El Hadj Bochong Lawan Bako: Biya’s unsung underground foot soldier.

But also unknown to many a Cameroonian, there are several other compatriots who have been at the forefront of supporting the powers that be navigate difficult moments.

 Given the complex nature of politics, persons who feel intimidated oftentimes appear to belittle the efforts of others in nation building. 

But President Biya, as mythical as he is as a leader, has continued to use an approach known only to him to govern Cameroon.

One of his unsung trusted allies and underground foot soldiers, findings which The Guardian Post has carried, show, is El Hadj Bochong Lawan Bako, National Chairman of the United Democratic Party, UDP. 

It has emerged that across decades, this political heavyweight and Spokesperson of the Presidential Majority, has been up against the odds in supporting the Head of State on key issues.

Considered the political encyclopedia of the North West and South West Regions, El Hadj Lawan Bako, for many, has simply been outstanding with a secret report card. He has been a character of importance in nation building on several issues that affect the nation’s political space, its peace, unity, development and diplomacy in some cases.

 With experience grounded in the business world, local governance and politics, El Hadj Lawan Bako has been unstoppable in his style of politics and contributions to nation building. 

He has proven times without number that his loyalty and support for the Head of State, President Paul Biya, is nonnegotiable. 

Lawan Bako has proven beyond doubt that he is not just a political Maradona but has a unique style of doing politics. His is the politics of construction and not destruction.

Key role in President Biya’s maiden visit to US 

Our findings show that Lawan Bako first met President Paul Biya in 1980. At the time, Biya was serving as Prime Minster. 

When destiny opened up the higher calling of the Head of State, Lawan Bako, The Guardian Post has it on good authority, was among those who first mooted to him the idea of opening up to multiple international partners.

It emerged that from that suggestion, he talked the Head of State into opening a new era of relations with the United States government. 

On this score, authentic accounts hold that Lawan Bako, a time-tested patriot, was then given the daunting task of leading a 17-man delegation to the United States of America.

The Lawan Bako-headed delegation stormed the United States for a Trade and Investment mission. Then United States President, Ronald Reagan, granted audience to the delegation. 

One of the indelible national footprints of that US visit is the Hilton Hotel in Yaounde. Its setting up in Cameroon was one of the outcomes of the visit.

  Lawan Bako, NW Fons & Biya crowning as Fon of Fons

Many are aware that in the North West Region, President Paul Biya holds the title of Fon of Fons. But how this decoration was midwifed is not known to many. 

It has now emerged, from investigations, that it was El Hadj Lawan Bako, who used his title of Kwifon-nitoh, the highest in the Kom secret society, to convince the late Fon Jinaboh II Michael, to decorate Biya, who was due to visit Bamenda in 1983, with the title of Fon of Fons.

Being an influential member of the highest secret society in Kom land, Lawan Bako’s suggestion got royal approval. 

Concordant reports have it that it was Lawan Bako, who bought the traditional regalia with which Biya was later decorated with, during his maiden visit to Bamenda, as the Fon of Fons. 

Sources have it that after succeeding in convincing the late Fon of Kom to decorate Biya as Fon of Fons, and buying the traditional regalia from Kom for that purpose, Lawan Bako took the Fon to then Governor of the then North West Province, David Abouem A Tchoyi.

It is reported that when informed of their mission, Governor Abouem A Tchoyi, advised that the planned process to crown Biya as Fon of Fons should involve all North West First Class Fons, to give it credibility. 

It was a feat for the Head of State, who was making his first outing to the North West Region in 1983, one year after ascending to the highest public office of the land. 

It is widely believed that it was Abouem A Tchoyi’s role in the crowning of Biya as Fon of Fons, that enticed Biya to catapult him to the post of Secretary General at the Presidency.

Moved by the decoration, Biya is said to have bought a four-wheel drive car for the then Fon of Kom. He is said to have also given 300 million FCFA to Razel, to rehabilitate the Bamenda-Fundong Road. 

A few years later, Biya lobbied the World Bank and got funds for the tarring of the Bamenda-Fundong Road. It was the first road Biya tarred in the then North West Province after taking over power.

Architect of 1997 SDF-CPDM talks

In the wave of the political tension that had enveloped the nation in the 1990s, Lawan Bako is said to have written to the Head of State, suggesting the need to engage the opposition Social Democratic Front, SDF in talks. This, he is said to have done, in the interest of peace and national unity.

Thanks to him, then Prime Minister, Peter Mafany Musonge; then CPDM Secretary General; the late Joseph Charles Doumba, alongside other regime heavyweights engaged talks with the SDF, under the firm instructions of President Biya. 

The SDF delegation to the talks included among others the late Prof Tazoacha Asonga and Justice Nyo Wakai, also of blessed memory. Though the SDF later stormed out of the talks, the Lawan-Bako idea had sent Biya signals that he could hold meaningful dialogue with Fru Ndi.

Role in famous Biya-Fru Ndi 2010 meeting in Bamenda

Biya’s famous meeting with the late SDF chieftain in Bamenda, in 2010, came on the heels of years of ground work. 

The Guardian Post gathered from authoritative sources that it was again Lawan Bako, who wrote to the Head of State in 2008, suggesting again the need for dialogue with Fru Ndi.

