The reasons why Nguelemedouga was posted to Couseri as sub district officer

The news about Nguelemedouga’s brand new Mercedes car stationed at a strategic corner of the campus of his former school, spread like wild fire amongst the teaching body of the School of Administration and Magistracy and also amongst his former school mates of who were handling prestigious posts in prestigious towns and cities in the country. The sub district officer of Couseri who was now making waves had as full names: Nguelemedouga Ntangan. He was the father of Risdoh and the husband of Mrs Noako Ntangan. Normally or in respect to the rules of the School of Administration and Magistracy of Cameroon, its administrators did not have to be post Nguelemedouga to Couseri, a low profile town that was doubling as sub district, located in the Far North of Cameroon. Why? For the rules of the School of Administration and Magistracy, which is French-speaking Cameroon’s own answer to France’s Ecole Normale D’administration (ENA), were crystal clear. It stipulated that, the most excellent students, upon graduation, must be posted to high profile functions within the administration or hold strategic posts in provincial administration and it must be in strategic towns or cities. But in spite the fact that, Nguelemedouga was a brilliant student, when he graduated, his teachers and the administration of the school, decided that, he should be posted to the Far North province and not in the provincial capital, but in a newly created sub district. It was their own punishment to a brilliant student who had stepped on the toes of his tutors.

As far as the teachers and administration of the School of administration and Magistracy of Cameroon were concern, the town and also the newly created sub district of Couseri, where they had decided to post Nguelemedouga to, was Sahara desert. Sahara desert is a metaphor used in Cameroon for supposed barren or useless part of the country. Why was Nguelemedouga posted to Couseri in violation of the rules of his school? It was simple, it was a salacious affair. To make it abundantly clear, it was because of women. Nguelemedouga was paradoxically adored by his lecturers because he was bright, but those same lecturers hated him because, he was always interested in the same girls that they were either in love with or wanted to date them. And because he (Nguelemedouga) began going out with a girl that, Turbin Boakov, the Director of studies, was already dating, he crossed the Rubicon that he did not deserved to. It was at that moment, that, Boakov took seriously all complains that, lecturers had brought to him about Nguelemedouga. At first, Boakov used to minimise the complains he received concerning Nguelemedouga. Why? Simply because, he admired Nguelemedouga’s brilliance in school, but when the brilliant insolent student, did to him what he had already done to other lecturers, Boakov said: the game was over.

elie-smithsstory: Family and my views (part 2)

elie-smithsstory: Family and my views (part 2)

Nguelemedouga & his experience as sub district officer of Couseri (final part )

Couseri sub district located in the Far North province of Cameroon, the place he knew he was posted to after graduation as retribution, was no longer a barren and desolate land, populated by fanatical Muslims. Mr Nguelemedouga was posted to Couseri upon graduation, because when he was a student at the Ecole Normale D’administration et de la Magistrature (School of Administration and Magistracy), he was always going out with the girls his professors wanted to go out with, and as vengeance for his impertinence, he was assigned to Couseri for they (his professors and administrators of his school) thought and he also thought that, Couseri was a inhospitable land. When he (Nguelemedouga) had his first vacation, he travelled down south with a lot of money. He went straight to a trendy and posh neighbourhood of Yaoundé called Santa Barbara and bought a piece of land, in order to build a house for his family. After buying the piece of land, he travelled to Douala, the economic capital of Cameroon and there, he bought a brand new Mercedes Benz car.

