Where is Simon Achidi Achu?

- Evacuated Again Or Simply Gone Underground?

By Musa Isa

For quite some time now, Simon Achidi Achu, the former Prime Minister has not been seen in public. Even during the new North West Governor’s recent meet-the-people tour in Bamenda, Mezam division, Pa Achidi was conspicuously absent. During the funeral of Bochong Francis Nkwain’s mother in Njinikom a week ago, Pa Achidi was not there. Many had since been wondering what could be wrong with the former Prime Minister. His absence within public view has been interpreted as strange given that this is a man, who even attends petty cry-dies in quarters, to show his simplicity.

Last weekend, Chronicle was hinted that contrary to speculations that the former Prime Minister could be in bad shape, he was instead in fine fettle. Sources close to Rock Farm, Pa Achidi’s residence hinted Chronicle that the ex-PM has decided to keep a low-profile. This, Chronicle was further told, is a strategy to downplay recent press reports about his reaction to recent arrests, under the Sparrow Hawk Operation.

Pa Achidi was quoted recently, by Eden newspaper as having said, if he was consulted by President Biya, he would have advised him not to effect that arrest of Chief Ephraim Inoni and Marafa Hamidou Yaya. Chronicle gathered that shortly after Eden came out with this, Pa Achidi almost went mad. He threatened court action.

When Chronicle however contacted Aminateh Nkemngu, author of the article, he confessed that he had Achidi’s interview on tape. Aminateh was even surprised to hear that Pa Achidi was threatening court action, for a statement he made. Chronicle was told that two other journalists were present and recorded the same interview.

It is believed that Achidi Achu could have been so crossed, given the implications of his statement. Chronicle even learnt that Etoudi was embarrassed by Achidi’s remarks. Could this have been what has made him to now go underground?

Meanwhile, Chronicle was further told that Achidi Achu roves between his Rock Farm, Santa and Yaounde; that he has not even traveled out of the country. Some sources had even earlier alleged that he had accompanied his wife, Judith to the United States of America, USA.

It was a few years ago, that when Achidi Achu dropped ill, he was evacuated to France. On the special instructions of President Paul Biya, the ex-PM was hospitalized at the American hospital in France. Pa Achidi’s health at that time was so critical, so much that rumour even made rounds that he had died. Pa Achidi later on returned to disprove his detractors. Yet, his return coincided with the death of one of his wives. The former PM had since been going to France for routine medical check-up, Chronicle was told.

The embarrassing absence of Pa Achidi at the funeral of Bochong Francis Nkwain’s mother a week ago has become and issue. Nkwain is a former Minister like Achidi and both are CPDM central committee members. If Achidi came, he would have had the opportunity to dine together with the SDF chairman Ni John Fru Ndi and Jean Nkuete, the CPDM Secretary General as it happened at Njinikom a week ago.