Iranian President's Monthly Expenses And Nigerian Leaders

This article is not written by me, but, i am relaying it on my blog because, it reflects exactly the same situation in Cameroon, in relation to President Paul Biya, his ministers and Provincial governors. By Reuben Abati

"The Fox News TV (USA) asked the Iranian President Ahmedinejad: "When you look into the mirror in the morning, what do you say to yourself?

He answered: I see the person in the mirror and tell him 'Remember' you are no more than a small servant; ahead of you today is the heavy responsibility, and that is to serve the Iranian nation"

These are the opening lines of an unsigned but interesting profile of the Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmedinejad. The Iranian President is not a particularly popular world leader. He is better known, in Western circles, as an apostle of hate, as a racist who wants to "wipe off" Israel from the map, a religious fanatic, a devotee of the Mahdi, the 12th Imam of Shiite Islam who Shiites believe would resurrect one day to bring peace and harmony to the world, and an unrepentant enemy of the United States. His insistence on a uranium enrichment programme, and Iran's acquisition of nuclear power has led to the United States marking down Iran as part of "the axis of evil", with the threat of an inexorable military solution to "Terror and Tehran". Ahmedijenad, in the eyes of his critics, is an extremist whose kind of politics threatens world peace.

Iran under his watch has developed nuclear capability that can reach as far as Southern Europe, Israel, and the US military base in the Middle East. Domestically, Ahmedijenad is grappling with the challenges of infrastructural expansion, inflation, the annual rate of which is about 29 per cent, energy crisis, and recent protests over Value Added Tax (VAT). He may be a high-faluting rhetorician, hero and villain, and a poor economic manager, but there is something in the profile of this leader of heavily-resourced and oil-rich Iran which immediately invites comparisons with Nigerian leaders. How many Nigerian leaders can look in the mirror, and tell themselves the truth about the responsibility of the office that they occupy, with a proper emphasis on service?

"The Trouble With Nigeria" still remains for the large part, the domination of the public space by rent-collectros who feed fat on the state and for whom public service is an opportunity for corrupt self-enrichment. When Transparency International reported in its 2008 Corruption Index that Nigeria has made some progress, some 26 steps leap from 147th position to 121st position, its assessors obviously underestimated the threat to the Nigerian state, and how things have remained relatively unchanged, even under an administration that professes the rule of law but whose members are just as ostentatious as their predecessors.

When the Iranian President first assumed office in 2005, the first thing he was said to have done was to get rid of all the "highly valued Iranian carpets" he found in the office of the President; he donated the carpets to one of the mosques in Tehran and replaced them with low cost ordinary carpets. He shut down "the huge and extravagant" lounge for receiving and welcoming VIPs and replaced this with an ordinary room furnished with "wooden chairs". This is Ahmedijenad reminding himself that he is a "small servant". In Nigeria, the first thing state Governors, legislators and other categories of public officials do is also to change the furniture in their offices, but this provides an opportnuity not for austerity, not for any show of modesty but extravagance.

Even if the furniture had only been replaced a few months earlier and not in any need of replacement, the new official must insist on using state funds to buy new furniture. The big scandal that led to the exit of Patricia Etteh as Speaker of the House of Representatives, many would recall had to do with the furnishing of the official residence of the Speaker's residence. Nigerian leaders do not want to use modest furniture, they buy the most expensive in the market. Many state Governors even go as far as rebuilding the State House, to make it more befitting, that is more exotic. We don't have the privilege of having small servants in the Nigerian government at all levels. We have lords of the manor who use the word "servant" as a campaign gimmick.

Ahmedinejad, we are told "joins the cleaning staff of the municipality for cleaning the streets in the area where his home and the Presidency are located." Nigerian leaders definitely cannot clean streets. What kind of thing is that? When a man becomes even a common state Commissioner in Nigeria, he becomes an invalid. He cannot be seen doing things that ordinary people do. The excuse for the irresponsible conduct of Nigerian public officials is codified in that notorious word: "Protocol", now elevated into a special code of conduct. Nigerian leaders cannot clean streets, visit friends, stop by the roadside to buy roasted corn; their wives cannot cook in the kitchen, their children cannot mix with old neighbours.. . protocol won't allow that. This same bogey called protocol makes it difficult for ordinary people to have access to their leaders, it places the people at a lower and farther distance and turns them into the servants of the same persons who should be serving them.

When the Iranian President appoints any Minister to a post, he insists on getting a signed document from the person indicating that "he shall remain poor and that his personal and his relatives accounts will be watched and the day he leaves the ministry shall be with dignity, and therefore it is not lawful for him or his relatives to take any advantage of his office". If any Nigerian President or Governor gives this kind of condition, he will be the only person in that government. He may not find anybody to serve as Minister or Commissioner or Special Adviser. A public appointment in Nigeria is ordinarily seen as an opportunity to become "� big man", not a pact with poverty.

There are former Nigerian Ministers and Governors who have cases to answer before the anti-corruption agencies for leaving office richer than they were when they assumed office. But they are so confident about their sins, knowing that there is no determination to punish them according to law. One lawmaker once declared that he is not in government to sign a pact with poverty. Is there any doubt as to why there is always a scramble for public posiitons in Nigeria?

The moment the Iranian President assumed office, he was quick to declare "all the Big wealth and the property he owned" which include "a Peugeot 504 car model 1977, an old small house inherited from his father 40 years ago in one of the poorest zones in Tehran. His accounts with a zero balance and the only money coming into his a/c was from his salary from the university as a lecturer with an amount of US$250 only. For your information, the President still lives in that house. This is all that he owns; the president of one of the world's important countries, strategically, economically, politically and with regard to its oil and defense." Well, this is not possible in today's Nigeria. It is too surrealistic.

And the point about living in one's house, there are Nigerian leaders who are entitled to official accomodation, but when they choose to live in their own houses, certainly not in an inherited shelter built by their fathers, they do so, in order to collect rent from the state, and of course that same house will be furnished and upgraded at taxpayer's expense. In addition to this, they would be entitled to guest houses all over the state. The Nigerian President has an official lodge in every state capital, maintained round the clock at taxpayer's expense and there is a purpose-built Presidential Ranch at the Obudu Cattle Ranch which I suppose the present President is yet to visit. If forrmer President Obasanjo had succeeded with his Third Term ambition, that Presidential Villa at Obudu Cattle Ranch, with the surrounding temperate weather, would have been handy as a get-away resort.

The Iranian President "doesn't even take his personal salary with the argument that all the wealth belongs to the nation and he is the safeguard over it. One of the things that impressed the staff at the Presidency is the bag that the President brings with him every day, which contains his breakfast; some sandwiches or bread with olive oil and cheese prepared by his wife and he eats and enjoys it with all happiness." Part of the perks of being a President or Governor in Nigeria is a retinue of cooks, an expensively furnished kitchen, and the right to bring friends, relatives and outsiders to come and eat and constipate at the taxpayer's expense. The leader's wife is so busy acting the part of a First Lady, she no longer goes to the kitchen, except to go and talk down on the chefs. And salary? Nigerian public officials do not joke with salaries and allowances.

Ours is perhaps one of the most expensive democracies in the world. This year, Nigerian leaders at the Federal level increased their salaries, sending their wage bill into the trillion naira range and an ordinary lawmaker earning millions of money every month. This in a country where workers are under-paid and pensioners have not received their entitlements. The monthly expenses of Nigerian leaders pose one of the biggest threats to national development. Nigerian public officials, on a good day, set out onto the road, with a fleet of vehicles, all maintained at public expense, with blaring sirens, and gun-wielding security aides who chase ordinary people off the streets.

