'His Execellency' The Absentee President

Dedicated to my Cameroonian friends and all those who cherish responsible leadership

Well! This may sound intriguing as it is strange. His Excellency Paul Biya, the President of Cameroon seems to be championing a new concept of leadership and governance. Firmly holding his nation and leading it down on expedition as they watch him practice new concept of leadership; ABSENTEE PRESIDENT SHIP. This may be in the category of ‘’things that happen only in Africa’’, particularly Cameroon this time.

It is 15:20 on Sunday, 01st November 2009; I am having online chat with a Lawyer friend (or should I say learned friend) from the provincial town of Barmenda. It all started with a short question; ‘howz Biya?’ Ha ha ha...! Wait for his answer;

'’Same old ‘crazy’ fellow, Absentee President, has countless of holidays, I wonder if really governs this country…it is true he is never there….and the civil society is dead’’

These words reminded me the words of another very good friend of mine, in fact my house mate in 2008 while we stayed and worked in Katmandu, Nepal. In our numerous discussions about politics and governance issues regarding the African chapter, inevitably we would end up talking about governance in our respective countries in this case Uganda and Cameroon and of course about the presidents of the two countries;

My friend would always assert that; the Cameroonian president is the most highly guarded president on the African continent, and this is how he would say it.

‘’Oh gosh! That guy is a criminal; he is the highly guarded president on the African continent…who lives a luxurious life that you cannot imagine…’’

These are two different Cameroonian nationals making similar and hair raising assertions at different times. This is truly how they regard their president and feel about him. The frustrating thing about this story and many other stories like this in Africa, Asia and other developing world is the sense of powerlessness that comes out of the voices of the very people who are apt in articulating the problems which are facing their communities and nations.

Answers to questions about how citizens are prepared to solve the problems of leadership and bad governance facing them are very demoralizing and casts a grim picture of a very long and rugged journey, worse still with ill prepared travelers. It is a challenge, a big challenge indeed!
How else can you describe responses which are quick to affirm as thus; ‘you know what? It is not possible to remove that president…the army is in his pockets…..they are ready kill, rig elections, bribe the opposition or forcefully silence those who stand firm’.

A clear manifestation of trauma, hopelessness and resignation which bad leadership has sent down the spines of the hands that feed them. Anyhow, and in any circumstances giving up is not a viable option it is time to stand up to the challenge of removing the ‘Public Burdens’ (President Biya and the like) from the comfort which citizens have lent them without question to the point of having them totally and irredeemably corrupt.

Whoever is comfortable to sit at the fence and watch without saying anything is an accomplice.

CameroonConciense; http://cameroonconciense.blogspot.com/ seems to tell a detailed story about President Paul Biya than I can gather.