Nguelemedouga was too brilliant and unpredictable

Within the presidency of the Republic, some staff belonging to the greater Northern Province wanted Nguelemedouga to be posted to the coastal part of the Anglophone region, otherwise known as the South west province, while staff of North West extraction working at the same presidency, wanted Nguelemedouga to be transferred to their province, whereas those of the South west province, who were manning Prime ministry, a ceremonial but prestigious post, that was converted by people of the greater North and North west provinces, wanted Nguelemedouga to be promoted, but that, he should remain in the Sanaga Maritime division. Political elites of the South west province working at the presidency of the Republic never wanted Nguelemedouga to be posted to the North West or South West provinces. Why? Simply because, if he were transferred to the former, he might manoeuvre and make the province come under the influence of the ruling party and the South west province, will loose post of prime minister. They also never wanted him in their province because, since Nguelemedouga was a follower of political balancing act, he might allow some host elections to be organised and in that case, the opposition SDF might emerge as the official second strongest party in the province. Besides top civil servants of North West extraction who wanted Nguelemedouga to be posted to their province in order for him to repeat his electoral cheating feat, a prospect that will make them gain some ruling party MPs in a province that was dominated by the opposition SDF, no other groups of elites, representing the 10 province of Cameroon, working at the presidency of the Republic wanted Nguelemedouga in their region.

Nguelemedouga was too brilliant and unpredictable, and had caught and won the esteem of the head of state. He was no longer the darling of the ruling party cadres, he was now an enemy and his enemies prayed that, he should commit an error. And it was not long for the prayers of the enemies of Nguelemedouga to materialise and make them celebrate. For brilliant Nguelemedouga had a short fall, it was his insatiable love for women. Just as he dramatically fell in love Couseri with Fatima and accepted to make the region to become a sharia-land, all in a bid to save his life, in Nyanon, when he was on the high way to get what he was denied by administrators of his school because of a girl, he has again fallen in love. This time around, it was with the wife of the head master of the primary school that, he oversaw the construction. Nguelemedouga was an ambulating dead man and since a dead person is never afraid of his grave, he rode straight into it. In a small village such as Nyanon, news move around with the speed of light. When the Mr Ndoumatona, the primary school head master of Government Primary School Nyanon learnt that, his wife was flirting around with Nguelemedouga, he swore all the gods on earth that, he will see the back of the insolent and indolent sub district officer. He said: Nguelemedouga was Goliath and he was David. Mr Ndoumatona was so crossed that, he started walking and talking alone as though he was mad.

Nyanon and her illiterate voters

Cappolytree was furious with Nguelemedouga’s method, but he choose not to complains, because in spite the fact that, he had given the sub district officer CFA Franc 2 million, he had no power over him and Nguelemedouga was still a threat to his ambitions. Nyanon sub district is part of the Ndom sub division in the Sanaga Maritime division of the Littoral province in French-speaking Cameroon. The Sanaga Maritime division is part of greater Bassaland and Bassaland, had one of the highest percentages of educated people in French-speaking Cameroon. The only other part of French-speaking Cameroon with high number of educated people was the Betiland. But Nyanon was different, she was a locality most affected by rural exodus and had large number of under age children who were not qualified to vote. Nyanon also had large number old men and women, who could not read or write and spoke only the Bassa language. This therefore made elections in Nyanon sub district, whose headquarters bore the same name, peculiar. Voting Nyanon like in other rural parts of the country, with the same problems was complicated. Hence and Nyanon and other rural parts of the country are authorised to carry out in two or three methods of voting. Those who could read had to cast their ballots using the standard secret voting system. While those who were sick or could not read, gave an official order to some one, in his or her family, who was a major, to go and vote on his/her behalf.

The problem with this second system was that, it was difficult to know whether the person voting on behalf of the one who could not, truly respected the wishes of the one he/she was representing. Voting by proxy was therefore a passport for vote rigging. Nguelemedouga sensing that, the second method could open the floodgate of challenges of the official results, decide that, those who could not read or write, would vote in selected classrooms of the new primary and secondary schools, which were opened immediately after he was installed as the administrator of the new sub district. Representatives of the different political parties, taking part in the elections had to present themselves or stand in front of selected classes. The sub district officer, will call the names of parties they represented. And will shout: all those who want to vote for this party should indicate by rising up their right hands. He will count the hands raised and note down the number of raised hands, for each party and ask his assistant to write it on the blackboard, using a chalk. This procedure was done in the presence of all political parties. When the atypical voting of the illiterate voters was completed, Nguelemedouga left to his office with the official result, but changed them and waited for the votes cast in the standard secret ballots to be announced.

