On May 27th, 2016 Paul Biya left the Cameroons for a private visit in Europe. The announcement was broadcasted live by the Cameroon Radio and Television. They merely informed the Cameroons people that President Biya was going for a short stay. The Cameroons people are yet to hear from their President. It is exactly 22 days now and the President is gallivanting somewhere in Europe.
The Cameroons National Assembly is busy reviewing the penal code. No one is asking about the President. The Parliament is as dumb as ever. The front line opposition party and opposition leaders are all quiet. After all, nothing they say can move the Etoudi man from Europe. It is fair to say, this type of behavior occurs only in Cameroon. Mr. Biya has got the military and Parliament in his palms. In any other functional democracy, a President will not stay out this long. The military and most importantly the Parliament could have acted. Who is doing the job of the President?
BaretaNews noted that Dictator Paul Biya left the country with a huge delegation, all associates of the President. These includes amongst others Martin Belinga Eboutou, Director of the Civil Cabinet at the Presidency of the Republic, Admiral Joseph Fouda, Special Advisor to the Head of State and BIKELE Pierre Simon, the Chief of State Protocol.
It should be recalled that this is not the first Mr. Paul Biya is making such trips abroad. He is the only President who is a foreigner in his own country. He administers his country from abroad. Some say he goes often to do a blood transfusion, to replenish his veins with fresh blood. After 22 days out of the country, nothing is known of the dictator, even the large mouth communication minister, and government spokesman, Issa Tchiroma is muted.
It is vexing to know of these because when we look at other countries and even next door Nigeria, the Nigerian President Buhari, will always issue an official letter to the Senate describing his reasons for the trip and during this period the Vice President is in charge. The Nigerian President dares not stay more than the required time unless such is done through official channels less the President is held to task by the elected officials of the people. The situation in the Cameroons is quite different much to do with the authoritarian and republican type of government practice in the Cameroons which is bad for democracy.
As we continue wondering where the President could be, the Cameroons people are going on with their day-to-day activities. They cannot wait for the regime of Paul Biya to come to an end. If only the Cameroons had an independent Parliament and/or a somewhat independent military, the story could have been different.
God is still saying something.
