It appears there is no limit to the odium Cameroonians will endure in the hands of their government, because just when the regime seems to have hit rock bottom in governance capacity, it somehow manages to find a further depth in ignominy. Cameroonians have been agonizing over the health and whereabouts of President Paul Biya, the 91-year-old nonagenarian, tottering on the borders of senile decay, who has not been seen publicly since attending the Sino-Africa forum in Beijing on September 8. He was missing at the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, last month, despite elaborate preparations, including a team of reporters from state-owned CRTV and Cameroon Tribune dispatched to New York. Biya also cancelled an appearance at the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF) summit this October, stoking speculations about his health. Following awkward denials of rumors that Biya had died either in a Paris hospital or in Geneva, by civil cabinet director, Samuel Mvondo Ayolo, and Communications Minister and Government spokesman, René Sadi; Territorial Administration Minister, Paul Atanga Nji, in a streak of authoritarian madness, announced that Biya’s health was a national security issue and “any debate in the media about the president’s condition is therefore strictly prohibited.”

Atanga Nji has instructed regional governors to set up units to monitor broadcasts on private media channels and social media platforms, warning that offenders will be prosecuted. That’s bunkum and utterly ridiculous. The right to free speech is protected by the constitution, so Cameroonians have the right to question the health and whereabouts of their president. Atanga Nji’s illegal edict, ornamented with harmful grandiloquence amounts to high-level official rascality and a reckless and imprudent display of statecraft. It’s the kind of arrant nonsense that is emblematic of a broader problem when you put an empty suit with no education or requisite temperament for governance in a position of authority, far above his intellectual capacity.

The unequivocal, dispiriting truth is that Atanga Nji has proved himself temperamentally unfit for high public office. He’s dangerous in word, deed and action. This is not simply an opinion of a critic; it is a judgment based on his character. Atanga Nji has no moral compass; he lies blatantly and maliciously embraces petty gossips with a juvenile bully’s instinct to target critics. He is animated by a thirst for power: to use the levers of government to advance his parochial interests, satisfy his most insidious impulses and exact retribution against those he thinks are opposed to Biya and his Beti benefactors from whom he craves validation and vindication. He delights in poisoning the public discourse with vile and incendiary language. His sycophancy is matched by his ignorance as he lacks the intellectual capacity to understand the difference between the presidency as an institution, and the person occupying the office (president), who incarnates national sovereignty as head of state. The fact is the presidency, embodies state authority, regardless of who occupies the office at any given time. Atanga Nji must be told in whatever language he understands that the office is bigger than the person, hence, Biya’s health status cannot be a matter of national security! Such a convoluted view promotes dangerous personality cults, and an utter lack of respect for the constitution, the rule of law and the Cameroonian people.

The degree of travesty to which Atanga Nji has descended to reveal his ignorance and fundamental misunderstanding of how modern societies operate is indeed pathetic! This pig-headed ban is not just misguided; it is buffoonery of the highest order. The stupidity is simply mind-boggling and inexcusable and betrays a lack of political sophistication from a minister renowned for his hubris, arrogance and public gaffes. It is senseless, moronic, pedestrian and devoid of any perfunctory exaggeration. Banning discussions on Biya’s health does not make the issue disappear; it amplifies it. But even more absurd is the sheer impracticality of the ban’s implementation. In the age of the internet, where information flows freely across borders, it is naïve and laughable for Atanga Nji to think he can ban discussions about Biya’s health with a press release. The president’s health is not a national security issue; it is a question of public interest and a matter of international significance. Cameroonians will continue to talk about Biya’s health, online and offline, in hushed tones or in loud protests, and there is nothing Atanga Nji can do about it. Censorship in today’s world is not just ineffective; it is counterproductive, and attempts to stifle discussions will lead to a backlash against the regime, and reinforce Cameroon’s international image as a banana republic with highly dysfunctional institutions where bizarre things can happen.