After all those purchases, he rode directly to Yaoundé and drove into the campus of his former school and positioned his car at a strategic corner, where all eyes could see. While Nguelemedouga, a newly graduated student and new sub divisional officer of a little known locality rode in a brand new Mercedes car and had bought a piece of land in a posh part of the capital, where only top government functionaries and other wealthy people reside or possesses lands, the standard of living of his former tutors had not changed. Some had cars, but they were of French or Japanese brands, which were not trendy and most did not even have enough savings to buy plot of lands to build their own homes. Those who had some savings and had bought lands, they were bought in parts that were not trendy. But Nguelemedouga and his Mercedes car, stationed in a strategic corner of the campus surprised many. They were left spell bound, when they got news that, the Mercedes car, stationed at a calculated part of the school campus was not that of a ruling party big wig or minister, but that, of Nguelemedouga.

elie-smithsstory: Family and my views

elie-smithsstory: Family and my views

Nguelemedouga & his experience as sub district officer of Couseri ( part 3)

He started by instituting suitable border control services, in order to control the bustling smuggling business between the Republics of Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria. The epicentre of smuggling business was in fact Couseri .The institution of control services to monitor and control smuggling in the sub district also ignited an out cry. But since their petitions to Yaoundé was not having any effects on Nguelemedouga, the family heads and rich merchants of Couseri, decided one day to visit the sub district officer with different kinds of gifts. Nguelemedouga was surprised and was also very happy. And that day, they signed a pact of non aggression and it stipulated that, they will continue their smuggling business and instead to pay taxes to the government, they will pay directly into Mr Nguelemedouga’s pockets. The direct payment made to Nguelemedouga as custom-duties were in different forms. It could be cows, sheep, goats, donkeys, camels and cash.

Mr Nguelemedouga, the sub divisional officer of Couseri was a character. He knew that the people of the sub district reviled him. And he was therefore surprised, when the local business dignitaries decided to visit him in his office and also offered to corrupt him, in order to circumvent the law on the control of cross border trade, which was thriving in the region and controlled by grand smugglers families in Couseri. When the local dignitaries, who were the heads of the local smuggling ring and also representing the interest of others in neighbouring countries offered to bribe him with money, goats, sheep, cows and camels, he (Nguelemedouga) accepted. But said he will accept only cash and not livestock. He asked his visitors: “have you ever seen camels or a southerner become a herder? All I need is cash and make sure; you pay some token to the state nonetheless”. The heads of the smuggling ring of Couseri, who are also the dignitaries of the town, respected their word. They bribed Nguelemedouga to a point that he never expected.

elie-smithsstory: Certified Refugee ( Final part )

elie-smithsstory: Certified Refugee ( Final part )

Nguelemedouga & his experience as sub district officer of Couseri ( part 2)

The caliph and imam of Couseri decided to invite Mr Nguelemedouga to the Lamido’s palace, in order to ask him to change his choice of interpreter. Nguelemedouga honoured their invitation, but rejected the request of the caliph and the Imam of Couseri. The local dignitaries of Couseri decided to send a delegation to Yaoundé, the capital of Cameroon in order to complain to the speaker of National assembly, who was himself, a national of the region, but not a native of Couseri. After receiving the delegates, the speaker of national assembly was crossed and he decided to call the sub district officer directly. But he was advised by his Anglophone deputy called Yesman Feh not to. Mr Feh told the speaker of national assembly that, it would be proper to first inform Mr Juan Pedro Lawson, who was the Prime minister. Mr Feh told the speaker of parliament that: “the prime minister is head of government and only he could logically contact, Mr Nguelemedouga, but he won’t contact him directly. He will contact the Minister of Territorial administration, who will in his turn, contact Nguelemedouga. ” And Mr Feh added: “Mr Lawson is the boss of Nguelemedouga.”

The final piece of the advice of Mr Feh to Mr Abdulkadir, speaker of national assembly, was considered an insult. Abdulkadir retorted: “are you in any way insinuating that, Mr Lawson is my boss? Feh replied, “perhaps not yours, but he is our general boss and the president of the republic caps us all.” Abdulkadir said to Feh: “look here, let me give you the national hierarchy of this country. You have the president of the republic, the speaker of national assembly , the post that, I am handling now, the chair of the economic and social council, another post that I can’t presently recall, before the post of your prime minister of a boss.” Feh retorted: “in your presentation, it sounds as though the Prime minister is the fifth personal in administrative hierarchy of the country.” And Abdulkadir replied: “It is some thing like that.” And Abdulkadir continued: “next time, be very careful before making utterances.” Feh added: “well, if you are angry, don’t do what I have advice you to do and you will see the consequences”.

