Dr. Christopher FomunyohCameroonians should stay “strong and resolute” and not give room to a “national psychosis or perverse sense of pessimism”, a popular Washington DC-based Cameroonian said on Saturday, following his country’s worst train disaster that claimed over 100 lives on Friday.
In a statement to TheSimonAtebaNews, Dr. Christopher Fomunyoh, the President of The Fomunyoh Foundation, who is best known for his work at sustaining democracy in Africa, called for a thorough investigation to be carried out after an overcrowded train went off its platform between the commercial city of Douala and the capital Yaounde, killing over 100 people and leaving at least 600 others seriously wounded.
In Cameroon, where the long serving President, Paul Biya, has not been seen for almost a month after he took another of his long breaks to Europe, it was a disaster too many.
President Paul Biya of Cameroon in power for over 30 years
The Yaounde – Douala inner-city train derailed in Eseka, Nyong and Kellé division of the Centre region.
The tragic accident occurred only a few hours after the collapse of a pavement on the Yaounde – Douala road around Boumnyebel in the same division that cut off road communications between the two main cities of the country.
According to several accounts, the accident caused over 100 deaths and left more than 600 wounded, although the government put the figure at a little over 50 people.
“Indeed we are all in shock and tears because a disaster of this magnitude is a real national catastrophy, ” Mr. Fomunyoh said.
He added: “During these challenging times of national mourning, and as we pay homage to our fallen compatriots, we must stay strong and resolute so as not to give room to a national psychosis or perverse sense of pessimism.
“I hope that a thorough investigation by competent authorities and relevant services would allow us to determine the responsibilities of those involved. Such an investigation would facilitate an honest indemnification of victims and their families, and proper medical treatment of the wounded. Ultimately, we must draw lessons learned from these sad occurrences to institutionalize appropriate policies on crisis management and the maintenance and upgrading of our national infrastructure.
“May the good Lord (Allah) bless our dear country Cameroon, and reinforce our sense of national solidarity so we can continue to be each other’s keeper”.
In a country deeply polarised along tribal and regional lines, it was a proper occasion for some to lambast a President who has been in power for 34 years, while others came to his rescue.
Since the end of the United Nations General Assembly meetings in New York last month, President Biya has not returned to the capital Yaounde.
To many, it’s hardly news as the President often takes weeks if not month relaxing abroad even while Boko Haram massacre his countrymen in the far north.
Altough thousands of people have been killed in Cameroon’s far north and millions have been displaced, the country’s 82-year old President has not visited.