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| Paul Biya |
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| The new Reunification Monument given by His Excellency himself, President Paul Biya. |
Today, February 20th 2014, marks the 50th anniversary of the Reunification of the Republic of Cameroon. The President himself, Paul Biya, has come to Buea to celebrate and give some sort of speech. Or something like that. After what some people say 5 years and others say 2 years of anticipation... he has finally arrived. For my year here, I have been hearing "the President is 'coming'!" Slowly but surley things in Buea have been being renovated, demolished, repainted, updated and even built from scratch.
Don't get me wrong folks....I am all for development when its sustainable, and that is not what this is. (Just as an FYI, when I say 'they' I am referencing the government in general.)
They built a new GCE board office (a massive building where they produce, correct, distribute the GCE exams). It's a beautiful building no doubt. But... I've been told that there was money to build it in the budget years ago, but someone chopped (literally meaning ate in Pidgin but in this context meaning spent) the money and now they needed to have something to show for the money given for that building. Peoples' businesses and livelihoods were demolished so that the main streets looking "presentable" for Paul Biya's arrival. Like Mami Biggie (Sara: if you are reading this - she greets you), a woman who used to sell puff puff and beans and other breakfast foods, her small restaurant was demolished by the city council last year. She has been forced to move deeper into the 'dirty south' where she has been the victim of theft and even to this day isn't able to work and thrive like she used to. Last I checked she wasnt even working. They forced already poor business owners to re-paint their buildings out of their own pocket money. If they didn't paint, they business would not be allowed to operate. For maybe 6-7 months now they have removed the middle median in the road which had two safety purposes and was functioning perfectly well. Firstly, it gave those who were crossing the street some sort of 'half way' point where they could wait safely to continue crossing. Secondly, it forbid any vehicle from overtaking (which is something Africans love to do especially when they cant see and have been drinking and driving). This reconstruction has lead to so many frickin car accidents in the last 6 months. So many adults and children alike have died trying to cross the street. The reason why they did this was because the President drives in a V (or so I was told). He has people on every side of him while he is in his vehicle. Then, just one day before his actual arrival, they removed all speed bumps in the road from Tiko (the closest airport which is where he landed) to Buea so that he could speed with his convoy of ridiculousness. Someone who has not been to Buea in the last year would hardly recognize the city now. It has changed THAT much. If I knew the changes were going to happen so drastically and rapidly I myself would have kept better record via photos.
I've read that he has spent over £100,000-on his THREE-day visit in Buea. I also read that the budget for preparing for his visit was 25million CFA (50,000USD) which might not sound like a lot to us...but the average wage here is like $50/month!!
So lets back up a bit and check out Paul Biya's track record:
Paul was born as Paul Barthélemy Biya'a bi Mvondo on February 13th 1933. That makes him EIGHTY ONE YEARS OLD! He got into politics in the early 1960s and took office as the President on November 6th, 1982. ...*calculating*... That means he has been President for nearly THIRTY TWO YEARS. That means that more than 65% of Cameroonians have only known ONE president. That in and of itself is absolutely insane to me.
He first married Jeanne-Irène Biya who suddenly and unexpectedly died in 1992 of 'unknown' causes. Biya wouldnt investigate her death and had her buried quickly. She openly opposed some of his actions and some believe it was he himself who had her killed. Just two years later he married Chantal Biya who is 38 years his junior and wears wigs the size of Saturn.
He was the solo candidate in several 'elections' since his first inauguration. The first multi-party election wasnt held until 1992 and since then in every election there has been accusations of fraud and misconduct. After his re-election in 2004, Biya realized he would be barred by a two-term limit in the Constitution from running for President again in 2011. To fix this he began expressing support for revising the Constitution, saying that it was "undemocratic to limit the people's choice." There were major violent protests yet the Assembly (who of course is chosen by and controlled by Biya) voted to change the Constitution to remove term limits. The change also provided for the President to enjoy immunity from prosecution for his actions as President after leaving office. How wonderful.
Looks like this guy won't be going anywhere until he dies...
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| Military (fully armed) were posted every 10-15meters on the day of his arrival. Several were also posted on rooftops of the main streets. |
Random things I have observed:
He is referred to as "His Excellency".
Nearly every single establishment (from small one room tailor shops to restaurants to hotels to any government office) has a picture of Paul Biya. I can't say for certain that it is manditory, but it seems as though. Even in the parades/marches they hold giant photos of him.
