RUSTY RELATIONS BETWEEN THE IGBO UNION IN SOUTHERN CAMEROONS AND THE CAMEROONIAN AUTHORITIES, 1946-1970

Abstract

The Igbo of Nigeria migrated to Southern Cameroons in droves following the Richards Constitution of 1946 which made Southern Cameroons part of Eastern Region of Nigeria, and set up town unions cum Igbo Union. The town unions cum Igbo Union had issues with the Cameroonian authorities. This study sets out to expose the reactions of the Cameroonians following the presence of Igbo settlement, with the outcome being the promulgation of anti-Igbo laws and treason act leveled against some Igbo. There is this belief by some scholars that the Igbo were hated in Southern Cameroons because of their unscrupulous nature and their over domineering influence, without giving one the detailed breakdown of the hatred which this study refers to as ‘Igbophobia’. Hence, this research looks at an added aspect of ‘Igbophobia’ in details indicating the rusty relations between the Igbo and the Cameroonian authorities. Archival materials from the National Archives, Buea in Cameroon, oral interview and books provided the data for this study. The Social Identity Theory by Tayfel and Turner is adopted. This research argues that the Igbo in Southern Cameroons were not to be blamed as they contributed financially to the Republic of Biafran government of Ojukwu to prosecute the war of 1967-70. Findings reveal that as a result of the few bad eggs amongst the Igbo population in Southern Cameroons, anti-Igbo laws were introduced. This study recommends that to forestall rusty relations between the hosts and settlers, there should be collaboration between Cameroonian security agencies and the various town unions cum Igbo union, in order to fish out criminally minded individuals of Igbo extraction.