Ughito Zacharia: Civil Administrator of Exceptional Simplicity

To suggest in Cameroon that a civil administrator is a simple man is to jolt people to the edges of their seats. Yet, this is so because people have very distorted notions of simplicity. The Bible teaches us that while on earth, Jesus Christ was the simplest of human creatures. Jesus Christ’s simplicity did not come from the fact that he never challenged or abused somebody but rather from the fact that in the discharge of his duties on earth, he was both the accuser and the advocate. The scripture is very clear on the point that even in heaven where God is said to be all-too-compassionate, we have the accuser and the advocate. Jesus was wont to shout at people and embarrass the priests but too quick to give direction and to forgive.

The most interesting thing about simplicity is that it is not what you do or say but how people see you that makes you a simple man. We have people in Cameroon that have named their businesses and projects as simplicity. We know of the famous Simplicity Bookshop along the Bamenda Commercial Avenue but you would be surprised there is nothing simple about it as their rates remain the highest. Others have called themselves ‘simple men’ but have ended up being the most difficult set of people to deal with.

By qualifying Ughito Zacharia as an exceptional simple civil administrator is to emphasize the point that unlike other administrators, he walks the talk and talks the walk. He is so straight forward and frank to a point that those who flourish in underground activities would conclude that he is a difficult man. Ughito Zacharia does not say one thing and mean the other.

A Man of Action

His simplicity comes from the fact that he is more a man of action than a man of words. He would not start something that he would not finish. He would prefer not to initiate an action than to leave it half way. Everywhere he has worked, he has been noted for this character trait. When for example he decrees a day in his jurisdiction for clean-up campaign, he is seen at the forefront coordinating action. He does not sit in the office and wait for reports. Ughito Zacharia’s simplicity at times makes him teach by example. If he thinks his subjects do not understand him, he would demonstrate by example. This is a rare quality to find in today’s civil administrators. Ughito Zacharia is more of a practical man who can fit squarely in private and productive enterprise than in routine administrative work. His blood flows constantly. To understand this one must revisit his professional career to see where he is coming from:

So Far, So Steadfast

Ughito Zacharia has grown steadily from within the administration until 1999 when he was appointed 2^nd Assistant SDO. After spending five years in that position, he was transferred in same capacity to Bangem. His worth in these seven years was proven especially as hierarchy saw the level of resilience in him. This earned him the promotion as Divisional Officer for the all-too-challenging jurisdiction of Fura Awa at the Nigerian border. His work as a grassroots and community developer in this completely enclave zone took him over two years. His attachment to work and his zeal to give this hard-to-reach and underserved segment of the population a fresh lease of life almost took his life. It should be recalled that Ughito Zacharia survived a canoe accident in River Katsina Ala although his 1^st Assistant and the other companion was never too lucky. This unfortunate incident took place as the Ughito team was busy making sure the legislative and municipal elections of 2007 register huge success in his area of command. However, it took him hard work and determination to overcome these challenges. By 2009, he was transferred back to Donga/Mantung precisely as DO for Misaje where he worked there till 2011 where he was transferred to Tiko Sub Division in Fako Division.

His Mission in Tiko

Like every administrator would tell you, his mission is to maintain law and order and to promote development. He could also add that he fights high crime wave and disorder in public places. He will also address himself to rampant land conflicts, hygiene and sanitation issues as well as the transparent execution of government business. Ughito Zacharia is no different even as he adds a human and friendly touch to his mission statement. “I have come so that the people of Tiko feel the impact of government development in their environment”. This mission statement can only come from somebody who wants to make the difference. And the difference is clear in Tiko since he came. No sooner did he arrive than he put order into the motor bike and transporters’ sector in Tiko. No sooner did he arrive than he tracked down the terrorizing activities of one Eno James whose stock-in-trade was human parts. No sooner did he arrive than he squarely addressed the thorny issue of hygiene and sanitation thereby reducing the incidence of cholera in Tiko sub division. All there are challenging tasks that Ughito Zacharia has to live up to.

