How The President Has Been Consolidating Peace,
Transparency & Development Efforts
Only
Doubting Thomases could clash with the truth that President Paul Biya is the
overall best African President of our time. During the last 30 years, he has
established tangible proves through New Deal Policy of Rigour and Moralization.
To be candid, his savoir-faire within a very short time moved the country from
Greater Ambitions to Great Achievements. This program has been able to raise Cameroon into a
modern emerging country at a point in time when much emphasis is placed on
globalization. As a matter of fact, President Paul Biya’s 30 years as Head of
State has been quite eventful. This could easily be viewed through the lens of
the skills he has demonstrated as a good lobbyist. President Biya's 30 years
could equally be analyzed as the years of astute statesmanship in the history
of the country replenished by uncountable achievements and successes. Within
this period, there had been visible economic growth, peace, stability and
progress. As an able leader, he steered the country with maturity and
farsighted that conquered a lot of unforgettable victories both national and
international.
Like a good shepherd, he
has been able to consolidate his political promises and ideologies with
concrete and realistic plans that have made Cameroon stronger in the eyes of
multi-lateral donors, investors and the world as a whole. Just simple doing
common things in an uncommon way, he reinforced the tenet of unity, national
integration, balance regional development and above all international
cooperation. To better understand why he should be canonized for the past
achievements, it would be reasonable to look into some of his actions through
three main axes, Peace, Democracy and Development.
Transparency
There is a famous saying
that “he, who says transparency, says goodbye corruption” and for a
better amplification of President Biya’s 30 years, the fight against corruption
to instill a sane society has been a major challenge. The ancient Greek would
define Democracy as the people’s rule. The roots and foundation of Biya's
attachment to “ the people’s rule” is
found in his book “communal
Liberalism”. And other instruments like the famous operation antelope,
black dragon, the shark, the albatross and Sparrow hawk.
Operation Antelope
The word “antelope”
scientifically has no meaning or significance. But it was this animal that in
the late 80s sounded like thunder and lightening in the ears of fake civil
servants and those benefiting more than one pay in a month. This famous “Operation
Antelope” has remained in the annals of this country because it rescued tax
payers from the hands of public thieves.
The antelope succeeded in putting some sanity in the public service.
Hundreds of ghost workers were identified and erased from government payroll
officially; Operation Antelope dislodged 20.000 fake civil servants from the
public service with 16.600 unmasked receiving salaries for dead civil servants
while 4000 were being paid more than two salaries a month.
Operation Black Dragon
This was typically a
police operation that targeted gangsterism in urban taxis. The operation
succeeded in eradicating crime waves in taxis in towns in the country.
Operation Shark
Those who escaped the
vigilance of President Paul Biya’s Antelope were chased round by the shark. The
shark even though was short lived, created a lot of impact because even hunters
became hunted. Some 17000 ghost workers were also dislodged from the public
service and tax payers’ money was rescued.
Albatross
This bird that moves
along with ill luck was the name given to the last Presidential Plane that
never was. The Albatross soon became not only a scandal but President Biya’s
synonym in the fight against corruption.
More so, another multi-billion state scamming machinery used by high
profile personalities to swindle state funds.
Atangana Mebara and co
already in the dragnet, Jerome Medounga on the parade while Yves Michel Fotso still
in liberty but uncertain and many more are the fruits. The story of the Albatross is yet to unfold.
Operation Sparrow Hawk
The Sparrow Hawk is the
most mischievous bird a poultry farmer like to see due to his appetite for
chicks. Billionaires who moved to fame through Machiavellian acts in Cameroon are
now like chicks for the Sparrow Hawk.
Its launching in 2005, resulted to the first arrest of former director generals of state
corporations, ministers and other government
officials. As the appellation took Cameroonians like hurricane Ike took the USA, President
Biya, many voices say has been final and very realistic in putting sanity in
the heads of Cameroonians. On the list of the untouchable that were hawked by
the Sparrow Hawk are Edouard Ekoto, Siyam Siewe, Ondong Ndong Gerald, Muchipou
Seiydou, Urbain Oleguena Owono, etc….
CONAC, ANIF & Supreme State
Control
In May 2005, President
Biya created the National Agency for Financial Investigation as one of the
tools to fight against corruption. Besides, the creation of the Anti-Corruption
Commission (CONAC) in March 2006 is another testimony that President Biya
wanted a sane and sincere society free from corrupt practices. And to boost his
efforts and determination, in the Presidency of the Republic, Etame Messoama
mounts the plate of the Ministry of State Controls. This mechanism for checks
and balances has been lauded for its contribution to fight corruption. The
audit bench of the Supreme Court was also restructured and in 2003, a new
orientation emerged with more determination and dexterity.
Peace
When one famous statesman
described President Biya in Callabar as a monument of peace, he was not wrong.
He was as right as a mathematic teacher due to the patience that he established
in handling the Bakassi Peninsular crises with Nigeria. No one would argue the
fact that there is relative tranquility in the country. Impressionists have
long established that President Biya would not only be nominated to the
prestigious Noble Peace Prize but should win the Prize for his outstanding
straight forwardness in handling the Bakassi problems with a lot of skills. The
successful and peaceful handing over of the Bakassi Peninsular to Cameroon was another trendsetter that ranked him as
one of the best in the African Continent in handling conflicts. The Green Tree
Peace Accord signed with former Nigerian President Obasanjo portrayed him as a
peace enchanting nightingale. Bakassi was just a drop in the bucket of his
successful conflict management. For instant, Cameroon also got back localities
like Yang in Nwa and a handful of other villages.
