By Erewunmi Peace

Some leaders from Cameroon’s English-speaking Northwest and Southwest regions have called on Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to help facilitate a peaceful and permanent solution to the ongoing crisis in the area.

The activists, who identify with the Ambazonian movement, are insisting on a referendum to determine the political future of the English-speaking regions. They argue that decades of marginalization and violent conflict under Cameroon’s central government have left their people with no alternative but to seek self-determination.

According to their appeals, Nigeria — sharing historical, cultural, and geographical ties with the affected regions — is seen as a key regional power capable of pushing for dialogue and a peaceful settlement.

The groups, through platforms like the Abuja Legislative Project (ALP), have urged Tinubu’s administration to engage diplomatically and recognize the need for an “exclusive referendum” as the only permanent path to peace.

While these demands continue to gain attention, there has been no official response yet from the Nigerian government. However, analysts note that Nigeria’s involvement in such a sensitive issue could have significant implications for regional diplomacy and security.

The conflict in Cameroon’s Anglophone regions, ongoing since 2016, has displaced thousands and led to persistent clashes between separatist groups and government forces. Calls for international mediation and intervention remain strong, with Nigeria now at the center of renewed appeals.