Challenges in Tiko

Perhaps the most outstanding one is that of frequent accidents at the Mutengene junction. An administrator that is interested in development would not rest in the face of numerous and uncalled for accidents. A forward looking administrator must be preemptive. Ughito Zacharia took measures to ensure that such risk zone junctions should be cleared of busy activities. That is why when the recent accident of a truck with brake failure had controllable damage. The calmness in Tiko sub division is also thanks in part to the civil administrator’s meditative abilities.

Ughito: The Devote Christian

A practicing Christian of the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon, Ughito owes all his achievements in life so far to the Almighty God. Without God, Ughito says, he would have been nothing. He thinks of the numerous challenges he has overcome, the Katsina River accident; the command challenging; and thanks God in a mighty way. He and his wife, Ayonpe Dorothy Manyi, as well as their four hard working and successful children always usually take off time from their busy schedule to thank God. It is one of these days that come up this Sunday July 29, 2012 at the Presbyterian Church Tiko town that the Ughito’s family invites friends, relations and collaborators to thank God for all the great things He has done to his family over the years. A man’s simplicity is also measured by such events. It is a mark of simplicity to know that it is not by might or by power but rather by the grace of God that you are what you are.

Who is Ughito Zacharia?

As stated earlier, he is Senior Divisional Administrative Officer better known in French as Administrateur Civil Principal. He holds a Diploma in Administrative Management following the 2004 in-service exam. He does not only hold conventional diplomas. Ughito Zacharia holds the traditional title of “Wambu” conferred on him by the traditional rulers of Mutengene for his leadership qualities. While in Bangem, he was already conferred the Knight of the Cameron National Order of Valor. After surviving the River Katsina Ala accident, many of his sympathizers have prayed God and the powers that be to confer him another title but the usually calm and forward-looking Ughito thinks that “God’s time is the best”. This son of Tezeh in Ngie sub division is a lover of development and has always been at the forefront of the Ngie Cultural and Development Association, NCADA. Through this, he encourages Ngie sons and daughters to support each other and to fight to get their own share of the national cake by constantly throwing their support behind President Paul Biya.

Being a man who always appreciates, Ughito Zacharia is always appreciative of the collaboration he has with municipal and traditional authorities in Tiko. He thinks of the mayor as a wonderful developer who realizes the projects he promises the population of Tiko. He recalls that when he came in, he was grossly misunderstood by the locals and traditional rulers of the Moungo but that today they share very cordial relationships.

He is grateful to his mentors and usually makes mention of administrators like Acha John Nwana, Mbu Peter, Simon Kamgu Patrick, Forzie Simon Nkeng and above all, his present hierarchy in the South West Region and especially the Fako SDO, whom he continues to learn from and to receive fatherly advice. He is part of the Golden Jubilee story as he is in Fako division when Buea will be hosting the 50^th anniversary of reunification, himself being 50 years old this year.

Lele L’Afrique Deben Tchoffo Adolph: Level-Headed, Unassuming Administrator

When one thinks of any ENAM product the first idea that comes to mind is repression and suppression. If the product is from the customs department a businessman or woman, especially those dealing with import/export thinks first cut throat custom duties, brutal seizure of goods and some other forms of trauma and psychological torture associated with such ways of life. If it is about a taxation official, the first idea that comes to mind is harassment and exorbitant taxes. This one is so visible that no businessman in Cameroon would want to have anything doing with a tax official. Through these unscrupulous tax officers, government has over the years tax many Cameroonians out of business. This would not have been a problem if the taxes went anyway closer to the central treasury. The evil thing about tax officials is that they prefer to land the businessman heavy taxes so he/she can resort to underground negotiation methods. The bribes they receive end up in their bank accounts and they buy flashy cars and fly our streets.

