Editorial

Southern Cameroons Crisis: Children should be able to return to school

21, September 2022

Southern Cameroons Crisis: Children should be able to return to school 0

Since 2016, fighting between separatist insurgents and the military has disrupted the education of over 700,000 children in Cameroon’s two Anglophone regions. As the school year starts in September, education in the conflict-affected regions is at risk again. The two sides should strive to protect schools from being attacked and keep classrooms open. 

At the start of Cameroon’s academic year on 5 September, schools in the two Anglophone regions kept their doors shut to comply with a general strike (locally known as a “ghost town” operation) imposed by separatist militias combating the government in Yaoundé. The following day, only a handful of schools offered classes, primarily in the relatively safe towns of Buea and Limbe.

School’s out

Some separatist groups have ordered public schools in the Anglophone regions to remain closed until at least 1 October. On that day five years ago, separatists proclaimed the independent Federal Republic of Ambazonia, as they call the North West and South West regions. In response to the boycott, government officials said they considered shuttering so-called community schools, which are run by volunteers in separatist-controlled areas.

Civilians have borne the brunt of the fighting between separatist militias and Cameroon’s security forces. The conflict has killed about 6,000 people, displaced more than 500,000 and severely disrupted access to government services in the Anglophone regions. Attempts by Anglophone peace campaigners and foreign facilitators to resolve the conflict peacefully have stalled. Sadly, as Cameroon’s conflict parties repeatedly use access to education to push their political objectives, children are paying a disproportionately high price. The UN estimates that two of every three schools in the North West and South West have closed indefinitely.

The Anglophone crisis began in 2017 when lawyers and teachers staged peaceful protests aimed at preserving the two regions’ distinct legal and educational systems. At the time, unions and civil society organisations called for a school boycott in order to push for negotiations with the government and demand the release of detained Anglophone activists. A heavy-handed army crackdown on protesters calling for the two regions’ secession from Francophone Cameroon then hardened the resolve of many Anglophones, triggering armed rebellion.

Yet, though popular at first, the school boycott quickly lost support as separatist militias began destroying schools and killing teachers who continued working. Tens of thousands of children were denied the chance to go to school for months on end, sometimes years. By 2018, an estimated 4,000 Anglophone schools had shuttered, eventually depriving over 700,000 children of regular classes for almost four academic years.

Some died in the mayhem, too. In October 2020, suspected separatists stormed a private school in the town of Kumba, slaughtering at least seven children and injuring thirteen others. In 2021, separatists killed four students and a French language teacher in Ekondo Titi.

The lack of access to quality education is worsening the already dire socio-economic crisis plaguing the Anglophone regions. Pressure from Anglophone civil society prompted some separatist groups to formally call off the school boycott in 2020, but attacks on schools continue unabated. Overall, the conflict has severely harmed the education system. Schools that are still operational are often damaged or overcrowded. Teachers have fled, without being replaced. Parents who can afford to do so are now sending their children to schools in the Francophone regions.

Disproportionate struggles

The targeting of schools has had a particularly pernicious impact on girls. Parents who have seen their incomes dwindle prefer to send their boys to school, keeping girls at home to help with chores or small trades. Yet others who have fled to Cameroon’s Francophone regions have to fend for themselves, sometimes leaving their daughters out of school and vulnerable to recruitment into sex work.

Despite successful campaigning against the school boycott by Anglophone communities and women groups over the past two years, the latest tug of war over education risks robbing thousands of children of the chance to learn yet again. More critically, it could set the scene for another military escalation by raising tensions ahead of 1 October, when separatist sympathisers typically hold anti-government protests.

Instead of calling for a school boycott or threatening to close voluntary learning centres, Cameroon’s conflict parties should use the start of the school year as an opportunity to mitigate the suffering of children in the Anglophone regions and build trust with local communities. Separatist activists in Cameroon and abroad should unconditionally call off all school boycotts. If they do so, the government in Yaoundé should acknowledge the gesture as a de-escalating measure.

For their part, international partners who are committed to resolving the Anglophone conflict should urgently remind the two sides of their obligations to protect civilians and ensure children’s right to education.

Culled from The Africa Report

Southern Cameroons Crisis: Roman Catholic Bishops condemn attacks on clergy, churches

17, September 2022

Southern Cameroons Crisis: Roman Catholic Bishops condemn attacks on clergy, churches 0

COMMUNIQUÉ ABOUT THE BURNING DOWN OF THE ST. MARY’S CATHOLIC CHURCH NCHANG, MAMFE DIOCESE AND THE KIDNAPPING OF RELIGIOUS PERSONNEL

It was with great shock and utter horror that we, the Bishops of the Ecclesiastical Province of Bamenda, learnt of the burning down of the St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Nchang, Mamfe Diocese, and the kidnapping of five priests, one Religious Sister and two lay faithful by unknown Gunmen, and taken to an unknown destination in the surrounding Forests of Nchang village on the evening of 16th of September, 2022. This act was completely unprecedented, and as at now, no concrete reason has been given for this heinous act against the house of God and the Messengers of God.

Since this crisis started in 2016 until today, the People have suffered terribly and men and women of God have been soft targets of kidnappers, torturers and unscrupulous gun men. A wave of persecution against the hierarchy of the church is now the new game of the “Struggle”, and all kinds of threat messages are sent out against Missionaries who have surrendered their lives to work for the people. These attacks are not only against the Catholic Church but also against the Presbyterian and the Baptist Churches in Cameroon. And strange enough, some of those who attack the churches ferociously, are people who are either members of these churches or who have benefitted from the generosity of these Churches.

We,the Bishops of the Bamenda Ecclesiastical Province, strongly condemn all these attacks against the Church and her Ministers and we appeal to those who have taken the priests, the Nun and the Christians in Nchang to release them without further delay. We insist on this because this act has now crossed the red line and we must say that “Enough is enough”.

We equally call on those who burnt down the St. Mary’s church, Nchang, and all those who either instructed them or support them from home and abroad, to repent of their evil ways because where they are  now, they may find themselves fighting against God and not men (Acts 5:39). And no one ever fights against God and wins.

We express our solidarity and prayerful wishes to the Most Rev. Aloysius Fondong, Bishop of Mamfe, all the Priests, Religious and Christ’s Lay Faithful in the Diocese of Mamfe, and especially to the Christians of St. Mary’s Parish Nchang, during this trying moment.

Looking at all that the Church has done and is still doing for the people of the Regions of the South West and North West Regions of Cameroon in its history, we, the Bishops and the Ministers of the Churches address our people with the strong words of Yahweh to Israel “Our People, what have we done to you, how have we offended you, answer us”(Micah 6:3-4).

It is important to remind these violent offenders of the Church and Her Ministers that what they have done in 2022 AD is equivalent to what King Nebuchadnezzar did in 587 BC when he burnt down the temple in Jerusalem and looted the temple and carried away the priests to Babylon, (2Kings 25:8-19). But they must also remember what happened to the great King Nebuchadnezzar after attacking the house of God: “He was driven from human society and fed on grass like oxen, and was drenched by the dew of heaven; his hair grew long as eagle’s feathers, and his nails became like bird’s claws”(Daniel 4:30).