When the results of the elections were announced, it was discovered that, the representative of the UPC was not really leading Cappolytree with a wide margin and there was no doubt that, the combined votes of the illiterates and the standard votes, will be in favour of Cappolytree. Why? Simply because, Nguelemedouga knew that, those who voted in the open classrooms never really cared to contest their votes or do forget fast. In Nyanon, Nguelemedouga reinvented and perfected electoral cheating; taking it to a level that made him to become the darling of the government. Cappolyree’s victory was not only surprising to Cappolytree himself, but to the entire members of the ruling party. It was the first time that, the ruling party’s victory in an elections was accepted in Bassaland without any challenges from the opposition. But this happened because of the insidious smear campaigns carried out by Nguelemedouga against Malate, the candidate of one of the three factions of the UPC in Nyanon. The news of the way elections were organised in Nyanon reach Yaoundé and Nguelemedouga was personally short-listed by the head of the state for promotion as divisional officer, thus, ready for transfer to the unpredictable Anglophone region. But it was not clear whether he will be posted to the coastal or hinterland parts of the Anglophone region.

elie-smithsstory: Questions on why I left CRTV

elie-smithsstory: Questions on why I left CRTV

elie-smithsstory: Way to exile

elie-smithsstory: Way to exile

elie-smithsstory: Crumbling under heavy pile of pressures

elie-smithsstory: Crumbling under heavy pile of pressures

elie-smithsstory: My disenchantment with CRTV

elie-smithsstory: My disenchantment with CRTV

elie-smithsstory: Cameroon: Terra firma of massive corruption

elie-smithsstory: Cameroon: Terra firma of massive corruption

elie-smithsstory: Dr Daniel Emile Beleck, Mayor of Yabassi

elie-smithsstory: Dr Daniel Emile Beleck, Mayor of Yabassi

How Nguelemedouga,sowed the seeds of confusion, suspicions and doubts in the minds of voters.

He first began holding meetings with natives of Nyanon some four mouths before the elections. He also attended all clan meetings and whenever given the opportunity to speak, he first began by saluting the heroism of the UPC and also the contributions of the Bassas in the liberation of French-speaking Cameroon. Then he concluded by saying that, Malate, who was leading one of three factions of the UPC, could be the one who betrayed Um Nyobe Ruben to the French and to Ahmadou Ahidjo. Then he added: “it is even rumoured that, the same Malate was the one who also betrayed Ossende Affana”. Mindful that, Malate was popular, he said: “what he was saying, were mere rumours”. But he almost always concluded his speech by claiming that: “nothing on earth can hide from the sun”. He was cleverly insinuating that, even though he no proves of his accusations on Malate, whom he claims or accused, his accusations, may nonetheless have some elements of truth, which will one day be revealed. And he always concluded his meetings by saying: “it best to vote for a son who might be a thief, than one who killed or helped those who killed your heroes and the heroes of Cameroon”. But the truth is that, Um Nyobe was not betrayed by Malate, but by late Pastor Mongo. But the tactics used by Nguelemedouga operated perfectly, because he never called names, but sowed the seeds of confusion, suspicions and doubts in the minds of voters.

A week to the October polling day, Nguelemedouga who is the sub district officer of Nyanon sub district, acting contrary to what his colleagues do elsewhere in the country, decided to publish a sub district order, which was in conformity with electoral laws. In his sub district order or communiqué, he insisted that, only results from polling stations where representatives of all registered political parties that had contestants in the elections, with their representatives present, during the counting of votes cast, will be valid. His decision of Nguelemedouga was an enigma to members of the ruling party, who wanted the sub district officer to openly rig elections as others in his position do in other parts of the country. Nguelemedouga was a clever and a meticulous administrator, but he was not different from other civil servants when it came to support the system in electoral periods. But he was also a brilliant electoral fraudster. While his colleagues openly erected fake polling stations with pre-stuffed elections boxes that made voting a formality, but also sparked violence from cheated electorates, Nguelemedouga stole election brilliantly to a point that, contesting electoral results that, he supervised was almost impossible.

elie-smithsstory: No particular prejudice

elie-smithsstory: No particular prejudice

Conversation betweenNguelemedouga & Cappolytree

Nguelemedouga interjected: “Be very clear Cappolytree. And please I don’t want proverbs in our conversation”. And like a child, Cappolytree, an exuberant burly responded: “all right boss”. And he added: “I am going to use one stone to kill two birds”. Nguelemedouga interrupted him again: “I have warned you not spice our conversation of today with any proverbs”. “Ok!” Cappolytree replied. And he went on: “I am going to be very clear and direct”. “That is good. Now, tell me what and how you want me to help you, as a brother as you are claiming?” Nguelemedouga asked Cappolytree. “Ok!” Cappolytree answered and said: “I want to become the MP of Nyanon and the fact that, you are welcoming every one here with pomp and fanfare and I am considered not worth a fly, makes me to panic. If I am not elected MP, I think I will be on the highway to jail, provided the radar of the fight against corruption locates me.” “It will locate you never mind”. Nguelemedouga told Cappolytree.

And he added: “is it because you want to become an MP by all means that, instead of coming here to let me know you decided to write long petition letters to Yaoundé against me?” Cappolytree could not respond but was instead apologetic. He mumbled: “Forgive me.” “That is not how you have to apologise. Especially that, I am older than you. You also know that, before you could come here and confess today, I knew before you why you would do anything in order to become an MP of this sub district. You also know this district was created for you”. Nguelemedouga told Cappolytree. Cappolytree was impressed at the depth of information that, Nguelemedouga had on him. He sat for a while motionless in the sofa of the office of Nguelemedouga and then rose up and said to the sub district officer: “Thank you very much for having accepted to welcome me. I won’t waste your precious time. Here is something for you and your family.” Cappolytree open his wallet and gave the sub district officer the sum of CFA France 2 million. The sub district officer did not say thank you but said: “now that, you have behaved well, I can assure you today that, you will be in the Glass House at next June’s secession.” Cappolytree left but was not very confident, he still thought of contacting a stand by team of lawyers in case, Nguelemedouga doesn’t honour his promise and thus, he is not elected into parliament and the dragnet of the anticorruption machine catches him. What he did not know was that, Nguelemedouga was a man of word. He made everything possible in order for Cappolytree to be elected into parliament, but in a clean way. He was not a brutal electoral fraud, as most of his colleagues were. His stratagem to enable Cappolytree to win the parliamentary seat of Nyanon was a weapon of massive disinformation.

