By Njong Shey
After having observed President Paul Biya’s silence on issues plaguing the nation, opposition politician Edith Kah Walla and US-based tech entrepreneur, Rebecca Enonchong, think Cameroonians have been abandoned by their President.
Their views, widely shared on X, stem from the fact that for over 42 years, the world’s oldest leader has been consistent in being silent even on issues at the centre of his administration.
According to Edith Kah Walla, president of the Cameroon People’s Party (CPP), it is never Paul Biya’s concern whether Ministers stay in offices or not.
“Ministers in office, not a word from the president. Ministers dead, not a word from the President. Ministers resign, not a word from the President,” she lamented on X.
To her, “It’s us who always hope on Paul. He is consistent. 43 years old.”
Kah Walla thinks that the inability of the president of President Biya to address issues facing his government shows signs of abandonment.
“He asks us to manage ourselves and leave him behind. Let’s manage ourselves!” She stated.
“An Abandoned People”
Kah Walla’s views are also shared by US-based Cameroonian tech entrepreneur, Rebecca Enonchong.
“Between the Ministers who died in office and the resigning Ministers, not a single word from the president,” she said.
She added, “We are an abandoned people. It’s true. Everyone takes care of themselves.”
Their reactions seemingly were motivated by recent happenings in Cameroon.
Issa Tchiroma Bakary, who was serving as Minister of Employment and Vocational Training, resigned in June and declared his candidacy for the October presidential election.
Despite being a long-time ally of the regime, Paul Biya did not say anything.
Afterwards, another cabinet member, Minister of Tourism and Leisure, Bello Bouba Maigari, also declared his candidacy and there has still been no word from the President.
However, these are not the instances where the 92-year-old has maintained silence on issues at his doorstep.
In 2023, Minister Gabriel Dodo Ndoke died, yet he said no word about it and rather delegated the Prime Minister to represent him at the funeral.
Even in the wake of government corruption scandals like the Glencore Scandal, COVID-19 Scandal and AFCON Scandal, the President remained elusive.
Somehow, Biya Speaks
It is not like President Paul Biya is silent on all issues facing the nation; he simply selects what to react to.
Apart from his occasional speeches which come thrice a year, he communicates via social media posts, decrees or communiqués.
Unlike heads of state in democratic nations, Biya does not grant interviews or attend public events locally.
His last press interview in his 42 years in power was when the French President, Emmanuel Macron, visited Yaoundé in 2022.
His consistency in staying silent on serious issues makes Cameroonians feel not only abandoned, but think the 92-year-old is out of touch with reality.