We call on all Christians to continue to pray for the Church in the Ecclesiastical Province of Bamenda and for all her Ministers. We pray for protection and at the same time for forgiveness of the offenders like Christ on the Cross who prayed: “Father, forgive them, they do not know what they are doing”(Lk.23:34).

We call on people of goodwill to exercise vigilance over the temporal goods of the Church and her personnel and protect them from the powers of the Evil One. While we pray for protection, we also pray through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of Peace, that peace may return to our Ecclesiastical Province and that a lasting solution may be reached to this problem.

Whatever the case, we give glory to God whose power working in us can do infinitely more than we can ever ask or imagine. We give glory to God from generation to generation in the Church, and in Christ Jesus forever and ever. Amen.(Eph.3:20)

Given in Bamenda, Seat of BAPEC, this Saturday, the 17th Day of September, 2022.

All the Bishops of the Ecclesiastical Province of Bamenda.

+Andrew NKEA,

President of Bamenda Provincial Episcopal Conference (BAPEC)

General Bouba Dobékréo has no good military options to use in Southern Cameroons

14, September 2022

General Bouba Dobékréo has no good military options to use in Southern Cameroons 0

According to supporters of the ill-considered war on Southern Cameroons, General Dobékréo is a battle-hardened soldier recently dispatched to crush the Ambazonia uprising.

Frankly speaking, General Bouba Dobékréo was on the frontline of almost every conflict Cameroon has faced in recent decades, and has battled highway bandits, pirates, and radical Islamists. Now he has been dispatched to lead the fight against Ambazonia Restoration Forces, and some reports have suggested that he plans to take a much less repressive approach than his predecessors.

In recent weeks, Southern Cameroons fighters have carried out a series of deadly ambushes against the Cameroon government military which have been on a bigger scale than anything yet seen since the start of the conflict five years ago. President Biya and his so-called army high command want to change strategy but they are yet to say how they intend to proceed.

Whether reports on General Bouba Dobékréo’s soft approach to the war are true or not, we of the Cameroon Intelligence Report and the Cameroon Concord News are of the opinion that no one can win this war in Southern Cameroons on the basis of bluff and bluster, or by ignoring the sheer facts on the ground. This, however, is how the 89-year-old President Biya and his Francophone dominated supreme military council are currently approaching the five year running war in West Cameroon. To be sure, the Beti Ewondo political elites arguing for continuing the war have chosen to ignore the grim realities that are actually shaping the course of the fighting and what will happen in Yaoundé if Biya suddenly dies.

There is only one source of official reporting on the military course of the war in Southern Cameroons-it is the Cameroon government military spokesman Serge Cyrille Atongfack. Yaoundé does not allow any other official reporting by traditional rulers, DOs, SDOs including the Governors of the two English speaking regions of Southern Cameroons. This corrupt structure of informing the Cameroonian public opinion is an indication that Cameroon government army soldiers are dying like flies and that the war is at best a stalemate.

The International Crisis Group and other respectable media houses were forced by the regime in Yaoundé to stop reporting on the war and funeral rituals for fallen soldiers were also stopped abruptly, evidently because such reports and burial rites showed steady Ambazonian gains.

We of the Concord Group have raised critical issues about progress in either to secure a peace or to successfully keep fighting.  We have also informed Yaoundé that the critical issue on the ground is not the total number of Francophone Special Forces, but the ability to implement appeasement policies as quick as possible. This is what General Bouba Dobékréo means when he speaks of a much less repressive approach than his predecessors and it is also a clear indication that he has no good military options to use in Southern Cameroons.

Discussion of peace talks no longer exist in the political discourse in Yaoundé. Staying in the war and providing heavy media coverage on Samuel Eto’o and FECAFOOT is now the Biya regime’s new strategy. And the government is spending hundreds of millions on a daily basis on the military, not counting support activity outside it. In short, there are no good military options in Southern Cameroons. Appointing General Bouba and signing a presidential decree deploying Special Forces after five years into a conflict simply creates a potential power vacuum in Yaoundé that the army can exploit if Biya suddenly bows out. Since there is no practical way to disarm an irregular Ambazonia Self Defense Group that does not maintain heavy weapons, it means that only dialogue can resolve the crisis in Southern Cameroons. Trusting the army to become a major player in Southern Cameroons and staying the course militarily means there is no clear path to lasting peace.

International indicators show that Biya regime is still one of the worst and most corrupt governments on the globe. Yaoundé is running the worst justice system in Africa and poverty is a huge problem.

Population issue is becoming intense in Cameroon as many people are leaving the country. Added to this difficult situation is a massive national and youth employment crisis that is further compounded by rising urbanization in cities such as Douala and Yaoundé without enough new jobs.

No one has projected what would happen in case President Biya suddenly leaves the political stage! Ultimately, all of the options in Yaoundé are bad. The choice, however, should be made between the best Southern Cameroons peace plan and the best plan for separation of the two Cameroons. This critical choice should be based on the grim realities on the ground, and offer the best steps forward it can. It should not be made on the basis of a hollow political gesture or on the basis of heated Biya Francophone Beti Ewondo rhetoric.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai

After Queen Elizabeth, Paul Biya now world’s oldest head of state

10, September 2022

After Queen Elizabeth, Paul Biya now world’s oldest head of state 0

President Paul Biya is now the world’s oldest head of state following the demise of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday. The Queen died peacefully at Balmoral in Scotland on Thursday aged 96, Buckingham Palace announced.

“The death of Her Majesty Elizabeth II is felt painfully and affects the Commonwealth of Nations. She had a unique stature and played an emblematic role throughout history,” tweeted Biya, who now becomes the world’s oldest sitting head of state.

The 89-year-old autocrat has been at the helm of central Africa’s largest economy for 40 years and counting. If his prior seven years as prime minister are added to his four-decade reign, Biya would be the world’s longest-ruling non-royal leader.

Economic downturn

Biya is followed in age by Michel Naim Aoun, the 88-year-old former military general who has served as president of Lebanon since October 2016.

Under Biya, Cameroon survived an economic downturn in the mid-1980s to the early 2000s and moved from a one-party to a multiparty state.

The Lion Man, as the octogenarian leader is fondly referred to by members of his ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM) party and his admirers, reluctantly accepted multiparty politics in the 90s, though he has remained a serial election winner, with opposition parties describing all the votes as routinely rigged in his favour.

Cameroon has had only two heads of state since its independence from France in 1960 and Biya is the only president most of the nearly 28 million Cameroonians (World Population Review) have ever known. He inherited a country of less than 10 million people when he was sworn in for the first time in 1982, succeeding the country’s first president, Ahmadou Ahidjo. Cameroon has a largely youth population, with more than 60 per cent of the populace under the age of 25.

Biya raised hope when he ascended to the helm but his tenure has been mired in controversies, with the leader coming under heavy criticism for authoritarian rule and endemic corruption in a country where an average citizen lives on less than $2 a day.

