By Fred Ndango, January 6, 2017
Cameroon Journal, Bamenda – SDF Member of Parliament, Hon. Wirba Joseph has added his voice to that of the Consortium of Teachers and Lawyers calling for the continuous shut down of schools in the Southern Cameroons. Wirba made the argument for continuous schools shut down in the backdrop of schools scheduled for second term resumption on Monday, January 9.
“At this time in our history, we as a people, must stand up and face our oppressors. If this government were interested in our plight, our children’s schools and classrooms would not be filled by theirs and their teachers who forcefully un-teach them in a language they do not understand.” Wirba stated in the statement being widely circulated.
The firebrand MP seems to be irked by numerous attempts by the Biya gov’t to ‘buy’ students and teachers back to school by attempting to bribe stakeholders in the sector.
“The schools are ours! The children are ours! We are determined! They will stay home!” In the statement, Wirba congratulates the teachers and lawyers for their tenacity in refusing to cave amid gov’t pressure and efforts at bribing them. Here’s the full text of the press release.
ON THE RESUMPTION OF SCHOOLS IN WEST CAMEROON
The people of West Cameroon have no reason before God and man to resume schools following the continuous brutal repression and oppression that has always resulted in the killing, rape, torture, and imprisonment of our innocent children by the same government that now suddenly pretends to care.
At this time in our history, we as a people, must stand up and face our oppressors. If this government were interested in our plight, our children’s schools and classrooms would not be filled by theirs and their teachers who forcefully un-teach them in a language they do not understand. When a system like ours wants to subjugate and enslave us, it comes for our children. They have gone too far. We must stop them now. The schools are ours! The children are ours! We are determined! They will stay home! Bravo to our Teachers? Unions and our Common Law Lawyers for standing up firm against these and other injustices against our people. We must now stand by them from Ndian in the South to Donga-Mantung in the North, and ensure that by sacrificing a school year, we will collectively cease back our freedom and dignity that have been trampled upon for over 55 years.
THE TIME IS NOW! WE MUST MAKE IT HAPPEN!
THIS IS THE CORE OF OUR RESISTANCE TO BLATANT, DECEITFUL, PROVOCATIVE AND INHUMANE OPPRESSION.
Has this government ever really cared about the fate of our children? Can a government that cares for its children send soldiers to rape, torture and kill them? Our people of West Cameroon, when did the union between TWO EQUAL PARTNERS become that between master and slave?
The Governors, the SDO’s and the DO’s are running around West Cameroon in circles. WHY THE PANIC? Is the master just frustrated that the slave has risen? Is the government just frightened that for 55 years, “the few cubes of sugar” have stubbornly refused to melt?
MY DIGNIFIED PEOPLE OF WEST CAMEROON, THE RESISTANCE HAS COME TO STAY? UNTIL?
Hon. Wirba