Militants of the Southern Cameroon National Council SCNC have maintained that Hon. Justice Ayah Paul Abine will continue to be their “sole and undisputed” leader despite his recent appointment at the Supreme Court of La Republique du Cameroon.

Speaking to The Median at the weekend, Mr. Theodore Leke, 2nd vice national chairman of the SCNC said, after a series of meetings held by front-line militants of the liberation movement, they resolved that Justice Ayah Paul should stay on as the National chairman and sole leader of the organization.

Theodore Leke said given Ayah’s sterling qualities and his unquestionable charisma, credibility and popularity, the SCNC cannot afford to so easily forego him to be grabbed by the government of La Republique.

“Justice Ayah has proven his mettle serving as a fine and brilliant judge in courts in both the Southern Cameroons and La Republique. He has also proven his brilliance and popularity in politics. We understand that the government of La Republique is owing him plenty of money.

Ayah Paul has a legitimate right to claim his due from La Republique,” said Mr. Theordore Leke, who however suggested that Ayah Paul could make a solemn request for the SCNC to relieve him of his post as SCNC chairman, so that he can freely go about his engagements with La Republique. “But until Ayah does this he still remains the chairman-elect of SCNC,” Leke Theodore maintained.

Theodore Leke, who said he was speaking on behalf of front-liners of the SCNC, cautioned Justice Ayah Paul to be wary of President Paul Biya. He said President Biya is not comfortable with Ayah’s credibility and popularity, and that was why after he learnt that Ayah had been made the chairman of the SCNC, he hastily signed a decision appointing him as advocate-general of the Supreme Court and also raised him to the highest rank of the magistracy in Cameroon, this, just to dissuade him from the SCNC.

Theodore Leke buttressed his point arguing that of the five advocates-general that were appointed to the Supreme Court, Justice Ayah’s appointment decision was unique and separate from the one appointing the four others.

He said emphatically that the SCNC will not allow itself to be distracted by the machinations of president Biya; and that the movement will remain focused in the pursuit of its objectives.

But Mr. Leke at once expressed fears that after appointing Ayah Paul, President Biya may now look for every means to destroy him politically, once and for all. He advised that as Ayah Paul is relocating to Yaounde to complete his civil service career he should be wary of Mr. Biya and his agents.

Apart from Theodore Leke who has publicly expressed his views on Ayah’s recent appointment, other front-liners of the Southern Cameroons liberation struggle have also made their opinions known on the subject. Veteran Chartered Accountant and Anglophone Patriarch, Mola Njoh Litumbe was also quoted as saying he has no problem with Ayah’s appointment in Yaounde.

According to him Ayah should accept his new appointment and move over to Yaounde. “Ayah is a citizen of Cameroon; he has a right to decent employment and he should carry on with his chosen career until when he is lawfully supposed to retire.

Besides, Ayah Paul has his family and him self to take care of; he needs money to do these. We understand that the government owes him millions in accrued salaries and other corollary benefits. I think Ayah should move over to Yaounde and complete his brilliant career. Working in Yaounde cannot stop him from championing the SCNC cause if he so wants.”

Other reactions to Ayah’s appointment were however not in favour of the honourable justice taking up his new government job. In a reaction posted on the internet, Ambassador Chief Tabong Kima says no reason(s) advanced by Ayah can be good enough to explain why he should accept an appointment from the Biya regime.

Tabong Kima says Ayah will only group himself among the chain of self seeking stomac politicians who do politics only for personal. Pa Kima wondered why Ayah should now turn around and embrace a regime that he has caused many Cameroonians to hate and despise.

In yet another reaction by a certain Chrysantus Meh, he warned that Ayah should reject Biya’s appointment because his acceptance would make him to be looked upon as a renegade politician.

Interestingly, as Cameroonians and especially militants of the SCNC continue to ruminate on Ayah’s election as SCNC chairman and his appointment in Yaounde, the Honorable Justice has not reacted to the SCNC front-liners; he has however taken his gov’t job in Yaounde. Ayah’s silence vis-a-vis the SCNC only fuels the ongoing debate about his political career, analysts contend.