Charles Ateba Eyene: The Man Who Lived to the Dictates of His Conscience

By Fai Cassian Ndi

Charles Ateba Eyene

After having spent several weeks at the Yaounde University Hospital fighting against death, the brave and fearless Charles Ateba Eyene finally kicked the bucket on Friday, February 21, 2014. As to what or whose hand is behind the killing of this famous writer and politician only God alone can tell.  Speculations are rife that Charles ateba Eyene suffered from heart problems, others have aired that he died of kidney failure. Yet his close friends say he was suffering from malaria. Notwithstanding the public is anxiously waiting for hospital officials to tell the world what exactly killed Charles Ateba Eyene.

Widowed since 2009, Charles Ateba Eyene died leaving behind many kids and friends to mount him. It should be recalled that Charles Ateba Eyene was one of the most prominent political figures in Cameroon. Originally from the South region, he was a CPDM militant who would never pretend to say “yes” when it is supposed to be ‘no”... More than just a militant, he was part of the inner circles of Central Committee of the CPDM. But his many courageous ways of addressing issues and against the system and governments made ​​him a militant "uncontrolled" of the CPDM.

Even though controversial he was revered emblematic figure in the media and the popular strata in public sphere. Outspoken as he was, Charles Ateba Eyene was a staunch supporter of President Paul Biya and ideal of National President of the CPDM, a rather atypical militant who sometimes do not hesitate to open fire against his own camp. This type of militantism made him the chouchou of Cameroonians. Those who hanged on the CPDM to do wrong knew they had someone ready to denounce their acts given that Charles was always readily reminding them that they should not fool President Biya. He was also one of the few CPDM militants to consider that the changeover at the head of the state and the age of Paul Biya are not taboo.

When René Sadi, then general secretary of the Central Committee of the CPDM proposed Charles Ateba Eyene as a member alternate member of the Central Committee, Paul Biya did it.

At 42, Charles Ateba Eyene alias “Tara” who claimed he had spent “24 years of active militancy" in the CPDM died frustrated. Not frustrated that he was poor but as a young leader who waited for the tomorrow that never came for him to assume a real public office. Cameroon is handicapped by his departure. Courageous he was and had never played the Pons Pilate. With over 20 books in his credit, he was a gigantic expressionist that helped in the advancement of democracy in Cameroon. The founding father of “club ethic” lived to the dictates of his conscience and he lived for something.

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