Cameroon had been rated as ‘the most corrupt country in the world’ by Transparency International, which ranked the country as the top most corrupt nation in the world successively in 1998 and 1999.

Biya has also become notorious as an absentee president ruling from abroad, lavishly spending taxpayers’ money in luxurious hotels in Switzerland, which is described as the second home of the permanently holidaying leader. He regularly swings off to the Alpine country for some rest at the Intercontinental Hotel in Geneva.

A 2018 investigation by the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) estimated that Biya spent nearly 60 days on private visits out of the country the previous year and that he spent a third of the year abroad in 2006 and 2009.

The report, described by Biya’s supporters as “propaganda”, said the leader had spent $182 million on his private travel since becoming president. It said Biya spent $40,000 a day for hotel accommodation for himself and his entourage.

Dominated parliament

Biya would have been ineligible to run and eventually be elected for a sixth term in 2011 if the ruling party-dominated parliament had not voted three years earlier to amend the constitution, removing presidential term limits. The tinkering of the constitution gave Biya the leverage to stay in power indefinitely.

Cameroon had largely been relatively peaceful under Biya until an insurgency by Nigerian-based Boko Haram spilled over into the country since 2013. Three years later, what could be his biggest challenge – an industrial strike by lawyers and teachers in the English-speaking part of the country – started. It morphed into a separatist conflict crackdown on protesters.

Separatist groups sprouted and increased demands for independence of the two regions, giving birth to armed groups that have been battling government troops since. The violence has caused about 6,000 deaths and a major humanitarian crisis, with almost 600,000 people internally displaced in the Anglophone and neighbouring regions, and over 77,000 forced to become refugees in Nigeria, according to humanitarian organisations.

Biya, who rarely speaks to the media, left it up in the air whether he will seek reelection or retire at the end of his current mandate when he told a French journalist in July that he still has three years left for his current seven-year term to expire.

“Wait until the end of the mandate to know whether I will stay or go back to the village,” Biya said at a joint press conference with visiting French President Emmanuel Macron in Yaoundé.

Culled from The Citizen

Environmental Protection in Cameroon: Just a slogan!

31, August 2022

Environmental Protection in Cameroon: Just a slogan! 0

Cameroon, like most countries in the world, has signed many agreements on environmental protection and under those agreements; Cameroon is expected to protect endangered species. However, from every indication, environmental protection in Cameroon is just another slogan designed to please the international community. 

Ever since the price of beef went up following the outbreak of violence in Ukraine, Cameroonians have stepped up their consumption of wildlife as an alternative source of animal protein.

In many parts of the country, many “carnivorous” Cameroonians could be seen eating “bush meat” which is considered a delicacy in the country. Unfortunately, not many of them care about the impact of their irresponsible actions on the environment and future generations. 

Besides the trade on animals, there is also the danger of felling trees for fuel wood. Many Cameroonian households are incapable of purchasing cooking gas whose price has gone up over the last six months. The use of fuel wood and biomass to cook in Cameroon is altering the country’s landscape and setting the stage for many natural disasters which will hit the country like a ton of bricks.

Climate change is real, but Cameroonians are not worried about its adverse impact. Floods, rising sea levels and fires are threatening lives in many cities and towns in Cameroon. Recently, most coastal towns in Cameroon were flooded after many days of heavy rainfall and not even the government is sensitizing the public on how to mitigate the impact of such disasters. 

Cameroon is part of the Convention on international trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). To implement and incorporate it into its national laws, Cameroon laid down the National Strategy and Wildlife Control Strategy to regulate the trade and to manage and protect endangered species. 

Cameroon also ratified the UN treaty to combat desertification which has been implemented through a National plan to combat Desertification. Cameroon also ratified the UN Convention on the law of the sea and the Fisheries Act as well as the Territorial Waters Act which have been adopted, but partially implemented in real life due to the lack of a political will, lack of expertise and funding.

Lastly, the enforcement of most environmental instruments in Cameroon leaves much to be desired due to some internal and external factors and challenges such as funding, training, corruption, political will, commitment, technology, science and the government’s half-hearted involvement in environmental protection activities in the country

The country is clearly trailing other countries in this regard and political corruption, embezzlement of public funds and the absence of sufficient or adequate structures and infrastructure capable of strengthening and materializing the environmental laws and principles into real and concrete facts with relevant results from an institutional perspective are to blame for the government’s abysmal performance regarding environmental protection.

 Similarly, national scientists, researchers, public and private sector lack the means to participate in this process which must be inclusive. The public must also be trained and sensitized on the environmental issues facing the country and this requires financial resources which are unfortunately not available. This unfortunate situation has therefore triggered a vicious circle whereby poverty leads to environmental degradation, and environmental degradation compounds the poverty that is already hurting the population. 

By Briyan Tambe Ashu

If Jesus Christ were among us today, he wouldn’t miss a moment to fight Moderator Fonki Samuel

24, August 2022

If Jesus Christ were among us today, he wouldn’t miss a moment to fight Moderator Fonki Samuel 0

The Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon the so-called Right Rev Fonki Samuel is no longer a popular Man of God, and probably the single-biggest drag on his recent showing-in is the brand new 4×4 jeep that he acquired for himself and his wife!  Social media releases last week, shows pressure is mounting for Mr. Samuel Fonki to step down soonest. It’s unlikely. Perhaps, therefore, it’s good timing for Mr Fonki to travel out of the country in the coming days.

Moderator Fonki intends to jet to the USA first. But there, he’ll meet a sea of disgruntled PCC diaspora members who will of course push him to discuss prospects for a new and decent Moderator!  We suspect the US embassy will be wary of granting him a visa as corruption allegations against him from prominent pastors in the PCC are emerging at catastrophic rapidity.  

If Jesus Christ (Peace upon Him) were among us today, he wouldn’t miss a moment to fight this outrageous Moderator of the PCC! The Presbyterian Church in Cameroon is a group of persons who are   believing Christians!  Presbyterians are the type of Christians who take action while praying and thinking. And Christ came into this world to fight evil. He came to confront evil. He risked his life. He sacrificed his life to fight evil men like Moderator Fonki.

If there’s one good thing that history teaches us about Presbyterians, it is their anti-dictatorship nature and seeking of truth and justice against the oppressors. We of the Cameroon Concord News Group have no doubt that if Christ were among us today; he would have been at the forefront of the battle against Moderator Fonki, his corrupt and evil tendencies and all forms of oppression deep within the Fonki-led synod.

Meanwhile Cameroon Concord News Group will be considering the aftermath of a pro Fonki blog reaction to our investigative stories that developed late last week.

Our other concern now with the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon is who gets to fill the disgraced Moderator Fonki’s shoes, and when. In the days ahead, we’ll hear how it is a US-based Pastor who is behind Cameroon Concord News investigation on the Fonki leadership of the PCC.

