Letter to the Editor
Sir,
I wish to draw your attention to a matter of phrasing, that often slips into our public communications. Words matter, and we must be careful not to confer legitimacy where none exists.
President Paul Biya himself recently admitted in Paris that the attempt to assimilate Southern Cameroons had failed. He further acknowledged that Buea was once the capital of Southern (or West) Cameroons. This admission should remind us to use language with care and precision.
It is therefore more accurate to speak of the attempted unification of 1961 rather than a successful union. What was proposed was never consummated into a lawful or legitimate partnership. To borrow a metaphor: an attempted marriage that collapses at the stage of engagement cannot, in good conscience, be described as a true marriage.
For the sake of history, justice, and clarity, let us consistently employ the correct terms in our media and public discourse. We owe this precision to ourselves, to future generations, and to the integrity of our struggle.
Respectfully,
Name Withheld
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