Professor Elvis Ngolle Ngolle: “Institutions Are Strong Enough To Solve The Problems”

Political Scientist.

Do the strike actions in the North West and South West Regions with diverse demands put to question the stability of the nation?
The answer is no. I say no not as a matter of politics but from the political science, conceptual, practical and historical stand points.  From the conceptual stand point, the strikes have not put into question the stability of the nation. This is because by definition, the nation in political science is a group of people coming either from the same or different backgrounds in terms of history, customs and traditions who demonstrate a common  wish and desire to live together as one political community, as one people so that together they can forge ahead and find solutions to their problems as they see them and chart a common future for themselves.
The Anglophone lawyers and teachers trade unions are not capable of putting into question the stability of the nation because the nation is strong enough, cohesive enough and has developed the culture of togetherness, collective memories of the past and a collective conscience of where they want to go to. The problems raised do not have a major adherence. The institutions put in place are legally and morally strong enough to solve the problems and they have the will. Therefore, the stability of the nation is not at stake under the present circumstances.
Are there provisions in the Constitution that can answer the demands of the striking groups?
The present Constitution of 1996 is a result of a consensus by all living forces in Cameroon.  The Constitution has clauses that protect human rights, state of law, fundamental political, economic and social rights. The Constitution clearly states that Cameroon is a bi-cultural nation (State) and that diversity must be respected and maintained. It states that French and English are the official languages of Cameroon. I personally believe that the 1996 Constitution is the most human rights- conscious one compared to those of 1960, 1961 and 1972. This is the constitution that has transformed the form of the State of Cameroon from a centralized unitary State to a decentralized unitary State. The constitution has the provisions for providing answers (solutions) not only to issues raised by a specific group of people, be they Francophones or Anglophones, but to all problems. It has provisions to provide answers to political, social or economic problems. What is important is that it recognizes and guarantees the freedoms of citizens to express themselves, that nobody should be imprisoned for his political ideas. The constitution has adequate provisions to  protect and guarantee every citizen of Cameroon regardless of their backgrounds to be able to raise whatever concerns. It’s implementation may not be perfect. The Constitution is the key to the solutions of our problems. What is important is the will to continue to stay together, display honesty and sincerity in the way we go on living our political, social lives in conformity with and within the framework of the Constitution. The constitution should not be joked with by anybody because it is the fundamental law.
 Some people have the believe that the strike actions in the North West and South West Regions are being used by others to position themselves. What do you say?
This is the question I have been grappling with since the 1990s whether some of our compatriots are not engaging in what we call politics of personal positioning, group positioning, politics of convenience or politics of opportunism. With respect to the problems raised by Anglophone lawyers and teachers, we get the feeling that the teachers and lawyers are compatriots who are not just anybody. They know the history of Cameroon and their duties before the law and the constitution. Lawyers see themselves as the defenders of the rule of law, State of law and the common person. I have respect for these categories of Cameroonians, be they Anglophones or Francophones. If they decide at any moment to express problems in their corps, I believe they are sincere and honest. I think they are serious and genuine. Problems are raised which are specific to their corps and I think these problems are genuine.
The President of the Republic who is the guarantor of the constitution has opened up his heart, mind and government under the guidance of the Prime Minister to look into these problems. However, some of the people in the strike actions are anti- constitutional with many of them driven by the spirit of nostalgia. You have the impression that there are some of them who are driven by the ambition and the ego to be great in the face of circumstances of conflict. These people continue ...