President Biya’s Great Accomplishment: Mere Campaign Slogan?

We are in February 2012 and there are visibly no construction sites in view as promised by President Biya.  Whereas already in 2011 and at the end of the previous seven-year mandate, President Paul Biya announced that by January 2012 Cameroon will be transformed into a vast construction site. By December 2011, many Cameroonians bought helmets to protect themselves from any eventuality from the numerous sites that Biya announced.

Increasingly, as day passes the nuance is becoming clearer and clearer that the greater accomplishments have unfortunately not been able to overcome the everyday problems of Cameroon. In some quarters in Yaounde, accusing fingers are already pointed towards the famous Generation 2011 for trying to frustrate Biya new philosophy.
During October 09, 2011, Presidential elections while in Maroua, the regional capital of the Far North, Paul Biya declared: "I did evoke here the main lines of this new dynamic which will affect all sectors of our country and you will see, as I have already said, from January 2012, Cameroon will be a vast construction site. I count on you so that together we translated the great achievements into great accomplishments." The fact is that beyond the rhetoric and the personal commitment of the man of political renewal, everything seems to be done for the greater accomplishments. What is really happening to President Biya’s greater accomplishment policy seems to be sabotage to limit his ideology to the stage of intentions and simple a campaign slogans. It should be recalled that during the era of the great ambitions, the government news bustled ads that were carting a lot of hope.  For examples some of these great projects included: The Yassa thermal plant (project Dibamba), the construction of a dam at Lom-Pangar and the proposed hydroelectric dam Memve’ele as well as the project to build a cement factory in Limbe by South Korean investors to curb the problem of scarcity and encourage constructions. The company planned to provide among others quality cement across the country at a most affordable price which would have to achieve at a lower cost. On the other hand, the development of social housing to improve the well-being of Cameroonians was also top on President Biya new political concept. Socially, in collaboration with the Chinese President Biya’s great accomplishment had proposed to build 1500 housing of a modest standing in Cameroon. These houses would be placed for sale primarily and secondarily for leasing and rent. Another proposal was for the creation of vocational training centers with South Korea, to increase employment opportunities within and outside the country for youths in order to curb unemployment rate.
But nothing seems to ooze out as if something is wrong somewhere with the government machinery.  Moreover, an inexplicable inertia remains. And why? Would it be a clear desire of some, lurking in the shadows of the system they belong, to pull the chestnuts in time of a fire why we patiently wait to see Great Accomplishment making its presence? According to the view of some political scientists like Dr. Eric Mathias OWONA Nguini, Lecturer at the University of Yaounde II-Soa, what is happening is that the mechanics of a system in which the central leader is the President of the Republic has worn off.
It therefore implies that the fact that President Biya has been in power for a very long time, anything he said should not be taken for a gospel truth. With a chilling machinery and pressure of internal wrangling of corrupt officials, decisions and commitments are not too easily managed. This means that all instructions that the President dishes out are not unfortunately implemented regardless of the expectations of many people.
Some recent sensational resignations attest. At least, having amassed wealth for themselves, the ambitious-chicks do not fear the claws of the sparrow hawk who would not hesitate to smell their ingratitude and disloyalty to the Biya regime.
In Ebolowa during the National Pastoral show, President Biya announced "the new agricultural policy of Cameroon within six months." But it is regrettable that one year later, these requirements of the highest authority of the state have not been applied and hundreds of tractors were abandoned in the rain and sun , site of the industrial complex of Ebolowa. In addition, all projects announced by the Head of State during the agropastoral, namely the agricultural bank, fertilizer unit, farm finance, land reform etc.. have not been possible and have all tend to be pious promises, simple campaign slogans.
Increasingly, it makes clear that the great ambitions have unfortunately not been able to overcome the everyday problems of Cameroon. And it would not be an exaggeration if one concludes that the great accomplishments will never solve the main problems that plague our society? God Bless Cameroon!!