President Biya as Father Christmas

Mwalimu George Ngwane (originally published on gngwane.com )

The discourse on cosmetic democracy and benevolent despotism continues to occupy intellectual space at a time robust state institutions are being substituted for Presidential sovereignties in African politics today.

 
The reintroduction of multiparty electoral democracy in the continent during the mid 80s was ostensibly a caveat for smooth entry and exit opportunities for leadership and a foundation for strong institutions rooted in the collective vision of national development agendas.

Yet in spite of the avalanche of elections, only about 30% of African countries play by the democratic rule of devolving power from the Executive to strong institutions.  The most recent case is Kenya where the new constitution opts for a highly decentralised system leaving the Executive with a near ceremonial role.

In most African countries the overbearing nature of the Executive even if within a Presidential or semi-Presidential system has deprived the institutions from collective creativity, state action and the propensity to the emergence of a dominant party system on which is foisted the views, vison, voice and values of the Executive.

Most often the modus operandi of such an authoritarian Executive is an impotent civil society with an expendable citizenry as well as a civilian-military pact negotiated on the basis of symbiotic security allegiance and mutual sinecure benefits.  As the people of the North West Region of Cameroon legitimately bask in the sunshine of President Biya’s Christmas promises and before the euphoria and ecstasy return to the usual groans and grumbles of daily existence, it is imperative to examine the perennial style of leadership that has been the trademark of our body-politic. 

With a strong Executive, the President may not need the Parliament or the Senate on matters of state reforms or basic service delivery amenities.  With the nod of his head, the stroke of his pen and the state of his mind he can at best miraculously turn five loaves of bread and two fishes into a mammoth feast or at worst vindictively abandon any regional potential oasis into a desert. 

http://gan.doubleclick.net/gan_click?lid=41000000033000272&pubid=21000000000258567

The Bamenda scenario last week was indeed peculiar because the hitherto political volatile Bamenda people shed their victim mentality to embrace a new ethos of a victorious solidarity based on a litany of Executive promises. President Biya like Santa Claus had brought his Christmas goodies to Abakwa and like children swept away by the favours of a benign father, the excitement rose to an unprecendented crescendo unfamiliar to a people always identified with a vibrant critical mindset. The point of convergence was regional development at all cost even if the price of democratic procedures was compromised. The Opposition leader Ni John Fru Ndi who finally wormed his way into a Presidential audience was not concerned with the pattern of reform delivery but with whether the President’s promises would be fulfilled.  Ben Muna another Opposition leader wondered aloud whether the President would deliver this time around.  An Opposition Member of Parliament P. C Fonsoh said he expected Mr Biya to say ‘Here is the Ring road’.  The vitriolic columnist Peterkins Manyong left his acerbic criticism to triumph over his personal feat of having shaken hands with the President. Before then Francis Wache had advised President Biya ‘to show his intention of reconciling and rehabilitating the North West Region from its pariah status by granting the Region a minimum package’and Clovis Atatah in an open letter to the President questioned ‘Which true father will give his child a venomous snake when he asks for an egg?’

It was like a consensual ideological caucus had been created around the ‘atogho’ attire and no one was allowed to spoil the party with critical comments that would derail the development agenda that the North West and indeed the entire country badly needs.  With an Executive speech that was filled with ‘I have decided.....’ followed by standing ovations I wonder what would happen if another executive speech came up with ‘I have decided that ELECAM gives me 90% of our votes’

True to the Biya style some of the promises of the minimum package will be transformed into Presidential decree and motions of support will rent the air while other green-eyed elites from other regions would follow our herd mentality of requesting the President to make a similar whistle stop tour in their regions not because the President took an oath to be in permanent contact with his people but because he carries with him a diplomatic luggage of promises and largesse. 

My worry therefore is whether this accepted development pattern does not rubbish the well crafted Vision 2035 that spells out the development plan in Cameroon.  Did someone not remind me after I had written an ‘unpatriotic’ piece on Vision 2020 that the erstwhile five year development plans reminiscent of the Ahidjo era had been factored in the new Vision 2035?  Was I not informed that with the first phase of Vision 2035 coming into force in 2010, the time for balanced development based on political expediencies and executive whims and caprices was over? Was I not told that development had ceased to be a megaphone political tool because like they say development is seen rather than heard?  Well, another Golden Jubilee event and this time on Reunification is around the corner and you can be sure that the people of Buea and Mamfe would be legitimately jostling for the seat of celebrations not necessarily out of the historical significance  but because development comes and stays with Executive physical presence.  But since the President is not the Holy Spirit who can be present everywhere everytime, Camroonians may as well invest their focus and excitement on a national development blueprint that gives equal opportunities to all regions no matter how accessible or enclaved, no matter how hostile or hospitable the area is to Presidential political temperament. 

