Last week, a group of elites from Manyu Division, affiliated with the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM), fervently requested that 91-year-old President Paul Biya serve as their candidate in the upcoming presidential elections.
“We, the population of Manyu Division, are soliciting His Excellency President Paul Biya to stand as our own candidate for the 2025 presidential election,” read the banner they displayed during a large gathering of administrative officials and CPDM supporters from the region.
Their appeal was based on their perception that Biya has made significant contributions to the division, citing achievements such as the construction of the Ekok Bridge, the Kumba Mamfe Road, and the increase in cocoa prices.
However, questions remain about the actual impact of these developments.
Firstly, the much-acclaimed Ekok Bridge was funded by the African Development Bank as part of the Bamenda (Cameroon)-Enugu (Nigeria) Transport Facilitation Programme on the Lagos-Mombasa Trans-African Highway, rather than directly by Biya’s administration.
Secondly, the Kumba Mamfe Road, often praised by the elites, was largely funded by the African Development Bank starting in 2015. Despite this, the road remains incomplete, with the government attributing delays to the Anglophone crisis and resulting insecurity. Critics argue that if the government had been committed to completing the project, it could have assigned it to the military engineering corps, which has successfully completed projects in other conflict-affected areas.
Additionally, Manyu Division continues to face significant infrastructure challenges. For instance, Akwaya subdivision lacks road connections to other regions, with access only available via sea routes or through Nigeria.
Moreover, the rise in cocoa prices, which has been attributed to Biya’s influence, is primarily due to increased global demand for chocolate. Previously, farmers were able to sell cocoa at high prices to Nigeria, but this option was restricted earlier this year when buyers were barred from exporting cocoa to Nigeria.
Once a hub for passenger flights, Manyu’s Bissongabang airport is now only accessible to the Cameroonian military. Furthermore, electricity has been absent from Mamfe for several years, forcing businesses to rely on generators.
In light of these issues, many are questioning what Biya has truly accomplished to warrant another term from the people of Manyu.
