But in the North West province like in the entire English-speaking region of Cameroon, individuals know their rights , how to preserve their rights and don’t entertain government officials who want to intrude into their private lives or want to curtail their freedoms and cultural identities. Another reason is that, the people of the North West province like the overwhelming majority of English-speaking Cameroonians do consider French-speaking Cameroonians, as dubious colonialists who are and were not able to respect the most elementary tenets of the unification agreement of October 1st 1961. Hence there is constant friction with all top civil servants posted to the region, especially if he is not English-speaking and wants to impose laws without consulting the people. In the North West province, families become famous for their royal national/tribal links, the number of children who have been educated to PhD level and also the number of politicians they have produced. But the second seem to be the trend of the past, for these days, families become famous for the numbers of children killed during demonstrations by trigger happy Government Forces. It is a pride that some of their politicians and elites who are actors on both sides of the political and governmental/opposition platforms, use to give a messianic or doomsday touch to their political speeches and approach to events.
In order for any top civil servant posted to the North West province, in particular those of French-speaking Cameroonian ancestry, to succeed to win the hearts of the people of the province, he/she must first show that, he/she is a traditionalist, who gives respect to the local chiefs or Fon or Lamido. Traditional authorities in the North West province wield strong influence and commands more respect than the central government. Hence, any sign that; a top civil servant posted to province won’t or don’t want to respect traditional institutionalised rites, sparks confrontation immediately and even rumours that, the newly posted civil servants had disdain for traditional authorities in his previous post, could ignite a deluge of petition writing, that will certainly force the central government to appoint a new civil servant. Another stratagem to win the hearts of the people of the province by any top civil servant, who are either a Governor or Divisional or sub divisional officer, is upon taking his/her functions, he/she must make sure he attends regularly the various Christian religious meetings held in different parts of the province. And to coin it all, if the civil servant posted is Anglican, Roman Catholic, Protestant or Presbyterian, it will be highly appreciated even though it is not necessary. The North West province of Cameroon, even though she is majority Christian of Protestant or Roman Catholic faiths, it has a minority Islamic population and a mild brand sharia law is applied via Islamic courts but, there are almost no inter religious confrontations.
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