President Ahmedinejad changed the Presidential aircraft that he inherited into a cargo aircraft in order to save public funds. He travels in commercial airlines in the economy class. He closed down the office of the "manager of the President"and any Minister can enter his office without any permission. There are more than 70 smaller servants in the Nigerian Presidency serving the President, the Vice Presidnet and their wives. Here in Nigeria, the Presidential aircraft is a status symbol. Former President Obasanjo didn't miss the opportunity to buy an expensive Presidential aircraft to match his status. State Governors in the last dispensation also bought aircraft at state expense. And if there is any Nigerian Governor who travels economy class, let him speak up. Economy class? Well, that will be a breach of Nigerian protocol! When the President is travelling in his aircraft, the country's airspace is shut down until he leaves, when Governors travel, they chase ordinary people out of the way.

In Ahmedinejad' s Iran, there are no red carpet ceremonies or personal advertisements of any kind whenever he vists any part of the country. Go to the states of Nigeria, the biggest tourist attraction in many of those states are bill boards advertising the achievements of the particular state Governor to high heavens, Billboards at every street corner. They even put their names on vehicles and facilities bought with taxpayer's funds. A Presidential visit in Nigeria or a Governor's visit to a local council in the state is always an occasion for theft and profligacy.

When the Iranian President needs to stay in a hotel, he "asks them to make sure not to give him a room with any big bed because he doesn't like to sleep on beds but rather likes to sleep on the floor on a simple mattress with a blanket." There are Nigerian leaders who were brought up in poor homes and villages, who grew up sleeping on mats, but nobody would dare offer them anything below the level of a presidential suit if they must stay in a hotel. These are not "small servants", they are big men. They wear expensive clothes, sleep in expensive homes, travel in expensive cars, and they are not likely to go about boasting about inheriting a run-down Peugeot from the 20th century or a 40-year old house.

It is possible to argue that Ahmedinejad is almost an ascetic, a man of such fundamentalist faith whose only explanation for the global finacial meltdown is that it is due to "the lack of piety and faith in God." But don't we have in Nigeria men and women in high places who profess so much piety but whose lifestyles reek of so much graft? Our own leaders may be religious too but they prefer to live like Saudi Arabian princes, without the discipline. The extravagant lifestyle of Nigerian public officials has also been traced to culture. What culture? Nigerians spend recklessly only when they have access to public wealth.

Ahmedinejad may be a distant/controversial example as there are Iranians who accuse him of corruption in the shape of cronyism amd nepotism, and for cauing the isolation of their country by the West. But we once had in this country a modest and humble leader, the only Prime Minister the country has ever had, the Rt Honourable Tafawa Balewa. There was also the late General Ramat Murtala Muhammed. And in Tanzania, there was the example of Mwalimu Julius Nyerere.

We should stop deceiving ourselves. A starting point for turning governance in Nigeria into a serious business is to reduce the cost of maintaining the taste and lifestyles of public officials and their relatives. Official convoys of all state officials should be reduced to no more than two cars. The number of special assistants should be reduced. What is the President and the Vice President doing with 70 aides, 80 per cent of these merely hang around doing nothing? When Governors travel, they should stop moving about with their entire cabinet. Other officials should stay at home and work...and about time our public officials took a pay cut for being so overpaid and underworked!

Courtesy: Malam Wane

Sweden, English language, foreign students and jobs

Sweden, English language, foreign students and jobs

Sweden is one of the countries of the Scandinavia. Until late 2000, it was little known, but her free education and "open door" policy with regards to immigration has made Sweden a destination for many, especially students, most of whom want to study and live better lives. Is the "Swedish dream" therefore a bitter or sweet one for those studying there? Some will talk of "total deception", others will prefer to use the word "average" and some will say it is good. The responses vary according to the number of persons such a question is asked.

The official language of Sweden is Svenska. However, most Swedish do speak and understand English. On the other hand, speaking and understanding English perfectly well may open just too few and often negligible doors for you in Sweden. Just as in all Scandinavian countries, English is the second language after their various official languages. Education is very expensive in other other Scandinavian Scandinavian countries like Finland, Norway and Denmark. but in Sweden, it is tuition free as earlier mentioned.

Despite the free education, most foreign students come to Sweden with the hope of also finding something doing while, studying. It is the case with most developed countries. In Sweden, this has been a deception for many but a reality for some, thereby making each and every foreign student having his or her own impressions of the country.

The beginning is always extremely difficult to the extent that some people want to return home. Sometimes, while the situation gradually changes for some, it remains extremely tough for many even for a whole year, especially for those living in the Northern part of the country where there are virtually no jobs.

On the contrary, in neighboring Norway, Finland and Denmark, foreign students have almost unlimited opportunities to do part time jobs, though they may not understand the official languages of these countries.

It is the typical contrast in Sweden. The question asked by many is, Are the jobs not there? The answer is… There are abundant jobs in Sweden BUT…… The bitter truth is, despite the fact that most Swedish speak and understand English, they hardly ever want to employ people who speak exclusively English. Should they be blame? I personally think, No. Sweden has her rights and duties to protect her language thereby obliging people who want to work there to learn it. When I asked a Finish, Andrea Johansson who has been in Sweden for 8 years, he says the Swedish government is just being complicated. Maria, a student from Uganda who has been here for 4 years, says, she once had a very good job but generally speaking, the job market in Sweden is too close. Natalie Henriksson at the Jobcampus office in the University of Örebro confirms that the opportunities are very limited for those who do not understand or speak Swedish.

According to Andreas, the Swedish government in power had promised to modify the labour laws but, the situation has remained unchanged since they got to power. Maria adds, "I think Sweden is just being conservative." She believes most Swedish feel that, wholly embracing English as a language to work in Sweden will be a serious threat to their language which they are not ready to loose.

Issa Norhstedt, a fellow Swedish says he does not understand why and what is complicated. But as he puts its"to get a job in Sweden, it's often through contacts and recommendations" This implies that if no one recommends you , you may never get a job. That is why contacts are very important in Sweden. But what about those who do not have contacts?. Rita Egowan, another African student says it is the contrast in Britain. There is no connection needed. You just need to register with an employment agency and when there are vacancies you will be contacted. There is no issue as special recommendation. Yan Li from China thinks Sweden needs to open up more to non Swedish speakers given that most of her citizens already understand English.

Early September 2008, a scandal rocked Sweden when the public media revealed that some companies had imposed that cleaning companies recruit only Swedish to work for them. Some cleaning companies had also been recruiting only Swedish or those who understand Svenska perfectly well, despite the fact that cleaning jobs do not necessarily need a lot of talking and writing ,therefore open to most international students. Edwin Fotoh, a Cameroonian student in another city called Jönköping believes the secret to succeeding in Sweden is to study their language. "We must study Swedish to succeed" he retorts. But how many foreign students have that interest? That is the big question. Certainly very few. This view is also shared by Emmanuel, a second year masters student in Örebro University. He says, knowing the svenska language is very good, but again, that does not open all the doors it is suppose to.

A Swedish engineer with whom I flew to Stockholm on September 08, told me that Sweden is far richer than Ireland but, on the contrary students in Ireland are far better off than those in Sweden. Too much use of high technology too has drastically contributed to job scarcity says Rita another student reading IT management. However, it is always good to be patient, and hard working. A few have been lucky to get good jobs.

