ANGLOPHONE CRISIS FOILS CPDM ANNIVERSARY EUPHORIA IN BAMENDA

The Cameroon People Democratic Movement CPDM, the governing party in Cameroon was born in Bamenda on March 24, 1985 from the ashes of the Cameroon National Union CNU. As  preparations for the party's 32 anniversary reaches fever pitch across the country, Bamenda the birth place of the party is not catching the euphoria which usually characterizes the build up to the celebration.

During a closed door preparatory meeting chaired by the Prime minister Philemon Yang in Bamenda early this week, local party officials raised serious worries over the unstable socio political atmosphere in the city.  

They told the Permanent Regional Coordinator, Philemon Yang that the boiling tension in the anglophone regions and Bamenda in particular makes it unreasonable for any grand rally to held. They revealed that the party  is still haunted by the deadly clashes of December 8, 2016 triggered by an abortive attempt by the Prime minister to forcefully hold a rally, still perceived by a cross section of the population as an act of provocation. That incident was a disastrous turning point in the combined sit down protest of anglophone lawyers and teachers.

Reacting to the worries raised by local party officials, Philemon Yang has ordered the cancellation of the grand rally scheduled for the Commercial avenue Grand  stand. While some sections will commune at their levels, there will be no event in other sections due to the volatile environment.

Anniversary rallies have always been the avenue for senior party officials dispatched from Yaounde to come to their bases and sing the achievements of the regime. A move which has been heavily condemned by inhabitants of Bamenda who are embittered over the present stalemate in the North west and South west regions.

It is feared that there could be a similar atmosphere with low key celebrations in many parts of former West Cameroon following persistent calls from secessionists abroad to totally black out the praise singing event.