President Biya’s Extraordinary Address May Save Lives & Forest Resources

BY NDIMUH B. SHANCHO

A press release signed, September 9, 2019, by Director of the Civil Cabinet at the Presidency, Samuel Mvondo Ayolo, indicates that President Paul Biya will be addressing the nation today, September 10, 2019, in a message that will be broadcast on the national radio and television, 8 pm.

Hitherto known for traditionally addressing the nation only on February 10 and December 31, Mvondo’s release, which is making rounds on social and mainstream media platforms, has harvested a rather polarized prognostic from Cameroonians at home and abroad.

With arm-conflict ravaging the North West and South West regions, there are those who hold that the Head of State will declare a ceasefire, grant general amnesty to those arrested in connection to the Anglophone crisis, call for general dialogue and a return to a two-state federation or better still resign. Drawing inspiration from previous knowledge, others believe the President will rather appreciate the military for their “professionalism”, promise doom to separatists and announce a date for pending legislative and municipal elections.

Should the former prognostic hold true, then it will set in place a course of events that will put an end to the Anglophone crisis and will consequently stop the killing, kidnapping, destructions etc that accompanied it. It will equally culminate in saving forest resources, which have for close to three years been at the mercy of thousands of displaced persons including separatist fighters, who have sought refuge, established settlements and are using plant and animal species for livelihoods, irrespective of their status