Al-Bashir
20 December 2008
opinion
Before delving into the balkanization of northern Cameroon after independence, in October 1960, it is necessary to correct the notion that as a class B mandate, the territory was never destined to be nurtured to independence. There is no where in Article 22, of the covenant of the League of Nations, which is central to this assumption, is this explicitly stated. It is only in respect of those under category 'C' that this could be inferred but not explicitly. It provides that they were integral of the powers holding mandatory over them. In any case, as noted in part III of this series virtually all the mandated territories, including those under "C", inspite of their sparce populations, and small landmass, have since become independent or gained some form of regional autonomy.
When British administrative system in the area, was perceived as gearing the territory towards integration in to Nigeria, the Permanent Mandate Commission drew attention to this. In response Britain had to correct the misconception in its annual report to the commission in July 1923 by stating that "... the administrative arrangement implied neither fusion nor incorporation," in to Nigeria (Gardinier)
To further dispel the notion, it stated in its 1930 report that "...the territory is administered as an integral part of Nigeria although it is not and will not become and integral part of that country" (Gardinier)
"The justification for British rule, "says Gardinier," was that the mandatory was going to prepare the Africans to govern themselves..", adding that, 'their advancement towards self government was going to take place against the background of traditional institutions"
There was no any doubt, therefore, that the Mandatory was obliged to prepare the people for eventual independence. British policy on ground, however was another matter. Its granting of (first) provincial status to Southern Cameroon in 1923 and second, a regional status in 1954 was markedly different from the fragmentation of the Northern Cameroon it put in place from that year until the creation of Sardauna Province in 1960.
But for the untiring efforts of the late Premier of the Northern Region, Sir, Ahmadu Bello, Northern Cameroon would have been lost to the Republic of Cameroon in 1961. Recall that it was offered a regional autonomy by the Government of Cameroon, which it would have grabbed happily. The Federal Government in Lagos, treated the matter as if it was a regional and not national problem. With this and the lack of enthusiasm on the part of the Eastern Region, at least compared to what its northern counterpart did, it was not surprising that we lost Southern Cameroon in 1961, and now Bakassi, which wouldn't have been the case had the Federal Government showed much concern as the Sardauna did in the North. The loss of Bakassi is a pathetic story of the Federal Government lukewarm attitude towards the 'Cameroonian" problem right from the start.
On his part, the Sardauna worked extra hard to ensure that Northern Cameroon remained with Nigeria. Of course, this didn't come without a reason. When Nigeria was to become independent in 1960 the people were asked, in plebiscite in 1959 whether join Nigeria, or the trusteeship be extended. The people voted for extention.
Alarmed by this outcome, the Northern Region took some measures to placate the people. Aware of their grievances, it set up a committee, in December 1959, to look in them. Based on the recommendation of the committee Gwoza district was removed from Dikwa Division of Borno Province and made a Native authority as Dikwa also became one. Four others were similarly created; Mubi, Ganye, Mambilla and Baissa thereby removing them from Adamawa Native Authority. The news of this development was received with considerable enthusiasm. Before this died down, Kaduna announced the creation of UN Trust Territory Province on May 1st 1960 with headquarters in Mubi. For the very first time, Northern Cameroon, less Dikwa, came under one geo-political umbrella and saw the date as its own liberation day. It was more jubilation galore.
Meantime, the United Nations had scheduled a second plebesate for 11-12 February 1961 to determine which between Nigeria and Cameroon would the people join. In Northern Cameroon, the result was the lure of the provincial status (autonomy) that made it. Inspite of earning the status of a region bestowed on it, Southern Cameroon voted to join Cameroon. There, it has been a region since that year. Here, Northern Cameroon, which voted for Nigeria, was reduced to a fragmented and balkanized entity. The price of patriotism? It so very unkind.
In the final part of the series, we would examine in greater details the promises made by the Sardauna and what became of the area thereafter.
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