elie-smithsstory: Facing the reality of CRTV & Cameroon

elie-smithsstory: Facing the reality of CRTV & Cameroon

The meeting in Nyanon between Nguelemedouga & Cappolytree

For all the petition letters written against Nguelemedouga, and petition writing being one of the specialities of Cappolytree and also that of people of his region and which could change the career of any civil servants in the area, had little or no effect on Nguelemedouga. Even though disappointed at his low level reception, Cappolytree fought to put on an Olympian calm, and walked into the reception room of the office of the sub district officer, made himself known to the secretary and sat in the sofa like all other people who had an appointment with the representative of the government in the area. After Nguelemedouga had received all those who were there before Cappolytree, the secretary of the boss of the sub district called out the name of Cappolytree and informed him that, it was his turn. He rose up and walked into the office where Nguelemedouga was standing at the centre of his office. They saluted each other, and then Nguelemedouga signalled to Cappolytree to have a seat. They did not exchange pleasantries and Nguelemedouga began attacking Cappolytree verbally: “Do you think that, I will support a fraudster to a point of supporting him to be elected Member of Parliament?” Cappolytree could not even open his mouth to respond. Nguelemedouga bombarded him again: “I have a lot of information concerning you and I have also been informed in detail on all the petitions you and your brothers have written concerning me. But I will want to remind you that, I am a native Beti and I have worked in areas of this country that are more dangerous than this one”. He continued: “I am therefore not one bit impressed by you or your brothers. Whatever I plan to do, I will do it and I am here to serve the state and not the CPDM party or the head of state”. He concluded: “I am not a politician, but a civil servant.”

If Cappolytree doubted that Nguelemedouga despised him, he now had an opportunity to authenticate it. Shocked, as he was the only thing he could do was not to counter attack but try to calm the inflamed sub district officer and also try to create an opportunity for friendship. Cappolytree told Nguelemedouga: “calm down boss”. And he jokingly added: “You that, you Betis were ours slaves in the past before the White men came and remember, once a slave, a slave remains a slave, even long after he may have won his liberty”. Flattered and impressed by the traits of humour of Cappolytree, Nguelemedouga replied: “No, the Bassas are the ones who were the slaves of the Betis and not the contrary.” Then Cappolytree sensing that, he has destabilised and perhaps succeeded to calm the anger that Nguelemedouga had toward him, he said gently: “I am here to see you as a brother and I know you can help me out”. He continued: “Look, I don’t want Yaoundé to be concern about this. It is a matter between you and me. It is matter that concerns the heart and the toe.” Nguelemedouga interjected: “Be very clear Cappolytree. And please I don’t want proverbs in our conversation”. And like a child, Cappolytree, an exuberant burly responded: “all right boss”. And he added: “I am going to use one stone to kill two birds”. Nguelemedouga interrupted him again: I have warned you not spice our conversation of today with any proverbs. “Ok!” Cappolytree replied. And he went on: “I am going to be very clear and direct”. “That is good. Now, tell me what and how you want me to help you, as a brother as you are claiming?”

elie-smithsstory: The strategy of a Chinese thief

elie-smithsstory: The strategy of a Chinese thief

An excellent administrator called Ngelemedouga

Nguelemedouga was an excellent administrator, who represented the government fully well wherever he was posted. His obsession wherever he was posted, was to make sure that, all government agencies were present and functioning. He acted in the same way in Couseri and he was now acting in the same manner in Nyanon. One thing he fought hard to accomplish was to make the roads into and out of Nyanon, all season roads. For the roads leading into and out of Nyanon were stony and dusty in the dry season and stony and muddy in the raining seasons. Roads in and out of Nyanon had in both seasons, her share of inconvenience that she caused to her users. And Nguelemedouga wanted to help the people by trying to improve the conditions of those roads. He knew more than most, the importance of good roads in the development of the economy of enclave regions like Nyanon. Besides focusing on security and road issues of the sub district, Nguelemedouga also focused on health and education. Hence he encouraged the government to open primary and secondary schools and also a sub district hospital complete with a pharmacy. He also promoted sports and even sponsored a local football team and hand ball teams that was made up of separately of boys and girls teams, which even won the divisional competition.

