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.