Besides, the illegal and unconstitutional ban reflects a dangerous disregard for the core principles of free speech. In any functioning democracy, the people have a right to scrutinize their leaders, especially when their health could impact national decision-making. In fact, the demand for health disclosure is serious enough that in the USA, presidential candidates are obliged to disclose their health reports before they can even run for office. When governments clamp down on free speech, they inadvertently confirm suspicions. In Cameroon where a culture of secrecy already shrouds political leadership, this ban adds fuel to the fire, making the government seem more interested in preserving power than in fostering an informed, engaged citizenry. It is the behavior of a regime terrified of transparency, not one confident in governance. By this act of civic callousness, Atanga Nji is essentially telling Cameroonians that their opinions are inconsequential, thus undermining the very notion of government of the people, for the people and by the people. Cameroonians deserve to know if their president is still capable of leading, especially when it is visibly obvious to anyone not blinded by hypocrisy that Biya is showing more wear and tear mostly in the deterioration in his husky voice, the wrinkles on his face; the advancing baldness, the frailty and declining swagger of his gait (Biya can barely walk), the diapers and alleged uncontrollable flatulence and protracted anal blasts during public and private events.

Regrettably, the quest for credible information about Biya’s health is taboo as no one has officially confirmed what’s ailing the President beyond the subterfuge amongst the President’s men that all is fine. The veteran Le Messager journalist, Pius Njawe (RIP) was jailed simply for insinuating that Biya might have suffered a malaise during the 1997 Cameroon cup finals. These speculations intensified after Biya; for the first time in 26 years as president skipped the 2008 challenge cup finals which was presided at by then Prime Minister Ephraim Inoni. Presently, it hardly matters if the rumors about Biya’s health are true or not; official silence implies there’s no smoke without fire. The latest rumors about Biya’s health underscore growing public concerns about his ability to govern effectively, given his age and prolonged absences from the country. But the pedestrian and amateurish manner in which speculations about the president’s health and whereabouts was handled is a textbook failure of crisis management and damage control that is neither edifying to the country, nor to Biya’s image.

At age 91, Biya has been in power for 42 years and counting, making him one of the world’s oldest and longest-serving leaders. For any nation, especially one facing numerous political, economic, and security challenges, the health of the president is a matter of public interest. The fact that Biya spends significant periods outside Cameroon for health reasons only vindicates the public’s right to know whether he is still fit to lead. The president’s health is a matter of national interest because it directly affects his ability to lead and make crucial decisions impacting millions. The president’s capacity to fulfill his duties, especially in times of crisis, is vital for national stability and governance. Presidents, like all people, are human; they can fall ill or as reluctant mortals, die unexpectedly. Hiding their health issues risks creating power vacuums, undermining public trust, and engendering power struggles and instability.

As Biya advances in age, and continues to abdicate his presidential responsibilities, concealing his health status can no longer be said to be in the public interest. The secrecy around Biya’s health, which for far too long, has been the currency in official circles has had its day. Cameroonians need to know whether or not their President is healthy enough to live up to the exalting responsibilities of his high office. Instead of gagging people, the government should embrace transparency, open communication, and accountability. Better communication over what the president Biya is suffering from, what the prognosis is and perhaps some comments from Biya himself would go a long way to ending all these speculations. Cameroonians deserve better, and it is time their voices were heard.

Ekinneh Agbaw-Ebai is a public intellectual and graduate from Harvard University John F Kennedy and Harvard Business School. He writes from Boston, USA. Talk back at ekinneh@yahoo.com

The world has been focusing on Cameroon recently following news that Paul Biya, Cameroon’s second president, had died in Europe. The news, which was first broadcast on ABS, an American-based media outlet, sent shivers down the spines of many Cameroonians, with many asking questions about the country’s future. Mr. Biya has been in office for over four decades and during this time in power, people across the globe see him as a symbol of stability, though over the last seven years, Cameroon has been dealing with an insurgency in the country’s two English-speaking regions. News about his death caused Cameroon dollar bonds to take a nosedive, causing many investors to put off their investment plans in Cameroon. To again a better understanding of the situation in Cameroon, the Cameroon Concord News Group editor-in-chief, Soter Tarh Agbaw-Ebai, had to turn to Dr. Joachim Arrey of the Global Think Tank for Africa, an experienced and erudite political analyst, for an insightful analysis and he had the following to say.

