The young and dynamic councillor of the South West Regional Assembly is intent on going beyond his region of origin to rally and talk to youths about the virtues of peace.
The security situation in the Anglophone regions that has dragged on for years has pushed many concerned citizens to take action in diverse capacities for peace to return. It is in this light that Nganje Shedill Molea has been consecrating time, money and energy to rally his peers through football, a sport he says is a common unifier. As a lover of football who has witnessed the effervescent atmosphere that reigns during football jamborees, he has often seized the opportunity of summer holidays to organise “tournaments in my little effort to encourage youths to live in harmony and peace particularly in Buea, where I hail from. I chose football because it is a unifying sport and it can rally youths of all walks of life” he says. To him, such gatherings are ideal to preach the virtues of peace and caution youths, telling them that “violence is not the only means through which their voices can be heard”.
Through such tournaments, he has taken the initiative to talk and listen to the worries of the not only the youths but the population present. He jumped on one such opportunity during a tournament, which he organised in Tole, Fako division of the South West region. “The population complained of schools in the area still not functional due to the prevailing crisis and difficult security situation. i made the commitment to channel their worry to the right quarters and thankfully in September, the people were able to send their children again to school”. The population together with the military worked hand in glove too send out extremist that were making life unbearable in the area.
With the zeal to take his peace caravan beyond the South West region, he is working on a broader program to sensitize youths in the North West and Far North regions as well. His project is to bring all elected youths onboard this train, no matter their political leaning. “Youths in my opinion are better placed to convince their peers to sit on the dialogue table” he adds. This explains why he has been meeting with some heads of diplomatic missions, particularly the Belgian Ambassador Eric Jacquemin and Richard Balle, the Canadian ambassador to present his vision. His meetings have been fruitful as he acknowledges that they are ready to throw their weight behind him in the noble cause.
Meanwhile as a fervent militant of the CPDM militating in Fako III section, Barrister Shedill hopes to champion this cause with the support of his Party. He is convinced that President Paul Biya’s efforts through government to seek lasting solutions to the crisis in the Anglophone regions needs the support of all and with the mandate given him at the South Regional Assembly, he intends to contribute in his way in that endeavour.
Claudette CHIN
