WHAT I RECALL ABOUT THE ROUGH TRANSITION BETWEEN PRESIDENT AHIDJO AND PRESIDENT PAUL BIYA OF CAMEROON BETWEEN 1982-1995
As Cameroonians brace for yet another political transition, I began to discuss the past in a bid to prepare us to face the future like matured and reasonable people. In 1982, I was in form one at the Presbyterian Secondary School Mankon as a junior grammar student, excited and curious about studies. It was fun for me to be a boarding student in a prestigious Presbyterian mission Grammar School. One bright morning in October 1982, after breakfast, we were basking ourselves under the warm sunshine (vitamin D). Out of a sudden, there was some commotion and noise, loud talks and commingled noise, which came from the senior students. They were more informed than some of us the junior students. What had surfaced, as news item that shock the political landscape of the country was that our “President” had resigned and power was handed down smoothly to the Prime Minister who was Mr. Paul Biya.
I learned that he had resigned because his health was fast deteriorating. I believed what was said and there were no qualms about the issue because it had come to our notice that the President was not very healthy. The fact is that many Cameroonians were surprised when Adhijo resigned as President and handed over to his Prime Minister. It was unbelievable that he would resign because he was gradually transforming himself into lifetime President. Even though he had ruled Cameroon as a dictator for 30 years many citizens hailed and respected him so much and I may argue that people were used to the system and many were brain washed while others had to be obedient or else face the odds. Yet, when he resigned many Cameroonians immediately switched their attention toward the new “President” as they yearn for somebody "new".
Prime Minister Paul Biya becomes the next Dictator of Cameroon in 1982
According to the constitution of the country, in the event where the President resigned or become incapacitated, the Prime minister was automatically seated as President. I don’t know if the constitution did make any provision for election to be conducted after the Prime minister took office. But, I do not bother that I have not provided this information because no such things existed in a totalitarian regime. When Mr. Paul Biya became the next dictator, he had the prerogative power to alter the constitution to suit him. He could choose to organize election or simply impose himself as President as long as he wanted. Of course that is exactly what happened. He came to power with his own agenda under the same totalitarian system of government.
After all, he was Prime Minister and was very versed with the political machinery of one party rule that he was part and parcel of. Cameroonians were convinced by the “king makers” that he was the right person to lead the country since he was acclaimed as President. In that connection there was no need for election and nobody could dare challenge that. Majority of Cameroonians were cajoled to embrace him wholeheartedly as a new leader. He toured the country and greeted the people. After he successfully reached out to the people, he returned to the capital, Yaoundé, as next dictator spanning the year 1982-1984. It was also during that period that he enjoyed his honeymoon as President preceding the popularity that was growing after he had toured the country. One would imagine that he would settle down peacefully afterwards but he had to face a major conspiracy.
The Conspiracy to overthrow President Paul Biya.
In 1984, a plot was staged in order to overthrow him. It was alleged that the brain behind it was his predecessor. The agreement with his predecessor to resign was attributed to his failing health situation. It was alleged that he was advised to resign as the best option because his life was short- lived if he had to continue shouldering the colossal duties of President. He was obedient to the will of the Doctor and in that way he precipitated his resignation. Even though he resigned, he thought that he would continue to be the Chairman of the ruling party that was still CNU, while his Prime Minister, Mr.Biya Paul would be President of the country. From every indication, I am guessing that such discussions transpired between them before he finally agreed to peacefully resign. If he continued as chairman, it meant he would indirectly have an undue influence over the President in terms of the business of the country. For goodness sake, it would have been a surprise to me if Mr. Paul Biya had succumbed to such a political fantasy.
As soon as he was officially acclaimed as President, he rapidly changed his mind and some internal conflicts took place within party ranks pitying the former President and the latter between 1982-1984. I consider that period a transition and political reawakening for both of them since it dawned on Ahidjo that his end had come unexpectedly while it paved a smooth way for his successor. Yet, it was a major diplomatic victory for the French Government, which had grown tired of some of Ahidjo’s policies, probably affecting their interest in Cameroon. In the same vein, it also marked a new beginning for his successor who in a stream of self- consciousness was very sensitive to the sinister plans of his predecessor.