Cameroon Concord News: Over the last few days, Cameroon has been in the news for all the wrong reasons following the announcement of the death of the country’s president. Many Cameroonians are concerned and the country’s dollar bonds have taking a nosedive, making it hard for Cameroon to borrow from global capital markets. What do you make of this situation?

Dr. Joachim Arrey: Thank you for inviting me to share my perspective on the unfortunate news which has been spreading online. Allow me to point out that it is wrong for anybody to announce the death of a man who is still living. Regardless of our political differences, it is immoral and unethical for anybody to spread such bad news. I have heard that many people around the world celebrated when they heard the news. Permit me to add that none of us has the power to decide when another person has to die. Death is not something we should even wish on our worst enemy. That said, I would like to caution that all humans are mortal including Mr. Biya who is almost 92 years old. When we get to such an age, we should celebrate but at the same time, it is only logical that we do the right things. At Mr. Biya’s age, he should be thinking of passing on the torch to the next generation of politicians. He has done his best, though many hold that his best is not good enough. Succession planning should be the focus of all Cameroonian political institutions. Nobody is immortal, including Mr. Biya and if he loves his country he should be thinking about quitting the political arena for a well-deserved retirement.

Mr. Biya has been the face of that country for a long time and his health and even death should be a call for concern for the entire country. When a public figure like him is not seen in public or is suspected of having health issues, it becomes a subject of discussion because much rides on his health or life. The unfortunate news about his death has affected the country’s economy and the country’s dollar bonds have taken a hit. Cameroon is now a high risk environment and many investors who are looking for where to invest their money will now walk away from Cameroon. Our country’s economy is already suffering and if it has to deal with other external shocks then we are in for tough times.

I would also like to point out that Cameroonians should stop blaming all the issues in Cameroon on Mr. Biya. Of course, he is the president and should be responsible for many things which have gone wrong, but it takes more than one person to destroy an entire country. As individuals, we must understand that there is what we call personal responsibility. If every Cameroonian decides to do the right thing regardless of the pain which comes with that, our country will not be falling apart as it is doing now. We have to change our atomic habits if we must see significant changes in our country. We must be the change we desire. As individuals, we have a lot to do if Cameroon must rise from its ashes like the proverbial phoenix. It is not Mr. Biya’s fault that we all urinate on our streets. It is not Mr. Biya’s fault that we all spend more time in bars instead of sitting at home with our children. It is not Mr. Biya’s fault that we cannot engage in community labour to make our neighborhoods clean. We need to address the little things which we have control over to reduce the decay that has become a millstone around our necks.

Cameroon Concord News: You talk about the next generation of politicians, who do you think will be part of the next generation of politicians when many young Cameroonians are pouring out of the country?

Dr. Joachim Arrey: For more than four decades, we have seen the same faces in our political landscape and many of those people are old and should yield the floor to young politicians who can drive the country into a new era. If Cameroonians in their immense majority think that Mr. Biya has overstayed his welcome in our political space, then most of those who are also there should be ready to leave. The president of the country’s senate is not a young person and most of his vice presidents clearly belong to the past. These people need to be replaced if Cameroon has to be part of the progressive political world. The new generation of politicians I am talking about should comprise courageous people who hold that Cameroon deserves better and they are determined to make their modest contribution to the building of a better Cameroon. In this effort, the Diaspora has a significant role to play. I hold that people who are nearing retirement in Western countries can take off some time to run as members of parliament, mayors or senators in Cameroon to bring in fresh ideas into the system. It does not only suffice to identify the problems. The Diaspora must bring its experience and knowledge to bear. At 60, there is no reason to be scared of returning home. If Cameroon is broken as we all say, then we all must roll up our sleeves to shore up any development efforts in our country. We have to do it. Nobody will do it for us. If the citizens of the countries in which many of us send our children to had escaped from their countries, we would not have had a place to send our children. We must seek to rebuild Cameroon. The onus is on all of us. Like many Cameroonians, I have lived out for almost three decades and I think I can bring something to the table in Cameroon. I want to help and I think the best place to start is at the grassroots.