Although Nguelemedouga was an excellent administrator, who won over the heart of the head state, hence whatever he asked he was given, he nonetheless had one weak point. It was women. Even though he was married and had three children amongst which was the brilliant Risdoh, Nguelemedouga could not see a woman and control himself and such a mannerism in Bassaland, was tantamount to walking on a tightrope, without protective nets beneath. The day that Nguelemedouga proposed to receive Cappolytree for a meeting in his office came and the businessman, put up an impressive motorcade made up of Japanese made four wheel drive cars and rode into Nyanon. Cappolytree thought that, he will be welcomed by Nguelemedouga at the bridge which served as entrance into Nyanon. The Nyanon bridge links Nyanon sub district to Ngambe sub district, and as the tradition requires, the sub district officer goes to the bridge, to welcome dignitaries coming to visit the locality. Even though Nguelemedouga did not go to welcome Cappolytree, he had made a ritual, since he was appointed sub district officer to go and welcome at the Nyanon Bridge, all dignitaries even leaders of the smallest political party who was in the sub district to stage a political rally. Cappolytree was not welcomed into the sub district at the Nyanon Bridge, as the tradition requires, he was not also welcomed either at the entrance of the office of the sub district building by the sub district officer Mr Nguelemedouga, but by one of his designated clerk. Cappolytree was not happy, for it was another snub from the sub district officer. But he was not surprised and could not do anything.

elie-smithsstory: Talla Todem

elie-smithsstory: Talla Todem

elie-smithsstory: Jean Pierre Effouba Onana

elie-smithsstory: Jean Pierre Effouba Onana

elie-smithsstory: Nyoh Moses

elie-smithsstory: Nyoh Moses

elie-smithsstory: CRTV Douala: a school of life

elie-smithsstory: CRTV Douala: a school of life

The problems of Cappolytree in Nyanon

Besides all the problems that Cappolytree had, he also hated and despised the sub district officer Mr Nguelemedouga. But he had no alternative than to visit Nguelemedouga in his office. But Nguelemedouga was a sub district officer who likes administrative procedures to be respected to the letter and for nothing in the world will he default on any of them. He applied the rule on Cappolytree very well. One morning, Cappolytree took his car and decided to visit Nguelemedouga in his office without prior notification, but he was not received. Instead, the sub district officer via his secretary informed Cappolytree that, any high profile visitor who wanted to see him for private or official matters, must inform him in writing, stating clearly, the purpose of his visit and the day, date and month, which the said visitor or visitors wanted to be received by the sub district officer. Cappolytree could not believe what his ears had heard from the secretary of a person in whose waiting hall, he was sitting and expecting to be received. It was the first time that, such as happened to Cappolytree and he was furious. But he could not express his anger openly for fear that, Nguelemedouga presented as a sub district officer with strong links with the head of state could scuttle his chances of being elected into parliament. He left the office of the sub district officer annoyed and also concluded that, his days as an influential but corrupt rich man may be counted.

He started thinking of finding contacts of high profile lawyers, whom he will hire in case, he is arrested and charged for corruption as the government, in a bid to appease the Americans, the British, the Dutch and the Germans was at present doing. But in his car, he concluded that, before contacting any lawyer, what he first had to do was to respect the procedure laid down by Nguelemedouga. And he also said: after all, I have heard rumours and seen list of those susceptible to fall in the net currently cast by the government in her selective fight against corruption, but I have seen mind nor heard my names. Calling a lawyer and telling him or asking him to be on stand by might give an impression that, I am afraid or fearing something. Cappolytree therefore decided when he reached his home, to write a letter to the sub district officer of Nyanon, informing him of the motive of his desired visit and the day and month he would like such to hold. Immediately he had finish writing the letter, he gave it to one of his orderly to take to the officer of the sub district officer.

That same evening, Nguelemedouga saw and read the letter of Cappolytree requesting to be received. He decided to reply. He rejected the date, day and mouth proposed by Cappolytree. But as a seasoned administrator, Nguelemedouga did not forget to mention in his reply letter to Cappolytree, the reason why he could not receive him. His letter went thus: “The reason why I am not going to receive you on the day and month you have chosen is because, I will be presiding over the installation ceremonies of the new National Gendarmerie Brigade and Customs Officers of Nyanon sub district. As you are well aware, in order for our sub district to be fully operational and this, for the well being of the people and in order to consolidate the presence of the government, all institutions needed for such a locality must be introduced and accompanied in their growth. Hope you won’t be disappointed, but will appreciate what I am doing for your locality and I hope you will also take active part in the development of Nyanon”. Nguelemedouga concluded in his letter to Cappolytree.

elie-smithsstory: Smear campaign, gossips and slander

elie-smithsstory: Smear campaign, gossips and slander

How Cappolytree eluded arrest

But the prospect of Cappolytree’s arrest changed, when he succeeded to use his connections at the Ministry of Territorial Administration and at the Central Committee of the ruling CPDM party to force the head of state to order the redrawing of the electoral constituencies within the Sanaga Maritime division. Those who agitated for the new electoral constituency re-mapping dangled the prospects that, the three factions of the UPC and the radical opposition SDF were on the high way of claiming a landslide at the upcoming municipal and legislative elections in the division. Upon getting such news about Sanaga maritime division, Paul Biya and the ideologues of the regime panicked at the prospects of the warring three factions of the UPC controlling the Sanaga Maritime division with a possibility of the radical dominant English-speaking SDF wining a seat in the division. For such a design would signalled the enlargement of the influence of the Social Democratic Front, that the government has tried to make it look more like an Anglophone based party, whose only national support were the French-speaking Bamilekes of the West province.