Then enters the civil administrator, the famous landlord or ‘Chef Terre’. This category of ENAM graduates is all visible, all knowing and all-present. They are found in every ring of public life. Since Cameroon independence and the replacement of colonial administrators by civil administrators, an average Cameroonian has appreciated civil administrators differently. Before the liberty laws in 1990 and before the reintroduction of multiparty democracy in Cameroon, civil administrators have virtually controlled every aspect of life in the sub divisions, divisions and provinces. They controlled the social, the cultural, the economic, and the political. They had to give a vignette of approval for every event to take place, public or private. They were the ones that ordered the tax drive. They ordered arrests and administrative detentions. They decided what amount of freedom a community should have. Individual freedom is the preserve of the civil administrator. With the introduction of liberty laws and a strong civil society, civil administrators have had the challenge of readjusting to the new landscape. Most of them have continued to resist change and to claim that as personal representatives of the Head of State, civil administrators were above the new laws. Some have continued to ignore all constitutional provisions that guarantee more rights and freedoms to the individual citizens. It is still commonplace to hear that a civil administrator violated an individual’s life and even ordered for his/her detention for upwards of 15 days renewable. Another category continues to rule by arêtes and orders, as if we were in the pre-1990 era. They use the pretext of “maintaining law and order” to harass and intimidate the citizens when modern administration demands dialogue and constant concertation.

President Paul Biya’s New Deal policy of bringing the administration closer to the people did not mean that civil administrators should operate like CIA agents policing every individual’s moves, prying into people’s affairs. It meant that civil administrators should change from operating like the village school headmaster to become facilitators of development every where they are assigned to work.

The Real Administrator

As stated earlier, a real administrator is one who is a facilitator of development in his assigned constituency. He is moderator and above all, a resource person to all development initiatives of the community. He is a link between the government and the governed. He is the custodian of laid-down norms of society. He is a reference, mentor and leader. He is a lover of people, not a “juju”. He is the first to be consulted and the last to be confrontational. Given the stress and the challenges that individuals and communities face in their daily struggles to make ends meet, civil administrators at least, the ones worth the salt, are supposed to be level-headed and with a high sense of good judgment. These are the character traits that immediately come to mind when one thinks of the new Governor of the North West Region.

Governor Lele Lafrique: An Epitome of Level-Headedness

March 23 to today July 23 marks Governor Lele Lafrique 120 days at the helm of leadership in the North West region. The 120 days have been marked by a certain quietude and serenity that no other Governor before him has enjoyed. Despite the tension created by former governor Abakar Ahamat few months before he was transferred, Governor Lele Lafrique has navigated through such waters without any major incident. Working against the background of his understanding that force is the weapon of the weak while dialogue and concertation is that of the strong, new North West Governor, Lele Lafrique has used his first 120 days to understand the Bamenda man. As a new administrator with a new mission and vision for the people of the North West, Governor Lele Lafrique has taken up time to tour all the seven divisions and some key sub divisions. During the tour, he took time off to listen to all and sundry and to dish out some pieces of advice where necessary.

At each lap of the visit, he pledged his total collaboration and availability to the people of the North West. He stressed the need for peace and unity and reminded all that there can be no development without peace.

The level-headed governor never minced words when it came to addressing ills that are plaguing the North West. He advised communities to desist from resorting to violence each time there is a boundary problem. As a typical grassfielder, he wondered why communities that have lived together for centuries suddenly turn round and start fighting and killing each other over a small parcel of land. The governor stressed that if someone has grown up in a community; he or she must know the boundary between that village and another and should not expect a civil administrator to show him the boundary. He however cautioned them that since all land belongs to the state, all land disputes be referred to the land consultative board. The soft-spoken civil administrator was keen to notice that most of the conflicts in the region were generated by elites who unfortunately preach peace during the day and violence and revenge during the night. He promised to work with all stakeholders in the region to see to it that intertribal wars are a thing of the past. The Governor’s level-headedness was demonstrated in triumphant detail when it came to working sessions and audiences. He received all and sundry, provided answers to all questions and all worries. As he ended up in Bamenda, he advised the population, especially a group of vagabonds that move round with a certain A.C Risky in the name of civil society to desist from creating conflict where there is none, and to seek the consent of the administration when they have any crisis. He also took time off to talk to motorcycle riders or “benskins” who do not seem to respect any laid-down rule. He advised them to be duty-conscious and to respect the prime minister’s text regulating the sector.

