I am an enthusiast of Southern Cameroons History. I am an English Speaking Cameroonian born of parents who were citizens of Southern Cameroons - a region of Nigeria until the Plebiscite of 1961 when we became a part of the federal Republic of Cameroon. Later, we were to be United with Cameroon to become United Republic of Cameroon, and again later, Republic of Cameroon.
Our transition as a UN Trust territory under British Administration up to the present day, as the South West and North west regions of the Republic of Cameroon, has been embroiled in a lot of controversy and misunderstanding.
These misunderstandings are believed to be at the root of what we now term, "the Cameroon Anglophone Problem". And since 2016, there has been armed confrontation between separatists and Cameroon's Republican army. The separatists claim the right to an Independent country which they call Ambazonia.
However, it should be recalled that, during the Plebiscite of 1961, 233,571 Southern Cameroonians voted to achieve Independence as part of the then, already independent French Cameroon, as opposed to 97,741 who voted to achieve Independence with the then Independent Nigeria.
My parents were a part of the 97,741. They were to later the same year, go to the United Nations in New York to argue their case for incorporation into Nigeria on the strength of their choice.
This was refused, and the wise men and women of the UN counselled these group, to respect the overall results for Unification with French Cameroon, and to "return and make unification work".
Today, for simplicity sake, I round-off the 97,741 votes for Nigeria, to 98,000. As a child of one of the leading Politicians of this 98,000 who were humiliated and vilified for their bravery and principled position, I hereby submit "the Southern Cameroons 98,000", as a Euphemism for loyalty, integrity and political honesty in Cameroon's constantly changing political landscape.
This 98,000 no longer exist as a coherent single group, as even at the time of Plebiscite, they were extracted from all the Divisions that participated in the Plebiscite.
However, their spirit of loyalty to their nation then, which was Nigeria, their sincerity in voting and above all their willingness to accept unification with French Cameroon which they dreaded for the different language and culture, must be recognized and especially, celebrated.
This is the Spirit required today in Bilingual Cameroon, hence the proud Euphemism of "Southern Cameroons 98,000" in recognition of their democratic spirit.