THE IMPORTANCE OF FEBRUARY ELEVEN

The German claim to Cameroon was recognized in the Berlin Conference of November 1884. When Germany lost the First World War, it also lost sovereignty over its African colonies, which by the terms of the Treaty of Versailles came under the ambit of the League of Nations as “ Mandated Territories ”
By Chief A.S. Ngwana.

By this arrangement, Cameroon was divided between Britain and France . The Eastern part of the country went to France while the Western part went to Britain . The latter further divided its own territory into two, North and South, ostensibly, for administrative convenience and the northern part, known as Northern Cameroon, was administered as part of Northern Nigeria while Southern Cameroon was administered as part of Eastern Nigeria.
In 1956 the French promulgated a new law , “the loi-cadre.” Under this law 70 parliamentary seats were provided for the new East Cameroon Legislative Assembly (ALCAM).
The same year on 23^rd December elections were conducted. On the 9^th of May, 1957, The French appointed Andre Mbida who won only 20 seats, the first Prime Minister of Eastern Cameroon, while Ahidjo with 30 seats, was appointed Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Interior.
In 1949 the British introduced the Macpherson Constitution in Nigeria , The New Constitution recognized the right to representation for Southern Cameroon- a clear reversal of the policy of taxation without representation enshrined in the Richards Constitution. This was a result of the agitation by Southern Cameroonians in Nigeria and else where.
Prominent among them were P.M. Kale, P.E.N Malafa, DR. E.L.M.
Endeley, Dr. Victor Anoma Ngu, and Dr. J.N. Foncha.

In 1951 the first ever elections were organized in Southern Cameroons and Dr. E.L.M.Edeley, the Leader of the KNC, was elected ‘Leader of Government Business” and prominent among his members were, Dr. J.N. Foncha, S.T, Muna and A.N. Jua.
Nonetheless for most Southern Cameroonian leaders the 1951 elections and whatever they were worth represented only a test-run. The ultimate political objective was a lot more ambitious than mere representation in the Nigerian Legislature. It was regional autonomy first and secession from Nigeria next.

On January 1 1960, the French gave Independence to East Cameroon and appointed Amadou Ahidjo the first President of the Republic of Cameroon. (no Elections)
On October 1, 1960, the British gave Independence to Nigeria . British North and South Cameroons ceased to be part of Nigeria administratively.
However the wind of change was blowing through Africa and every country wanted Independence . The United Nations was under pressure from many groups to terminate the Trusteeship Agreement and grant the Trust Territory of the Cameroons under United Kingdom Administration, independence.

The General Assembly: Recalling:

its resolution 1352 (X1V) of 16 October 1959 whereby it decided, inter alia, that a plebiscite in the Southern Cameroons be held between 30 September 1960 and March 1961, on the basis of the two alternatives set forth in operative paragraph 2 of the said resolution;” the United Nations Plebiscite Commissioner, conducted a plebiscite on February 11, in Northern and Southern Cameroons.

The two alternatives were:

“Do you want to become independent by joining the Republic of Cameroon or by joining the Federal Republic of Nigeria ?.”
On 11 February 1961, Southern Cameroonians voted massively to join the Republic of Cameroon . Thus on 11 February 1961, The Anglophone Cameroon , voted overwhelmingly to re-unify with the Francophone Cameroon
The U.N. then resoled that a union of Southern Cameroon with the Republic of Cameroon, should be implemented into a “ Federal United Cameroon Republic .Cameroon is what it is today because of February 11, the most important date in our modern Cameroon ,

UNIFICATION DAY.
Cameroonians highly appreciate and congratulate the Anglophone founding fathers who made this union possible.
We therefore condemn very strongly any person or party or Government, who or which does not appreciate this great achievement by Anglophone Cameroonians, and tries to marginalize or discriminate or treat Anglophones as second class citizens, as an enemy of our Unity.

May God continue to bless Cameroon .