We shall be publishing in the weeks ahead how pro Moderator Fonki’s men in the synod are crafting their words and arguing why the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon should not be seen as a criminal enterprise even though they all agree that Mr. Fonki Samuel has been such a toxic failure that every Christian wants him gone as soon as possible.

We’ll also be publishing some simple but tough questions we have addressed to the demon in cassock in our modest effort to help him make sure that the grim state of the PCC does not stir even more protests.

Again, thank you all Cameroon Concord People for your own messages and comments on the goings-on in the PCC!  Moderator Fonki Samuel himself is overwhelmingly at fault, and he will be gone soon and very soon as many now fear the  PCC would be lost if he stayed around.   

Please continue to write to Cameroon Concord News at cameroonconcordnews@gmail.com and you’re most welcome to follow us on Face Book.

By Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai

Chairman/Editor-In-Chief

Notice to Rev Fonki Samuel Forba to resign as Moderator of the PCC

21, August 2022

Notice to Rev Fonki Samuel Forba to resign as Moderator of the PCC 0

It is with profound humility and privilege for me to reassure all Presbyterians that the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon (PCC) is not owned by any group and no department is independent under appropriate laws that govern non-profit organizations in Cameroon and abroad. All departments are interdependent on each other as the body of Jesus Christ, to which Christ is the Head. 1 Corinthians 12:12-27 and I Corinthians 3:5-9 and John 15. This is scriptures that captures and explains the whole theology of social justice, under which PCC was founded for all of to live in dignity spiritually and physically.

Therefore, the PCC is our church founded by Basel Missionaries for all of us and we are all stakeholders. Those who now own private shares in the PCC are scammers and the response from Pastors, workers and devoted Christians have demonstrated that the PCC is going to rise and shine again as a true church under the light of Jesus Christ moving forward.

First of all, congratulations to all the students in Cameroon who have passed the GCE /AL public examinations. To all those who did not make it, please, do not give up. Our heartfelt condolences to families who have lost loved ones during these tough times in Cameroon. Many people would be alive today where it not of the violent conflict that has resulted to innocent people killed and millions internally displaced and facing severe humanitarian crisis. We pray for strength, peace and forgiveness as well as continue to advocate for all Presbyterians and co to be proactive prophetically and conscientiously. All Presbyterians students/ children who are suffering because their schools have been closed and cancelled by the PCC authorities should not give up.

The background and contextual analyses for the resignation of Rev Samuel Forba

Whereas in the recent days, the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon (PCC) has witnessed the ever growing spirit of “righteous anger “against the satanic theology and activities of Rev. Fonki Samuel, which are not befitting of the office of a Church leader (Moderator) in a politically troubled society.

It is bizarre for Christians to decry corruption by the political regime whereas they, too have to deal with corruption in the church. Did the corrupt Moderator of the PCC institute corruption in the PCC to glitter and litter while the Presbyterian belief system inspired by Jesus Christ will fade and faint into oblivion? The Presbyterian Church in Cameroon was not founded to glitter. It was founded to shine the light of Jesus Christ upon the darkness of sins,injustice,oppression,greed , condemnation and corruption as reflected in John 1:1-5

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome[a] it.”

On July 22, the Cameroon Intelligence Report published this article captioned“PCC Cameroon under Rev. Fonki: Corruption runs rampant. Who should we hold responsible?” In spite of an intelligence report like this, it is obvious that Rev Fonki Samuel thought it was just another ferocious attack on his person without any proof!Did Rev Fonki Samuel and his cohorts think about their ferocious attacks on Presbyterians they have persecuted, teachers they have dismissed for asking for better pay and better working conditions, pastors they have retaliated against for speaking?

Yes, the PCC is glittering with wickedness, corruption, greed, exploitation, bullying and dictatorship. These vices were brought into the PCC by Rev Fonki Samuel, who has deformed the gospel to establish his heretical doctrine of “Transformed transformers” with no scriptural backing to his outlandish theology because these are Pastors who have transformed themselves into tyrants, plunderers, thieves and liars.

Therefore, as we are alarmed by the threats posed to our faith and belief system as Presbyterian believers, being shaken by the fear of being stuck into the hell Fonki Samuel has forced us into on earth, it is no surprise that desperate situations call for desperate measures.

It is unconceivable for a group of young people to turn the church of Christians, elders, laity and ordained ministers into a club of “The winning team.” Rev.  Fonki Samuel Forba established a club of friends to ensure that PCC is operated and run as a private profit corporation. Contrary to his hanky- panky games, all Presbyterians are one people living under the grace of God through Jesus Christ by striving to imitate him everyday. Philippians 2: 1- 11. Nobody is better than the other as we are all sustained by his grace and justified by our faith. Ephesians 2:8.

By their devotion and discipleship, Presbyterians have earned the right to become stakeholders of the PCC with a sense of belonging, collective conscience, collaboration and ownership guided by their faith, hope and love in God’s community of Presbyterian believers. I Corinthians 13: 1-13 and 1 John 4:1-21. By virtue of our membership, we are more than conquerors in the Lord Jesus Christ with a winning spirit that galvanizes all Presbyterians to keep running towards the race to win the price of salvation, which Jesus Christ won for us all.  Philippians 3: 14- 15.

Rev. Fonki Samuel Forba who is notorious for boasting that he and his friends in control of the PCC are the “winning team” has violated the Presbyterian belief, polity and pastoral calling. According to his satanic notions, all persons he has appointed to key positions in the PCC are untouchable, unaccountable and incapable of mistake and discipline.

This doctrine perpetrated by him is a carnal secular humanism whereby Rev. Fonki Samuel Forba now sees himself as the “sovereign god” of the PCC with absolute power to himself that has legalized their racketeering, corruption, embezzlement and theft of PCC funds to enrich themselves. These wolves in sheep clothing are no longer worthy of their calling. They may glitter but Jesus Christ came to shine his light for everyone and not only for a select few who glitter while others fade and languish in abject misery and poverty.

The corrupt activities of Rev. Fonki Samuel Forba span a period of 7 years during, which time he and his club of greedy friends transformed themselves into monsters. Their ungodly and unbiblical activities have played out with the current instability reigning in some PCC congregations where their autocratic and “unpresbyterian” ways have clashed with genuine Presbyterians fighting to uphold the Presbyterian belief system and practices through transparency and accountability. Anything that has to do with Christian stewardship, transparency and accountability is shunned by him.

Many Pastors of the PCC are terrified by the tyrannical conduct of Rev.Fonki Samuel Forba. That is just a clear evidence that he had a hidden agenda campaigning to be Moderator of the PCC. Their bloated ego doesn’t align with the calling of Pastors. We are called into the ministry to serve God through Jesus Christ out of grace, humility, mercy, compassion, equity and fairness as well as extend these Godly virtues to everyone in the secular world. Unfortunately, the Presbyterian Church has a system of grace, justification, sanctification and social justice that must be upheld, thanks to the reformed theology of John Calvin.

 A. Cross-examination of the dubious schemes Rev Fonki Samuel against the PCC 

1. In order to create the environment to foster his dubious plans, the first thing he did was to change the Constitution to suit him. That is to concentrate all powers to himself and suppress free speech amongst Pastors, elders and workers.

