End-of-year speech: Biya misses rendezvous with history!.

The year did not end with its unwanted baggage of challenges that will continue to haunt the nation in the new year.

Against such a bleak past year, President Paul Biya's New Year speech omitted to capture the past to embrace a fresh start that should inspire a journey of a nation at peace with itself for the next 12 months.

It was confrontational, devoid of the humanity for condolences to families of compatriots who lost their lives in the post-election violence.

It was glossed with a campaign jingle: "As you may have noticed, Cameroon has remained steadfast in its resolute march towards progress, thanks to Government’s tireless efforts and the invaluable contributions of our hard-working citizens," he said.

President Biya added that the "reality can be seen, felt and observed by all". 

He then took on the opposition as if on a campaign trail: "Of course, during election periods, such as the one we have just experienced and will experience again in the coming months, it is common for candidates seeking to win the trust of the people to make statements that do not reflect the reality”.

He added that: “Hence, some of them claimed that the current government has done nothing, absolutely nothing. They also promised you the moon and claimed to be able to solve all your problems with a wave of a magic wand. There could be no better lie. I have not stopped and will never stop warning you against these purveyors of false hope".

Was there any need to open bleeding wounds of post-election violence?

Are the truth, facts and reality on the ground not experienced by Cameroonians in sick medical delivery services, insufficient electricity, drinking water, bad roads, insecurity in the North West, South West and Far North Regions, garbage that choke major cities and towns, youth unemployment and high cost of living?

President Biya nonetheless conceded the challenges and attributed them to both internal and international factors: "I have never tried to hide from you the difficulties we face, mainly due to an increasingly complex international context.

"These difficulties which delay or hinder the implementation of projects designed to improve your well-being are, however, not insurmountable. We proved it yesterday. We are proving it today, and we will prove it again tomorrow, together".

If the solutions to the myriad of problems were proved in the past, would the country be lamenting today because of the high cost of living, failing infrastructure, social amenities and endemic corruption?

Has the government proved its determination to fight corruption, when declaration of assets, the preponderant instrument to tackle the virus is not being respected?

How does the government accuse people of impunity when it does not live by example by respecting, for instance, term limits of a maximum of nine years for general managers of State companies?

Who is fooling who? President Biya in his swearing-in speech promised "reforms". His speech did not indicate any striking innovation, both in form and contextual deviation from the past identical addresses at year's end.

If anything new, it was a promise to form a new government, given especially as there are at least four yawning vacancies, devoid of any youth and laden by recycled civil servants cloned into politicians many of who are more interested in their personal survival on the job than the public service.

The Head of State said "...sustained efforts still need to be made, without delay, to significantly improve living conditions. Such will be the priority for the Government that I will form in the coming days."

As Dr Nick Ngwanyam, a frontline CPDM supporter commented on the social media, “the new government is the medicine that will cure Cameroonian's perpetual failures, bad governance, poor economics, and failed education".

Against pervasive criticisms that it has been a government of gerontocracy, blended with tribalism, President Biya said the awaited government will "...ensure that measures are implemented to improve women empowerment and to guarantee greater youth participation in the management of public affairs”. 

He went further to say: "Let me recall, however, that the idea is not to stigmatize other age groups or categories of our society. Beyond the age and gender criteria, qualifications, skills, integrity and commitment to serving the public interest will continue to be prioritised in access to or retention of duty posts, as well as in promotion. However, we will strive to better reconcile youth and experience than in the past and, above all, to vigorously combat injustices arising from membership of a particular ethnic or cultural group, gender, religion or age group".

The key word in the speech in which all the other frailty of society gyrate around is "injustice," which the President said will be combated with vigor.

Rigged elections, post-election violence, corruption, tribalism, hate speech, insecurity, killings and destruction, which are other keywords stem from "injustice".

Deficiency of justice often breeds economic inequality, power imbalances, historical legacies of discrimination, hate speech, insecurity and disunity. 

President Biya promised "to step up our collective efforts to promote living together and consolidate national unity in the face of cultural isolationism and hate speech that are replete in the media and threatening the very foundations of our beloved and great country, Cameroon."

For a re-elected President with marginal and contested victory, which indicate a disproving dip from the 2018 impressive score, the Head of State needed to use his New Year speech to call for reconciliation, free all those detained in connection with the post-election violence and and reform the electoral code.

For Cameroon, the end of last year wasn't a festive season for the regime's self-glorification or attack on a wounded opposition, which is down but surely not out in 2026 with municipal and legislative polls in the horizon.

"It's better late than never" and President Biya in his experience and magnanimity can still offer amnesty and clemency to those being classified as "political prisoners". 

That will be a symbol of strength, compassion and humanity, as the nation awaits the new government of "Great Hope", sooner than later.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3664 of Monday January 05, 2025