Biya abandons his "second home", Bamenda.

This statement by Biya, was received with acclamations and euphoria, as the people of Bamenda, and by extension the North West Region, saw in him a man who had them dear to his heart. They saw in Biya a man ready to transform Bamenda and by extension the entire Region into an Eldorado.

Buoyed by his show of unparalleled affection to the people of Bamenda and the North West Region during his 1983 visit, the traditional rulers of the Region, crowned Biya as “Fon of Fons”, thus creating a political ethnography that mixes royalty with partisan politics.

Meanwhile, in December 1984, President Biya was again in Bamenda for the Agro-Pastoral Show. He came again in March 1985, for the congress of then ruling party, Cameroon National Union, CNU, which name was changed at the end of the congress to Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement, CPDM. 

With traditional rulers in the North West Region considered as Monarchs and Kings within their communities, President Biya’s title of “Fon of Fons,” therefore made him King of Kings of the North West Region. Biya, till date, has not had any other title higher than that of King of Kings from another group of persons in the country.

It is believed that North West Fons especially, wield some magically or spiritual powers. Observers believe that it was because of some of these royal powers conferred on Biya that plotters who staged a coup on April 6, 1984, were not able to kill or overthrow him.

It is equally believed in certain circles that President Biya has been able to withstand the challenges facing the country, and facing off the stiff competition from the opposition; from 1990 till date, thanks to the “mystical powers” Fons of the North West Region bestowed on him as Fon of Fons. 

Biya, during that same visit to Bamenda in 1985, had promised he would “personally supervise” the tarring of the Bamenda Ring Road, before advancing an avalanche of other projects to better the lot of the people of the North West Region, which administrative headquarters is his “second home”.

After declaring Bamenda his second home, Biya initially kept to the billing of showing that as his second home, Bamenda had the pride of place in his heart. It was apparently for this reason that he officially visited Bamenda twice before any other town; first in 1983, for the Agro-Pastoral Show and second in March 1985, for the CNU congress. 

Thereafter, Biya’s romance with Bamenda and the North West Region continued to blossom, either by divine providence or human actions. 

Recall that when Biya took over power, he was sworn in by a North Westerner, the late Solomon Tandeng Muna, then Speaker of the National Assembly.

Bamenda, birthplace of CPDM

It should be noted that Bamenda is the caesarean womb of Cameroon’s democracy. Though it cannot be ascertained for sure if Biya single-handedly chose Bamenda for the CNU Congress in 1985, pundits say it may have also been by divine providence and privilege that the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement, CPDM, was born in Bamenda. 

From then on, the people of Bamenda and North West Region have continued to champion the activities of the ruling party; despite the launching of the Social Democratic Front, SDF, in 1990; which saw hundreds of CPDM supporters joining the SDF. 

It should also be noted that for decades, the late Fon Angwafo III of Mankon, Bamenda, held the position of National Vice President of the CPDM. He held that position from the creation of the party until his he joined his ancestors in May 2022.

Observers think by dint of the town being the birthplace of the CPDM, the people of Bamenda should have a pride of place within its structures and be able to benefit a sizable share of the pay-offs of the CPDM government being in power. 

Hosts 50^th anniversary of the military

Apparently in keeping to his statements that Bamenda holds pride of place in his heart, President Biya, in December 2010, chose Bamenda to host the 50^th anniversary of the military. 

Inhabitants of Bamenda in particular and the North West Region in general, were visibly happy with the coming of President Biya to Bamenda, to preside over activities marking the 50th anniversary celebration of the military. 

This was illustrated by the nature of messages on banners that floated around sensitive parts of the city, which added to the festive atmosphere that reigned. 

Banners floated everywhere, expressing gratitude to the President of the Republic, for choosing Bamenda to host the anniversary. The people turned out en masse, irrespective of their political leanings, to welcome the man, who in 1983, had declared the town as his second home. 

Biya, a good friend in deed, not in need

Nonetheless, many years down the road, President Biya is apparently not reciprocating. Analysts say in typical fashion of a friend in deed, and not in need, the Unity Palace tenant has virtually abandoned his “second home,” as it today lies in ruins.

Implicit is the fact that considering a place as a "second home," in such words means one identifies with its people, their struggles, concerns and aspirations. 

Having been conferred the title of Fon of Fons, by the custodians of the North Region, observers say, carries many expectations and responsibilities.

Observers hold that for somebody who declared Bamenda as his second home, there is no gainsaying the fact that he has to ‘spoil’ the people with juicy things. That, they say, is far from being a reality.