The prospect of the SDF making an in road in the Sanaga maritime reminded the regime of the 90’s when the SDF was controlling the greater western provinces of Cameroon (North West, South, West and Littoral provinces). During that period, they went on to win the presidential elections of 1992. Biya’s regime only survived with the support of France. That was how the idea of creating or elevating Nyanon in a sub district and electoral constituency came up and was retained. It was also an opportunity to compensate Cappolytree for financially supporting the government and in particular, the ruling party during her most difficult times. But Biya had other priority, for the survival of his regime rested more on the shoulders of the Americans, who had decided to make a come back on the continent in a bid to counter the Chinese invasion. But the Americans even though they seem to support Paul Biya, nonetheless asked him to fight corruption even in a cosmetic manner. The Americans seem different from the French. Americans do bite, but do also blow some fresh air at the same time. And because of the demands of the Americans, Paul Biya was ready to sacrifice some worst elements of his herd of corrupt supporters in business as well as in politic milieus. Cappolytree was one of those lambs whose sacrifice will do a lot of good to build a good image to the corrupt regime without putting in danger the system. Cappolyree’s heart was racing like that of a track and field athlete. He was nervous as days rolled by and at the same time, Nguelemedouga was glowing with confidence and setting his mark in the sub district and in the division and littoral province in general.

elie-smithsstory: My passage at Cameroon Radio & Television Corporation (CRTV) part 18

elie-smithsstory: My passage at Cameroon Radio & Television Corporation (CRTV) part 18

elie-smithsstory: The reason why I was born in Penja, Littoral province of Cameroon

elie-smithsstory: The reason why I was born in Penja, Littoral province of Cameroon,http://www.thelocal.se/blog/

http://www.thelocal.se/blog/

Paul Biya's reactions

The reaction of the head of state shocked Mr Ndomba and it added to his anxiety, he was now certain that, his days at the post of secretary general of the ruling party were numbered. He picked up his phone and dialed Cappolytree on his mobile phone and told him: “please be calm. This is because, that Nguelemedouga is very powerful and well connected within the presidency of the Republic”. “What do you mean by that?” Mr Cappolytree angrily replied. But Mr Ndomba added: “Listen, the head of state himself has just ringed me and has warned me. He has asked me to cease filing in any report about Nyanon sub district and Mr Nguelemedouga, in particular, to his office. He is happy with the way Nguelemedouga is working there in Nyanon. Therefore, I do not want to loose my post because of you. I have my children and other family members who are relying on me. You will therefore have to fend for yourself during elections and all we can do, is try to influence the results here in Yaoundé at the ministry of Territorial administration. But you must try to help us. That is, by campaigning scrupulously on the field”. Mr Ndomba dropped his phone. Mr Cappolytree was worried; for he was very corrupt, but a prosperous businessman who very much needed to be elected into parliament. This not because he loved his constituency and wanted to help or contribute to develop her as he claims, but more because, he had borrowed a lot of monies from banks and took part or commandeered other illicit businesses, a parliamentary seat was a bulwark against investigations and assured arrest.

He was not the only top-flight Cameroonian businessman who had skeletons in his cupboard. Most businessmen, especially the new generation rich men & women who spurted-out when Biya came to power in 1982 and who easily mixes politics, tribalism with business were in the same state. They use their political connections to borrow monies from banks, and refused to pay back, thus precipitating most Cameroonian banks and other state owned industries into bankruptcy. The government of Paul Biya has given noble status to immoralities and corruption. But Mr Biya was under immense pressure from the Americans, the British, the Netherlands and the Germans to first corruption or looses their support. And Cappolytree knew that, the only means he could elude jail was to be elected into parliament for five years, a position that will grant him automatic immunity, thus shielding him from any judicial pursuits. Since old habits die hard, he also planned that, he would use the mantle of Member of Parliament (MP), to borrow more monies from the few surviving banks and will not pay back. Cappolytree was a good material for the Maximum security Prison of Kondengui in Yaoundé and his arrest which was being rumored would have made good PR stunt for the regime. This would have been so, because it would have been widely relayed in the Press.

elie-smithsstory: My thorny path to secondary education

elie-smithsstory: My thorny path to secondary education

elie-smithsstory: I was not a brilliant pupil or student

elie-smithsstory: I was not a brilliant pupil or student

elie-smithsstory: Misplacement of priorities amongst some Cameroonian parents

elie-smithsstory: Misplacement of priorities amongst some Cameroonian parents

Cameroon's intelligence service in Nyanon to monitor Nguelemedouga

They wormed themselves into the population and took part in all funerals, cultural groups and any other organisation that could exist in such as small village, which has been elevated into a sub district and an electoral constituency. Men of the intelligence service of the presidency of the Republic, dispatched by the president wanted to have the smallest amount information about the sub district officer, for they also wanted to satisfy a president who seldom gives them assignments. They were surprised at how fast Nguelemedouga had won the hearts and minds of the citizens of Nyanon. After their two weeks stay in Nyanon, they concluded that, they had gathered enough information and within which, none was negative about the sub district officer. They therefore decided to go back to Yaoundé and gave a succinct report to the president of the Republic. But while they were on the field, the president had also dispatched a rival service, made up of foreigners who were quick to bring back positive reports about Nguelemedouga.