2. Buy the conscience of all heads of PCC departments, intentionally allowed all of them to join him to plunder, privatize, embezzle, steal and exploit the PCC without limit so long as Rev. Fonki Samuel picks his wife to succeed him with their backing to maintain their culture of greed, racketeering and exploitation. Rev Fonki Samuel and his paid agent talk about merits and not tribalism! When a corrupt Moderator (Church Leader) appoints his corrupt wife to serve as Communication Secretary of the PCC, whereas she is not qualified for that position what do you call that? What criteria did he use to appoint his wife Communication Secretary of the PCC?  When you set up a constitution that selects the Moderator and Synod Clerk based on tribal origin and not on competence and the word of God, is that merits?

4. When the former Synod Clerk, Rev Babila George Foncham refused to participate in the Moderator’s Racketeering schemes, he was replaced. That shows the PCC is not a representative system of church government because as much as the Synod Clerk and Moderator must work collaboratively, in this case of interpersonal conflict between them, the Moderator was the one abusing power and perpetrating criminal practices. To think that Rev Babila George Foncham would be removed as Synod Clerk while Rev Fonki Samuel was retained as Moderator highlights the degree of dictatorship corruption and tribalism in the PCC. It is obvious that the Moderator of the PCc appoints his successors and that elections are just mere lies.

Consequently,

Mindful of the fact that Rev. Fonki Samuel Forba conspired with his uncle whom he appointed Chairman of the Finance Committee of the PCC against which background his uncle increased his salary, which now stands at 1.5 million Frs CFA a month,

Mindful of the fact that Rev Fonki Samuel Forba orchestrated this scheme of increasing salaries only for himself and his club of friends claiming to be the Proprietor of schools and CEO of the PCC, clearly motivated by greed,

Mindful of the fact that Rev. Moderator Fonki Samuel and his gang threatened and intimidated Pastors with retaliation to change the Constitution of the PCC so that he would make his wife the Moderator under the false pretext of promoting gender equality in the Church, a case that is far from it because both of them are corrupt, now convinced that he was attempting to institute a system of hereditary rule in the PCC against the democratic process of the Presbyterian system,

Mindful of the treacherous attempt of Rev Fonki Samuel Forba to hijack the PCC when he appointed his wife Communication Secretary of the PCC to pave the way for his wife to succeed him is his glittering achievement. It is obvious that the PCC first couple have only one ultimate goal from day one to hold unto the position of Moderator for life. In order to do so , he spent his entire reign focusing on pleasing his gang of friends and did not  care about the spiritual welfare of  the Christians. The testimony of these PCC Pastors is one of the rare rebukes of Rev Fonki Samuel, yet. Does the spiritual and physical welfare of Presbyterians evolves around elections of the Moderator of the PCC?

Whereas these statements from Presbyterians express the deep frustration and “righteous indignation” among Presbyterians about the level of corruption in the PCC, these are statements from some of the ordained Pastors of the PCC describing the “unpastoral “and hostile atmosphere in the PCC led by Rev.  Fonki Samuel Forba and his club of friends,

“The person who sent this to me also said she is convinced an insider wrote this. My opinion is not far from this. They have their clique that are always ready to defend them in the face of the public. I did not understand why they brought in elections into this. We are still in 2022, elections are in 2024. Besides, according to the constitution, he (Moderator of PCC) is not eligible to stand for elections again. They are just trying to cover up and get innocent victims to torment. They feel people are blind to see what they are doing.It’s so terribly that a church is ruled by a group of friends.Do you know that the lay members of the synod exco are all women?I was shocked. I can’t remember. I followed their dedication at the induction of the synod clerk and it did not speak well to me at all.The machine is perfectly in place. Everything about them is limited to elections. All they think of is how to secure their positions in church.The truth is pastors feel oppressed and are scared to talk.Tyrants in the name of leaders. You will not imagine that at a presbytery meeting where pastors had to vote for the constitution change their tyrant Presbyterial secretaries asked pastors to vote by show of hand instead of doing a secret ballot? In other places, where it was secret ballot pastors were reminded that their handwritings are known? So you can imagine. That was induction service of the synod clerk and dedication of synod exco. As you will notice, the only male lay person is the financial secretary of the church. All the non-clergy are women while the clergy in this group are a clique of friends. These are sadly the people administering the PCC”

B. The political activities of Rev Fonki Samuel against the PCC

With respect to the Constitution of the PCC when it comes to induction and ordination ceremonies, the Governor and politicians have no business at the sacred ceremony of inducting a church official. Consequently, for Rev Samuel Fonki to knowingly bring the Governor to the platform reserved only for elders and ordained officials whereas he knew it was against the Constitution of the PCC shows he has no reverence to the sacredness of the Church. This action alone is enough to dismiss all of them for the following reasons,

1. We know that Rev Fonki Samuel Fonki was politicizing the PCC and displaying political power by directly telling all his critics in the church that he had the backing of the Governor and the office of Prime Minister of Cameroon. We know it is terrible because PCC is apolitical for a reason. In order to fulfill her prophetic role , the leaders cannot belong to any political party but Rev Fonki Samuel and his gang all joined the  CPDM in  order to cover up their corrupt practices as well as abuse power the way they want.  It must be clear PCC Christians have the right to belong to any political party of their choice but even so must be salt and light as demanded by the Holy Scriptures, Matthew 5: 13-16. A CPDM or SDF Presbyterian must be set apart unfailingly in the light of the Holy Scriptures. For instance, James 3: 13- 18 calls for the Presbyterian believer to choose one of the two kinds of wisdom. We have a serious problem in Cameroon now because Presbyterian Christians in most parts have failed to choose the right kind of wisdom because the leadership is corrupt and could not lead them to choose wisely.

2. Rev Fonki Samuel Forba has violated the Constitution of the PCC by undermining the liturgical sanctity of the PCC when he invited a non- Presbyterian who is not in any ordained ministry to indulge into the sacred practice of the church reserved only for elders and Pastors. There is a reason why people are selected as elders and ordained ministers, and to undermine that has led to the chaos reigning in the PCC. Public officials are welcome as guests along with every other person but to politicize the PCC in a way that threatens her, spiritual and moral authority is unacceptable.

3. It is no longer a secret that the Moderator of the PCC and his club of friends joined the CPDM Party with ulterior motives to manipulate and exploit politicians in the country to cover up their racketeering in the church. The office of the Moderator is reserved for a pastor who must perform his or her spiritual duties with a moral compass to interpret the Holy Scriptures prophetically and apply moral clarity where there is moral crisis. In this case Rev Fonki Samuel Forba compromised his prophetic voice because of his active political affiliation with the CPDM ruling party. He cannot serve both Masters at the sametime. He now has a choice .

