ELECAM Appointments: Looking at Mr Biya's Gift Horse in its Mouth

It's customary for some people to make presents to loved ones at the end of the year. President Paul Biya certainly had this in mind for his people (certainly his pals) when he finally appointed the members of the election management (supervisory) board - that is Elections Cameroon. Or did he? African home-training requires that if a father provides a gift one should not look too deeply at the matter. But can that hold in this case?

Here are the members of the ELECAM council:

Cecile Mbomba Nkolo, Dorothy Limunga Njeuma, Abdoulaye Babale, Massi Ngams, Thomas Ejake Mbonda, Justin Ebanga Ewodo, Effa Ndono Pierre Bekono, Sadou Daoudou née Ledibawa, Adamou Ali, Fonkam Azuh. The President of the council is Fonkam Azuh and the vice President is Maître Justin Ebaga Ewodo.(Excuse me if I got the spellings wrong - I picked this up from listening to national radio)

After about 20 years in the university system in Cameroon as Director of the Advanced School of Translators and Interpreters of Buea, vice-Chancellor of the University of Buea and Rector of University of Yaounde I, Dr Dorothy Limunga Njeuma is bidding bye to running campuses. Already a member of one of the African Union's arms with regards to governance (peer review mechanism?) maybe it was time for her to start focusing exclusively on political governance in Cameroon. Who knows - that may have been Mr Biya's logic in appointing this member of the Politburo of the ruling Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (CPDM).   

Cecile Mbomba Nkolo made a rapid entrance and exit in government as Minister for Social Affairs or was it Women's Affairs. But she remained steadfast in the CPDM attending most rallies for the Mfoundi section. Now she is back in business!

Fonkam Azuh served as deputy secretary general at the National Assembly. This law professor seemed quiet but regularly featured in most "elite" meetings in the North West region.He was often interviewed on important national (sometimes regional) political matters by the CRTV.  Did I once see him sporting a CPDM regalia? That could be checked. What is certain is that the man is now at the helm of ELECAM.

Do you think Paul Biya had the following thought in mind while deciding on Fonkam Azuh as the President of the ELECAM Council: "Now these "graffie" people can leave me in peace! They are in-charge of a strategic institution in the country!"  If you are used to Cameroon's politics of regional balance it could be that after a decade of a "South Westerner" - Diane Acha-Morfaw (Lebialem division) practically managing NEO or ONEL (ELECAM's predecesor) it is almost natural that "real graffies" take their turn!

As a reminder, while Diane Acha-Morfaw was "only" vice-President of the National Elections Observatory (NEO/ONEL), she had as Presidents: the ailing Enoch Kwayeb (who finally kicked the bucket) and the not so present Francois Mbuyoum. Both were Bamilikés or let's say graffies on the Francophone side.

Maître Ebanga Ewodo also served at ONEL for years. And he seems to be the only one to have survived the change of electoral supervisory bodies. Is it because he was the most conscientious of all? He is now vice-President. Would be as powerful as Diane Acha-Morfaw?

Thomas Ejacke Mbonda. Former Governor of the South West Province (excuse me - Region). He was commander in chief in the region during the 2005 riots at the University of Buea that led to several deaths mostly due to heavy use of live ammunition by forces of law and order. In the aftermath of the unrest, he was relieved of his duties as Governor or promoted to the higher rank of Inspector General in the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Decentralisation.  Now he is back to the core supervising crucial matters e.g. elections.

Those are my first thoughts on Biya's New Year Gift to the People of Cameroon. What about you? What are your views on this pack of election managers?

Comments

[Enow]

Gef,

I can describe the way I feel in only three words, the first is "disappointment", the second is "disappointment", and the third is "disappointment".

Mr Biya has made it abundantly clear to those that had any doubts, that he has no intention to relinquish power anytime soon.

I can still remember some of the conversations we had at the BHC following the "missed opportunity" of the 2007 parlaimentary and council elections in Cameroon. We were considering the options that were left for Cameroon and for Mr. Biya, in the time between his "big win" to the next presidential election - 2011

We pondered the possibility of Mr. Biya chosing an honorable exit by accelerating the implementation of decentralisation and implement pro-poor policies to improve the lot of the Cameroonian people; ensuring that ELECAM, through its composition meets the minimum requirements for an organ that is independent enough and capable of organising truely transperent elections in 2011 where Mr. Biya will not be candidate (we thought he would pick someone from the inner circles of the CPDM to succeed him as candidate for the CPDM).

This was just one of the possibilities, but for some reason we kind of thought it was the more likely one - and wished thats the one he would take.

Were we just being over optimistic or were we simply underestimating Biya's determiniation to hang in to power, or better still, his commitment to ruin the country?

Well, Mr. Biya had other plans for Cameroon.

The first signal came a couple of months later with his decision to "accept the call from the people" for the modification of art.6.2 of the constitution - it was a very bad sign.

Now with ELECAM composed essentially of CPDM faithfuls, Mr. Biya has made it clear that he has no intention to "leave Cameroon in Peace".

I am so dissappointed because I still thought that Mr. Biya would have learnt from what is happening around the continent.

Now he has chosen to go the path of "je m'en fou" Shall he bring himself, and Cameroon, for that matter to the village of "si je savais"? And what if Mr. Biya is knowingly taking us there?

Shall we sit there and watch him take us to our demise? And what about our individual and collective responsibility to stand up and say NO to the destruction of our beloved country?

Can the Cameroonian people rise to the occassion? Can we turn the bus around - from its course, and bring it to another place. A place of hope, opportunity, prosperity and development.Or have we accepted this tragic destiny?

What are our options as a people, as a nation?

The world is watching, and history will judge you and I

God Save Cameroon!!

Have a Blessed week