The head of state had no reason to confront both services, for both had almost the same accounts concerning Nguelemedouga. Mr Biya decided four weeks later to ring the secretary general of his ruling CPDM party, this time around, directly at the home of the second. When Mr Ndomba picked up his phone and discovered that, the speaker was the head of state, he panicked, and he almost had a cardiac arrest. For he thought his boss rang him, to inform him that, he will be relieved from his post. But Ndomba was wrong. The head of state simply told him this: “I don’t want to hear any report about Nguelemedouga anymore. If all civil servants dispatched on the field were excellent administrators as Nguelemedouga is, I am certain that, our party the CPDM, would have been sure to win at least, two parliamentary seats in the North West province and in a clean manner”. And he dropped.

elie-smithsstory: Does the bible discourage secular education?

elie-smithsstory: Does the bible discourage secular education?

elie-smithsstory: Damage that some Jehovah’s Witnesses did to my sister by name Lois

elie-smithsstory: Damage that some Jehovah’s Witnesses did to my sister by name Lois

Nguelemedouga did not only receive Malate, who was the most popular Bassa man in the sub division after Ruben Um Nyobe.

Nguelemedouga did not only receive Malate, who was the most popular Bassa man in the sub division after Ruben Um Nyobe. Mr Um Nyobe was one of the leaders of the UPC who was killed by French soldiers. He (Nguelemedouga) gave authorisation to all factions of the UPC to stage pre-campaign rallies in the sub district. Furthermore, when John Fru Ndi, the chairman of the Social Democratic Front (SDF) visited Nyanon to organise a campaign rally for his party, Nguelemedouga gave his service car to the leader of the largest intra and extra parliamentary opposition political formation of the country. The gesture was to enable him visit remote areas of the sub district and the Ndom sub division. To Mr Cappolytree, that act was enough. He began baying for the blood of Nguelemedouga. Because Nyanon was in Bassaland, Cappolytree was not the only one writing petitions for or against Nguelemedouga to the headquarters of the ruling Cameroon’s People Democratic Movement (CPDM), located at the Yaoundé International Conference centre, situated on the summit of hill in the cosy Bastos neighbourhood.

The office of Mr Charles Ndomba, the secretary general of the party was flooded daily with reports coming from Nyanon. Overwhelmed, he (Mr Charles Ndomba) decided to pick up his phone and contacted every one to find a solution for Nyanon, but no one was able to help him. Hence, he tried to contact the head of state directly. Miraculously, the day he rang the office of the president of the republic, Paul Biya was in his office and decided and he also decided to answer the phone. As he picked up the phone, he asked: “what is wrong?” And the secretary general of the ruling party was surprised that his boss was in his office that Friday and even picked up the phone. He responded with his voiced trembling with fear: “Sir, I wanted to plead with you to take a personal look at the problem of Nyanon”. “What is Nyanon?” The Head of state asked. And secretary general responded: “it is the name of a village in the Sanaga Maritime division that has been elevated into a sub district and one of our candidates is running for parliament there”. “And what do you want me to do?” Paul Biya asked. “We wanted to suggest to you to ask the minister of territorial administration to replace Nguelemedouga, the sub district officer of Nyanon. Nguelemedouga is a man who receives everybody and offers authorisation to opposition parties to stage rallies in Nyanon willy-nilly”. Mr Ndomba told the head of state.

“Mr Ndomba, do you really think that winning a parliamentary seat in Nyanon is my cup of tea?” The head of state asked. “Yes sir, yes Excellency”. Ndomba replied. “No! You got all wrong. Please allow that sub district officer to do his job. I don’t want any problem in that part of the country, my preoccupation is the Northwest province and that is where I will be happy to hear and see who will make our party win there. Have I made myself clear?” The head state asked and then dropped his phone. Then he rang the secretary general back and asked him to send him the list of members of the central committee of the CPDM, bade him good day and now dropped the phone. Then the head of state ordered his intelligent service to go to Nyanon and investigate what was going on and to report back to him. Some trusted men of one of the many intelligence services, which looked more like Soviet era ideological watch dogs, swung into action in Nyanon. They wormed themselves into the population and took part in all funerals, cultural groups and any other organisation that could exist in such as small village, which has been elevated into a sub district and an electoral constituency.

elie-smithsstory: Happy in poverty

elie-smithsstory: Happy in poverty

elie-smithsstory: Why we moved from Njoumbe to Douala

elie-smithsstory: Why we moved from Njoumbe to Douala

Reasons why was Cappolytree Logbang, the aspiring MP & Mayor of Nyanon was afraid of Nguelemedouga as Sub district officer of Nyanon

And that little ingenious act from Nguelemedouga endeared him to the hearts of the scanty population who came to watch his installation ceremony. They immediately spread the news after the ceremony. He was adopted not after having been given the warning that made him to take a forceful leave. But he was adopted by the people of Nyanon all the same. And as the 1997 June Municipal and Legislative elections approached, Nguelemedouga began registering the application of all political parties that wanted to register their candidates. And on one occasion, he received in his office Professor Malate, who was the leader of a faction of the UPC party and who was also a national or native of the Sanaga Maritime division. Malate was adored by the people and considered a demigod. He was also touted by his own as one of the most brilliant mathematician on earth. The fact that, Nguelemedouga received Malate in his office was another sign of overture made the people of Nyanon who had an ambiguous approach toward their new administrator, but suddenly developed affection and respect for him. The inhabitants of Nyanon were now happy and showed sympathies toward Nguelemedouga, even though they still had some tinge of reservations. The only man in Nyanon who was not happy one bit, with Nguelemedouga was Mr Cappolytree Logbang, who was the designated candidate of the ruling CPDM party in the sub district. He viewed the cordial reception that, Nguelemedouga granted to Malate as a tacit betrayal.

