Editorial: Lessons Biya regime should learn from Lions coach.

In that mood of fiesta, the Lions trainer, Marc Brys, was received at the Unity Palace, by the Minister of State, Secretary General at the Presidency of the Republic, Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh, on the "high instructions" of President Paul Biya.

According to media reports, the coach was accompanied by his assistant, Joachim Munungab. Also in attendance at the audience was the Minister of Special Duties at the Presidency of the Republic, Philippe Mbarga Mboa; Roving Ambassador, Roger Milla, perhaps given his overt criticism of the coach few weeks back when the Belgian indicted the leadership of FECAFOOT President, Samuel Eto’o Fils.

The reports did not say what was discussed with the close collaborators of the Head of State. What was, however, without quibble is that the meeting was intended to convey the presidential congratulations for Lions brilliant performance, after months of squabbling between the government and FECATOOT, not only about the appointment of a coaching staff but the choice of a stadium for one of the qualifying matches.

For The Guardian Post, there is a crucial lesson the CPDM regime should learn from the coach.

First, he insisted on his job definition as a coach, barring any one from interfering in the dressing room. Secondly, and most importantly, he made his selection without dictates from anybody, be it from FECAFOOT or the government as past experiences had indicated.

His selection was influenced by merit, devoid of tribalism or corruption. That should explain why a talent like Boris Enow, featuring in the team for the first time, scored the only goal that qualified the Lions for Morocco.

The coach also brought in other new talents in the spotlight like Carlos Baleba, the Brighton midfielder, whose prodigy has established him as one of the stars of the team's midfield.

There are other Cameroonians like Kilian Mbappe, just to name one, not playing for their country. They claimed they were rejected because they couldn't oil the palms of the selectors.

The Belgian coach is shunning tribalism, influence-peddling, meddling in his job and dumping deadwoods.

That should be the take-away message as the nation celebrates victory, especially as those cardinal vices have been pervasive in the Cameroon political landscape.

Tribalism, one of the four vices, has been an obstacle to achieving the victory of development in Cameroon. 

Mbila Enyenge of the University of Yaounde I, in his research work titled: "Tribalism and Living Together in Cameroon, autopsy of a threat to peace and social cohesion", writes that it is a "scourge that contributes to undermining living together".

He adds that "in recent years, the ideology of tribalism has become a threat to social peace in Cameroon. It is noticeable, not only in the political milieu of the nation, but also in everyday life" and "materialises through poor governance".

In the aspect of dumping deadwoods, there has been a national outcry for a government reshuffle, to relieve deadwoods and bring in new ministers with innovative ideas.

There is also the aspect of so many ministers, whose functions overlap and raise concerns of inertia, with frequent criticisms that some ministers interfere in the domain of others.

The result is the various challenges the government is facing, as illustrated by mountains of uncleared refuge in towns and cities; roads and streets ridden with potholes, insufficient drinking water, frequent electricity shortages and backouts as well as a sick medical delivery system.

Those are not challenges of a winning regime worthy of celebration as the nation did with the qualification of the indomitable Lions. 

The nation needs that celebration at the political scene, which should be illustrated with appointments based on merit but without sacrificing national character.

Yaounde should also be promptly reinvigorated without necessarily preferring party lackeys who sing the praises of the Head of State to a crescendence of worship.

The Head of State has without reserve appreciated and celebrated the victory of the Indomitable Lions, in which he is often referred to as the "Number One Lion". 

He should translate that victory to his legacy by ensuring that the regime is rid of tribal sensitivities in appointments, respect of term limits and the appointment of new management talents who can perform without using COVID-19 or war in Ukraine as excuses for failure. 

This story was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3262 of Thursday October 17, 2024