Armed conflict in NW, SW: See who benefits from lockdowns!.

Patriotic peace-loving Cameroonians have called on the warmongers to sheath their swords, curb their appetite for fleeting power and keep education out of their conflict. 

But the separatists have not heeded.

This year, their warp reason for a lockdown, until October 14, has been explained as a stratagy to "celebrate the independence of West Cameroon" on October 1. 

The second diabolic reason is to prevent citizens from fulfilling their inalienable civic rights to vote for who governs them on October12, 2025.

Like some evil spirits, it has been difficult for those who have been locked down in the North West and South West Regions, from September 8 running, as their socio-economic and educational activities have been compromised.

While in Bamenda to inaugurate the Bamenda-Babadjou road, the Prime Minister, Head of Government, Dr Chief Joseph Dion Ngute, expressed regrets that "for seven days in a week, I have been told people work only for two days"; that is Saturday and Sunday as decreed by the separatists in the bushes.

As has been the case for some eight years, he called on Amba fighters to drop their weapons and join the rehabilitation centres. 

Not many have heeded the call that has been repeated by government apologists for years.

In Buea on Tuesday, travelling in a fortified security escort, the Minister of Territorial Administration, Paul Atanga Nji, said the visit was part of his ongoing tour of the country's 10 Regions; first, to assess the security situation and secondly, to ensure the smooth running of the October 12 electoral process.

In the same vein, he explained that the electoral process is organised independently by Elections Cameroon, ELECAM, and that administrative authorities, through the Ministry of Territorial Administration, MINAT, are supporting it by ensuring the delivery of electoral materials to the 360 Subdivisions of the country and to each locality where there is a polling station.

He asked political actors to show responsibility, by avoiding tribalism, invectives, political escalation and called against disturbance so as not to plunge the country into chaos. 

But he played down on the disturbing impact of the ghost towns and lockdowns, which thrive and people benefitting from it. There are citizens who, when confronted by unexpected situations, have defied the lockdown. 

They have narrated their ordeal, for instance, how on a trip from Douala to Limbe, they pay 5,000 FCFA for a trip usually costing 2,000 FCFA.

Some have told The Guardian Post that when they ask drivers why the hike, given that the roads have been empty without traffic, they are told that at checkpoints, they are made to pay 1,000 FCFA, instead of the traditional 500 FCFA, and in others, they are levied as much as 2,000 FCFA.

So, why would those ripping off from daring commercial drivers want the lockdown to stop?

Unscrupulous mayors are also having their bite. They have been seen, protected by defence and security forces, sealing shops of petit traders and demanding payment of 25,000 FCFA before the shops are opened. 

They do not publicly account for the fortune raked in from such operations. With the booties on lockdowns and Monday ghost days, how will such council administrators not want the protests to continue to benefit them?

It is perceived that those fanning the flames of separation, imposing lockdowns and ghost Mondays, are opposed to the CPDM regime. 

Their failure to turnout massively for the last elections left the terrain solely to the few CPDM supporters, which might explain the impressive performance of the party in the two English crisis-hit Regions.       

The protest with the phobia of its invisible ghosts in human form, allow the ruling party officials, many protected by security officials, to hold rallies, unlike their opposition counterparts.

Both the Prime Minister and Minister of Territorial Administration, have just visited the two Anglophone Regions, seeing the effectiveness of the lockdown that is likely to continue until October 14, to disturb the polling in the two Regions.

But they exorcise the ghosts? What The Guardian Post advises at this stage is to provide adequate security to all officials of the contesting parties, who want to hold campaign rallies in the two Anglophone Regions. 

There should also be sufficient security protection accorded officials of ELECAM in the said Regions, and at all polling stations.

If that is done, it will just be a temporal fire brigade approach to tackle those calling the ghosts, not a permanent solution which the regime is aware of, but has ignored at the influence of those benefiting from its spoils. 

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3575 of Thursday September 25, 2025