For he(Mr Cappolytree Logbang) feared that, even though the government created the Nyanon sub district and elevated it into an electoral constituency in order for him to be elected Member of Parliament and mayor, in compensation for sponsoring the ruling party, there was not enough guarantee with Nguelemedouga as sub district officer. Hence, Cappolytree took his pen and wrote a three page petition letter to the Minister of Territorial Administration, who is the direct boss of Nguelemedouga. He copied the petition to Prime minister, the Speaker of National assembly and the presidency of the Republic, with expectation that, it will reach the office of the president of the Republic via the secretariat general. In his petition, Mr Cappolytree wrote that, he wanted Nguelemedouga to be relieved from his new function as sub district officer and listed the reasons why. He insisted that, it was urgent, and in the words of Cappolytree, Nguelemedouga had gone mad. How? Simply because, the sub district officer had received Malate in his office and also granted authorisation to all factions of the opposition Union of the Population of Cameroon (UPC) to host rallies in Nyanon. He added that, Malate who was the Secretary General of one of the three factions of the UPC could never have enjoyed such royal reception in Nyanon under an Anglophone sub district officer. Even though, Anglophones are reputed to be independent minded, pro-democracy activists and at such, considered enemies of Cameroon.

elie-smithsstory: The reason why I was born in Penja, Littoral province of Cameroon

elie-smithsstory: The reason why I was born in Penja, Littoral province of Cameroon

elie-smithsstory: My passage at Cameroon Radio & Television Corporation (CRTV)

elie-smithsstory: My passage at Cameroon Radio & Television Corporation (CRTV)

The little ingenious act from Nguelemedouga

Concerning the suggestions of Mr Lawson to transfer Nguelemedouga from Nyanon to the English-speaking region, which he made to Mr Abdulkadir, he (Abdulkadir) responded: “if he is transferred to the North West province, he will become a fanatical Christian”. Lawson replied: “the Anglophone region my dear, is not limited to the North west province alone”. “There is also the South west province, Sir”. Abdulkadir retorted: That is a fine idea, why don’t you ask the Minister of Territorial Administration to transfer him precisely to Bakassi, after his three months stay in Nyanon?”. “Well, yes, I would have wanted him to be sent to Bakassi”. Lawson answered. And Lawson continued: “Please, you know that, Bakassi or a majority part of it is under Nigerian control”. Then Abdulkadir interjected: “This simply means that, neither you nor I want him in our respective regions, please allow him to go and stay where he rightfully belongs”. Lawson replied: “Nguelemedouga is not a Bassa native, he is a Beti”. And Abdulkadir replied angrily: “what is the difference?” And he continued: “the difference in this thing called Cameroon is you and I. For you are an Anglophone and I am a Muslim from the North. And whatever we do, no one will take us seriously or even consider us as a bona fide Cameroonians”.

Lawson was shocked and told his colleague and friend that: “look! Things are heating up; I will prefer that you come home in order for us to talk better”. “Good bye and remain Blessed my brother”. “Same to you”, Abdulkadir replied. As Nguelemedouga got the news of his transfer, he descended to Yaoundé to find out why. He was asked not go back to Couseri and also that, any belongings of his will be brought to him at his new post. He was immediately briefed on the reasons why he has been removed from his former post of duty and given instructions on his new post. . He was briefed on how to work in Bassaland and was also asked to contact all those who had worked in other parts of Bassaland. In particular, he was asked to meet Mr Suh Tony in order to familiarise himself with Nyanon sub district and Ndom sub division in general. On the day of the installation of Nguelemedouga as sub district officer of Nyanon, he surprised everybody. After the speeches of Eyenga Lois, the Senior Divisional Officer of the Sanaga Maritime and direct boss of Nguelemedouga and an array of other dignitaries, it was the turn of Nguelemedouga to address the scanty crowd who bothered to attain the ceremony. He did not address the crowd in French, as other speakers had done before him; he instead addressed the public in the Bassa language. And that little ingenious act from Nguelemedouga endeared him to the scanty population. They immediately spread the news after the ceremony.

elie-smithsstory: My family and my views (final part)

elie-smithsstory: My family and my views (final part)

Nguelemedouga, in Nyanon with a clear mission

But the ceremony went on after a detachment of the Gendarmerie was called in to disperse the demonstrators using tear gas, batons and firing live bullets in the air. The pioneer sub district officer of Nyanon, Mr Nguelemedouga, spent his first night in Nyanon with a warning. For he was bitten while at sleep by a serpent and was taken that same night to the Edea General Hospital, he recovered and he promised that, he would rather become jobless than be killed in Nyanon. He left Nyanon for Yaoundé, where he reported what had happened to him to his boss and he was given a month leave to spend with his family. Risdoh, her brothers and their mother were happy to see their father back home. Since Nyanon sub district was created in 1996, the only top civil servant sent there to represent the government was Mr Suh Tony. He stayed there for three weeks and was forced to take a leave and never came back. Mr Tony left not because he had any problems with the locals, but because, Cappolytree suspected that, since he was from Anglophone Cameroon, he might be sympathetic to the opposition and at such, might want to organise free and faire elections. Hence Cappolytree used his connections at ministry of territorial administration to make that, the leave of Mr Tony be transformed into an indefinite one.

