After two months of striking: Will Biya exalt Anglophones in his traditional end of year message?

As the date for the traditional end of year’s message of 84year old president Paul Biya on December 30 draws near, Anglophones in Cameroon who down tools and embark on a strike action for over two months now, are set to await the speech with a lot of skepticism and optimism while some fear for its outcome.

But the question on the minds of pundits’ is; will Biya exalt or show some remorse towards the Anglophone problem or will he just ignore it as he is reputed for? This reporter after speaking to some prominent Anglophones in the two English speaking regions of Cameroon, gathered that not only do they (Anglophones) anxiously await the head of states message but equally noted that it will matter a lot as to if the strike will take a different twist or not.

It is worth pointing out that since the strike which started with Common Law Lawyers and later snowballed to its current state started, the head of state in his usual mannerism decided to remain mute and give almost a deaf ear on the upheavals and plights raised by the various parties. In a recent conducted vox pop, respondents expressed the will that the head of state should have made a statement on the current situation. Prominent figures including legal minds, peace crusaders have taken turns to criticize the dead silence of President Paul Biya which they describe as “disturbing” and “provocative”.

From the spyglasses of this reporter, the head of state who for the pass 34years is yet to address the nation in English during his end of year address broadcast “live” on the state run CRTV, might have more viewership as all and sundry will be watching to hear what he will have to say on the Anglophone problems or if he will neglect it as he has for the pass months being doing. Another school of thought hold it that, the head of state commenting on the Anglophone strike could go a long way to quill down tempers of the English speaking Cameroonians who believe they have been marginalized for the past 60years.

Many had questioned why he failed to make a statement on TV or visit Bamenda after the strike went violent as it was speculated that his presence could have helped to put an end to the strike that continue to paralyzed courts and schools in the North West and South West Regions.

As the president mounts the rostrum to address the nation on December 30, political observers have advised that to give Cameroonians a sign that they truly are one and should remain that way, President Biya should address the nation for the first time in English while taking considerable time to address the ongoing strike action in the two English Speaking Regions of Cameroon.