Cameroon Concord News: Are you saying you will soon be part of the country’s political landscape?

Dr. Joachim Arrey: That is on the table. I have extensive political experience and I have a deep understanding of some of those issues which are hurting our people. Like I have always said, I have come to the ripe age where I can make some sacrifices for my country. Like many Cameroonians I have talked to, I hold that if meaningful change has to take place in Cameroon, young people with innovative ideas must be part of the political landscape. I am staring down the barrel of retirement and I have nothing to lose if I serve my country for a few years. I strongly believe that I can influence things at the grassroots level and I am willing to even settle in my native Ossing just to make a difference. Our people need to see a different model and I am willing to deliver that model to them after having lived in many parts of the world. 

Cameroon Concord News: Don’t you think running as a senator or an MP will be the right place for you to start?

 Dr. Joachim Arrey: Like I have said, everything is still on the table. If my people trust me, they will place me where they think I should be. I have a good relationship with the people of Manyu and I have always been there for them. I will never abandon them regardless of the situation. I will continue to send many kids to school, grant scholarships to those who want to further their studies and support development efforts in the Division. I have already endeared myself to my people. For over 25 years, I have placed the people of Manyu at the centre of my actions and I think if they give me the opportunity, I will like to do more for the Division. Manyu needs erudite, courageous and development-oriented politicians. They need politicians who will point them in the right direction. I want to point the people of Manyu in the right direction. I have learned and I am willing to learn from those who have been in that landscape before me. Life is a journey of learning and I have undertaken that journey. Manyu needs to change. I have a massive dream for my people. It hurts when I see them crying. There is a better way of doing things and I am prepared to take them down that beautiful route. There is no reason for any Cameroonian to die in the desert or on the high seas. We need to breathe faith in our youths. We need to orientate them so that they can see the opportunities in their natural environment. We can build their capacities at home and let them operate at the international level. Currently, I am moulding some Manyu youths and directing them on how to get jobs at the international level. I would like to extend that program to all sons and daughters of Manyu who have the right certificates. I want to open their eyes to the realities of their time. I want to teach them how to make money and keep it. I want to let them understand that no initiative succeeds without discipline. I do not need to be a senator or a Member of Parliament to help my people but if the opportunity is there and the people trust me, I will use it to deliver more scholarships and educate many youths.  There is still time to reflect on senatorial, mayoral and parliamentary elections. I can serve my people in any capacity and I have already triggered that process by organizing online clinics for those who have the right certificates.

Cameroon Concord News:  Any last word?

Dr. Joachim Arrey: Thank you Mr. Chairman for giving me the opportunity to share my perspective. I would like to urge Cameroonians to focus more on the post-Biya period instead of waiting for announcements of his death. None of us can determine when someone will die but because of his age and declining health, we should be working towards avoiding any confusion or bloodshed in our country when and if Mr. Biya quits power. We do not need to kill each other. We need to correct the errors of the past so that our country can be the envy of the continent. The country’s political opposition should be calling for that. Opposition political parties should be working together to ensure that the transition will be smooth whenever that time comes. Once more, thank you for your confidence in my ability to provide great political analysis.

Cameroon Concord News: Thank you, Dr. Joachim Arrey, for you time.