Pursuing Democratic Commitments

The disclosure yesterday 2 February, 2023 of the results of preliminary enquiries into the gruesome assassination of the Amplitude FM journalist, Arsene Salomon Mbani Zogo fondly called Martinez Zogo was edifying enough. It confirmed the fact that the Head of State, President Paul Biya has been following the sombre incident with keen attention. Details from the press statement were also clear reasons to debunk certain rumours that have been going wild on the subject as if no seriousness was being accorded to the murder.     
The Minister of State Secretary-General of the Presidency of the Republic, Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh, who signed the press statement, pointed out in the release that a joint Gendarmerie and Police investigation led to several arrests and indications were that other suspects were still at large. Coming less than two weeks after the lifeless body of Martinez was discovered on 22 January, 2022, the diligent nature of the investigations underlines the determination of government to ensure that the culprits are brought to book. This is a coherent approach that ties with the information by Government Spokesperson and Communications Minister, Rene Emmanuel Sadi who assured the public after the macabre discovery that Cameroon is a country where the rule of law must be respected, that no one could commit such a crime and go unpunished.     
Surprisingly, the events following the assassination have portrayed dubious attempts by opportunists to hijack such a sad situation for doubtful reasons. There have been those calling for public demonstrations as if the situation was a call for public disorder in the city. Even those who have gone about writing petitions and passing for well-wishers of the family of the deceased and declaring how much love they have for the profession have acted as to say they are the only ones who care. All deaths, let alone that of a journalist that has the responsibility to shape public opinion cannot be taken lightly by any country that has the resolute ambition to pursue its democratisation path. Yet, everyone knows that circumstances such as the one that led to the murder of Martinez require careful judicial enquiry to identify those who could have either planned the crime or who carried out the dirty act. Such persons must be made to ren...