42 Years of Biya: Are North West Leaders Serving the People or Themselves?

After 42 years in power, the conversation surrounding President Paul Biya’s legacy has sharply divided public opinion in Cameroon, particularly in the North West Region. Once a hub of vibrant economic and social aspirations, the region now finds itself grappling with abandoned development projects, infrastructural decay, and declining living conditions. Many ask if North West elites in Biya’s government are simply preserving their status or truly working to address these pressing issues.

Lack of Vision

A glaring example of neglect is the Menchum hydroelectric project, which could provide much-needed energy and spur local development. Despite lofty promises, the project lies untouched. The Bamenda referral hospital, another project with immense potential to serve a large, underserved population, has remained in a state of abandonment. Adding to the region’s woes are poor sanitation, lack of potable water, and deteriorating roads, all of which directly impact public health and economic productivity. Meanwhile, Bamenda’s airport, despite high hopes, sits idle, symbolic of the systemic neglect; President Biya himself could not land there during his visit in 2010 to celebrate Armed Forces Day, a suggestion that the airport is unfit for flights in and out of Bamenda.

The lack of decisive action among elected officials compounds the frustration of residents. Parliamentarians and senators from the region, rather than advocating for solutions to these issues, appear more concerned with securing their positions. Parliament remains largely silent on the Anglophone crisis, a silence that many feel represents tacit approval of the ongoing neglect. The legislative houses have turned into echo chambers, where senators often act as mere ‘hand clappers’ for the ruling party instead of engaging in robust debates.

Failed Infrastructures

Several government agencies aimed at bolstering development, such as PAFSAT and the Wum Area Development Authority (WADA), closed down. Although initiatives like MIDENO, LIFIDEP, and UNVDA have since emerged, they have yet to make a tangible difference. Many North Westerners view these organisations as symbols of unfulfilled promises rather than hope. They fail to improve living conditions, as the leaders of these institutions prioritise being crowd pullers for Biya over focusing on rural development, which should be one of their main objectives.

In this light, President Biya’s 42-year tenure fails to inspire celebration in the North West Region; it prompts reflection on failed promises and the elites’ silence. Residents confront another year of hardships and abandoned promises, questioning whether the elite will finally advocate for change or keep applauding a legacy that has fallen short.The time for complacency has long passed; it is now a question of accountability, one that North West leaders must answer if they genuinely seek the region’s progress.

Mimi Mefo Info