And Mr Feh added apologetically: “look! I know that, the Anglophone who is prime minister may not be influential as you think you are, but he is nonetheless the prime minister of this country.” And Feh asked Abdulkadir: “does it mean that, the reunification treaty is no longer being respected in this country?” Abdulkadir laughed out loud and replied with another question: “when has the reunification treaty ever been respected in this country?” And he added: “So, I must be the one to tell you the reality of this country. I am sorry to say this to you Mr Feh, you are shame.” Meanwhile in the sub district of Couseri, Nguelemedouga was trying to establish himself as representative of the central government and also looking for astute means to line his pocket.

elie-smithsstory: Certified Refugee ( part 23)

elie-smithsstory: Certified Refugee ( part 23)

Nguelemedouga & his experience as sub district officer of Couseri

Nguelemedouga was a graduate of Ecole Normale D’administration et de la Magistrature (School of Administration and Magistracy) and was posted as the pioneer sub district officer of a sub district located in the Far North province of Cameroon. In that area, and which is predominantly Muslim, the geography and national or ethnic composition of it people, made Nguelemedouga to conclude that, he was in a foreign land. Even though the Far North or the Greater northern province of Cameroon was part of Cameroon, those from the Greater south often found it difficult to admit. For the culture and religion in the Greater Northern part of the country was diametrically different from those of the Greater south, although in the south, equally had their own differences. The next difficulties of the new sub district officer were the ethnic or national composition of the district. They were all ethnic Arabs and Mr Nguelemedouga their sub district head was: a non Arabic-speaker and also none Muslim.

Mr Nguelemedouga was a Christian from the greater south and he never knew that his country had such large number of people who were ethnic Arabs. That was his first real shock. The second shocker was that, 90% of the population did not speak French and never wanted to. They were only interested in learning, Islamic education, Arabic language and English. This last observation profoundly surprised Nguelemedouga, for the Greater northern provinces was part of French-speaking Cameroon and it was beyond comprehension why the people of Couseri sub district, will want to speak and learn Arabic and English and not French. Couseri was a newly created sub district and lacked all basic administrative infrastructure as well as others. Nguelemedouga therefore had the responsibility, privilege and honour to make the presence of the government of Cameroon felt in this part of the country.

Toward that objective, and since he also discovered that the people never wanted to speak French, he knew it won’t be unproblematic for him. He had to address the people of Couseri sub district in Arabic or in English. But since he could not speak standard Arabic and he was ashamed of his fluency in English, he opted for an interpreter for it was evident that, he never wanted to speak English. He addresses the people in French and his interpreter translated in Arabic. But Nguelemedouga ran into open conflict with the population of the Couseri sub district earlier than he had expected. The cause of the conflict was the choice of the gender of the person to serve as his interpreter. Instead of the district officer to choose one of the males to serve as his interpreter, from the pool of the few nationals who were educated in the French language, he decided to choose as interpreter a female by name Fatima. His choice caused an out cry like the one caused when Osman Dan Fondio came with his army on horse backs 400 years ago to islamise the nationals of Couseri and also extend the influence of Sokoto Empire to what is today known as northern Cameroon.

Manteur & the female students of Lycee du General Leclerc in Yaoundé Cameroon (final part )

Risdoh was truly a lucky girl and born in family and in a nationality (tribe) that education was given genuine importance and for both sexes. This happened at a time when women all over Cameroon wanted their daughters to be well educated. It was also at a time when, the mere mention that, a child has sat and pass the General Certificate of Education (GCE) ordinary or advance level, gave room for joy. The student who had succeeded any of the two latter mentioned examinations: girl or boy was adored like a demigod. And the student: girl or boy who went on to obtain a University Diploma; he/she were also venerated or treated like Kings and Queens. Neighbours and nationals or natives contributed monies to take such gems to the hospital if he/she was sick. Whatever the successful student wanted he/she was offered. The uneducated ones protected the educated, for they knew that, through the educated ones, whom they referred to as their eyes and ears, their names, and that of their nationality, family and neighbourhoods will be propelled into the limelight, vindicated and defended. The educated student: boy/girl was considered as the one or ones who brings light or civilisation and glory to any part of the country.