That is the story of Sweden and foreign students. Above all, it is better to study hard and return home to build our various countries. It must be acknowledged that Sweden is a really conducive environment to learn. Very peaceful and secure.

Free education for non EU students in Sweden is expected to end in 2010. Swedish radio made the revelation saying how a minister questioned why foreign students pay very high in UK, US and other universities but have free education in Sweden. Finland and partly Norway, also offer free education to foreign students

School fees in Sweden is expected to range range between USD 5000 and 13000 per term. But, being a job-locked county, most students will certainly run away.That notwithstanding, Sweden is almost unrivaled in quality education.

Agendia Aloysius

Global Journalism student, Örebro University

Cameroonians in the Diaspora, politics, inertia and development

Cameroonians in the Diaspora, politics, inertia and development

Cameroonians in the Diaspora are increasingly alienating themselves from the political life of their country, given the continuously soiled image of the Cameroon and the socio-economic and political hold-up by the regime in power, led by President Paul Biya, who has ruled the country with an apparently free, but a really disguised iron fist, for over 26 years.

The interest of Cameroonians in the Diaspora was the subject of debate over Cameroon Voice, rebroadcasted on October 02, during the programme Sans Detour.

According to Kenneth Ndeh, President of the American Association of Cameroonians, there are over 10,000 Cameroonians in the Washington Metro Area among the estimated 25,000 Cameroonians in the USA. This concentration of Cameroonians in USA is certainly the highest in the world followed by France.

Mr Ndeh reiterated that Cameroonians are fade-up with the hide and seek politics in the Country. As a result, most of them have resolved to shying away from politics. “Most people want to send money home to their families” than taking part in moribund politics.

He revealed that money sent home by Cameroonians from the USA is more than the “support” of the World Bank to the country.

The moribund politics stifled by CNU-CPDM oligarchy and the lack of vision on the part of several power mongering opposition parties, have pushed many to either relaxed or join other parties overseas. Some Cameroonians in the USA have joint the ranks of Democrats and Republicans but their relatively small number is insignificant (Kenneth Ndeh).

Michael Fongang, resident in Canada and former President of the Cameroon Association in Canada believes, “There is no need to participate in political live at home when day in day out, the country moves towards a single party system” According to him Cameroonians have other issues. That not withstanding Cameroonians in the Diaspora have been contributing significantly towards positive change in the country. Citing the examples of icicemac, Cameroon Voice, Camerooninfo.com and I include Camer.be, (portals of information and debates on Cameroon) Fongang holds that these institutions have contributed and are contributing immensely towards meaningful debates on the development of Cameroon.

Intervening from London, Marcel Amoko, Cameroon BBC London reporter, admitted that the image of Cameroon is not as spoiled as some people want the world to believe. “The politics and administration of the country have created a negative image of the country but there are a lot of positive developments in sports, music, and other individual achievements making Cameroon proud” he affirmed.

He also confirmed that inasmuch as people know that their votes will not count, they will rarely participate in any elections. That notwithstanding, he lauds the initiative of the NEO (National Elections Observatory which will soon be replaced by Elections Cameroon-ELECAM) towards making sure that the votes of Cameroonians in the Diaspora count in future.

Celestin Djamen, SDF militant resident in France, affirmed that they have on two occasions; during the presidential election 2004 and the twin legislative elections and Municipal elections in 2007, organized symbolic votes of the Diaspora in France. They have also been pretesting and protested against the amendment of the constitution in April 2008. He believes the inertia in Cameroon was brought by the ruling government which President Biya himself asserted in 2004.

No Diaspora, Reasoning on tribal rather than nation lines

According to Kenneth Ndeh, just a few of the over 10.000 Cameroonians in the Washington Metro Area are members of the American Association of Cameroonians as, people prefer to work within their tribal meetings. This was the same problems in Canada though the situation is gradually improving: Mr Fongang said they created the Association of Cameroonians in Canada in 2004 which comprises all tribal meetings from Cameroon present in Canada. However, Mr Ndeh believes the Diaspora cannot substitute themselves for the opposition or ruling party and impose change.

Gaston Kelman, writer of the best seller Je suis noir mais je ne mange pas de manioc, lamented that the Diaspora which is even yet to be constructed, work more on tribal lines than on national issues. He expressed the need to work on national issues irrespective of tribe and political affiliations. This is what i personally refer to as intellectual tribalism; given that some people among which are intellectuals prefer to constantly work on tribal basis than on national standards.

“The force of thinking has not accompanied our wishes”, Gaston Kelman claims. Why can a Bassa man….. not think of creating or supporting real development initiatives development projects in any area in the country as such Garoua, Bafoussam etc” he said. However, Kelman keeps citing his examples from his Bassa origin thereby showing how his sub consciousness is linked to his cultural or tribal background. Any meaningful development must begin at home. This does not mean that people in position of administration embezzle state funds and construct villas or companies in their regions as some sort of development.

Mr Fongang believes Kelman´s interpretation is just being philosophical and does not see how tribal meetings will directly hinder national developments as such. As Basek Bakobio –cineaste, insinuates there is need to preserve rich aspects of our culture

It must be remarked that some Cameroonians are already doing much contrary to Kelman. The Holy Cross International College for example, opened in Yaoundé is not by people of the centre province but from other tribes.

Fongang regretted the incident in Yaoundé soon after the February 2008 strike, when some senior government functionaries of the Centre Province among whom was the Minister of Health, Andre Mama Fouda, promised death to other Cameroonians living in Yaoundé commonly referred to as “settlelers”. Despite the minister and colleagues preaching hatred, calls for his resignation or sackinglanded on deaf ears. Not even an an apology from him. Why then blame people for relying or hanging on the their village meetings when the country is on the hands of those who preach hatred.

Basek Bakobio, reiterated the need for the Diaspora to draw themselves closer to Cameroonians at home and also, the need to work in synergy with other Cameroonians and the government. But Mr Fongang said the government must make it possible for such initiatives to be fruitful.

World Bank Aide vs USA Cameroon funds

According to Kenneth Ndeh, what Cameroonians in the USA sent home to their families is more than what the World Bank gives to Cameroon as “aide”. However, Gaston Kelman believes most of the money or funds sent home is used for consumption than development. Such as payment of hospital bills, buying of food, dresses, payment of fees etc. "These associations should cease from being on consumption basis to development, which is, creating of industries and veritable poverty eradication programs" Kelman harped.

This cannot be done without an enabling political and fiscal environment which can only be set in place by the government.

Way out

Working on national issues is interesting but avoiding our tribal affiliations is a nonstarter. Inasmuch as I share Kelman´s philosophy, there is the need for tribal or village meetings to think about development in their areas. Some of these tribes out of the 250 in Cameroon are completely ignored by the government in terms of development.

Out of the 10 provinces in the country some are almost completely forgotten ´like the Southwest and Northwest provinces. Some have large shares in the national budget which is in turn, embezzled by their own elites through uncompleted and poorly executed contracts etc like the East, Centre, Far North, South province etc

Out of the 58 divisions, development projects are concentrated in most in a few.

Out of the several ministers-minister delegates (36), Secretary Generals, General Managers more then three-quarter come for the Centre and South, East and Littoral, and Grand North, with Dja et Lobo in the Centre province taking the lead. Other areas like the Anglophone part of the country are almost completely forgotten.

