A popular African saying states that only after good people pass away do their deeds become known. This statement clearly highlights three notable Cameroonian public servants who recently passed away, leaving behind a legacy that others should emulate to foster a fair, just, equal, and transparent society in public life.
By accident or divine, the nation within a short period lost to the cold hands of death three rare bredth the nation ever had notably former Supreme Court Judge Ayah Paul Abine, former governor Achu George Mofor and former governor and minister David Abouem A Tchoyi .
While Ayah Paul Abine and David Abouem A Tchoyi died in Cameroon,Achu George Mofor passed away in the United States of America where he had lived since leaving Cameroon in 1992.
These individuals distinguished themselves from the madding crowd of a system marred with endemic corruption, lies, squandermania, fraud, personality cult, oppression, election rigging, embezzlement, abuse of power, manipulation and many other social ills.
Serving the state at different levels and periods they left a mark of honesty and truth where assigned. This was unusual in a conformist system where brains are formatted with robbotism of regime hallelujah installed.
AYAH PAUL ABINE
He was a civil servant, judge, politician, lawyer and humanitarian. His name resonated amongst Cameroonians as one in a million for resisting the system despite coercion to conform.
After serving as a Magistrate for 24 years, he left the mark of an incorruptible judge crossing into the world of politics.
He won election as a Member of Parliament, representing his hometown constituency, Akwaya, in Manyu Division of the South West Region under the ticket of the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM).
In 2008, every curious Cameroonian heard his name when he boldly stood as the only CPDM MP to oppose the amendment of the Constitution of Cameroon, which aimed to allow Paul Biya to have a life presidency. Commentators describe this move as brave and fearless, noting that internal party debates and democracy do not exist in CPDM’s vocabulary. Despite the amendment of the constitution, Ayah Paul Abine ultimately departed from the CPDM. He challenged Paul Biya in the 2011 presidential elections but did not succeed.
In 2015, a presidential decree appointed him as the Deputy Advocate General of the Supreme Court of Cameroon. He spoke out, informing the government in 2016 that the Anglophone problem was real and demanded a return to the 1961 Federal structure. Authorities arbitrarily arrested him in 2017 and jailed him for eight months. They stripped him of his position at the Supreme Court, forced him into retirement, denied his benefits, and froze his bank accounts.
Pa Ayah Paul Abine, true to his principles of truth and honesty, received his call to glory on Christmas Day, December 25, 2024. The Biya-led government has uttered no word to the family following his demise.
He will be interred on February 14 according to funeral program announced by the family.
DAVID ABOUEM A TCHOYI
In 1972, he joined the public service as a civil administrator.He served as governor of the North West and South West Regions before the government appointed him as Secretary General at the Presidency, where he later advanced to cabinet minister, managing various portfolios.
He was simple and humble to the admiration of the Cameroonian people. He never failed to tell truth to power in times of need.
At the early stage of the crisis in the English speaking regions, David Abouem A Tchoyi demonstrated his dedication to truth.
Top regime barons including Anglophones like minister Atanga Nji swore with their lives that there is no Anglophone problem in Cameroon.
After serving as governor of the two regions following the shift from a federal to a unitary state, Abouem A Tchoyi revealed information that embarrassed regime apologists.
In a thirteen page document released in 2017 he not only acknowledged the Anglophone Problem but presented what he called “Understanding the Anglophone problem To Better Solve it”
He delved deep into the grievances telling the world from his experience the cries of the minority English speaking population.
The government ignored his proposals, transforming the problem from peaceful demands into a full-blown armed conflict that has lasted for years, resulting in thousands of lives lost, properties destroyed, and hundreds of thousands forced to flee their homes.
He did not fall out with the regime, as he received a last-minute call from retirement to join the Bilingualism Commission, an organisation established to find solutions to the deadly conflict in the Anglophone regions.
Abouem A Tchoyi died on January 15 in Yaounde and a state burial decreed in his honour by President Paul Biya announced for February 8 in Mbam and Inoubou Division of the Center Region.
ACHU GEORGE MOFOR
Those born after 1992 in Cameroon are likely not to have heard this name in the life of the Cameroonian nation until recently when he was announced dead in the United States of America.
On 20th January, 2025 he breathed his last.
He was civil administrator rising to the position of governor of the East Region in turbulent year of 1992 when the country witnessed its first ever multi party presidential elections.
Faced with potential defeat ,the ruling CPDM instructed civil administrator including D.Os and Governor’s to ensure a win for incumbent President Paul Biya.They further directed to use lethal force to suppress any uprising.
Governor Achu George Mofor unexpectedly resigned to the President of the Republic, stating, “Taking into account the above facts and considerations, I feel strongly that it is not in accordance with my conscience, my duty to the people of this province in particular and of Cameroon as a whole, who are aspiring to a real democratic society where Human Rights and the Rule of Law are respected, to continue to serve your government in this capacity.”
Go well legends!!