His claims of writing letters to the state is pure propaganda and hypocritical. The officials of the ruling CPDM and Cameroon authorities cannot take any advice from the corrupt Moderator of the PCC seriously because they know he is worse than them. In fact, deep down in them, they are shocked at the corrupt nature of the PCC authorities but it works to their advantage since to them PCC is powerless as a church to hold the state accountable unlike in the past.

For the sake of the spiritual and prophetic role of the Church in every society and granted the fact that the PCC is apolitical, he is free to carry on his political ambitions outside of the office of the Moderator. Every Cameroonian has the right to belong to the political party of their choice, which is the experience of all Presbyterians. If the leadership are members of a political group directly or indirectly, they cannot minister effectively in the Congregations and elsewhere. That is why we have these endless conflicts in the PCC congregations since all the Pastors loyal to Rev Fonki Samuel are affiliated to the political party of his choice or the wrong reasons. In a pluralistic society where there is multiparty politics and diverse political opinions by Christians including the right to belong to any political party of their choice, we need church leaders who can minister and pastor everyone without fear or prejudice. In this respect, the Rev Fonki Samuel Forba is hereby notified to resign from his position as Moderator of the PCC pending investigation into his corruption in the church.

C. The Voices of Presbyterians in response to Rev Fonki Samuel’s damage control propaganda

The privatization and plundering of the PCC by Rev Fonki Samuel and his club of Friends is fading and will be dismantled not long from now. Since publishing their”Is the PCC glittering or Fading” ?, the Rev Fonki Samuel has provoked endless stream of questions ,which further shed light on the fact that they thought they could take Presbyterian Christians for granted. These statements after the fact speak for themselves as I have quoted. The identity of the persons including Pastors, workersand Christians are withheld.

1 “No one is questioning why Church departments should be independent. Would the health department for example, not subsidize the nursery and primary schools? The reason is to allow the heads to have a freehand and close their mouths. I am equally investigating his relationship with Zenith Insurance and the late Parliamentarian for Akwaya Chief Igelle Elias who was his maternal uncle in Ballin Village…”

2. “We also should investigate who are Shareholders in the Presmicro Finance, and what has happened to PESH,that cannot pay back people ‘s savings,but rather asking people to borrow at very high percentages.The brother who was Finance officer for Pss Mankon embezzled close to 35 million frs,yet is parading the streets of Bamenda free…The system has been so entrenched in corruption in competition to amass wealth (material and financial)by Pastors and others with offices at the Synod office. “

3. “The hired Ndi Richard has many other areas to investigate and bring us the facts.I remember at the peak of the problems between PEATTU and church hierarchy,Many Pastors,like the Rev Forbang,Rev Numfor etc did all to ” fabricate” stories in defense of their own(lies) even as Pastors to defend a system. Let Ndi Richard tell us;

i.The situation surrounding PESH with people ‘s savings.

ii.Shareholders of the Pre Microfinance

iii.The embezzled money at Pss Mankon by the Moderator’s brother who was working there as Finance officer

iv.The money recovered from Parents as fees during the so-called inactivity years, that schools managed through with classes, evaluation and end of course examinations, that they are refusing to pay the 7 months owed Teachers prior to the establishment of the Protocol Agreement.

v.The fate of Primary School Teachers abandoned (some to Congregations) and others in the blues. It is really aching when some Pastors mount pulpits and announce that money owed Teachers have been paid to the last franc. What of parting gifts/social insurance?Church, church church.

vi. “I can remember knowing you in PC CCAST COMPLEX in 1996 and I have read the articles you wrote in the 100 theses. I quoted some of the articles in a teachers’ meeting asking why there’s curtailment of Trade Union Dues yet PCC teachers are not allowed to belong to trade unions. Today many teachers are redundant due to anglophone crises but some who may not be effective but are related to. . .are maintained…At times when I read comments… I JUST ASK WHY JESUS WILL LEAVE 99SHEEP IN SEARCH OF ONE, whereas today “we” call the missing one a drop in the sea?”

vii. “Greetings to you in the Name of our Lord. I’ve listened to the video messages and audios.  Truly the budget of the church is not made known to the mass of christians who raise the budget. Church contributions and other special collections are specific to the purpose that made the budget head SPECIAL. Harvest Thanksgiving is not interpreted and it’s purpose not made known to christians. The church if it only ran congregations, schools and health care services, maybe would have been having 100% subvention from the government. We do pay taxes monthly, social insurance dues etc. Government subvention is not regular in sectors destined to. Other sectors of the PCC pay the normal tax as any individual or group of people. If you could lay hands on your pay voucher while serving you see that CRTV tax, Land Bank tax etc were curtailed before church contribution and others at the level of the PCC. All departments of the church are under the moderator that’s why the office is termed that of the PROPRIETOR. The worry here is WHO DETERMINES HOW MUCH IS TO BE USED BY EACH OFFICER OF THE SYNOD AND PRESBYTERIES? Why can’t the powers that be investigate and impeach the moderator but rather too much power is given him? Example he appoints Presbyterial Secretaries whom are answerable to him, and because they want to maintain their offices, they bully at the level of presbyteries all who question or request to know how certain offices function or are run.”

Viii “I can remember …because I asked why must I be forced to join Presmicro finance when my money is blocked in PESH.”

 D. The resignation of Rev Fonki Samuel

The Rev Fonki Samuel Forba is expected to address his letter of resignation to all Presbyterians as soon as possible from now and up to September 15 to step down. He will have two more weeks till the end of September to leave the Synod Office in order to pave the way for the interim Governing Council to assume duties around October 1st, 2022 .  He shall surrender the property of PCC  in his keeping to the appropriate body under due process and to ensure a smooth transition.

The Rev Fonki Samuel Forba is expected to park and leave the Synod Office into one of his hotels or to his home Presbytery and congregation where he started his journey pending further instructions from the interim Governing Council about disciplinary measures and counseling when the investigation is complete

The Rev Samuel Fonki Forba is expected to humble himself and cherish this moment in the history of the PCC and to take responsibility for his actions to cooperate with Presbyterians to ensure that the problems and issues at stake are resolved justly and peacefully.

The Rev Fonki Samuel is no longer allowed to carry out pastoral functions in the PCC effective immediately as the allegations, charges, accusations and problems he has created are seriously overwhelming and demanding of the actions hereby undertaken in good faith to save the PCC under the power of the Holy Spirit and reasonable human action from being destroyed by him

E.  The implications of the resignation of Rev Fonki Samuel Forba

a) An interim governing Council of the PCC will be established under the Presbyterian System of Church government to handle the period of transition for the PCC . An interim Moderator will be chosen after due consultation to assume duties as soon as Rev Fonki Samuel resigns and leaves. As of now the PCC does not have any functional Constitution that is fair, transparent, objective and reflects the Presbyterian System of Government in the light of the Holy Scriptures. For that reason, the Constitutional Council created by Rev Fonki Samuel, which has given him absolute powers to commit all the atrocities in the PCC are asked to excuse themselves .

