The various factions of the Southern Cameroons National Council, SCNC will staged a historic constituent assembly in Mamfe, Manyu division, on July 27, 2014. Officials say the reconciliatory assembly has been carefully planned to coincide with the ‘state’ funeral decreed by the movement for its fallen national chairman, Chief Ette Otun Ayamba.

Chief Ayamba, it should be recalled, died on June 19, 2014 at the Full Gospel hospital in Mamfe. The SCNC, The Guardian Post has been reliably informed, is currently touring all the sub-divisions of the North West and South West regions, not only to mobilise members to massively attend Chief Ayamba’s funeral but most importantly to take part in the announced constituent assembly that will hold in Mamfe shortly after the former SCNC chairman’s corpse leaves for his native Eyumujock sub-division for burial.

Organisers have put the expected turnout at the July 27, 2014 constituent assembly at over 10.000. Foreign dignitaries and SCNC Diaspora delegations, they claim, have already indicated their impressive presence in Mamfe come July 27. Asked what could possibly be the major out come of the July 27 SCNC constituent assembly in Mamfe, an insider who pleaded to remain anonymous hinted that not only would all the factions be re-united but that most importantly, the former CPDM MP for Akwaya who now heads the People’s Action Party, PAP, Hon. Ayah Paul Abine would be given the leadership baton of the movement that has been spearheading the campaign for the liberation and independence of Anglophone Cameroonians.

He disclosed that though Ayah Paul has been showing little interest in the SCNC top job, they would convince him to take the movement’s leadership position for the interest of Anglophones in Cameroon.“Not only must the SCNC national chairman come from the Southern Zone ( South West), Ayah Paul is for now the only Anglophone who has the mettle to take over the SCNC leadership and free Anglophones from the fangs of the authorities of La Republique du Cameroun,’’ the source sustained.

Meanwhile, Ayah Paul just recently confirmed in an interview granted a Buea-based sister newspaper that there has been mounting pressure on him from all leaders of the SCNC factions to take over the leadership position of the expected united SCNC movement. In the interview, Ayah simply said : ‘’ I don’t see how that can be possible because for now, I am not a registered member of the SCNC…’’. He however quickly added that he would not hesitate to take up any position that would liberate Anglophones from the suffering and marginalisation they are going through in Cameroon.

As for Chief Ayamba’s funeral programme, a statement states that he will be buried on July 28, 2014 in his Eyumojock native land in strictly Bayangi tradition. In addition, he will be buried in Southern Cameroons’ colours of blue and white stripes with thirteen stars in the middle of the flag; representing the thirteen counties (divisions) of Southern Cameroons.

Not only have July 26-27, 2014 been declared “National Days” of mourning on the entire Southern Cameroons soil, the Southern Cameroons’ flag, officials say, will fly at half mast in all Southern Cameroons Local Government Areas (sub divisions) and counties within the period of “national” mourning. Officials say in a determined move to revamp the movement’s activities, all SCNC factions have not only entered into a serious negotiation to get re-united but would reconcile on oath over Chief Ayamba’s corpse.

According to the funeral programme, Chief Ayamba’s corpse will be removed and kept for viewing at his Banga residence in Mamfe on July 26, 2014. July 27 has been set aside for eulogies and “national” honours, from SCNC officials. His corpse leaves Mamfe for Eyumujock on July 28 where he would be interred in strictly Bayangi tradition.

The SDF, The Guardian Post has been hinted, is already contemplating postponing its NEC meeting that has been programmed for Bamenda on July 27, 2014. This is to permit the party’s top officials to attend Chief Ayamba’s funeral in Mamfe that same day.

Chief Ayamba came to the limelight of the struggle for Southern Cameroons self-determination on December 30, 1999 when in the company of Justice Ebong and Pa Sabum, they stormed the CRTV provincial station in Buea and declared the independence of Southern Cameroons.

He and his peers were arrested at the Centenary Stadium in Victoria and detained at the Kondengui maximum prison in Yaounde for close to two years. On their release, while Justice Ebong went on self-exile to nearby Nigeria, Chief Ayamba remained steadfast and naturally sailed in as the national chairman of the SCNC; replacing the late Martin Ngeka Luma who died on April 13, 2003.

Chief Ayamba’s legacy It was during the reign of Chief Ayamba that there was the completion of the merits of the Communication 266/2003, initiated by Gumne and Luma. He was still at the helm when admissibility was attained. He worked for the SCNC (through his vice, Nfor Nfor); to address the UN Human Rights Commission on March 30, 2005, same as was the case when the SCNC addressed the European Union parliament in 2006.

International recognition of the SCNC remained limited until the group became part of the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization in 2006, when Chief Ayamba was in office. Under his leadership, the SCNC was at the presidency of UNPO twice. He worked for the admission of the SCNC as a member of the Trans-National Radical Party in Italy.

In 2008, Chief Ayamba was at the head of a squad that stormed Abuja and the ACHPR session at the ECOWAS conference centre, precipitating the release of the judgment/verdict of Communication 266/2003. In 2009, however, the African Union (AU), with a large push from Muammar Gaddafi, began considering efforts regarding SCNC’s call for independence. In late 2009, the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights recognized the SCNC's petition by declaring that Southern Cameroonians are a people.

It is apparently in recognition of the brave and steadfast commitment of the deceased SCNC chairman that officials of the movement have resolved to make his funeral an unforgettable event, which they say will not only engrave his legacy in the hearts of Southern Cameroonians, but will mark a turning point where all differences within the movement will be buried alongside Chief Ayamba.