As a level-headed administrator, he has not been as highhanded as Abakar Ahamat. For his 120 days as Governor of the North West, he has attended public occasions where prayers have been said. He has not asked that no prayers be said at events that he presides. On the contrary, he has preferred to let sleeping dogs to lie. Unlike Abakar who suspended CAMCCUL meetings, Lele Lafrique has preferred to wait for Yaounde authorities. He even went ahead to authorize the holding of a CAMCCUL General Assembly Meeting recently at Azam Hotel where far-reaching resolutions were taken.

Lele Lafrique: An Unassuming Governor

Governors have come and gone in the North West. But no governor appears to be as simple and as easygoing as the new governor. No sooner did he arrive Bamenda on March 22, 2012 than news went round town that immediately the man checked into Ayaba Hotel, he soon disguised and hired a benskin to take him round town so he can see for himself how Bamenda vibrates. He was reported to have gone into the streets without any escort. Unlike his predecessors Governor Lele Lafrique is so unassuming and so simple that the post of Governor does not make his head big. He does not seem to like a lot of protocol and reason why when somebody gets to his office, he or she is received without any question as to class or position. For his unassuming nature, we say kudos and keep on keeping on, Governor Lele Lafrique.

Prof Edward Tafah Edokat: Bringing Honour To His Kinsmen

A prophet it has been stated, is never recognized at home. This assertion held true in Jesus’ time and still holds true today. Until his dead, Jesus was never hailed or recognized in his native Nazareth. With all the miracles he performed and with all the good work and preaching he did, nobody in Jerusalem hailed or honoured him. It is common knowledge that his kinsmen doubted everything he said or did. Each time he was in the limelight, natives in Jerusalem were heard questioning: “Is this not the son of Joseph”? To them, a son of Joseph could not do anything good. All what Jesus did meant nothing to all those who knew his background and his humble beginnings. That is why Jesus himself decided to go to other lands and perform his miracles of healing the sick and bringing the dead to life. In performing his earthly assignment, Jesus decided to go to other towns and cities distant from Jerusalem.

Prof Edward Tafah Edokat’s trajectory may not be the same like that of Jesus Christ. Point is, immediately after he was appointed and installed as the pioneer Vice Chancellor of the University of Bamenda, he was received and honoured by the Momo Fons Union that groups together over 150 traditional rulers. They assembled at the residence of the Vice Chancellor at Mile III Nkwen and crowned him with traditional honours. This singular recognition makes him stand out as a distinguished son of ngemba land. These traditional blessings bestowed on Prof Edward Tafah Edokat opened the door for other honours. The Fons of Momo saw in their son an eye opener and decided to be the first to recognize him.

Prof Edward Tafah Edokat was recognized with a red feather which is one of the highest traditional honours in our grassfield culture. This was in recognition of the development efforts he has been making in Momo division and more importantly, because of the great strides he has been making in moulding the youth, leaders of tomorrow. Prof Edward has for over the years been involved in the shaping and reshaping of the education landscape in Cameroon. He has trained many youths at the university level. Of all forms of development, human development is the best and the most rewarding. It is the best investment as education yields the best dividends.

Prof Edokat and May 20 Medal

After discovering the great work Prof Edokat has been doing in helping Paul Biya transform greater ambitions into greater achievements, government decided last May 20, 2012 to give him a medal. This medal was one of the highest honours a son of the North West has received in recent years. He was singled out last May 20, as an honourable Cameroonian who deserves to be recognized by the nation. The medal award of last May 20, 2012 was a culmination of achievements over the years and Prof Edward Edokat deserved such a recognition.