When the appointments of those to pilot the affairs of the country are based on tribal, regional and political lines but not necessarily on meritocracy, it is therefore obvious that some helpless people who feel cheated, regroup themselves and rely on their village associations.

The bottom line

After a careful analysis of the discussion, what Cameroonians believe and want is the need to change the system not persons. Removing Paul Biya and putting another Biya in disguise will bring no positive change. Ministerial reshuffles since the early 90s have never brought anything different in Cameroon rather than putting old wines in new bottles.

The basic for veritable change is therefore, the putting in place of an independent electoral body, which will usher leaders freely and transparently voted by the people, not imposed on them. These leaders will therefore implement the necessary changes in the field of economy and other aspects of development.

It would have therefore been a big blessing if fair elections took place in 2007 but since it was another failed opportunity; Cameroonians have up to 2012, time for another parliamentary election to hope again for real change and elections of true representatives in parliament. On the other hand, a “new” president may be in power at the time (2012) and may just continue rigging to maintain his stay and those of his cohorts in power.

The work of the Diaspora will be wasted if people and the regime in power back in Cameroon, are not ready for change. The Diaspora will also be helpless if Cameroonians at home do not want and support the change. What many do not want is the taking up of arms.

Celebrating the prophecy of the Miracle In The Forest in Lebialem and Africa

Celebrating the prophecy of The Miracle in the Forest in Lebialem and Africa

When I watched the 25-minute documentary title Miracle in the Forest and translated into Nweh (main language spoken in Lebialem, a division located in South west Province Cameroon and seat of the Focolare Movement in Africa) as Anu mbong Ambin, I was touched among several things by one sentence. This was the advised Madam Chiara (Mafua Ndem) founder and late President of the Focolare Movement gave to her first team to Lebialem led by Paul Salsa (not sure of spelling) which arrived Lebialem in the mid sixties. “Do not only preach the word of God but, live it, even for at least, the first six months”.

The development brought by the Focolare Movement to Fontem in particular and Lebialem in general, as a result of the implementation of this advice, cannot be overemphasized. The summarized positive developments below, could as well be classified in several categories among which is religion, health, education, roads and infrastructure, employment etc. These developments have been referred to as the miracle in this area which was considered a dead-end to many; thick tropical virgin forest.

Celebrating Mafua Ndem Chiara Lubich come January 2009 in Fontem-Cameroon-Central Africa, is like reflecting on the teachings of this woman who has changed the world through her teachings. The Focolare Movement is found in over 120 countries world wide. As Chiara always reiterated, we have to work towards making a UNITED WORLD. Though making a “united” world as such may sound utopic, efforts of the Focolare Movement in bringing together people from different countries, religion , races to talk, think and work together is worthy of praise. This is equally why Pope Benedict XVI described Chiara on the occasion of the latter’s death in March 2008, as “a woman of faith and a living example”. We are therefore celebrating that Chiara Lubich (Mafua Ndem) has gone to join our ancestors to continue working for development in Lebialem, Africa and the World as a whole. In 1966, she came to Lebialem and in May 2000, she made the second and last physical trip to Fontem. I called it physical because she has always been in Lebialem and africa spiritually. During one of her lectures in Our Lady Seat of Wisdom College, Fontem, (A college created by the Focolare Movement ) Chiara said “you cannot just teach the word of God by telling people to go in peace, because, if people are hungry, you must give them something to eat before preaching the word of God to them.”…… “In the course of helping them, you will make many ask themselves what motivated your actions. When they come to understand that it was the desire for mutual and human love irrespective of race, religion or ethnicity they will be deeply touched and will forever remain faithful and committed disciples of love”.

As pop star Michael Jackson sings in one of his songs, though we can question his practicability, if you care about mankind and the living, then make the world a better place for people to live, irrespective of race, religion, sex.

Pope John Paul II, said we have to build bridges and not walls. He was referring to the exploitation of developing countries and paradoxical closing of frontiers and in some cases encouraging acts of racism in some developed where people from developing countries are going en-mass for “better lives”

Building bridges is what the Focolare movement is based on, and what they have practiced, though as any human organisation, they have their own short comings. I do not mean bridges base on irrational immigration but bridges meant for the helping of one another.

Health The Focolare Movement came to Lebialem at a time when the place was facing untold health difficulties. The health sector was devastating, infant mortality was over 80 percent but it has been brought to less then 1 percent according to DR Philemon. This same medical doctor attests to the fact that a treatment protocol against sleeping sickness was developed in Lebialem which is now being used world wide with very minimal side effects. Source: interview Miracle in the Forest

The Mary Health of Africa General Hospital was created. The hospital has become a reference across Cameroon with people in major cities like Douala, Yaoundé and Bamenda coming to Fontem for treatment. The first doctors like Lucio and Nica did a formidable job which is being relayed by current health staff. The hospital however, needs more specialist in various fields.

Apart from the other health centre in Fonjumetaw, there is the urgent need for the Focolare to extend its heath services to other parts of Lebialem.

Education Besides being in good health, education is also another vital point in human development. The creation of Our Lady Seat of Wisdom College made it easy for many Lebialem sons to go school. Initially in the 60s and 70s, the lucky ones used to trek over 700 kilometres to Buea to attend school(Saint Joseph College Sasse).

The Focolare Movement through the Catholic Church also operates several Catholic primary schools in Lebialem and its contribution to human development cannot be underestimated. The economic crisis which hit Cameroon in the 90s led to the closure of several Catholic schools too.

Infrastructure If you go to Lebialem ask who “Fr John the road” is. Most of those above 30 or those who have read any literature about the Lebialem will immediately know the person. Though a priest whose principal mission is preaching, Fr John W´s involvement and determination to make sure that motorable roads get to Lebialem, earned him the name John the road. Of course he succeeded and today Lebialem is linked with roads though they remain highly seasonal.

Lebialem now hosts some building like the Saint Claire Catholic Church, Mariapolis Centre, Mary Health of Africa General Hospital etc which are outstanding. So many sons and daughters of Lebialem have also come to construct home. The presence of two mobile phones companies in Lebialem is directly or indirectly connected to the presence of the Focolare Movement and their activities which have attracted quite a good number of people to stay in Lebialem.

Light and water Lebialem also hosts a giant power plant which generates electricity that is used for the activities of the Movement. The free water supply of the Movement to some public areas cannot be under estimated.

Religion Placing religion at this point does not in any way mean it is less important. ( I’m very Catholic myself) The creation of Youths for a United World and Gen groups spread across the world is essential for building more united world for the love of mankind. Though a Roman Catholic organisation, the strength of the Focolare Movement has been its appeal for the love of mankind cut across different religions, races and nationalities.

Employment

Through the creation of several enterprising centres like Carpentry, building, mechanic and maintenance garage, schools hospital etc, several people have gained employment through which they sustain and educate their children and families

Lebialem, which in the 60 s was plagued with diseases and untold suffering is very different now; healthy and waxing strong. Some people even thought it would be erased but far from that Lebialem is now dream place welcoming so many people from different horizons.

It will be unfortunate to say the miracle which took place in Lebialem could have been happened without the collaboration of Lebialem people. They have been very cooperative.

