Who Is a Southern Cameroonian?

Their relationship shows exactly what Southern Cameroonians must understand about identity, belonging, and responsibility.

The Father: Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin was one of the most respected men in the American colonies. A founder, a diplomat, a scientist, and a thinker. When the colonies demanded liberty, Benjamin Franklin stood with them. He believed the British Crown had violated the rights of the people and that independence was the only moral path.

His identity became clear the moment he chose truth and justice over comfort and loyalty to the empire.

The Son: William Franklin

William Franklin, Benjamin’s son, had a different path.

He was the Royal Governor of New Jersey under the British Crown.
He enjoyed power, privilege, and status.
And when the revolution began, he chose the side of the British.

He chose comfort.
He chose position.
He chose the system that benefited him personally.

Even after seeing the truth of the colonial injustices, William refused to stand with the American cause. He knew the arguments. He knew the facts. But he chose convenience over principle.

The result was painful.
Father and son became enemies.
Benjamin Franklin refused to reconcile with William for the rest of his life.

Why
Because the issue was not family.
The issue was allegiance.
The issue was truth.

William Franklin was born to an American father.
He grew up among the American people.
He spoke the same language.
He shared the same culture.

But when the moment came to choose between truth and loyalty to an oppressive system, he chose the system.

And that choice defined his identity.

What This Teaches Us About Southern Cameroons

Many people today think being a Southern Cameroonian is about:

where you were born
the language you speak
your tribal roots
the school you attended
your cultural background

None of that defines identity.
Benjamin Franklin proved that identity is not genetic.
William Franklin proved that identity is not inherited.

Identity is defined by the truth you stand on when history reveals itself.

So who is a Southern Cameroonian
Not everyone born in the territory.
Not everyone who speaks English.
Not everyone whose grandparents lived there.

A Southern Cameroonian is someone who upholds the documented truth of the territory:

that it was a UN Trust Territory
that it had no union treaty with LRC
that Resolution 1608 was never completed
that no transfer of sovereignty ever took place
that its legal status remains unresolved

If someone knows this truth but chooses LRC out of fear, comfort, or personal benefit, they are following the path of William Franklin. They may live among the people, but they are not standing with the people.

Identity is not birth.
Identity is allegiance.
Identity is truth.

Why This Matters for Our Future

Just like America in the 1770s, Southern Cameroons is at a historic turning point. Some people will stand with truth. Others will side with the system because it gives them a job, a title, a position, or temporary security.

And history will divide them just as clearly as it divided Benjamin and William.

Being a Southern Cameroonian means choosing legality over convenience.
It means standing with the documented facts of international law.
It means refusing to support an illegal extension of administration.
It means protecting the next generation from inheriting this broken system.

Identity is a choice.
And every generation must choose who they are.

A Closing Thought

Benjamin Franklin once said that those who give up essential rights for temporary comfort lose both. His own son became the living example of that warning.

Today, Southern Cameroonians face the same choice.

You are not a Southern Cameroonian because of where you were born.
You are a Southern Cameroonian because of the truth you are willing to defend.