A significant event occurred on August 14, 2012 across the country. The Minister Delegate at the Presidency in Charge of Defence handed over to City Councils, monuments constructed in 2010 in honour of fallen military heroes in the country. Significant about the event is not only the values that soldiers are expected to respect, but also the “Remembrance Day” for the military. It was on August 14, 2008 that Cameroon took complete control over the Bakassi Peninsular that had been a subject of bitter dispute with neighbouring Nigeria.
The conflict offered Cameroonian soldiers an occasion to demonstrate their loyalty, patriotism, courage and determination to defend the State. Appreciative of such sense of professionalism and devotion, President Paul Biya decreed on August 27, 2008 that every August 14 be “Remembrance Day.”
Equally, there was the 50^th Anniversary of the Defence Forces celebrated in Bamenda in 2010 during which the said monuments were constructed with the technical expertise of the Cameroon Army. The idea has been to remind the Army of their noble and challenging role in the difficult task of nation-building. Yet, the entire nation, especially the population, needs to also participate fully in all that the military is called to do; given that such efforts all contribute to the wellbeing of the people. It therefore appears logical that the various local councils that host the monuments be brought into their management.
This clearly means that the monuments are a reminder of the importance of nation-building both to the soldiers and the entire population. Evidently, the “Operation Delta” by Cameroon during the difficult days in Bakassi prior to the October 10, 2002 Verdict of the International Court of Justice at The Hague had as consequence several supreme sacrifices made by the country’s defence forces. Such a combination of diplomatic and military tack is a key moment in the life of a nation that is not only worth celebrating, but also serves as a lesson to future generations.
People tend to forget or underlook efforts made by others until they are reminded of the importance of such achievements in their survival or that of the nation at large.
Local councils now have the challenging task to preserve the beautiful works of art that carry so much symbolic meaning to the collective achievement that Cameroon has had, thanks to the peace policy of the Head of State.