JOIN US IN CELEBRATING MAFUA NDEM CHIARA LUBICH, THE ICON OF MUTUAL LOVE, ON JANUARY, 9 AND 10, 2009 IN FONTEM-Lebialem Southwest Province of Cameroon, Africa

Half baked justice and repression in Cameroon

Half baked justice and repression in Cameroon

It is always said that justice delayed is justice denied. In Cameroon justice has not only been in most cases delayed, but out rightly denied especialy to the poor. The major way of doing this byPresident Paul Biya has been through the constant rigging of elections since the introduction of multi party politics in 1990, so as to maintain himself in all spheres of power, economy, judiciary, legislative etc..

History

It all started when in proclaiming the results of the presidential elections in 1992 in which Biya had overwhelmingly lost. The President of the Supreme Court, Alexis Depanda Mouele, admitted that his “hands are tide”. The hands were so tide for him to declare Paul Biya looser of the 1992 elections. As a result, Biya was declared legal winner with a narrow margin against the self proclaimed president, John Fru Ndi, leader of the Social Democratic Front-front line opposition party. Though the legal president of Cameroon, Biya has always remained an illegitimate president.

However, since 1992, President Biya, who has been in power for 26 years has learned never to organize any fair elections be they presidential, legislative or municipal. He knows doing so is rendering justice to Cameroonians in virtually all sectors. Through fraud, he has been able to have a firm grip of all the arms of the county be the executive, judiciary, legislative etc. He has also succeeded to terribly impoverished Cameroonians; reduce them to beggar so as to constantly give pockets of coins, party uniforms etc to get “support” from the people.

Fortunately for him and “unfortunately” too, most Cameroonians are literate, peace loving and have so far refused taking guns like other countries. The cunning ruler and his cohorts have therefore used this as their greatest advantage to stay in power and torment Cameroonians. Biya´s unpopularity and illegitimacy is testified in his reluctance to visit the other 9 provinces, than the Centre Province where he is based. In 26 years, there are several provinces he has not visited up to thrice like the two Anglophone provinces, most of the three grand North Province, the East Province etc.

In the absence of war, and a precarious calm sustained by Cameroonians for which Biya claims to have brought, he has been able to toast Cameroonians and tighten his opponents or those who may pose any immediate or future threat to him.

Injustice, arrests and torture

Some of such cases have been through arbitrary arrests and sentencing of Cameroonians. Ahead of the first multi party elections in Cameroon in the early 90 s, over 15 people were killed and justice has never taken its course. It must also be admitted that overzealous opposition militants in some parts of the country like the Northwest attacked supporters of Biya . Victims of these attacks some of whom lost their lives and property claim never to have be benefited any justice from the state.

February 2008 nation wide social upheavals One of the latest incidents which has proven that the Cameroonian justice system is more of a farce and tele-guided thing was recent the sentencing of Lamja Pierre Roger, commonly referred to as Lapiro de Mbanga to 3 years in jail and a penalty of FCFA280 Million on September24, 2008 in Nkongsamba. He was accused of attending illegal meetings, causing and participating in public disorder and destruction of property during the February 2008 turmoil in Cameroon.

This unsuccessful contender of municipal elections in Mbanga under the opposition SDF ticket is also one of the most popular artists in the country. From February 25 to 29, 2008, millions of Cameroonian youths took to the streets to protest against general frustration, unemployment, poverty and hunger. Government released its military arsenal on armless youths who were protesting and in the cause of quelling the strike, hundreds of youth were shot dead with live bullets by the Cameroon forces of Law and Order. According to the Minister of Justice Amadou Ali, 40 people were killed. This figure was given after government adjusted its figures from 17 and later to 24. Independent sources like Barrister Alice Nkom of Women Voters and Sons put the number of deaths at almost 200. Madam Madeline Affité of the Action for the Abolition of Torture (ACAT) talked of over 200. t must however, be noted that some people mostly the unemployed took vantage of the situation and began looting.

That not withstanding, the drama after the arbitrary arrests of over 1500 youths across the country and their sentencing to jail terms ranging from 6 months to 6 years was highly condemned. Barrister Momo Jean de Dieu described the marathon judging of the youths as a travesty of justice. In Buea and Bamenda, lawyers walked out of the courtroom and protested on the streets against what as was called an abuse of justice and human rights. Most of the youths like the case of those in Douala were seriously tortured, forced to sign documents implicating themselves before they were brought to court as , Mbella E one of the victims testified.

The Lapiro affair

One of the spectacular arrests a month after the strike was that of Pierre Lamjo Roger (Lapiro de Mbanga ). He was kept under horrible conditions as his wife testified. On September 24, he was sentenced to 3 years in jail and fined FCFA 280 millions by the Nkongsamba Court of First Instance. This crowd pulling artist had been called upon to help calm the youths during the strike and had his camera destroyed as he tried to immortalize the images. It could not be understood how he could be labeled the instigator of the February strike.

The condemnation of Lapiro is well calculated by Biya and his cohorts, they know he will appeal the verdict, after which, they sentenced will likely reduce the sentence and fine but it will still be far beyond the reach of Lapiro to pay thereby forcing him to stay in jail and stop composing songs considered anti Biya regime.

Generally in Cameroon, prison conditions are below human standards and most of the inmates are still awaiting trial. Like the case of Douala, more than three quarter of the close to 4000 inmates are still awaiting trial, Sister Jacky Atabong –Prison apostolate worker- L ´Effort camerounais 436-2008). The Douala New Bell Prison was constructed in the colonial days for 800 people. It has entered the annals of his history that on September 24, 2008 in Nkongsamba, one of Cameroon´s most popular and daring artist, Lamja Pierre Roger, commonly called Lapiro de Mbanga was sentenced to 3 years imprisonment with a fine of FCFA 280 million. It had been seriously warned that the trial was too politicized though government refuted. Another former political prisoner Celestine Monga in a letter to Lapiro published in Le Messager newspaper, reiterated that the government was determined to nail Lapiro, so as to give a clear message to any Cameroonian who thinks he can say or write what he likes. Lapiro had earlier produced a single titled “constitution constipé” meaning, constipated constitution. This was ahead President Biya´s move to propose the change of constitution so as limit presidential mandate and give him immunity for crimes he may have committed while in power. Of course, the bill went like a letter in the post office, given the parliament is made up of Biya´s representatives and not necessarily the people representatives. Another artist Joe La Conscience who embarked on a peaceful walk against the attempt to change the constitution was seriously rebuffed by government forces. He again began a hunger strike in Yaounde but was arrested and sentenced to 6 months in jail.

Paul Kingue

Another prominent victim of the half baked justice system in Cameron is Paul Eric Kingue whose picture is right above. This sacked, Cameroon People Democratic Movement CPDM-mayor of Njombe, a locality approximately 69km metres from Douala, during the strike in February, went on Canal Deux International, a local television channel and reported that 8 innocent and harmless youths had been shot dead. This was like an affront and challenged the CPDM government and a challenged to his own master who indirectly commanded the killings and for whose sake the killings were done..

Mr Kingue also refused corruption and obliged the French banana company, SPM , operating in his municipality to pay the require amount of taxes and, only to the municipal treasury. Previously, this French company use to pay less than what was due as taxes to the council. The rest of the money used to be distributed among the former mayors, SDO for Moungo, some ministers etc. The new mayor challenged this status quo. The manager of SPM promised hell to Mr Kingue claiming to have "connections " with most of the corrupt government officials. The information was released by Paul Kingue.

Kingue´s later utterances during the strike was only like the last straw on the camel’s back. He was thereafter accused of embezzling from council coffers only after 6 months in office. He was later arrested detained and relieved of his duties. By the time this article was written he was still languishing under horrible detention conditions in Nkongsamba.