 Biya is said to have replied favourably to Lawan Bako’s request and thanked him for the initiative.  The UPD Chairman is said to have taken Biya’s written reply to Fru Ndi. 

And so, it came to pass that after underground talks midwifed by Lawan Bako, both Statesmen met in Bamenda, when Biya visited to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the military. That 2010 meeting has remained a point of national inspiration for peace and unity till date. It is a story that has never been told. 

Initiator/Spokesperson of Presidential Majority 

El Hadj Lawan Bako has remained a maestro, when it comes to mobilising support for Biya during presidential elections. 

He is the Initiator/Spokesperson of the Presidential Majority, created in 1992. It comprises some 20 political parties that support Biya.

The grouping has remained a key stakeholder in drumming support for Biya in key presidential elections and pushing him to victory when numbers count most. 

The formation of groupings such as G20 for the same purpose, many say, is a copy and paste of Lawan Bako’s idea of rallying other parties to support Biya under a unique platform.

 Enter Tripartite Conference of 1991

Lawan Bako was already a doyen in politics when the Tripartite Conference of 1991 held in Yaounde. It gave birth to a new constitution and other institutions, following the reintroduction of multiparty politics. 

As an experienced politician, he is said to have been among those who got key political leaders such as the late Adamu Ndam Njoya of the Cameroon Democratic Union, CDU, to sign the confab resolutions.

Brilliant participation at Major National Dialogue 

As loyal as Lawan Bako, a formidable political egg head is to the Head of State and his ideals, he does not joke with upholding truth. 

As a key actor at the Major National Dialogue of 2019, he proposed the return of the country’s name to the United Republic of Cameroon. He had also then suggested the apportioning of 25 percent of recruitments and appointments to the English-speaking Cameroonians of North West, South West extraction to address the issue Of Anglophone marginalisation.

Lawan Bako’s trajectory 

For those who don’t know, Lawan Bako studied and started professional life in Nigeria. He is a self-made man. 

He started off in politics as a member of the National Party of Nigeria, NPN, of former Nigerian Head of State, Shehu Shagari. This was in the 70s.

 He served as Secretary of the NPN in Danbatta Local Government Area, LGA, in Kano State. He also worked at one time with the Nigerian Ministry of Public Works, serving in the Projects and Engineering Department in Kano State.

Feeling the need to best put his services to national use, Lawan Bako returned to Cameroon and settled as a supporter of the then Cameron National Union, CNU, party. He served as first president of the party in Ntabag-Old Town Bamenda Branch.

The energetic and inspiring Lawan Bako later became the CNU Youth President of then Mezam Division, that comprised in those days, today’s Ngokentunjia Division. At that time, it was the late Fon Angwafo of Mankon, who was CNU Section President for Mezam.

As a Section Executive Member, Lawan Bako was part of the 11-man committee that took the resolution to construct a congress hall for the CNU. The structure is today known as the Bamenda Congress Hall.

 In 985, El Hadj Lawan Bako left Mezam and relocated to his native Menchum Division, then covering today’s Boyo Division. Here, he served as the CPDM Youth Section President. He campaigned for local elections, won but declined serving as Local Administrator (mayor), due to his business engagements. He opted to serve as Deputy Local Administrator of the Fundong Council.

In the domain of business, Lawan Bako ventured into the transport sector. He was owner of the company “Fruits of Labour,” which plied the Buea-Bamenda and Buea-Fundong stretches. He also owned several taxis in the town of Bamenda. Lawan Bako also founded the construction company, ELBASO, that hit heights in fertiliser importation from the United States of America.

This towering political figure was at one-time appointed Labour Assessor at the Bamenda Court of Appeal. 

Besides his successes in business and engagement in politics from the NPN in Nigeria to the CNU and CPDM in Cameroon, where he was among the few to study at the configuration’s academy, Lawan Bako created the UDP in 1991.

Across these decades, the board member of the National Hydrocarbons Corporation, SNH with rank of Administrator/Director, has remained quiet and patriotic.

Golden of mix of politics & nation building  

In a context where many have reduced political leadership to ruling over others and a nation, El Hadj Lawan Bako, a quintessential nation builder, appears in golden colours across the nation for always putting the country first.

Given that most of those who pass for politicians are mostly self-seeking individuals playing to the gallery, El Hadj Lawan Bako, a longtime consistent voice in national politics, is held in high esteem for his culture of integrity and transparency in politics.

He has never and does not claim to be who he is not or usurp the political space as one with the highest following but rides on the wings of honour and equality. 

 Bridging divides and finding common ground for the greater good is another area where, El Hadj Lawan Bako, a time-tested national political heavyweight, is rated far above most rabble-rousers masquerading as political actors. 

His unique strength is present in every colouration of the political progress that Cameroon has experienced across the years.

For those who rate political leaders within the prism of their abilities to heal and unite a divided society, El Hadj Lawan Bako, those close to him say, has this virtue in abundance.

 He has mended several political fences and nurtured political ideas to ensure Cameroon enjoys growth. El Hadj Lawan Bako knows leadership is a continuous process in which growth, learning and serving the greater good remain paramount.