b)    The commission to investigate the corruption of Rev Fonki Samuel and his club of Friends will be established by the Interim Governing Council

c) The Reformation and Reconciliation Committee(RRC) of the PCC will be established by the Interim Governing Council of the PCC with proper guidelines to look into the problems of the PCC through the lens of the Presbyterian Belief System, the Reformed Theology of John Calvin, Holy Scriptures and International Labor Organization with respect to the rights of PCC workers,https://www.ilo.org/global/about-the-ilo/mission-and-objectives/lang–en/index.htm ,the persecution of Pastors and Christians, etc

d} All PCC congregations, and Presbyteries, departments, schools, Health Care Centers and Hospitals, Pressbook, Prescraft, RTCs, PTS and others will continue to function with a high degree of transparency and accountability in full cooperation with the Interim Governing Council. By the same token all Presbyterians are called upon to cooperate fully to ensure that the voices of all Presbyterians will be heard.  A follow –up document to underscore the nature and scope of the reformation of the PCC will be released sooner than later in the next publication with just and equitable recommendations to God’s people

Humbly Submitted,

Brother Jonathan F Awasom

Reformed Presbyterian Pastor /Christian

Advocate for Reforms in the PCC  since 1999 in Cameroon & USA

Contact :  Jonathan_light2000@yahoo.com

Cellular : 2018785829

cc

The Synod Clerk of the PCC

The Presbyterial Secretaries of the PCC

All Pastors, Elders  and Presbyterians , students at the PTS

The Minister of Territorial Administration of Cameroon

The Governors of the all regions hosting PCC Presbyteries and Institutions

All foreign Embassies in Cameroon

Traditional Authorities in the North and South West Regions

The All African Council of Churches

The World Council of Churches

The International Labour Organization

The PCUSA  and the Presbyterian Churches of Scotland and co

The Consortium of Theological Seminaries in the USA , Canada and Europe

The Basel Mission

The international community has failed to adequately respond to years of deadly conflict in Ambazonia

18, August 2022

The international community has failed to adequately respond to years of deadly conflict in Ambazonia 0

Populations in the Anglophone north-west and south-west regions of Cameroon remain at risk of atrocities amidst ongoing clashes between government forces and armed separatist groups. On 11 August Human Rights Watch reported that between 24 April and 12 June 2022 at least 10 people were summarily killed by Cameroonian security forces during military operations against armed separatists groups. During the operations soldiers burned homes and destroyed and looted health facilities and shops. Armed separatists perpetrated grave human rights abuses during the same period, including killing and kidnapping civilians. Separatists have also continued their assault on education, attacking students, teachers and schools. Human Rights Watch documented that at least 33 students and five teachers were kidnapped by armed separatists since January.

Populations in Cameroon’s Anglophone regions have faced widespread violence since tensions over cultural rights and marginalization of Anglophone populations escalated in October 2016. In the resulting clashes, government forces and armed separatist groups have perpetrated grave violations and abuses that may amount to atrocities, including extrajudicial killings, kidnappings and torture. Since the crisis began, more than 6,000 civilians have been killed and at least 666,000 displaced. Few perpetrators have been held accountable.

Since 2021 the government has intensified its attacks against armed separatist strongholds in attempts to end the conflict. During military operations, government forces have routinely targeted civilian populations for their alleged cooperation with separatist groups. Armed separatists have retaliated by using more deadly weapons, including improvised explosive devices and anti-tank rocket launchers, putting civilians at increased risk. Separatist groups have also expanded their sources of revenue through kidnapping and extortion in the north-west and south-west. Civilians are also at risk of targeted attacks by armed separatists for their suspected collaboration with the government.

Juliette Paauwe, Cameroon Expert at the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect, said that, “despite escalating violence, the international community has failed to adequately respond to years of deadly conflict in Cameroon. While long overdue, the African Union (AU) and the UN Security Council (UNSC) must help establish a comprehensive ceasefire to address the growing atrocity risks faced by civilian populations in the Anglophone regions.” The AU and UNSC should also facilitate an inclusive dialogue between the government, separatist groups and Anglophone communities, mediated by a neutral player on neutral territory. Security forces must end all extrajudicial killings of unarmed civilians and ensure that the human rights of all Cameroonians are equally protected, regardless of cultural identity. Armed separatist groups must also halt attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure.

Source: reliefweb.int

Southern Cameroons Crisis: Ghost towns for a better environment

15, August 2022

Southern Cameroons Crisis: Ghost towns for a better environment 0

For more than six years, Cameroonians in the country’s two English-speaking regions have been religiously observing the civil disobedience called for by separatists. Each Monday, English-speaking Cameroonians are asked by people they do not see to stay at home as a way of expressing their disagreement with the Yaoundé government which has been inflexible and indifferent to the people’s plea. 

Businesses in the two regions are still required to pay their taxes regardless of whatever the business-owners believe in. While many extremists among the population seem to enjoy this game that is hurting the economy of the two regions, businesses are not enjoying this game which does not really make any economic sense. 

Many businesses have been shut down and those which are still hoping for better days are really struggling. Despite their struggle, the Yaoundé government still expects these businesses to pay taxes. The businesses have a choice. They can either take instructions from the Yaoundé government and open their doors everyday of the week or comply with the orders of those they don’t know or will never see and shut down their businesses every Monday. 

However, one thing remains. Any businesses which are open must pay taxes whether they operate one day in a week or four times a week. The Yaoundé government only expects the taxes to hit its accounts at the end of the month, failure of which, the government will send out its agents to seal the business premises forever.

While the government and business-owners are still struggling to find a common ground due to ghost town operations, the architects of this destructive policy can transform their ghost town operations into something admirable.

One thing many English-speaking Cameroonians lay claim to is their unique way of doing things. They hold that their towns were cleaner prior to the 1972 reunification and many of them are looking forward to a return to those days when community labour made the towns and villages in the English-speaking regions very clean.

Instead of keeping the population at home on Mondays, the architects of Ghost town operations could as well call on everybody in the two English-speaking regions to come out on Monday from 8am to midday to clean their environment. Ghost town operations could be transformed into a blessing in disguise.

A revolution must not only be painful! It can also bring huge benefits! If East Cameroon is dirty as many English-speaking Cameroonians claim, Southern Cameroonians could use this period marked by a rebellion to demonstrate how constructive they can be. It does not make sense to keep people at home all day long hoping that the Yaoundé government will feel the impact. 

Human beings were made to work and not to be at rest. A body at rest will always be at rest. If Southern Cameroonians transform their Monday Civil Disobedience Day into something positive, the world will see the rebellion as something which can bring some benefits to the people and their environment. Southern Cameroonians should not only be noted for their massive destructive ability. Out of a bad situation, something positive could be manufactured. 

The leaders of the insurgency should declare Mondays in the two English-speaking regions as Environment Day and the population should be made to clean their immediate surroundings, unclog the gutters, and make sure that when it rains, the run-off should find its way to the rivers and the sea. 

Instead of burning shops when the owners open them on Mondays, the business-owners should be given lessons on environmental science, climate change and recycling. Today, most towns and villages in the two English-speaking regions of the country are dealing with the impact of climate change. Plastic pollution has become the new disease as the population disposes of its plastic mess without thinking of the long-term impact. 

