LET US ANALYSIS Dr. JOHN NGU FONCHA’S RESIGNATION LETTER.
This letter is a landmark document in Cameroonian history. It marks the formal break between the architect of unification, Dr. John Ngu Foncha, and the system he helped create.
A quick point of historical clarification: while Foncha mentions his past cooperation with President Ahmadou Ahidjo, this specific resignation letter from June 1990 was actually addressed to Ahidjo’s successor, President Paul Biya.
Here is an analysis of why Foncha resigned and the deeper context of his grievances.
1. The “Window Dressing” Frustration
Foncha felt that his role as National Vice President of the CPDM was purely symbolic. He describes himself as an “irrelevant nuisance” used for “window dressing.”
Lack of Access: He notes that his requests to meet the President were “systematically turned down.”
Ignored Expertise: Despite 40 years of political experience, his memos on national issues were ignored.
Disrespect: He mentions being summoned to meetings via radio announcements rather than through professional consultation.
2. The Economic Marginalization of West Cameroon
A major theme in the letter is the systemic dismantling of the economic infrastructure of the former British Southern Cameroons (West Cameroon).
Ruined Institutions: He lists specific entities like the Cameroon Bank and the West Cameroon Marketing Board that were “taken over, mismanaged and ruined” by the central government.
Infrastructure Neglect: He highlights the deliberate deterioration of roads (Kumba-Mamfe, Bamenda-Wum) and the shelving of the Victoria Deep Sea Port in favour of a pipeline to Douala—a move seen as diverting wealth away from the Anglophone region.
3. Social and Political Alienation
Foncha expresses deep pain over the treatment of the people he brought into the union.
Derogatory Labelling: He notes that Anglophones were referred to as “les Biafrais” (a reference to the Nigerian Civil War secessionists), “enemies dans la maison” (enemies in the house), and “traitres” (traitors).
The “Foncha-man” Stigma: He notes that civil servants loyal to the original ideals of unification were being sidelined or denied appointments.
The “Rule of the Gun”: He laments that the constitutional protections for the Southern Cameroonian minority were suppressed and replaced by military force rather than the dialogue they “cherish very much.”
4. Corruption and Constitutional Decay
The letter serves as a warning about the moral direction of the state.
Institutional Theft: He highlights the “embezzlement of public funds” and “illegal exportation of currency” by a privileged class that faced no reprimand.
Constitutional Manipulation: He accuses the government of treating the Supreme Law as something to be “ignored or manipulated.”
Historical Context: The 1990 Turning Point
To understand the gravity of this letter, we have to look at what was happening in Cameroon in 1990.
Summary of Impact
Foncha’s resignation was a “moral earthquake.” By stepping down, he signalled to the international community and the Cameroonian people that the 1961 Foumban Accord—the agreement that joined the two Cameroons—had been effectively gutted. His departure helped pave the way for the All Anglophone Conference (AAC) and the modern “Anglophone Crisis,” as he spent his final years advocating for a return to a federal system or outright independence for the Southern Cameroons.
Dr. John Ngu Foncha’s Resignation Letter
“Yaounde, 9th June 1990
Your Excellency,
RESIGNATION FROM THE CPDM
I have the honour to inform Your Excellency that after careful consideration and careful thought, I have decided to address to you my resignation from the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM) and my reasons for resigning are as follows:
The CPDM, which elected me as its first National Vice President, is the party which forms the GOC and has been responsible for shaping government policies.
As the National Vice President of the party, I have found it impossible to use my exalted position to help in any way, shape or influence the policies of the party and nation because:
1) Demands by me for an audience with the Chairman (President) of the party to discuss issues have been systematically turned down.
2) Several memos and representations I have made in writing on several important national issues have been ignored.
During my political career, which spans over forty years, I headed the group that campaigned for and got the people of the then Southern Cameroons to vote for unification, after which I went from village to village in the then East Cameroun at the risk of my life to calm terrorism which existed at the time. I even housed some Cameroonians wanted in East Cameroon. I successfully had them reconcile with the Ahidjo government. I missed being shot down on my way from Bafang on peace making mission.
After unification, a lot of Cameroonians had confidence in me, and when the first Presidential elections were coming up, many people urged me to stand against President Ahidjo. I decided to go for the Vice Presidency instead in order to avoid unnecessary conflict and further bloodshed.
When President Ahidjo decided to get rid of me as the Vice President, a lot of Cameroonians sympathized with me and urged me to make an issue out of it, but for the love of peace, I came back quietly to live in my village as a private citizen.
After settling in my village, I was occasionally consulted on some national issues, and I accepted to serve the people of Cameroon in whatever capacity it pleased the powers that be to put me. When the leadership of Cameroon changed hands, and Your Excellency became the President of the Republic and eventually head of the CNU, I assured Your Excellency that I was at your disposal and ready from my experience to give you advice you may need on national issues.
1) Unfortunately, this was not to be, as it became clear to me that I had become an irrelevant nuisance that had to be ignored and ridiculed.
– I was to be used now only as window dressing and not listened to. I am most of the time summoned to meetings by radio without any courtesy of my consultation on the agenda.
2) All projects of the former West Cameroon I had either initiated or held very dear to my heart had to be taken over, mismanaged and ruined, e.g. Cameroon Bank, West Cameroon Marketing Board, WADA in Wum, West Cameroon Cooperative Movement.
3) Whereas I spent all my life fighting to have a deep sea port in Limbe(Victoria) developed, this project had to be shelved, and instead an expensive pipeline is to be built from SONARA in Limbe to Douala to pipe the oil to Douala.
4) All the roads in West Cameroon that my government had either built, improved or maintained were allowed to deteriorate, making Kumba-Mamfe, Mamfe-Bamenda, Bamenda-Wum-Nkambe, Bamenda-Momo inaccessible by road. Projects were shelved even after petrol produced enough money for building them and the Limbe sea port.
5) All progress of employment, appointments, etc., meant to promote adequate regional representation in government and its services have been revised or changed at the expense of those who stood for TRUTH and justice. They are identified as “Foncha-man” and put aside.
6) The Southern Cameroonian whom I brought into the Union have been ridiculed and referred to as “les Biafrians”, les enemies dans la maison”, “les traitres’, etc., and the constitutional provisions which protected this Southern Cameroonian minority have been suppressed, their voices drowned, while the rule of the gun has replaced the dialogue which Southern Cameroonians cherish very much.
7) The national media has been used by the government through people who never voted for unification to misinform the citizens about Bamenda. Deliberate lies have been told over the mass media, all in an attempt to isolate the Southern Cameroonian Cameroonians who voted for unification and subject them to hatred, more discrimination and harassment from other Cameroonians.
Embezzlement of Public funds in all forms and illegal exportation of our currency by the privileged class seems to go without reprimand but is rather condoned.
9) The constitution, which I have held and preached as the supreme law of the land, is in many respects being ignored or manipulated… Let the CPDM not move towards the direction where it will find itself collapsing faster than many of the “strong” governments that have collapsed in recent memory. My resignation is effective from today, the 9th June 1990.
Thank You.
I have the Honor to be
Yours Respectfully,
Dr. J.N. Foncha”
BYE!!!
