On August 28, 1983, during the march on Washington, Rev Dr Marthin Luther King Jr, delivered his inspirational “I have a dream speech”, shaking the very foundations of America. 

He had declared among other things that: “I have a dream today! I have a dream that one day, every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low. The rough places will be plain and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together".

It took 25 years for Barack Obama to emerge as first black US President. Since then, things have never been the same again in American politics. 

Like the vision and prophecy of Martin Luther King Jr, that came to pass after decades, the dream of Anglophones to one day have one of theirs as Head of State, analysts say, is a certainty that only time alone will bring to reality. 

Anglophones in their majority are all saying the same thing- that the time has now come for one of them to occupy the highest office of the land. 

Analysts say any attempt to stop them or have that dream aborted will be tantamount to trying to pick up a grenade with bare hands!

This story was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3266 of Monday October 21, 2024