Bamenda languishing in limbo 

It is now fifteen years since Biya last visited Bamenda, a town he has been trumpeting as his “second home”. As the town lies in limbo, political analysts are wondering if the romance between Biya and the people of Bamenda, and by extension the North West Region, has gone sour. Biya’s “second home” now looks like an abandoned city, bearing the scars of neglect.

The once beautiful and clean Biya’s “second home,” is today in a state of dilapidation. The city is stinking with waste, abandoned on the side of major streets. The abandonment has cast a shadow over the state of infrastructural development in Bamenda. 

The state of roads in Bamenda is an eyesore as many streets are either dusty during the dry season or muddy in the rainy season. The few roads that still have a coat of tar are ridden with potholes. 

Road users and car owners have continued to cry foul about how they visit the garage more often than the church. The problem of roads have not only turned to a sing song, but are now a call for concern, to curb road accidents.

"As a road user in Bamenda, considering the state of the roads, it's by no means favouring us because just to navigate these roads is not easy. There are potholes, stones, huge gutters, and dust or mud everywhere. This endangers the cars we use,” a resident, who pleaded for anonymity, said.

He added that: "I don't know if we are evolving with time; look at our era considering globalisation and our city roads are as such. It is embarrassing. As a Cameroonian, I feel ashamed. It's better to trek than use a car here in Bamenda.” 

Another Bamenda resident noted that: “The dusty and bad roads have become a health hazard. It seems nothing matters to the powers that be”.

Meanwhile, electricity blackouts in Bamenda are now frequent occurrences. Some neighbourhoods now go for weeks and even months without electricity. In the neighbourhoods that sometimes have electricity, the supply is epileptic.

The lack of pipe-borne water in many neighbourhoods in Bamenda is also a huge concern for the residents. Many households lack potable water. In some cases, people have to trek long distances to fetch water, a basic commodity that is essential for the livelihood of the populace. 

In the area of telecommunications, residents of Bamenda are also bearing the brunt of abandonment. Telephone and internet connections are always on and off, making it difficult for residents to freely engage in activities that need reliable telecommunications connections.

“Every aspect of life in Bamenda is going down the drain. We are living in an era where roads, potable water, electricity, schools, hospitals, among others, are begging for Biya’s attention,” a resident, who gave his name simply as Che, said regrettably.   

Much-trumpeted Ring Road still ringing in Biya’s ‘deaf ears’ 

The most resounding of Biya’s unfulfilled promises to the people of his “second home” is the tarring of the Ring Road. 

During his visit to Bamenda, in 1985, Biya announced that he would “personally supervise” the tarring of the Ring Road. Nonetheless, critics say it took him decades to initiate any real work on the said road. Some say he simply used it as a political Trojan horse to secure support from the people of the North West Region.

Over 40 years since Biya promised to supervise the complete tarring of the Ring Road, construction works on the road are still ongoing at a snail pace.

A resident of one of the villages through which the Ring Road passes, who did not want to be named, said “the current poor state of some stretches of the Ring Road has had a significant impact on the lives of local residents, including farmers, who face challenges like increased transportation cost and loss of farm produce”.

Rising insecurity

Insecurity has been one of the major banes to the livelihoods of the people of Bamenda and the North West Region.

As the armed conflict, which has been rocking the two English-speaking Regions, persists, the people of Bamenda have been bearing the brunt. Killings, abductions and explosions of Improvised Explosive Devices, IED, are now the order of the day. 

Residents sometimes wake up from a night of recurrent gunshots to find dead bodies strewn on street corners. Some residents, including business owners, are living in constant anxiety as attacks, including kidnappings, are becoming increasingly frequent, spreading fear across the city.

With no end to the armed conflict in sight, most residents of Bamenda say they now live each day at a time, not knowing what will happen the next minute.

One of the most recent victims of the insecurity in Bamenda, was a businessman, the owner of BINAM Bar in Mobile Nkwen, Bamenda III Subdivision. Early last month, he was attacked by gunmen who stormed his business premises on a motorbike. 

When they attempted to kidnap him, he resisted. In retaliation, the assailants shot him in the stomach. The victim succumbed to his injuries, shortly after being rushed to the hospital.

“We are virtually living in danger. The situation has created an atmosphere of fear and anxiety with many feeling unsafe. We are calling on President Biya to take immediate and concrete actions to stop the growing tide of violence and protect the safety of the population,” a Bamenda resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said.

While the peace-loving Bamenda man continues to dream of the day the city would be transformed into a veritable Biya’s “second home” of sort, political analysts say posterity would hold President Biya to account, if he quits power without transforming the city into the Eldorado he promised during his first official visit to the North West Regional capital.   

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3415 of Wednesday April 09, 2025