Embezzlement and injustice

After the Breton Woods institution urged the Cameroon government to cut down spending and get rid of corruption, the government began with the arrests of embezzlers. A few like Mounchipou Seidou, former Minister of Telecommunication had been arrested and judged and sentenced in 1997, just like Pierre Desire Engo, former General Manager of the National Social Insurance Fund, Titus Edzoa, former Minister of Public Health and confidant of Paul Biya etc.

The operation only continued in 2005 with the arrest, judging and the jailing of other state thieves like Ondo Ndong, former GM of Council Support Fund whose corrupt largess is also reported to have been of benefit and command of, the first Lady, Chantal Biya. Given that the first Lady was mentioned, Ondo Ndong was sentenced to 50 years, later reduced to 20 and to pay damages of over FCFA20 billion. As if to warn anybody not to dare involve the presidential couple in any case of corruption. Ondo Ndong admitted to have stolen money to finances party events and distributed tax payers cash to many of his people and institutions among which was the Chantal Biya Foundation.

Other arrests and sentencing have been made; Joseph Edou, formerly of Credit Foncier, Gilles Roger Belinga of SIC, Siyam Siewe of Douala Port Authority, Abah Abah Polycap of Finance, Olanguena Awono of Public Health Fonjindam of Shipping Yard and Engineering etc.

Regrettably too, Biya knew so well since 1987 (admitted during an interview with Eric Chinje) that senior state employees had been embezzling state funds. He had even refused and said people should bring proves. He constantly refused to act given that he is the supreme judge, magistrate, police, sportsman, artist etc etc etc.

Biya´s former minister Garman Haman Adji, even admitted that 60 percent of Biya´s ministers are corrupt but the figure is far more than this.

Injustice and repression

In the year 2005 and 2006 respectively, students of the University of Buea took to the streets. The peaceful protest which began only in the university campus was forced out of campus by forces of law and order who fired indiscriminately at armless students. The 2005 strike was because of the appeal by students for the government to cancel fees payment in government higher institutions and in 2006, because, some students were included in the list of those admitted into the new Faculty of Medicine in the University of Buea whereas, they did not even sit in for the competitive entrance examination. The result was the killing of armless students. Unfortunately, no justice has ever been done on this issue.

In 2007, people in Abong Mbang in the East Province, took to the streets after staying in the dark for 2 weeks. The result of the the protest was the shooting to death of one of the protesters. Since then, justice has never been made. The DO accused to have shot the guy ran to Yaoundé where he had ample protection from Paul Biya ´s regime. He remained in Yaoundé till he was recently transferred and he never took part in the handing over of ceremony.

In Kumba-South West Province, the same scenario occurred (no electricity for students for long) and a 14 year old student of Cetic Kumba was shot to death as student marched against the intermittent power cuts. The government has refused to take action. It goes without saying that the Biya regime is built on corruption, embezzlement, repression and impunity.

Unfortunately he receives the support of most western countries who wrongly believe the stability in Cameroon is as a result of Biya efforts. The relatively calm and stable environment in Cameroon which Christian Cardinal Tumi has always described as not a sign of peace, is not thanks to any leader but, thanks to Cameroonians who continue persevering.

Some, who have not been able to persevere or bear the political and economic stress, have migrated to other countries, while others whose lives are at risk have been forced to remain out of the country or forced out of the country.