Prof Edokat: A Silent Achiever

It was late Prof…………, founding father of eth opposition SDF party and University don who when challenged by the press as to why he was never heard in parliament, he observed that there were two categories of people – those who make all the noise, that is verbiage, and those who go straight and make the point. What he meant was that there were some people in society who spend time seeking for notice and giving the impression that they are doing all the work while there are others who just do what is needed of them and go their way. This reasoning ties with Chinue Achebe’s philosophy when he wrote that “the lunatics may be outnumbered, but they own the place”. Before his appointment as Vice Chancellor of the University of Bamenda, Prof Edward was little known by Cameroonians. This is not the same as saying he was not achieving enough for Cameroonians to know him. Proof is that during his installation, it was the Minister of Higher Education who declared that Prof Edward Tafah Edokat was ‘academically and administratively’ ripe to handle any position in the university system. Prof Edokat has achieved a lot while in Dschang and other universities. He has been a silent achiever and nobody today doubts that he is an experienced administrator who has taken all his time to acquire managerial skills. Formerly Dean of the Faculty of Economic Science/Management at the University of Dschang, Prof Edokat has been ‘maitre de conference’ with a lot of outstanding innovations both at international and national levels. The 57 years old University don who hails from Oshie village in Momo division of the North West Region was already described by Prof Fame Ndongo during his installation as academically and administratively armed. His knowledge and experience in research and administration makes him fit for the challenging job of birthing the newly created University of Bamenda.

The Future Of UBa

The decree creating the University of Bamenda states clearly that it is an anglo saxon university. After creation Jacques Fame Ndongo christened it the university of the future. As a university of the future, Prof Edward is charged with the responsibility of making it look different from others. As the university of the future UBa is supposed to lead not follow. To lead, the university has to be a solution provider, not just an institution where degree holders are churned out at the end of each year. Prof Edward Tafah Edokat is therefore the future of the university of Bamenda. What the university becomes depends on what Prof Edward makes of it. Given his ability to produce results, it is clear Prof Edward would deliver the goods. Despite distractions from people like Prof Abety Peter who thinks that Prof. Edward Edokat should take instructions from him and his Bambili elites on how the university should be run, the level-headed Prof Edward is “going placidly about his job, amidst the noise and haste, remembering what peace there is in silence”. In less than six months, the university of Bamenda has already registered five schools and faculties. This means that in the next one or two years, the vision of the university of the future would be clearer for every North Westerner to see.

The Vice Chancellor of the university of Bamenda is an honourable gentleman from very humble beginnings. He is a genuine intellectual and those who were still doubting his capacity had time to discover him during the sixth management club organized by the Higher Institute of Management in Yaounde with the Bamenda city council on focus. He presented an intellectual discuss on the roadmap of the city council and this gave him a standing ovation. Continue to make us proud, Prof Edokat.

Bochong Francis: The Very Incarnation of Rigour & Moralization

Known in government and diplomatic circles as “Mr. Commonwealth” H.E Bochong Nkwain has over the years meant so many things to so many people. To his colleagues in government, Nkwain was the very incarnation of President Paul Biya’s policies of rigour and moralization. When his colleagues chose the easy way of only parodying what Biya meant by rigour and moralization, H.E Francis Nkwain chose the hard an only way - that of preaching and practicing rigour and moralization. There is no gainsaying the fact that while others paid lip service to rigour and moralization, H.E Francis Nkwain saw it as a way of life. It is probably for this reason that while most of his former colleagues ended up in prison, he continues to enjoy his freedom.

Wherever he worked, he was known for his strictness. He never believed in appropriating for himself what was not his. From very humble beginnings, he was brought up to understand that what made a man was his ability to resist taking what did not belong to him, even if he had the opportunity. As diplomat, Member of Parliament, Minister Delegate at the Presidency in charge of Relations with the Assemblies, Minister Mines, Water and Energy, and Minister Delegate at the Ministry of External Relations in charge of Commonwealth affairs, H.E Francis Nkwain gave his all, without bothering what went into his personal accounts. Unlike other ministers who made kickbacks the order of the day in any of their transactions, Nkwain preferred to live within his means, thanking President Biya each day for having given him an opportunity to give back to Cameroon. When time came to quit government, he preferred to move straight home to his native Njinikom in Boyo division, even as his colleagues remained in Yaounde to continue to influence government business and politics.

Nkwain - The Distinguished Cameroonian

Nkwain is one of the most celebrated Cameroonian today. Both at government and traditional circles, he has received and continues to receive distinctions that set him aside others. Only last May 20, 2012, President Paul Biya decided to distinguish him in Bafoussam, West Region with one of the highest honours of the land. This national order distinction or grand cordon came to add to the numerous medals he has received at various stages of his life. At the traditional level, his retirement to the village gave the Kom people the opportunity to reward him with one of the highest titles of the land - that of ‘Bochong Akou’ or the ‘Bochong of the forest’. Not many people in Kom land ever succeed in getting this title. Today as Board Chair of the University of Dschang, President Biya feels obliged to recognize him as an illustrious servant of the state who has offered selfless services to the nation.

