Former British Southern Cameroons Journey Towards Complete Decolonization, Independence, and Sovereignty

Strong Pre-Plebiscite Position of British Southern Cameroons Leaders



The two leaders (Endeley and Foncha, Former and current Prime Ministers) accepted completely dropping the idea of joining Nigeria or Cameroon, simply requesting of the British administering authority the granting of independence to the Southern Cameroons in its own right (Kale 1967: 70; Awasom 1980: 57). This decision was happily welcomed by the British Commissioner, J.O. Fields, and it led to the London Talks of November 1960.

The London Talk was chaired by the British Secretary of State for Colonies. It was attended by the Commissioner J. O. Fields, and the Southern Cameroonian leaders including E. M. L. Endeley, J. N. Foncha, P. M. Motomby-Woleta, Reverend Kangsen, S. E. Ncha, Fon Galega II of Bali, and Fon Oben of Mamfe. Discussions on the independence of the Southern Cameroons were moving toward fruition, but not for long. The atmosphere soon changed dramatically, for it was filled with a diversity of views, and "so these other roundtable talks ended in smoke" (Kale 1967: 70).19 Foncha and Endeley had to campaign to obtain independence for the Southern Cameroons, either by reunifying with Cameroon or the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in spite of themselves. The Southern Cameroons, therefore, presented "one of the most bizarre cases in history where a territory had to gain its independence by attaching itself to an already independent state" (Awasom 1980: 58).

Whatever effort necessary

When you're willing to make an initial effort, you'll succeed sometimes. Take the next step, make a second effort, and you'll succeed more often. If you're prepared to make a third, fourth, or fifth effort, you'll reach a much higher success rate. And when you commit to putting forth whatever effort is necessary, you will achieve whatever you choose.

Real and lasting success usually requires more than one attempt. If you make just a single attempt and then give up, you haven't given yourself much of an opportunity to achieve.

There is no reason to become discouraged if you fail to reach your goal on the first attempt, or even the second or third. For each effort, though it may not get you there, gets you closer.

Even an unsuccessful attempt gives you valuable knowledge and experience, and vastly increases the likelihood of success on the next attempt. When you continue getting closer each time, you surely and eventually will get where you intend to go.

The roads leading to the most beautiful places always twist and turn and double back on themselves. Keep making the effort, no matter what, and you will reach the beautiful places where you wish to be.

-- Ralph Marston