The founder of the Centre For Human Rights And Democracy In Africa, CHRD, Bar. Agbor Felix Nkongho has rejected his appointment to head the Social Democratic Front’s Shadow cabinet justice ministry. Agbor Balla made his intention known in a correspondence addressed to the national secretariat of the party 10 days after his appointment.
“Nkongho Felix Agbor ( Balla)
CHRDA –Buea
18 June 2022
National Secretariat
Social Democratic Front (SDF)
Cameroon
Subject: My Appointment as Member of SDF Shadow Cabinet
Dear Sir,
Thank you for considering me for a position in your party’s shadow cabinet. I feel highly honored. I learned about this appointment upon arrival in Cameroon from the United States of America where I just received the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award.
When I got to Cameroon I was entangled in the Bar Council election and could not meet you despite many attempts through a third party.
I however regret to inform you that I am unable to accept this appointment.
The political history of Cameroon cannot be written without a special place for yourself, your party the SDF and its unsung heroes and heroines.
Even the minor improvements in our struggling democratic practice over the last three decades are largely attributable to the vibrancy and leadership of the SDF. Thank you for your service.
Mr. Chairman, times have changed greatly from the 1990s.
The new challenges our people face require new solutions and new approaches.
When teachers joined lawyers of Anglophone extraction to protest against the status quo, our fight for the respect of Anglophone rights took me to prison unjustly.
For six years now, my people, your people, our people are suffering grave violations of their human rights each day in a brutal conflict which partisan politics failed to avert and has this far proven unable and unwilling to resolve.
My current priority is to promote and defend the human rights of these millions of victims who otherwise are being brushed aside by current politics in Cameroon.
I have a duty to remain objective, impartial and fully committed to this noble mission.
I therefore, respectfully decline this appointment.
This country, for the time being, needs leaders who can reach out to all Cameroonians beyond party lines to work together for a better future.
This is the path I have chosen to follow.
It is a path that has been fashioned by the blood of our people.
I seize this opportunity to call on you to continue raising your voice for all victims of Gross Human Rights violations in Cameroon.
Sincerely,
Nkongho Felix Agbor (Balla)”