People are afraid to talk about him. Actually fearful. Unless they are saying something good. I actually shouldn't even be posting this....
One time I told a Cameroonian friend I was enjoying some alone time at the beach in Limbe. I mentioned there were a lot of French military guys around. He warned me so very seriously about not speaking to them in reference to anything bad in the country. To just say, "I enjoy Cameroon." and nothing else. He was seriously scared for me.
He has been in office for OVER THREE DECADES.
He has 'Presidential Palaces" in each of the 10 regions in Cameroon.
His wife Chantal has her own massive mansion in Yaounde.
They fear for good reason: There are presidential spies around you at any time. In Buea, this fear multiplied while anticipating his arrive and now that he is finally hear. You never know who you are talking to or who is listening.
If you read my country profile, he has ABSOLUTE power over the country.
It's no coincidence that everything is government run/controlled and consolidated. They want easy shut downs of mass communication
He hasn't invested in health or education sectors since his election.
People have fabric made out of his face. And they wear it.
Peace Work Fatherland//Paix Travail Patrie
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| Coat of Arms for Cameroon: Peace - Work - Fatherland |
Peace: Sure there hasn't been any wars internally or externally but does that constitute peacefulness? In my year here I have witnessed more fights and outbreaks of unnecessary violence than in all my 23 other years combined. Police turn to violence in a heartbeat. Normal every day citizens raise their voices at the drop of a dime and soon begin shouting in other people faces often times leading to pushing, shoving and punching. When people protest, they are rapidly shut down, oppressed and sometimes even killed along with journalist who speak out against the government.
Work: The official unemployment rate is at 30% which is bad enough but does not reflect the real numbers. One cant be sure of the actual unemployment rate but it is much much higher than this. A very popular young Cameroonian hip hop star named Jovi explains in one of his songs: "Degree dem dey fo mbanda" which is Pidgin means: "Degrees are on the shelf" - in other words...people study, earn degrees yet cannot find a job and do nothing because there is no way for them to reach their full potential in such a country therefore their degrees 'sit on the shelf'. I myself know countless educated Cameroonians who cannot find a job and are still living day by day.
Fatherland: Can't really dispute this one...
Whats the scoop on Cameroon?
Well, that ends my rant. With all that being said I also want to make it clear that Cameroon is the most beautiful, hospitable, diverse, amazing country I have ever had the pleasurable opportunity to live in and I would not trade my time here for anything. I wouldn't choose to live anywhere else and I am so thankful to be here. The people her are absolutely beautiful people and I love every second I am here. Please don't let this post taint your image of Cameroon as a whole, every country has its own problems...
Tonia I want to personally thank you for this information. Many Cameroonians don't like reading. It would have been good to have a bulk of the youth to read this. There is a lot to learn from your blog but its rather unfortunate this will only appeal to a wider American audience than the Cameroonian. Our youths need to open their eyes to a whole lot of things about Cameroon. We cannot physically confront Mr. Biya but we can join him in playing his most desired game which is politics. We can outwit him in this game and I think that is the only way out. Being a passive society we cannot even imagine confronting him physically because he has every arsenal on the ground to suppress every form of uprising. You know what most Cameroonians would say, " abeg I no want die me oh'. lol Its funny but true. Permit me post a part of my write-up on your blog. Its my appeal to the Cameroonian you the for change.
