PREVIEW OF SPEECH BIYA WILL MAKE IN BUEA
By Tikum Mbah Azonga, PhD / Doctorat Mass Communication
There is no longer any doubt that President Paul Biya will sooner or later, visit the South West Regional Headquarters of Buea for celebrations marking Cameroon’s fiftieth year of reunification. So far gone are preparations for the jamboree than any about-turn would be counter-productive, for both the government and the people who have eagerly waited for it for close to a year now.
Those preoccupations aside, there are obvious tell-tale signs all over Buea that something is in the offing and that an important personality is about to come to town. Already, the population of Buea is beginning to enjoy the facelift that is part of the groundwork for the visit and the event. The locality has been considerably spruced up and given a new look.
Even so, surely, behind the reunification celebration is the desire on the part of the government to serve other purposes and thus shoot several birds with one stone. Such outings by the President of the Republic are usually an occasion for him to announce major projects to the host population, and by extension, the nation. During his last trip to the North West Region, for instance, he declared amidst a round of applause, the imminent completion of the Ring Road project. Nonetheless, many people interested in the project prefer to wait and see because the president’s previous pronouncements on the same projects have so far not led to the project being concluded. While in Bamenda, the president also announced the impending harnessing of the Mentchum Waterfalls, the construction of a reference hospital in the region and, of course, the opening of the state University of Bamenda.
In the case of the South West Region, the President is likely to make a statement about the future of the much awaited Limbe Deep Sea Port, especially as that of Kribi has been launched. The Tiko wharf, if refurbished, could greatly open up business opportunities with Nigeria and even Equatorial Guinea. So, will the people have their wharf after all? Still in Tiko, the longstanding airport of that town could be rehabilitated, and perhaps by extension the other airports of the region and the country.
This visit is coming hot on the heels of the announcements made by government that tramways are to be installed in some of the major cities of Cameroon, to ease the problem of urban transportation. The South West does does not have a stadium worthy of the name, despite the on-and-off talk of one being constructed in Limbe. Will Paul Biya seize the opportunity of this visit to give South Westerners the good news, then? Yet, for decades, the region has been actively participating in sports activities, thereby providing the population with a much appreciated means of social interaction. They need a symbolic gesture to reward them for that fidelity and to stay them on a focused course.
Ever since the creation of the national oil refinery, Sonara, there has been a general feeling in the region that although oil is produced there, it is benefitting other regions such as the Littoral which is home to the national economic capital, Douala, more than the South West Region. Will the Head of State redress the balance? Of all the Divisions in the region, Lebaliem is the only one that has not had a cabinet minister, and they have complained about it at the least opportunity. Will their clarion call now be heeded?
Regarding road infrastructure, although the road linking Buea to Kumba has now been improved and a good road links Bamenda to Ekok through Bali and Batibo, traveling between Kumba and Mamfe is still a nightmare, so is entering and leaving Akwaya Sub Division in Manyu Division. The public is waiting to hear what the president will say about these grievances.
The president will be watched closely for what he may say about the incarcerated Former Prime Minister and Head of Government, Ephraim Inoni who also happens to be one of the leading Chiefs of the South West. He is the traditional ruler of Bakingili village in Fako Division. Inoni’s imprisonment has divided the South West Region and it would be interesting to see exactly what the Head of State will do to heal the wounds while in Buea.
Paul Biya is coming to the South West when the dust is just settling after the strike staged by students of the University of Buea and the trials initiated by the institution’s administration as well as the sentences that ensued. Hostilities have and calm has virtually returned to the campus. If this state of affairs persists while the president is in Buea, he will no doubt praise those who have contributed to it. If on the other hand there happens to be a resurgence or an escalation, then he will surely slam his hand on the table in order to bring people to reason. If he does that, then heads will inevitably roll. Whatever is the case, peace must be made to reign at the university so that its initial purpose can be restored and pursued to a successful end.
The CPDM which is the country’s ruling party and that of which the president of the Republic is national chairman will definitely use the visit to highlight and showcase the party’s activities, hopes and aspirations. Local party officials will shower praises on their chairman and assure him that following that victory, the CPDM is now set to sweep all the seats at the municipal and legislative elections billed for September 30 of this year. The SDF which is the leading opposition party and the People’s Action Party (PAP) -whose leader Ayah Paul Abine did comparatively well at the presidential election – may beg to differ. But they may not have the opportunity to retort at once, since they may not be present at the celebration where speeches will be made.
From that perspective, it can be concluded that the fiftieth anniversary of the country’s reunification in Buea is an event during which a good number of other things are expected to happen. Whether they do happen or not is a totally different ball game.
FOOTNOTE
This story is an adaptation of a paper first broadcast on FOUNDATION RADIO, FM 100 -The Voice of the Voiceless-Mile 6, Ngomgham-Mankon, Bamenda, Cameroon on Wednesday the 17th of July 2013.
FOUNDATION RADIO is part of The Fomunyoh Foundation (TFF) headed by Dr. Chris Fomunyoh.
WE WANT TO PUT FOUNDATION RADIO AT THE TOP AND KEEP IT THERE!
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