The hallmark of statesmanship and the ingredient of democratic development reside in our collective ability to know that a country is like a project with development activities that are formulated, executed, monitored and evaluated.  Anything short of that would be transforming productive citizens into gullible infants and a benevolent President into a Father Christmas waiting to envelop their development toys under their regional pillows.

Comments

[Va Boy]

The popular swooning that we witnessed during Biya's first Bamenda visit, at which some fawning fons elevated him to Fon of Fons, we are seeing elements of that this time.

Once bitten twice shy.

DO NOT BE TAKEN FOR SUCKERS AGAIN

[Nkeze Asonglefac Felix]

PAUL AYAH FOR PRESIDENT# PAUL AYAH CANDIDAT A LA
PRESIDENTIELLE 2011

by Ayah Paul Abine on Sunday, December 12, 2010 at
9:39pm

Let it be known by all persons that this Sunday, the 12 th day of December,
2010, HRH Hon Lord Justice AYAH Paul ABINE, Member of Parliament for Akwaya,
born about 1950 at Ngali-Akwaya of Ayah Abine and Omar Ayah, made a formal
declaration that he shall be a presidential candidate in the 2011 presidential
election in the Republic of Cameroon.

Some persons have been quick to ask the how possible this is in the face of the
provition by the CPDM Constitution that tha national chairperson of the party
is automatically the presidential candidate of the party. Much as the question
is pertinent and logical, we may not lose sight of the declaration by the
Secretary General of the Central Committee of the CPDM in the recent past that
he has been instructed to prepare an imminent ordinary congress of the party.
Seeking for an answer to the question now is seeking a solution for a problem
that does not yet exist. When a national chairperson has been elected
during the ordinary congress, the new situation will call for a consequential
solution.

As of now, therefore, all options are on the table. In consequence of which
Ayah Paul Abine alias Paul Ayah hereby declares his cndidature as aforesaid.
The declaration is dedicated to the youths and women of Cameroon in special,
and to all Cameroonian patriots at home and abraod in general.

In witness whereof this declaration has issued under my hand at Buea, this 12th
day of December, 2010

God bless
Cameroon!

PAUL AYAH

A SERVANT OF
ALL THE PEOPLE OF CAMEROON

[mathias asongwe Ndefru]

HAHA MR. HON. AYAH,HOPE YOU KNOW VERY WELL YOUR POLITICAL RECORD IN AKWAYA YOUR HOME TOWN ,THE ONLY PLACE WHERE THERE EXIST REFUGEES IN THIS COUNTRY ,LIVING IN NIGERIA, SO GET THAT SORTED OUT FIRST BEFORE YOU THINK OF THE WELFARE OF A LARGER POPULATION THAN AKWAYA. WE ARE MORE CONCERNED WITH THOSE WHO DO,NT FAN THE FLAMES OF HATRED AS IS THE CASE, IN YOUR CONSTITUINCY

[Ashu]

Do something about your country. Make a contribution.
Here is a webpage to bring house owner and tenants together.This for the people of Cameroon. http://www.mybuea.com
Spread the news.!!!

[King]

A political regime relies on laws and a constitution and not on human beings like as you think. President Paul Biya needs all institutions, which in reality constitute the basement of our democracy. As a reminder, contrary to preconceived ideas, President Paul Biya remains a regalian stricto sensu.

[Sharon]

It is not easy in a country like ours, to establish in an eye blink, all the major institutions. I for one, I think Mr. Biya is taking a measure in order to grant our country with institutions, so that these should not only be paper work. The aim is to establish institutions with sovereign powers.

[orangedude]

I believe when I see it.

People have been born since had grand children since this man became president. He has zero imagination and just clings to power for the sake of power and money. This man has been working at a high level at the presidency of Cameroon since he was a young fellow in his mid 20s. He is tapped out. He has nothing to offer. He is just another useless African head of state.

[John]

I’ll say in this case that Biya is Father Christmas as loved by children. He has a basket full of gifts. Sincerely I believe in 2011 because of the strong and active implication of the head of state, we are going to get back on track with high speed and witness an exponential development, we can only observe the great projects which are on the way.

[Diamant]

I love this father Christmas! he overwhelms us with lots of projects which are going to boost economy and employment in our country.

[King]

Why mix-up issues? You seize the opportunity here to talk about the ruling system and even in a wrong way, rather than talking about President Paul Biya’s actions that led to his qualification as father Christmas. You are out of topic.

[King]

Why mix-up issues? You seize the opportunity here to talk about the ruling system and even in a wrong way, rather than talking about President Paul Biya’s actions in Bamenda that led to his qualification as father Christmas. You are out of topic.

[Greg]

If you have never and can never give Cameroonians anything, let President Paul Biya enjoy that privilege of being able to play father Christmas for Cameroonians as he did in Bamanda by granting a university. What has his being father Christmas got to do with the ruling system? You are out of topic.