His powers were taken, he had fallen and had no control over anybody including the Biya who was his prime minister and friend. That was the immediate lesson of signing off as President. He probably did not the know the implication of his actions but everything worked for the ultimate good of his successor. Following that state of affairs within the party, I learned with dismay that a “bloody coup” was precipitated to overthrow President Paul Biya. I did not know when that was plotted and who was behind it. In any case, it was alleged that his predecessor wanted a comeback as President after they could not agree over power sharing. When the plot to overthrow his successor failed, he fled the country for the better because, there was no joke about it, the same people who bowed before him when he was President would have arrested him and killed.
He knew that Paul Biya would not tolerate his presence in the country following that power struggle and besides he was a suspect in the failed coup. To be on the safe side, he left to Morocco on self -exile. He died in Morocco and his corpse have not been returned to his home country. It is believed that President Paul Biya and his administration cannot allow his corps to return for the meanwhile because it would arouse a lot of hysteria among his die heart supporters and that might cost him politically. To be on the safe side, he preferred to leave the corps there. One fact though was that after the coup failed Ahidjo was blamed for masterminding it in order to kill the President. That was a crime punishable by death if he was found guilty. A hasty military tribunal did try Ahidjo in absentia and found him guilty.
He was sentenced to death and a warrant of arrest was issued for his arrest but he was never arrested. However, his assets were confiscated and account in the country frozen. One cannot doubt the fact that all such things were politically motivated, as a scheme to suppress his followers and to bring order into the country again due to confusion, fear and insecurity after the coup was abortive. Some Cameroonians still believe that after Ahidjo shall be buried in Cameroon some day in the future. He is widely respected and acclaimed as one of the architects and founding fathers of the independence of the country and had impacted the country in different ways for 30 years.
He was sentenced to death and a warrant of arrest was issued for his arrest but he was never arrested. However, his assets were confiscated and account in the country frozen. One cannot doubt the fact that all such things were politically motivated, as a scheme to suppress his followers and to bring order into the country again due to confusion, fear and insecurity after the coup was abortive. Some Cameroonians still believe that after Ahidjo shall be buried in Cameroon some day in the future. He is widely respected and acclaimed as one of the architects and founding fathers of the independence of the country and had impacted the country in different ways for 30 years.
The abortive coup worked in the interest of President Biya because it ignited sympathy and support for him among a majority of Cameroonians. To begin with, he was fresh in power and very promising to many people who wanted him “just for a change”, you know. Of course, there were others who really wanted Ahijo back but generally, many had mixed feelings about the coup especially as they did not know the real circumstance behind it. Many Cameroonians were ignorant and could not figure out the internal struggles for power within the system. Mr. Biya ‘s life was saved partly due to the fact that he was very popular at the time and people were certain that a change of leadership would make a difference. However, after the coup, there was an outcome.
The Transformation of the President Paul Biya into an Enlightened Despot
It was an abortive coup yet it only made things worst because it transformed him into another different kind of dictator. In due course, he consolidated his powers and made political arrests, tortures and imprisonments. Many of the people behind the coup were killed and majority of them were the supporters of his predecessor. He went ahead, like his predecessor to have a firm grip on the nation. He was the man in control and he reshuffled his cabinet and filled key positions with his own tribesmen. It is not unusual because any Cameroonian would do the same thing after overcoming an assassination attempt. It was done for the sake of guaranteeing his own security.
In 1995, he began carrying out sweeping political changes and one of such dramatic changes was the formation of “his own” party. As Prime minister under one party rule, he was bound to pay an unquestionable allegiance to the CNU party of Ahidjo. Now he wanted his own party that will bear the stamp of his own political ideology and with which his followers and administration will identify with. That was his dream when he became President. He too, like his predecessor wanted to become Chairman of the party and also President of the country.
Therefore, it was certainly embarrassing that his former boss wanted to change the rules of the game during his own turn as President. In that way, he launched what he called the “New Deal Congress”. It was preceded with the building of a big congress house in Bamenda, the base of his political power at the time. No doubt Bamenda (English Speaking part of Cameroon) was chosen as the birthplace of his party in 1985 as a political strategy to cajole the English speaking Cameroonians. The big picture in the wake of the “New Deal Congress” was to assemble all Cameroonians and unite them under the same thinking cap, which was the CPDM.Such a congress also sent a strong message that CNU was dissolved and was not a recognized political party anymore in the country. Everybody was forced to identify with the CPDM and participate in the activities of the party.