ReplyDeleteFELLOW CAMEROONIANS ANOTHER YOUTH DAY HAS COME AND GONE AND WE HAVE STILL HEARD THE NORMAL BULLSHIT. IT IS FAST BECOMING AN ANTHEM. THIS WAS NOT SUPPOSE TO BE ONLY A DAY FOR MERRY MAKING BUT IS SHOULD RATHER BE A DAY FOR REFLECTION ON ISSUES CONCERNING THE CAMEROONIAN YOUTH. WHAT DO WE NEED TO BETTER OUR LIVES? WHAT DO WE NEED TO GET BETTER JOB OPPORTUNITIES. IT IS MOST OFTEN SAID THAT TO KILL LION YOU NEED TO ATTACK IT RIGHT THERE IN ITS DEN. NO GETTING ME WRONG PLEASE. WE KNOW WHERE OUR LION'S DEN IS(POLITICS). YES. THAT IS OUR LION'S DEN. IF YOU GIVE A THIEF THE CODE TO YOUR SAFE HE WILL ALWAYS STEAL FROM YOU. WE HAVE GIVEN POLITICS THE CODE TO OUR HAPPINESS BY NOT INVOLVING OURSELVES IN IT. HOW DO WE INTEND TO MAKE OURSELVES HEARD IF WE DON'T BELONG TO ANY POLITICAL PARTY? WHEN WE SAY POLITICS WE MEAN REAL POLITICS NOT THE POLITICS OF THE STOMACH THAT MOST PEOPLE PRACTICE IN OUR COUNTRY TODAY. WE NEED TO KNOW THAT SLEEPING HUNGRY TODAY IS PREPARING TO EAT WELL TOMORROW. WE SHOULDN'T ALWAYS WANT TO GET THING THE EASY WAY. LET US LEARN TO BE PATIENT AND PREPARE OURSELVES FOR BETTER AND GREATER THINGS IN THE FUTURE. THE YOUTHS OF TODAY ARE THE LEADERS OF TOMORROW. HOW DO WE BECOME LEADERS OF TOMORROW IF WE DON'T GET INVOLVED IN THE AFFAIRS OD OUR COUNTRY? HOW DO WE BECOME LEADERS OF TOMORROW IF WE DON'T BELIEVE IN CHANGE? HOW DO WE BECOME LEADERS OF TOMORROW IF WE SHY AWAY FROM OUR CIVIC RESPONSIBILITIES AS CAMEROONIANS? THE QUESTIONS CAN GO ON AND ON. THIS IS TO SHOW THAT THE YOUTHS OF TODAY ARE THEIR WORST ENEMY. WE SHOULD REGISTER FOR ELECTIONS AND VOTE IRRESPECTIVE OF THE RESULTS FOR THERE IS COMING A TIME WHEN THERE WILL BE NO WAY TO HIDE THE TRUTH AND IT WILL BE VERY SHAMEFUL IF THAT MOMENT COMES AND WE ARE NOT PART OF THE PEOPLE WHO PROVOKED THE CHANGE. HOW DO WE EVEN KNOW IF ELECTIONS ARE FREE AND FAIR IF WE DO NOT VOTE? HOW DO WE KNOW IF THE FEW WHO VOTED DID IN FAVOUR OF THE WINNER? WE SHOULD LEARN TO MAKE OUR VOICES HEARD IN MATTERS OF POLITICS IN OUR COUNTRY.WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO LAY COMPLAINS ABOUT THE SO CALLED "ANCESTORS" COMING BACK TO OCCUPY POSITIONS MEANT FOR THE YOUNGER GENERATION WHEN ACTUALLY WE HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING TO OCCUPY THOSE POSITIONS OR EVEN SHOWN THAT WE CAN OCCUPY THEM OR BETTER STILL HAVE SPENT ALL OUR TIME IN BARS AND NIGHT CLUBS BECAUSE PAST EXPERIENCES HAVE PROVEN WE ARE NOT A PART OF IT. MY FELLOW BROTHERS LETS RISE FOR THE TIME IS NOW. DON'T WAIT FOR ELECTIONS TO BE ANNOUNCED BEFORE YOU START THINKING OF WHICH PARTY IDEOLOGIES BEST SUIT YOUR DREAMS. THE TIME IS NOW.
Thank you once more Tonia. I'll continue to follow you up on your blog for more interesting write-ups. Enjoy your stay in Cameroon Mboule.
Hey Antonia read all your post and quite interesting, not new to me though! but the question I ask myself, even if its true from birth I have known only one president in power, I wonder if a successor will do better for Cameroonian people, I visited Cameroon few months back and the level of corruption has tripled from when I initially left it. You then wonder are Cameroonian really afraid or just tired, thinking after all let him be there till God decides his time is up, for if I don't see anyone young or old capable of running the country in a better way, then I rather his excellency Paul Byia remain in power. Our hope is not passivity, we look up to God, He allows people in power and He got an appointed time for every one, no condition is permanent, my prayer will be for our president to value his people more and run the country better, if he cant let someone with a true vision for Cameroon be his successor. But if its for another president to come in power and devour his people and sink the country to a worst state, then let his excellency remain in power, nobody is perfect, we will just need to pray for him to rule with love n care for his people.
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