From: f54oguocha@edison.usask.ca
Newsgroups: soc.culture.african
Subject: RE: CAMEROON: Bill Clinton's ""coup d'etat""?????????
Date: 7 JAN 93 23:51:40 GMT
Organization: University of Saskatchewan
NNTP-Posting-Host: edison.usask.ca

In a previous article,JEMBEI@gallua.gallaudet.edu wrote:


>One of my questions is where have you gotten yor statistics about the
>North-West and South-West provinces population, and their GNP contribution ?
>
please, provide us with the "real" statistics or else we shall assume he
was correct. 

>I guess when one deal with the two provinces GNP, what first come in mind is
>OIL. 1987 statistics--I am unsure whether they are accurate or not state that
>petroleum contributed about 50% of Cameroon export earnings (in 1987).

how can you be unsure and still go ahead to feed us with the figure? we
want the accurate figure so as to know who is doctoring figures between two of
you.
> 

>We shall be very careful whenever we deal with political realities. This is not
>only true for Cameroon. It is true for Africa in general. Our major weakness is
>our addiction-like desire to operate behind clans, tribes, etc. We can't blame
>Europeans for having divided our continent into micro states--I won't say
>nations, for there is no genuine nation in Africa ! 

i don't think you are well informed on this matter. what was Africa like before
the Europeans invaded her virginity? BTW, how do you define a nation?

>whereas we continue to develop clanism, tribalism, and want to balkanie these 
>very micro states.
these things exist every where in the world today as in the ancient time.
if you are not sure, ask the IRA why they have been planting time bombs
all over UK. you may also take a clue from Yugoslavia. so, Africa is not an
exception. tell us how best to handle the problem.

>. Is it because Cameroon oil industry is located in Limbe
>(South-West), in an "Anglophone" province as they call it that English speaking
>Cameroonians should want federalism ? Well, it is theii right to express
>themselves. But we should know that federalism has drawbacks, dangers in
>itself. It is a weakness. And what if later, there is no more oil in the actual
>site, but elsewhere in Cameroon ?  Fortunately, not all people from that part
>of Cameroon--I won't call them Anglophone support this federalism. My opinion
>is that, what we need is to develop a genuine nationalism beyond democracy.
>Look at Americans ! See what Europeans are working on now ?
>
The main stream Americans migrated from Europe. The Indians own America but
they are yet to get integrated into the American society(ies) after all these
years. Every participating nation in the European community is a distinct
society and is so recognised. i think this is what is lacking in Cameroon
and many African countries. Africans have got to recognise their differences
and accept them as a fact of life. when this is done, they can then work out
an acceptable deal which will make every participant proud and happy. this
is the only way peace can reign and tangible progress made. there is no point
pretending. a situation where majority ethnic groups lord it over minorites
with reckless abandon will always precipitate suspicion and chaos.
> And it would be great if the US
>government really takes more concrete actions in order to help bring about
>democracy--a genuine democracy in Cameroon. 
i strongly disagree with you. only Cameroonians can find an everlasting
solution(s) to their problems. there is no point bending towards the US for
any help. when the politicians were fermenting the problems, did they take
permission from the US? i hate a situation where Africans will always look
outward for help in everything, even when all they need do is put their heads
together and a solution will come. Heavens help those who help themselves.

>... there is hope that Cameroon will become a
>democratic country, provided friendly nations and their governments such as the
>USA help the Cameroon peole. 
i'll rather put it this way: there is hope that Cameroon will become a democr-
tic country, provided that Cameroonians(far and wide) help themselves. there is
no point attacking yourselves over this net work over who is wrong or right. we
want all Cameroonians who tune to this network to start telling us how they 
think real peace will return to their motherland. we don't want Cameroon to be
another Bosnia or Somalia. we want to see them again at the 1994 WC in US as one
nation. nevertheless, if they eventually want to separate, let them copy the
example shown by the Czechs.
oguocha


Xref: sparky soc.culture.african:7492 alt.native:1627