Since President Paul Biya
took power, he has in countless states of affairs affirmed that peace is the
prerequisite to every government action to improve the standard of living of
the populace.
Fostering Development
Efforts
When President Biya took
Cameroonians in the train that landed at the completion point of the Heavily
Indebted Poor Countries Initiative, multilateral debts cancellations were
estimated at over 256 billion FCFA. Besides, within 30 years, President Biya
placed a lot of emphasis on the effective synergy between the state and the
private sector. He settled on the strict budgetary regulations to boost sectors
that effectively have impact on the common man on the street.
And above all, putting
into execution decentralization has been one of President Biya's effort to
reach to the rural masses. Councils are outfitting with their new role and
responsibility in the new given functions. When he started the structural adjustment
programs of the early 80s gate crashed with the economic crisis but from
2005-2008, President Paul Biya adopted the economic and financial program with
the support of the IMF and other international mufti-lateral donors. The
outcome was the famous Privatization process that gave room for foreign
investors.
Politically, President Biya’s effort to foster democracy
has been the introduction of multi-party politics in the country. The
mainstream of Biya’s political development approach could be pictured in the
creation of the National Observatory for Elections (NEO) and the putting in
place of Elections Cameroon (ELECAM). One of the prerequisite during his last
30 years has been the appointment of Prime Ministers with defined and well
carved out missions. In all, President Biya has appointed seven Prime
Ministers.
The Man, Paul Biya
Born
on the 13th February 1933 in Mvomeka’a (Meyomessala sub
divison, Dja et Lobo division, South region) of the late Etienne Mvondo Assam and late
Mrs. Mvondo nee Anastasie Eyenga Elle
- First School
Leaving Certificate: June 1948 (Ndem Catholic Mission School)
- Saint Tharcissius Vocational Orientation School, Edea (1948 – 1950)
- Saint Joseph Monor Seminary,
Akono (1950 – 1954)
- B.E.P.C: June 1953
- Lycée Général Leclerc (1954 –
1956)
- Baccalauréat Part I: 1955
- Baccalauréat Part II:
(specialization: philosophy): June 1956
- Lycée Louis le Grand, Paris
- Université de la Sorborn,
Paris: Faculty of Law
- Institut des Etudes
Politiques (Institute for Political Studies), Paris
- Institut des Hautes Etudes
d’Outre-Mer, Paris
Degrees
Licence en Droit publique
(degree in public law), Diplôme de l’Institut d’Etudes Politiques, Diplôme de
l’Institut des Hautes Etudes d’Outre-Mer, Diplôme d’Etudes Supérieures en Droit
Publique (Post Graduate diploma in Public law).
Career
- Chargé de Mission at the
Presidency of the Republic: October 1962
- Director of the Cabinet of
the Minister of National Education: January 1964
- Secretary General of the
Ministry of National Education: July 1965
- Director of the Civil Cabinet
of the President of the Republic: December 1967
- Secretary General of the
Presidency of the Republic and Director of the Civil Cabinet: January 1968
- Minister, Secretary General
of the Presidency of the Republic: August 1968
- Minister of State, Secretary
General of the Presidency of the Republic: June 1970
- Prime Minister: 30 June 1975
- Prime Minister, successor of
the President of the Republic in case of vacancy, by virtue of law No. 79/02 of
June 1979 to amend the constitution.
- He became President of the
Republic, following the resignation of the former president on 6 November 1982
(constitutional succession). At his inauguration, he centered his action on the
democratization of political life, rigour in management, the moralization of
behaviour, and the strengthening of international cooperation.
- Elected President of the Cameroon National Union:
14 September 1983
- Elected President of the
Republic on 14 January 1984. Re-elected on 24 April 1988 and 11 October 1992
(first presidential election through direct universal suffrage with several
candidatures in Cameroon)
- Elected President of the
Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement after the transformation of the CNU into
the CPDM, on 24 March 1985 in Bamenda.
By promulgating the law on
Associations and political parties on 19 December 1990, Mr. Paul Biya restored
multiparty in Cameroon
(since 1st September 1966, the country had been under a
de facto one-party system). Today, over 200 political parties have been
legalized.
The CPDM gained an absolute
majority at the legislative elections of March 1997, and its candidate won the
presidential election of October 1997. Despite those victories, the President
of the Republic chose to form a cross-party government. Three parties are
represented in the government: the CPDM, the UNDP and the UPC. Seven parties
are represented at the National Assembly; the CPDM, the UNDP, the SDF, the UPC,
the UDC, the MLJD and the MDR.
Family Life
Mr. Paul Biya has been married
since 23 April 1994 to Chantal Biya, after his first wife died on 29 July 1992.
He has three children: Frank Biya, Paul Biya Junior and Anastasie Brenda Biya
Eyenga.
Honorary Distinctions
Mr. Paul Biya is a holder of
several decorations and honorary distinctions, including:
- Grand Master of the National
Orders (Republic
of Cameroon)
- Grand Cross of the Legion of
Honour (French Republic)
- Great Commander of the Medal
of St. George (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland)
- Grand Cross, special class
(Federal Republic of Germany)
- Grand Collier of the Order of
Ouissam Mohammadi (Kingdom
of Morocco)
- Grand Cross of the National
Order of Merit (Republic
of Senegal)
- Commander of the National
Order of Tunisia
- Doctor Honoris Causa from the
University of Maryland
Eastern Shore (USA)
- Honorary Professor of the University of Beijing
(People’s Republic of China)
- Laureate of the CEPS Award
(1998)
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