It was that congress, too that marked the beginning of another severe form of enlightened despotism. Anybody who associated with CNU was at risk. His opponents that were staunched supporters of his predecessor were tracked down and held as political prisoners. Biya immediately scrapped off the post of Prime Minister and was the only “king of the jungle”. Imagine, the same post that he had occupied before coming to power, was the one that he erased. He made several changes including mutilation of the constitution in order to built a power cult around himself, toughen security around himself, made very crucial appointments, mostly his ethnic men and women and coaxed ethnic groups by appointing ministers from very specific tribes.
He advertised ministerial posts and other crucial positions as a reward to anyone who was ready to propagate the doctrine of “New Deal Congress”. It was a package of loud sounding and flashy ideals that were hardly translated into practice. Many Cameroonians who had fled the country under the reign of his Predecessor made a patriotic come back. Some immediately became faithful and profited from the system. Those who did not comply with his ways were tortured in various ways. Still, some Cameroonians, who had fled the country since the days of his predecessor and after the coup, were still skeptical when he purported that all Cameroonians were welcome back home. It is commonplace that anybody who poses as a threat to such dictators in Africa are always a target. If they don’t succeed to buy one over, they will seek alternative means to deal with them. That is the more reason why many Africans intellectuals who were outspoken fled their countries prior to the introduction of multiparty politics.
After the congress of 1985, we expected the best for our country. We thought we had seen the light of another new day in Cameroon. It not was long, Mr. Biya became something else. Cameroonians started complaining and questioning his powers and governance. I experienced widespread dissatisfaction with his rule at the turn of each year. Me, too I started questioning as I learned about democracy and western powers. Unfortunately, time was running out for Mr.Biya because the world was opening up to rapid democratic changes. The wind of change did not avoid blowing in Cameroon especially when some of his key opponents could not continue to withstand his dictatorship. His greatest challenge was to appease and contain the English part of Cameroon who had issues with “La Republique du Cameroun” after the reunification in 1961.
We, Cameroonians are still searching for common grounds and meaning out of this situation. We do not necessarily blame the French and the British for our circumstance. We don’t even know how Cameroon would look like today if it was not divided in that manner. All we bother about is how do we make the best out of the situation so that Cameroonians can be comfortable and enjoy life as any other nation. Many Americans who are not acquainted with the history of Cameroon may not know about this. It is my experience of Cameroon struggling to end one party rule and dictatorship. Cameroon is unique, often known as Africa in miniature and the most peace loving country in Africa.
The spirit and desire for democracy
As Mr. Paul Biya finished the job of becoming a dictator, he was just about to relax like the rich fool in the Bible. Little did he know that he had not pleased the English speaking Cameroonians.Mr Biya’s greatest critics were the English Cameroonians because after the plebiscite in 1972 during which the two states were merged together, the English people of Cameroon had expected that it was for good but in due course it turned out that it was a trick.
Such assimilation resulted to subjugation and marginalisation in every aspect of the country in terms of ministerial appointments, distribution of resources, employment, budgeting, economic opportunities, infrastructure and education. Some outspoken political figures of the English speaking Cameroon who had earlier on participated in his one party rule began to be concerned about the political future of the country and especially the situation of the English speaking Cameroonians. When the plans to start another political party were hatched I was still in Grammar school but it finally materialized when I was in high school.
Prior to the launching of the Social Democratic Front, SDF as the first main opposition party to challenge the one party rule under Dictator Paul Biya, they were tracks circulated and news had spread through the country, and especially in Bamenda, the birthplace of the party. Great plans were made such as connection with the international news media and organizations about such an unprecedented event in the political history of Cameroon. The idea was not welcome by Mr. Biya and his administration at all. People were ready to stand up and support the new party. People were fed up with one party rule and especially with the kind of dictatorship that existed at the time. People wanted real political change.
Coming up next ;
THE DAWN OF A NEW ERA IN CAMEROON: MULTIPARTY POLITICS
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