Book Launch: Paul Biya -The People's Call

By George Esunge Fominyen

If you are interested in a genre of political literature called "motions of support" then there is a new book on the shelves in Cameroon for your reading pleasure: Paul Biya: The People's Call. It is a 336 page compilation of motions of support to Cameroon’s President Paul Biya packaged by the Cameroon Publishing Corporation (SOPECAM). 

The first of four parts of the book republishes motions of support requesting Paul Biya to stand for election in 2011 for another 7-year- term. Part 2 compiles motions of support from different parts of Cameroon "thanking" the President for appointing their sons or daughters in government or other high duties. The third part includes the messages sent to Paul Biya after reports about his "supposed ill-gotten wealth and lavish spending on holiday in Europe". The final part focuses on motions of support for the anti-graft operation dubbed sparrow hawk (Epervier).

“The book is a testimony of communication between a people and their leader,” Philemon Yang the country’s Prime Minister said at the book launch on Monday. “It is a healthy two-way flow of messages," he added.

According to Philemon Yang, the President acknowledged the motions of support in his letter to the nation that marked his 27th anniversary in power. Paul Biya said he had heard the appeals and motions of support the people have been sending to him.

"I thank you for them, very sincerely. They are the most eloquent signs of encouragement addressed to me in the discharge of my responsibilities at the helm of State," the Cameroon Head of State wrote in his 3 November 2009 letter.

The Prime Minister described the book as "a landmark in the political history of our Fatherland." He said "for many years, future generations would read it and try to understand many issues that perhaps today we take for granted.”

It's understood that everyone has a right to their thoughts and convictions. Prime Minister Yang is thus entitled to speak of two-way communication between President Biya and the people he rules.

One simply wonders why the Head of State has not responded to a young rapper called Valsero who many months ago wrote "a letter to the President" about the plight of the country's masses (particularly the youth).

Does the President only listen and respond to people who say he is "great" and "almighty"? Is he just too busy? Why does his “two-way” communication not work with people who say "beyond the peace or absence of conflict Cameroon is in really bad shape?"

In the next few paragraphs, I have attempted a translation from French into English of Valsero's piece. It doesn't reflect the rythm and poetry of the original text but it is a useful English version of an alternative "voice" to the ones published in Paul Biya: The People's Call:

"Excuse me Presi* (President) I need to talk to you,
There are so many folks who claim to speak in your name. They always speak and no one else talks. They defend your policies and claim they are implementing your programmes.  So, is it you who decided to exclude us from all good things?

Presi, I want to know - why aren't things working for us? After so many years of education, I still can’t find a job.  Do you remember you promised that we had seen the light at the end of tunnel? It seems we're still stuck in the tunnel and the  same old folks are still at the top.

On the streets the young girls have no choice; they have to sell their bodies. They are not even sixteen but they do not have a choice! It seems school leads to nothing so young boys sell their arses.  And in all of that your ministers drive through the streets in big  Prados** with government number plates.

Presi, please put an end to this; that is your job or Insh’Allah***, I swear someone else would do it for you. The people can’t stand it anymore; the youths are fed up; we also want a taste of that honey or else we’ll pack you off.

Your friends live in this country as if they were visitors. They amass fortunes as if they were armed robbers. They are so arrogant they frustrate the people. They break the rules and do what they like. It would seem they want to make you look like a fool and show that you are no longer in control and cannot manage the situation. 

They have only have one dream which is to replace you – succeeding you is a declared objective

Presi, Cameroon is not fine (well). Notwithstanding the peace, Cameroon is reeling. Cameroonians are being sacrificed, they are hungry and many  just want to runaway (migrate).

Presi, you are the man in-charge. The only one to provide security to the common man; Please don’t turn-away or like in February the youths would go mad****.

Presi, the youths no longer have dreams; Presi they can’t bear it any longer; Presi the majority have fallen prey to crime and While the rest of the world is advancing we (in Cameroon) are only going backwards.

Presi, your mates (aides) are not helping you; but it would seem you are (in fact) not of much help either. They embezzle state funds but you don’t react; and when they change sides you send your thugs to chase them.

Please Presi, stop this.  Your system is too weak and displays a lot of loopholes. Let's repeat twice it's really weak. Do your job, do your job and your job is to put an end to all this. Presi stop it or I swear someone else would do it for you.

Presi, all the people want is to know if you are working for them or against them. It is for you to react because the threat is real. 

Presi, the people are strong, although some say they they are dead. The people are sovereign, they are never wrong; They can tell you that you are wrong.  We are not scared of death; even if your mates call the police as back-up. 

They tell you , you are the Lion Man but they have only one dream: to shoot the lion.

 They prone repression; but I tell you what: the use of force against one’s people is really stupid. Listen to your people when they say "no". The may be noisy but they  have a reason for that (or they are right).

Presi, what are your plans? Presi, do you have solutions [to these problems]? Because things have to change here or there’ll be a new reign.

Presi, please put an end to this; that is your job or Insh’Allah***, I swear someone else would do it for you. The people can’t stand it anymore; the youths are fed up; we also want a taste of that honey or else we’ll pack you off."

What has been the feedback or two-way communication regarding this message?

*Presi: is a Cameroonism for President.

**Prado: It is an expensive 4x4 Japanese made (Toyota) SUV.

***Insh'Allah: By God's will

****In February 2008 there were widespread riots variously described as protests against President Biya's bid to change the constitution to scrap term limitation or protests against the high cost of basic commodities (food riots)

Comments

[Daniel Teba]

who is we? The same idiots who print that rubbish. Only one type of person can say they have won an election before the event...A Rigger!

[Unknown]

thats true my dear. I am in support of you and your comment.The Idiot mentioning we are those responsible for the down fall of our country.They give praises for no achievements.They want to rigg and win the election again and place the country in another Crisis for 7 years as they have always done.I weep for Cameroon in the hands of the CPDM.Oh our beloved country when shall we be free and when shall our youths stop travelling out of the country because of economic hardship caused by the present government for 27 years and yet they want to claim another mandate to completely destroy the country. Obama come to our Aid.

[slomo]

mind you, its printed in Sopecam, with tax payers money.... oh come on boy.

[Man]

This is rediculous, how can someone who has been the president for 27 years be supported to stand for presidential election for another 7 years again? The so-called president has been there even before some of us were born. I heard of him as president when I was in kindergarden and he is still the president even after my Ph.D. My beloved cameroonian brothers and sisters, how do you expect me to be happy living in a country with such selfish leader? Well, for those who are in support of this, you need to think twice.

[Mbuli Rene]

When that faithful day will come, the wind will blow to the WEST and we shall see the depth of the hen's anus. Let he who has ears listen.

[writing dissertation]

I want to incorporate in here a statement I read somewhere. Sorry if I can't share with all of you the exact article where I got it from because of my absent-mindedness. But the statement goes like this "the people should not fear its government. it should be the other way around". If the citizens feel that their rights and privileges are not being met, then they have all the power to change their leaders.

[super real]

That's the kind of image that i really thing is super image like. If more images very real like this were out there we'd be super full of graet images in the world.

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