Wirba Dramatic Comeback, Implications for the Struggle

Hon Joseph Wirba has resurfaced from self exile, 6 months after a brutal man hunt for his head was launched by the country's Police Chief and Biya's Bulu kingpin, Martin Mbarga Nguele.  His only crime has been speaking the whole truth over Government's inhumane treatment of the Anglophone Problem.  The use of firepower by heavily armed combat ready troops on unarmed and helpless civilians, harassments,  intimidation and provocation in the North West and South West regions since the eruption of the crisis had reached fever pitch, boiling in the heart of a small but hard figure who was poised  to defend his people from the ills of a brutal and violent regime.

The man who unsettled the National Assembly and defied its Speaker during the November session looked relaxed as he made his way into the Glass House with a huge file, probably containing results of extensive research he could have carried out during his forceful narrow escape, demanding that the standing orders of the house be changed to include the Anglophone wahala. Wirba's stormy return was no good signal for Cavaye Yegue Djibril who had  earlier received lashes from fellow regime barons for allowing the audacious and fearless warrior of Nso ignite a revolution which has spread like wild fire not only  in his hometown Kumbo but also the entire Anglophone part of the territory. An attempt by the Speaker to stop him was just like drawing a line for him to cross. And for a man who had previously dared the same opponent in his own  fief, Wirba did not disappoint.

For many who thought he had negotiated his comeback with the establishment and would digest the Speaker's dictatorial move, Wirba took Cavaye and other colleagues back to classroom, teaching them  the basics of why they are Parliamentarians in the first place. Just when the "tres Honorable" was yet to digest his own dose of the 101 lecture, he proceeded by  launching a virulent invitation on the Police boss to come seize him from the rostrum of the National Assembly.

Wirba's heated verbal duel with the House Speaker was enough illustration to prove he was unfazed with the mission allowances and the splendor offered to MPs for the session. A strong signal for the dysfunctional system  to understand that they won't have rest if they continue circumventing the Anglophone Problem.

Observers have been quick to draw similarities with the famous WWE Superstar The Undertaker who would resurrect after his opponents thought they had knocked him out in a wrestling match. The regime who was exhausted from fruitless deals with the Consortium and resorted with a ruthless witch hunt of its leaders could have been popping bottles of wine thinking it's arbitrary use of force had put them on a strong position. But it is clear the drama this week in Parliament has demonstrated that the Anglophone crisis is deeper and broader than even those who carry it can imagine. it will require more than routine gunshots and teargas to silence the people.

At a time when the arrest and escape of the struggle's  flag bearers had ushered in a ferocious power tussle amongst demi gods and fragmented a once unified people, the return of Wirba is expected to give the crusade some sort of leadership stability, that is if all actors agree to down self aggrandizement, stop intimidation of contrary views and create an avenue for true reconciliation.

An arrest warrant still hangs over Wirba's head and though he still enjoys immunity, his future is still clouded in uncertainty . For an unpredictable regime that violated all set rules and abducted a Senior judge at the Supreme Court in January, intimidated  the son of one of the people's finest politicians through a  summon and used an unholy Parent Consortium to try Church leaders in court,  Wirba's settlement on enemy territory worries the very heart of Southern Cameroonians . The regime critics say will do all it takes to wipe him out. But Wirba's courage in the face of the unknown as curious as it seems clearly depicts a man who is coming with renewed energy in the struggle. Time will surely not disappoint to show his people what he is bringing back from exile.