Paul Biya of Cameroon and Lukashenko of Belarus: Brothers within

Paul Biya of Cameroon and Lukashenko of Belarus: Brothers within

Eternalising their stay in power

Belarus is a small pro-Russian state in Eastern Europe. I had known pretty little concerning Belarus especially concerning the situation of the media and politics in that country till I attended a lecture on Friday, September 19, at Örebro University in Sweden. The lecture focused on; The Media of the former Soviet States. Much was said about the media in the region, in countries like Gerogia, Russia, Belarus, Estonia, Latvia, Turkmenistan, Lithuania etc before and the after the communist era. I got struck by Belarus and the its president who is implementing policies though arguable, are very similar to that of Paul Biya of Cameroon. President Lukashenko has been in power since 1994 and in October 2004, he changed the constitution that permits him to be reelected as many times as he would love or as the “people want”, as they (dictators and semi dictators) always claim. This is exactly the same thing which happened in Cameroon on April 10, 2008. Biya has been in power for over a quarter of a century since November 6, 1982. President Paul Biya using his absolute majority in parliament gotten through constantly rigged elections, successfully passed a bill which cancels the limitation of mandates, previously limited to 7 years renewable once. The bill which has already been adopted and enacted into law, also gives Biya immunity from prosecution from crimes committed while in power. This issue of modifying the constitution makes Biya and Lukashenko similar in their quest for absolute power. People of the same coin though may be, in different sides. Security, alienation and imposition The two men have extremely tight security around them and even innocent children handing flowers to them on public occasions are even suspected. Biya is reported to have one of the tightest security around the world and always stays far from the people he calls “his people” while that of his counterpart Lukashenko, is likened to that of Adolf Hitler. This is equally similar to that of the Equato Guinean president Theodoro Nguema Obiang Mbasogo who prefers to recruit mostly Moroccans for his own security than his country men. For fear of direct or indirect prosecution, officials in all government offices and most private offices have effigies of Paul Biya posted on walls and in some streets, like the large picture of him at Boulevard de la Liberté-Douala, Cameroon’s busiest street in the economic capital of the country. Those who do not have his effigies in their offices are not punished directly as such, but, rather indirectly. This may be even in their business ventures through exorbitant taxation or through fault finding tax officials. In Belarus it is similar but not exactly the same as in Cameroon. This is almost the same thing in most part of Africa but for the fact that defaulters in Belarus (those who do not affix the effigies of the president face more draconian punishments. Rare but closely watched public manifestations and repression Just as in Belarus, in Cameroon, public manifestations especially those with any political connotations are seriously repressed. Some of such manifestations were repressed across Cameroon prior to the amendment of the constitution and before then, prior to the introduction of "multi party politics" in the early 90 s. In major cities like Douala, Governor Fai Yengo Francis banned public manifestations for over 6 months in a bid to allow the “peaceful” modification of the constitution. When Cameroonians took to the streets from February 25 to 29, 2008 to manifest against hunger and deepening frustration, the government took up arms across the country on innocent and armless youths killing 40 people, according to government adjusted figures, and, over 200 according to independent sources. Over 35 children are said to have drowned in River Wouri alone when thousand of youths were blocked on Wouri Bridge on Tuesday February 26, 2008 in an attempt to escape assault by government trigger-happy troops. Since then, some people continue to be hunted for taking part in the protests. I personally talked to eye witnesses who made the claim. This issue has never been highlighted as it should have been, in the Cameroonian media due to fear of government threats and reprisals. Demonstrations are highly restricted in Belarus but for exceptional reasons, people must obtain registration and permission to carry out any demonstration. This is just the replica in Cameroon as, often, even authorized demonstrations are sometimes brutally dispersed when it is perceived that such rallies may contravene with the interest of the government. President Lukashenko is very anti west. His country has no diplomatic relations with countries like the USA but on the other hand, has excellent ties with China, Venezuela etc. The latter has a vibrant anti USA and western regime with President Hugo Chavez as the president. However, President Paul Biya of Cameroon has ties with the West which can be said to be very strong as well as with China. Despite the differences between these two men, they both have an irresistible crave to stay in power for as long as possible and to always appoint their cohorts in various places who keep on ruining the economy like the case of Cameroon, and creating an elitist class. Biya has been in power for over a quarter a century; since 1982 . He was however, in the circles of power since the 1970 s with positions such as Secretary General at the Presidency of the Republic and also Prime Minister. Though a handful of embezzlers have been arrested in Cameroon, the cream of states thieves between the 70s when Biya got into power circles as Secretary general till date are still very free. Perceived as free but highly controlled media Both men that is, President Biya and Lukashenko have their own ways of repressing the media. In Belarus, it is more open repression. The state newspapers sells most, not because people love to read them, but because, they are imposed on all government institutions and even most of private establishments. In Cameroon, shortly after the 1990 bill on freedom of expression was passed, there were plethora of media organs. Though a good number have not been responsible enough. Many media organs in Cameroon are continuously dying out or working under very serious constraints due to government’s strategy of suffocating private media organs with taxes or indirectly depriving them from getting adverts, through indirect threats to potential advertisers. Most ads are equally exclusively posted only on state media. However, the repression in Cameroon recently took a dramatic twist when ahead of the modification of the constitution to permit Biya stay in power for life, the government proceeded to the banning of Radio Equinox and Television Equinox which were considered more liberal and less elitist by most Cameroonians. The reason for the suspension was quite vague as it was said that the media organs in question though belonging to the same group were operating illegally. Ironically, most media organs in Cameroon according to government and in principle, are operating illegally because none has paid the FCFA 100 Million needed to have a license to operate a television and FCFA 50 million for a radio. So this was just like giving a dog a bad name to hang it. Another method being implemented by Biya and his regime is to allow the media to sometime write or say what they want but the government actually pays a blind eye even when clear cases of government officials involvement in corruption and embezzlement are exposed. Political victims Furthermore, in Cameroon the government may dismiss the fact that there are no political prisoners in the country but, political prisoners are caught up and arbitrary jailed, now and then. Members of the secessionist group, the SCNC: Southern Cameroon National Council are caught beaten and jailed time and again. Hundreds have been killed. This movement made up of the two states of the English speaking region of Cameroon are advocating for the total independence of their region at most, and at least, a return to a federation which will give various provinces some degree of autonomy. Though regrettably that the SCNC operates in very dispersed ranks, it is also unfortunate that President Paul Biya has never paid any attention to them nor even addressed their concerns that is, equal sharing of the national cake. The various factions of the SCNC with people like Barrister Ekontang Elad, Retired Ambassador Henry Fossung, Chief Ayamba, Hitler Mbinlo, Justice Federick Alobwede etc have hardly ever agreed in acts. Taking the case with Belarus, it has not totally ideologically seceded from Russia or communism just because the people have never been given the means to express themselves freely. Political victims are also noticeable within the circles of government in Cameroon and Belarus as well as several other countries though. In Cameroon, the former Minister of Public Health, Titus Edzoa was charged in 1997 with embezzlement judged and jailed for 15 years. This was shortly after he expressed his intention to challenge President Biya by running for presidency under the banner of the ruling Cameroon People Democratic Movement (CPDM) party just like president Paul Biya. Edzoa also said Paul Biya is indeed the richest Cameroonian (Wealth gotten through outright theft and embezzlement of state funds). Though actually among the circles of those who have ruined Cameroon economically, Titus Edzoa’s arrest and subsequent jailing was promoted by the fact that he was becoming a threat to Biya´s political ambitions. It was not because Paul Biya really wanted to get ride of embezzlers and extremely corrupt senior state functionaries. Some people within the ranks of the ruling party have deserted the country for fear of their lives and due to their growing political influence. An example in Cameroon was Chief Milla Assoute, formerly of the ruling CPDM. The case in Cameroon is similar to what happened in Belarus when opposition party Kazulin, was sentenced to five years in jail. He was released just for two days to bury his wife. Corruption and embezzlement and impunity The Cameroon government recently and is continuing with what has been called Operation Sparow Hawk(Operation Epervier in French). This is cleaning the state of embezzlers and those who are ruining the country economically. It must be said here that, out of over 2000 state thieves who have past through senior government offices less than 30 have been arrested, yet the state controlled media and other bought over private media organs consider the arrests of a handful of people as a big achievement for the Biya regime. According to Garga Haman Adji, former government minister who resigned due to too much pressure and influence on is job, and, his inability to effectively fight corruption in his then Ministry of Public Service and Administrative reforms, 60 percent of ministers and senior state functionaries and post holders in Cameroon are corrupt. Well, an average Cameroonian will talk of 98 percent. The so called, Operation Sparow Hawk has been reduced to political victimization because President Paul Biya, firstly targets mostly those whom he thinks have embezzled too much money and stand a threat to his power. Secondly it is being used by those commanding it like the Minister of Justice, the Secretary General at the Presidency, the Secretary General of the CPDM among others to eliminate their political opponents as the war on who will succeed Paul Biya continues. The culture of impunity and justice only for the rich is the order of the day in Cameroon. During an interview granted former state media journalist Eric Chinje in 1987, Biya already talked of embezzlement and how people were ruining the country, but, it took this very Biya, more than18 years to "punish" the first "embezzlers". This is a clear indication that he hasn´t the will to bring change in Cameroon. On September 19, a close aide to Biya(a lieutenant) is alleged to have attempted to steal Biya briefcase concerning FCFA 7 billion as Biya was en-route to New York for the UN summit. The lieutenant was immediately brought back to Cameroon an detained. However, Cameroonians continue to wonder why and what Biya was going to do with so much money abroad when he has succeeded to place naturally rich Cameroon under the list of the most Highly indebted and poor countries in the world. That said therefore, though there is relatively peace in Belarus as well as Cameroon, both Presidents Biya and Lukashenko are birds of the same feather. While the former is pro West and the latter anti West, non actually works for the real interest of their people. They converge at repression, anti democratic, embezzlement, creating an aristocratic or bourgeoisie class etc. As president Biya winds up time given his fast advancing age as compared to the still very energetic Lukashenko, Biya is making everything possible to either die in power or hand over power to a close ally who will not prosecute him. The big problem is that he is surrounded by power mongering people and he does not know what to do and do whom to hand over power. That is why some people claim that he is grooming his son Frank Biya to hand over power to him just like Eyadema did in Togo, something similar in DRC from Joseph D Kabila to his son. Presidents Abdoulaye Wade is preparing his son in Senegal, Muahamar Qaddafi in Libya, Mubarak in Eygpt, Obiang Nguema in Equatorial Guinea etc The grounds for any democratic elections in Cameroon the country are almost impossible. This impossibility has been created by Paul Biya who has introduced poverty and corruption as a way of life in Cameroon thereby paving way for the buying of consciences. Biya does not want any situation where a democratically elected official will give him sleepless nights and/or seized his ill gotten wealth. That is why he hesitates creating any veritably independent electoral body but still want elections to be controlled by government through his appointees and stooges at the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Decentralization. Biya and Lukashenko are therefore different sides of the same coin. Though they have some differences and many similarities both are "dictators" and anti democratic. They have a lot to borrow from each other. While one is more of an open dictator, the other practice what i will term "disguised dictatorship." Agendia Aloysius University of Örebro Sweden

Cultural Decline in Cameroon and the way out: The Case of Lebialem

Our declining culture and cultural succession

With the increasing poverty in Africa sub of the Sahara , (poverty promoted by embezzlement, corruption and harsh economic climate) being implemented by neo-colonialists African leaders and worsen by Brettons Woods’ institutions- IMF , World Bank poverty aggravating programmes and strategies, most people are seeking for greener pastures abroad i.e. in Europe, America and a few in Asia. (Babisakana) financial expert affirmed in one of the editions of Le Messager Newspaper of Cameroon early 2008.

