Editorial: Happy anniversary Mr President but what succession plan?.

Looking back memory lane as captured by Philippe Gaillard, the biographer of President Biya's successor, Ahmadou Ahidjo, pioneer Head of State from 1960 to 1982, the 42^nd anniversary should be time for deep reflection for a smooth transition as was the case 42 years ago.

“Cameroonians, my dear compatriots, I have decided to resign from my functions as President of the Republic," the late Ahidjo had said on Radio Cameroon, on November 4, 1982.

It was 8:30 p.m. that Thursday, November 4, 1982, when a familiar voice rang out in the ears of Radio Cameroon listeners. A few words followed to clarify that the resignation would take effect two days later, November 6, at 10 a.m.

Ahidjo urged compatriots to support his constitutional successor, Paul Biya. According to the biographer, the announcement was "between disbelief and fear of tomorrow, Cameroonians no longer breathe, as if in a state of apnea. After 22 years of absolute power, the builder of the Cameroonian State, is to leave the boat of power when nothing is forcing him to do so, except his own conscience".

According to Gaillard, the hypothesis of a withdrawal from the public scene of the man who was both a patriot and a despot, started at the Cameroon National Congress, CNU congress in Douala, in 1975. He threatened to resign, but was hushed down with a deafening no. 

However, from the beginning of 1982, everything accelerated. According to the biographer, "the president suffered from headaches and insomnia. Cigarettes, alcohol, sleeping pills and kola nuts dulled his memory and his enthusiasm for work. Sometimes, hearing his pulse beat during a nighttime anguish, he feared a heart attack, which would have rendered him incapable of exercising power, before having left it and without having prepared his succession”.

"In July 1982, the decision to resign was made. It remained to construct the extraordinary scenario, which had Germaine, his wife, as its sole witness,” he detailed. 

Gaillard added that: "For three months, Ahidjo played sick, even though he was getting better. The only argument, he thought, which could have left those around him paralysed by the idea of his resignation without rejection, was the mention of a serious illness. Little by little, episodes of weariness alternated with attacks of depression, all perfectly played out, if not completely simulated”. 

The biographer writes that: “On November 3, 1982, Ahidjo secretly returned to Yaounde, from Paris and his Secretary General, Samuel Eboua and Paul Biya, then Prime Minister, were authorised to welcome him. Only Germaine, visibly radiant, betrayed the seriously ill scenario, but no one noticed. Ahmadou Ahidjo immediately summoned his Prime Minister and informed him of his decision to hand over power to him and invited him to give his response within an hour. Paul Biya took leave, then returned. It was yes. On November 4, 1982, Biya inherited a State built but a nation still dispersed".

In 42 years, President Biya, despite the challenges, some home-made, and others beyond his control from abroad, has targeted vision 2035 as his hallmark policy.

In a hypnosis, the vision presents Cameroon's overall policy direction in pursuit of development. General objectives are reducing poverty to minimal levels, becoming a middle-income country, becoming a newly industrialised country, and consolidating democracy and enhancing national unity.

At 42, he isn't there yet but as the Chinese say, "a journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step". He might not reach there, just like his predecessor failed to achieve his objectives. 

But he will be remembered for bringing multi-party politics in the country, introduction of liberty laws and holding the country together from disintegration.

He has made his mark, despite the challenges, but the greatest legacy should be a smooth transition through a groomed successor, who for the purpose of justice, equity, inclusion and national unity, should be an Anglophone as the natural presidential candidate for his party, for next year's presidential election.

Without that, he might be leaving the stage with two of the 10 Regions in the country groping in insecurity and a lockdown every Monday, which is not only inimical to the socio-economic and political life of the two Regions but that of the entire nation.

Nonetheless, the editorial team of The Guardian Post heartily congratulates President Paul Biya, as he lights the 42^nd candle of his presidency, and hopefully the last. 

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3282 of Wednesday November 06, 2024