It will be a great thing to add something positive to a questionable strategy. Ghost towns for a better environment should be the new slogan in the two English-speaking regions and this will go a long way in addressing those issues which are making life out there unbearable. 

If the invisible leaders have good heads on their shoulders, this is the type of idea they should embrace, develop, and sell to the population. Keeping your environment clean does not only spare you the pain of dealing with diseases, it also helps you to develop environmental awareness. Environmental hygiene is something everybody should embrace. If practiced in those two regions, Mondays will never be considered as wasted days.  Make the most of a painful strategy!

By Dr Joachim Arrey

When God Refuses to Speak: Random Thoughts of a Simple Christian- In Memoriam, Fr. Didimus Nformi

4, August 2022

When God Refuses to Speak: Random Thoughts of a Simple Christian- In Memoriam, Fr. Didimus Nformi 0

Tuesday July 19 began like any other day in Boston. After the usual early morning standing appointment with God, I embarked on the chores of the day, mainly, academic work. Around mid-morning. Everything changed. The news came that Fr. Didimus Nformi YOMBO was no more! He had died in a ghastly accident on his way to Buea, after procuring his study visa at the US Embassy in Yaoundé. At first, I thought it wasn’t true. This could not be true. He was supposed to be in Boston in August. Everything was ready for him to begin his graduate studies at Boston College. How could this be?

I met Didimus while attending a wedding in Buea in January of this year, and again in February, after the Ratzinger Conference at CATUC, Bamenda, when we stopped over in Buea on our way to the airport to visit with Bishop Bibi. He came across as very welcoming, humble and unassuming, eager to make a visitor feel at home. And I remember saying to him while leaving Small Soppo, see you in Boston and hope that you study Ratzinger when you come to Boston College! He smiled. I guess that was a mortal’s wish! After all, I am just a man, limited by finitude. A creature. It was never to be! How could I have known! Boston was never to be enriched by the presence of Didimus, a young priest, gone too soon, I would say, and under very painful circumstances.

I spent much of the day in the chapel, just staring at Jesus in the Tabernacle. Praying the breviary felt dry. No emotions. No words could express anything. Just staring at the Tabernacle was all one could do, in utter shock. I asked Jesus countless times: Why, Lord? What does this mean? What value is his death to you? Did you think of this young man’s mother? And many other questions. It was a Job-like experience, and like Job, I am not sure the Lord answered me. Perhaps I was talking to myself and not to Him. But I was in His presence. He was there. He is always there, present in the Most Blessed Sacrament. How could He not be there? He has been a Prisoner of the Tabernacle for over 2000 years. How could you be, Jesus, and you allow such a thing to happen to a young priest of yours? Why place such a promising future before him, and then not give him the opportunity to pursue it? Why show David that he is going to become king, only to leave him as a shepherd for the rest of his life? Does not Scripture say that hope deferred makes the heart sick? (Proverbs 13:12). Are you really there, Jesus, and yet are allowing such pain in the world?

At one point, my thoughts went to the question of the non-existence of God in the Summa of Aquinas. Two objections stand out supporting the non-existence of God, for Aquinas: divine omnipotence (God is all powerful), and divine omnibenevolence (God is all good). If God is all powerful and all good and yet, there is evil in the world, then we are left with a scenario of two alternatives: either God is all powerful and yet not all good because he allows for evil to inflict the world; or, God is all good but not all powerful, again, because of God’s inability to stamp out evil in the world. And the dilemma that Aquinas raises is captured by Dostoevsky The Grand Inquisitor in more stark terms: Ivan rejects or rebels against God, attempting to persuade his believing brother Alyosha, that God’s ordering of creation and Christ’s redemption are basically ineffective, based on a simple premise: God has been unable to free the world of suffering, pain and evil. Aquinas’ resolution of the impasse between Divine omnipotence and omnibenevolence leaves Ivan unpersuaded.

My thoughts further pondered Vatican II’s description of death in the Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, Gaudium et Spes: it is when faced with death that the human being is most caught up in doubt. Human beings are tormented by the thought of their ceasing to be, and rightfully so (Gaudium et Spes, 18). And there is an underlining reason for the fear of death, as Ratzinger points out in his treatment of Eschatology, namely, the state of incommunicability regarding the foundation of human existence, that is, love. In death, we are unable to respond to love. We enter into a state of aloneness. And this, to Ratzinger, accounts for the excruciating pain that characterizes death.

Caught up in these thoughts, it occurred to me that though I had spent a good deal of time in the silence of the chapel, God wasn’t going to provide an explanation to me regarding the painful passing of Didimus. Perhaps like Job, even if God spoke, He was going to bully me into silence by posing questions that a finite mind like mine wouldn’t be able to answer. Or maybe God’s silence was his speech. He had done it before. This was not the first time that God was staying silent in the face of death. He did same one Friday afternoon on a hill outside Jerusalem called Calvary. And history is repleted with examples of God staying silent when one would have loved him to say a word. I think of the death of my own sisters, late twenty and early thirty in age, two years apart. God stayed silent. And other sufferings over the years, such as when a young child dies! Or when a young child is suffering from so much pain, hospitalized! God appears to always stay silent when we would need him to speak. Again, could God’s silence be God’s speech? Or maybe God knows that speech in such circumstances cannot resolve anything.

Perhaps the best God can do in the situation of the tragic death of Didimus is just God’s presence. He had promised in the revelation of His Sacred Name to Israel – Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh (Exodus 3:14) – I will be with you in the manner in which I will be with you. Perhaps Buber and Levinas were right after all: the Tetragrammaton was not, in the first place, about being, ontology or metaphysics. It was about presence: God will be present with Israel. God will be present with us, in life and in death. And precisely that presence, even if He does not speak, leaves the possibility for hope open. God is present, even when God does not speak. I am not alone. And so, God is presence, because God is being. That is the Ratzingerian synthesis: being and presence are not antithetical.

Like Job and like Jesus, we end where we began: God has refused to speak. God has refused to answer. God has refused to take the witness stand to provide me an explanation for why Didimus had to go so soon in such a painful way. And yet God is not nothing. God is there. Perhaps, with Newman, I could only console myself with these thoughts: “God has created me to do Him some definite service; He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another. I have my mission. I may never know it in this life, but I shall be told in the next. I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons. He has not created me for naught. I shall do good; I shall do His work (…) Therefore, I will trust Him. Whatever, wherever I am. I can never be thrown away” (St. John Henry Newman). We must learn to live with God’s silence. May the soul of Didimus, priest of God, rest in the peace of the Silent God, Amen. May he pray for us who are still on the way. See you, Fr Didimus, in the heavenly Boston College. We will discuss theology there, with Augustine, Aquinas, Bonaventure, and other great minds, not leaving out your patron saint, St. Didimus the Blind (c. 318 – 398), Dean of the Theological School of Alexandria, disciple of Origen of Alexandria.

By Fr Maurice Agbaw-Ebai

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