The accelerating poverty and massive exodus of Africans among whom are Lebialemers (People from Lebialem division Cameroon) to the West, has far reaching consequences. Villages are left empty or/and in some cases with only old people. Our cultural is serious dying as people are ready to auction it for pieces of silver in order to gain wealth, hence the giving of traditional titles by chiefs (Befua) to people who do not merit them or who do not even know their values.

Among the hundreds or even thousands of Lebialem people who have embarked on political or economic asylum/exiles, are our much loved nobles and chiefs (i.e. bekem, befua). These chiefs, some of whom are quarter heads have applied and obtained asylum in some countries thereby in principle, accepting that, they may NEVER ever set foot on Cameroonian /Lebialem soil again.

As a result, some villages such as "N, N, E, M" etc have been left as orphans though some have regents who many do not attached any importance as if it was the chief or noble himself . Some of these regents have very little and in some cases no authority over “their” subjects.

There is absolutely nothing wrong for a person to seek a better life for his family in this world in which more and more people continue to care only for themselves and never for others though it continues again to be more and more globalised (in terms of communication and technology anyway) .

As a matter of fact, one cannot blame nobles (bekem and befua) who have taken the West for their permanent residence or as a political or economic refuge. It is because they want to feed their families and have "better" facilities; health, education, freedom etc. The exodus of Africans and Lebialem people to permanently reside in the West may be a better economic and political refuge for some but hardly ever a cultural refuge for any.

What really puzzles me is the massive departure of “bekem” and “befua” to the West. I would kindly suggest that in areas or families where somebody has been crowned as successor (nkem or Fua) especially a quarter or family head, people in that area could work for the “placement” of the said individual so that he or she cannot really envy others as such. The successor could once in a while visit abroad but, not stay there permanently. It can be different if it is illness. Pa Nkemalem Nkainjo Peter. source Lebialemportal www.lebialem.com -interview.

In the regard of "placement" of nobles, quarter heads or successors etc, I salute the efforts of the People of Lewoh ( A Fondom in Lebialem-Cameroon) who “placed” their Fon. This could also be copied by areas, Bechati, Bamumbu, Lebang, Essoh Attah, Ndungated , etc.

“Placement” of people by “God Fathers” is a jargon now very common in Cameroon . This means influencing or imposing the admission of a person in a professional school or even the buy of a position for that person. In most cases, unqualified people are admitted in public professional schools and that has terribly contributed to the ever increasing inertia in Cameroon public service. This system can only be destroyed in Cameroon when a much more “patriotic” regime takes over from Biya and his cohorts and gives room for meritocracy.

Inasmuch as the absolutely corrupt and poverty aggravating regime continues to clink on power, mediocrity will continue to prevail. And in such cases, those who fail to “place” their people are the losers. I am forced to mix politics and culture here because our culture has been badly damaged by partisan politics and politicking.

Need to rethink succession in Lebialem

On the other way round, I really think there is the urgent need for our kingmakers to rethink succession. Let me say cultural succession because the word succession may be too ambiguous and others may be too sensitive treating this.

Cultural succession in this case means that if a living noble, quarter head or Fon knows/foresee that his biological child cannot preserved our culture well when he the Fon, chief, quarter or family head dies, he (the family head) may then, will cultural-succession , to any person from the Royal family.

What will become of our culture when chiefs (nobles) who have fled to the Americas and Europe die and hand the village/our culture to a kid(s) who have never been to Lebialem, or who do not even know the culture handed down to him or them to preserve or sustain.

Take the case of the Fon of Fontem, Fon of Nwemetaw, Essoh Attah, Njoargwi or any other Fondom or chiefdom if you want. Most of these Fons/chiefs are young and have very “ambitious” children. Though they seek to learn, some as a result of negative comparism may never want to live at home let alone in Cameroon ? What will happen when our traditions/culture is handed to this generation of people most of whom know little or noting about the culture? A Fon, chief, quarter head whose child cannot even express himself/herself in the dialect, yet expected to succeed his father/mother, communicate with his people and among others settle disputes in “Lemoh”…. In which language? We are really joking, I think so.

If succession was therefore open to all children of the Royal Family, we may not find ourselves in some current and future situations. That may be one of the best methods of maintaining our culture. In that case, any person from the Royal Family resident at home and who masters the tradition can succeed the Fon/chief, quarter head, if the latter dies in their respective areas.

I also strongly suggest that chiefs or quarter heads who have gone and seeked permanent residence and who do permanently reside in Europe or America or those who have gained asylum thereby accepting in principle that they will never go back to Cameroon, should be stripped of their cultural titles. In that case, if such a person before enthronement was called, say Richard, Gilbert, Jonathan etc and after enthronement became say Fuankwin, Fuatam etc, people should henceforth call them by their names such Jonathan, Gilbert and not Fuankwin Fuakam, FuanNdih etc etc.

Let them go with their real names and not with the traditional titles. If such people loved their titles or culture so much, while in America , Europe or Asia , they could create their own villages and titles like the case of “Fon” Fonjinju a Lebialemer highly regarded traditional leader in Melong.

Some people may consider this approach radical but, I think, even Africa itself needs to be saved by leaders who have the interest of and for the continent. When such leaders begin the implementation, they are called “radicals” or “dictator” by the West or his neo-colonised African peers. But I strongly believe such measures ought to be taken to partly savage our continent, countries and villages. Lumumba, Sankara, Mandela, Mortale Mohammed, Nkrumah, Gadaffi, and to and extend the Mugabe, Gwagbo Laurent, Kagame etc are examples. Not the Biya, Mubarak, Eyadema, Nguesso, Nguema, Bongo etc

Back to the issue, to avoid such situations, I strongly suggest that if any of us is made a chief, especially quarter head, because, (a chief is he who has subjects not chiefs nowadays who have just their wife or wives and child(ren) as their subject(s) stationed in a land where even none of these children may even know what culture is all about). We should therefore, support our chiefs quarter heads to be economically viable and stay at home i.e. Lebialem itself or at worst Cameroon in general. The efforts of all of us are needed here.

I strongly believe that the issue of succession be divided henceforth, into two, CULTURAL succession and MATERIAL succession. The former concerns us. I know this may mean modifying the laws of the Cameroon . Please can any legal mind shed more light on this?

If such measures or adequate measures are not implemented, we may in few decades or less, be confronted by what Professor Fidelis Achenjang calls “Fualessness” as written in the master piece: Lefua in Lebialem : Decline or Transformation. In it, Prof looks at Fualessness with respect to the wanton and abusive awarding of traditional titles to unqualified people. This may lead us to a level where everybody is a chief and in that case with or few no subjects. Prof did not use the exact wordings above.

To preserve our culture, let us adapt the strategy of the Catholic Church. The pope is always in Rome, so do must quarters heads always be in villages. Just as the church and Christians do contribute for the well being of the pope, so too the need for us to support our quarter heads or nobles, the custodian of culture.

AGENDIA Aloysius

Nwua Nkemndem Ajong-akroh Gabriel a Njentse Lebang

Son of Nkemndem Ajong Gabriel

Örebro -Sweden

www.lebialem. com