They were sure to have a place under the sun. And as they say in Cameroon: “if your son or daughter is at the top of the plume tree, you are sure to be the first to eat the ripe plumes.” Education at that time was a passport out of ignorance and people were not interested or were not materialistic. It was a golden era in Cameroon that ended when the economic crisis stroke in 1987. Economic crisis brought with her, large bags of immoralities. Mothers changed their conducts suddenly, and people were no longer interested in hard work and education. Honesty became as rare as gold. But Risdoh was still lucky because, her father who was a graduate of Ecole Normale D’administration et de la Magistrature (School of Administration and Magistracy) was a de facto civil servant. It meant that, come what may, he was guaranteed, a job and one which was not threatened by the spectre of redundancy. Risdoh’s father was called Nguelemedouga.

elie-smithsstory: Certified Refugee (part 21)

elie-smithsstory: Certified Refugee (part 21)

elie-smithsstory: Certified Refugee (part 20)

elie-smithsstory: Certified Refugee (part 20)

Manteur & the female students of Lycee du General Leclerc in Yaoundé, Cameroon (part 3)

However, since they were the clique of the refined and happening girls of Lycee du General Leclerc, they decided to dissimulate their collective disappointments under their mantle of foolish and ignorant pride. Nonetheless, they tried to investigate serenely, whether Manteur hasn’t done the same with a rival group of girls. The group up of Bakala, Zambo, Mvele and Risdoh was the elite group in the school yard. Risdoh was a member but a distant one. Because Melima was pregnant and was no longer coming to school, hence they wanted to find out whether other group of girls had not been deceived by Manteur. But the real secret was not to avoid other girls to fall into the same trap they had fallen into. it was a calculated attempt to maintain their status of top girls in the school yard. For they thought that, if Manteur had gone to bed with them all and made them false promises, it was still to them a kind of victory, but if he had done the same with their rival groups, then Manteur’s act was the ultimate humiliation. They were shocked when it became clear that all the girls at Lycee du General Leclerc had gone to bed with Manteur. The salacious news started spraying like wild fire and also that Manteur’s France’s address was bogus.

Intelligent Risdoh had known that long before members of her group could. For she had secretly written a letter to France, using the address given to her by Manteur and it came back with these short sentences: “retour à l’envoyeur” in French or in English: back to sender and on the envelope was this special mention in French: “n’habite pas à l’address indiquee” or in English: doesn’t live at the indicated address. Why Risdoh wrote an advance letter to Manteur when he was still in Cameroon has remain a mystery. Perhaps she had a premonitory sign that, Manteur was deceiving them or it was just a calculated attempt to over take her rivals who were no other persons than her friends. But what is certain is that, when Risdoh received her envelop from France with the above phrases written on, she was shocked. An individual earth quake stroked her under her feet and the tremor affected her examination results. But by a stroke of luck, she managed to pass. But Risdoh kept her personal disillusion to herself and when her friends were facing their own shock at discovering that, Manteur did not only deceive them but deceive the entire school, she was not worried.

But from that day when she received the enveloped that almost gave her heart attack, Risdoh’s dreams and determination was to go France and get married to a White man and also have all the goodies that are expected to follow such unions. But how will she go to France? She could not convince her mother to send her, for she had not yet sat and pass her advance level examination. Risdoh therefore, with a heavy heart, had to continue her studies at Lycee du General Leclerc. But her head was no longer there. She began successively failing her exams and could not even pass to the upper sixth form, in order to qualify to seat in for the advance level examinations. Sensing that, her plans to make Risdoh to become another Tsanga Delphine was almost on the line, Noako, (the name of the mother of Risdoh) decided to go war against her daughter’s repeated exam failures. Risdoh was truly a lucky girl and born in family and in a nationality (tribe) that education was given genuine importance and for both sexes.