Cintia A. , Lebledparle.com
In response to the controversy caused by his statements, Professor Modzom has called for calm. This comes just days after his remarks were aired on Bnews’ 1 program “LE CLUB” on December 15, 2024.
Lebledparle.com presents the full statement from Professor François Marc Modzom:
“CEASEFIRE!!!”
For expressing an opinion on a television show, an extended faction of the “Holy Trinity” has unleashed an extraordinary wave of hostility. This attack includes tribal slurs, personal insults, and defamatory comments about my family, academic background, and professional career. A bizarre onslaught, especially from individuals who position themselves as defenders of press and opinion freedom. It seems I am forbidden from holding a perspective different from theirs, with certain topics and personalities deemed untouchable under threat of collective assault.
This is ironic, particularly from “professionals” who have built their careers critiquing public figures and institutions, including the President of the Republic. Even more puzzling is the blatant misrepresentation of facts, which are easily verifiable.
Here are the facts:
During a discussion concerning the state of Cameroonian journalism, panelists on Ernest OBAMA’s show on Bnews shared their opinions from different perspectives. I referenced the National Conferences on Communication of 1994 and 2012 and highlighted the tone of the debates at the Yaoundé Congress Hall.
As one of the rapporteurs of the subcommittee tasked with establishing criteria for entering the journalism profession, I observed two opposing camps. The one to which I belonged, advocated for professional standards requiring academic qualifications to become a journalist while the other camp promoted “talent” as the sole criterion for entry.
Professor Jacques FAME NDONGO notably rejected the talent argument, asking, “How do you quantify talent?” Following the conferences, a prominent advocate of the “talent school” was appointed to head the commission for issuing press cards. While I never criticized the Minister’s decision or the individual chosen, I expressed a historical perspective shared by many who anticipated different outcomes and later witnessed questionable profiles gaining entry into the profession with visible consequences.
My “offense,” it seems, is daring to address an issue that must eventually be resolved and unfortunately, the discussion has derailed, devolving into personal attacks and tribal remarks. While I have seen reinforcements taking sides, I urge an end to this hostilities which only reveal the contradictions within our professional community, where allegiances often overshadow rational discourse.
I leave the rest to individual conscience: our skills, values, biases, and the political-ideological motivations behind the current hostility toward me. For the record, I am not involved in any political agenda, although I reaffirm my steadfast loyalty to President Paul BIYA, who entrusted me with leading ESSTIC, a role that has clearly caused some discomfort. My focus remains on serving diligently. I am grateful for the recent free publicity, but for the sake of professionalism and dignity
CEASEFIRE!!
François Marc MODZOM