Nkwain - The Last Remaining Pillar of Rigour and Moralization

After the official medal award ceremony in Bafoussam, Nkwain true to self decided to organize a separate ceremony back at home with his people. The occasion last week was an opportunity for him to publicly demonstrate his support to President Paul Biya for the ongoing fight against corruption. The former minister went ahead to offer a special mass for President Biya in Njinikom so as to pray for him to continue with the good fight. During the event, Nkwain argued that it was the responsibility of Cameroonians to pray for Biya without necessarily waiting for Biya to ask to be prayed for. The heavily attended event was testimony of people’s attachment to Biya’s current drive to curb corruption and embezzlement of public funds. Unlike former PM Achidi Achu, who is reported to have remarked that if President Biya consulted him, he would have advised against arrest of top government ministers, Nkwain continue to think that Biya needs to be encouraged to do more.

Nkwain - The Unassuming Man

Many who have come across Nkwain maintain that although he is sometimes so demanding, they are lucky to have known him and to have been recipients of his sometimes gruff advice, his often gentle encouragement, and his always caring conscience. He mixes freely both with people of the upper class and the commoner. In the village he attends all kinds of events ranging from ‘born house’ through ‘cry-dies’ to marriage and political events. He does not set himself above others and does not see an event too insignificant for him to attend if he is free. That makes him a down-to-earth politician.

Nkwain - The Family Man

Although seen by his children while still growing up as a strict father, he is today respected as a father who performed his responsibilities just too well. He is considered to have played a unique and important role in the lives of his children. As mentor, protector, and provider, Nkwain is seen today to have fundamentally influenced the shape and direction of his children’s characters by giving love, care, discipline, and guidance. As we observe father’s month this June, many people, not only his children pay tribute to him as model father and father-figure. Since raising up a child requires significant time, effort and sacrifice, Nkwain must be praised for his ability to balance work and family time to take care of his children.

As his children influence society today in various ways, the value of Nkwain as a father comes to fruition. Knowing that responsible fatherhood was important to a healthy and civil society, Nkwain made sure his contribution to this nation never ended just at the level of government. Since children learn by example, there is no doubt that Nkwain’s children are proud representatives of their father, everywhere they are in society.

Nkwain - The Politician

As substantive member of the CPDM central committee for Boyo, Nkwain has maintained the flame of the party in this predominantly opposition area for over 20 years. His contribution to the growth of the CPDM in Boyo and the North West cannot be challenged. He has been central committee delegation leader to both the North West and South West Regions especially when it comes to resolving conflicts. Today he is in charge of conflicts in the CPDM central committee where he uses his wisdom to keep the party united. Even in the midst of opposition heat, Nkwain continued to implant the CPDM in his native Kom. He even risked his life and that of the family when in the 90s SDF vandals went round burning houses of suspected CPDM supporters. Being a former CPDM parliamentarian for Kom, Nkwain today is a repertoire of politics in the North West. As adviser to the North West Coordination of CPDM section presidents, Nkwain enjoys a lot of popularity amongst local CPDM leaders in the North West.

Nkwain - The Developer

Many critics have continued to go home with the impression that Nkwain has been stranger to development in Boyo. On the contrary, Nkwain remains the single Boyo man to date who has contributed in every small way to development efforts in every part of Boyo. As minister, he was patron to every village and quarter development meeting, especially at fundraising occasions. This had to do with scholarships and provision of water back home. Try thinking that he did not work for the tarring of the Bambui-Fundong road thus making Fundong the only divisional headquarters then to be linked to the provincial headquarters by tar road and we remind you other divisions around Cameroon that have had stronger ministers and did not impact their communities in any way. Need not remind you that it is thanks to Nkwain’s involvement that Kom-Bum was finally raised to a division thereby gaining independence from Menchum division. Nkwain is all these, plus more to the Cameroonian of goodwill.