This simply meant that, Nguelemedouga might be the first sub district officer who was officially installed but he was not the first civil servant to be posted to Nyanon. After Nguelemedouga’s blunder in Couseri, he was posted to Nyanon with firm instructions to make Cappolytree, the ruling party’s candidate in the up coming elections twin municipal and legislative to win. In Cameroon, divisional, sub divisional and district and sub district officers are not only representatives of the governments, they also double as de facto members of the ruling party and are required to carryout electoral frauds. While Nguelemedouga had his instructions, Mr Lawson who was the prime minister, knew from intelligence reports that, he (Nguelemedouga) was a brilliant administrator who could also perfectly carryout electoral frauds. But he also knew that, it won’t be easy in the Sanaga Maritime division and he may be assassinated. Hence he suggested to Abdulkadir who was the speaker of parliament that, Nguelemedouga be transferred from Nyanon after three months to any of the two Anglophone provinces. But honourable Abdulkadir who is rancorous and believed the act of Nguelemedouga to support Muslims in Couseri and Makari to install the Islamic holy law was a calculated attempt by his political enemies with the tacit approval of Nguelemedouga to ruin his political career, did accept Lawson proposals. He wanted Nguelemedouga punished in whatever manner.

elie-smithsstory: Consequences of African women’s quest for emancipation as propagated in France(part 32)

elie-smithsstory: Consequences of African women’s quest for emancipation as propagated in France(part 32)

The installation of Nguelemedouga as sub district officer of Nyanon

The ethnic mixture of Nyanon was synonymous to a gift to the electoral fraud strategists of the Ministry of Territorial Administration and also the ruling CPDM party and disaster to the opposition. Cappolytree was now sure to be gratified with a parliamentary seat by the government for supporting her during the 1992 presidential elections. Cappolytree will get the vital Eton votes in Nyanon during the 1997 municipal/legislative elections. And member of the electoral fraud think tank of the ruling party and those of the ministry of territorial administration were convinced. His victory which was certain even before the elections were called, will assure the ruling party at least a member of parliament from the Sanaga maritime division that most thought that, in spite the perfections in electoral frauds, envisaged and put in place by the ruling party and the ministry of territorial administration, the division was lost. While waiting for the electoral body to be called to the polls, the installation date of Nguelemedouga, the pioneer sub district officer of Nyanon was set. And on that day and date, a convoy of Japanese made air conditioned four wheel drives, carrying the divisional officer and other top local ruling party dignitaries as well as those from Yaoundé drove from Edea, divisional capital of the Sanaga maritime to Nyanon, headquarters of the newly created sub district that also bore the same name.

The delegation was accompanied by team of journalists from Douala, seat of the provincial service of the state owned Cameroon Radio Television Corporation (CRTV). According to records of such a motorcade kept by the oldest man in Nyanon called Bakot, the last time a similar motorcade drove into Nyanon was in 1958. That year, the motorcade was not civilian, but a military conveyor of French Forces in search of Ruben Um Nyobe, the leader of the Union of the Population of Cameroon, who was thought to be hiding in the area. The installation ceremony of Nguelemedouga as pioneer sub district officer of Nyanon took place on a hilly part of the town but was snubbed by the population. The only natives who turn up were a group of nationalist Bassa youths, who came to show their displeasure at the government’s continuous plans of partitioning Bassaland. They carried placards on which they wrote: we want the reunification of all Bassalands, while others wrote: we want the creation of a province that will be called: luminous province. It will be a province that will include the Nkam, Nyong and Kelle, parts of the Wouri divisions and parts of the South province, where there exist indigenous Bassas. The demonstrators also promised to drive away the Etons nationals or tribes from Nyanon.

elie-smithsstory: State grants, one of the causes of divorce amongst African immigrants(part 30)

elie-smithsstory: State grants, one of the causes of divorce amongst African immigrants(part 30)

The reasons why Nyanon sub district located in the Sanaga maritime division was created

In Nyanon, where Nguelemedouga was transferred to, because he supported the planned installation of Islamic rule in Couseri and Makari, the speaker of National assembly Honourable Abdulkadir was very happy. For he knew that, however brilliant Nguelemedouga was, Nyanon was where his career will be destroyed. All top government dignitaries in Yaoundé knew that, Bassaland in general was not an easy place to work in, but Nyanon was a largely difficult and slippery terrain to work in. Nyanon was a new sub district created by the government to help one of her Bassa sympathiser, who had spent lots of monies during the previous presidential elections, in order to permit the ruling Cameroon’s People Democratic Movement (CPDM) to win in the Sanaga Maritime division against one of the two candidates of the Union of the Population of Cameroon (UPC). The UPC was one of the many opposition parties of Cameroon. Nyanon’s creation was a kind of pay back time from an unpopular government who wanted one of his supporters to get a parliamentary seat.

The central committee of the ruling party had tried in vein to impose Cappolytree in other constituencies of the Sanaga Maritime division, but met resistance and threats that, if he was imposed, the constituency will vote for either one of the two factions of the UPC or for candidate of the nightmare of the ruling party, the opposition Social Democratic Front (SDF). Hence they resolved to elevate Nyanon, a village within the Ndom sub division into a sub district and also an electoral constituency. Nyanon was ideally situated on the map of the Sanaga maritime division. For it share a boundary with the centre province, precisely the Lekie division, which was populated by Eton nationals or natives. The Etons belong to the greater Beti Nation. This meant that, Nyanon was a majority Bassa district, but it had her own minority Betis population, who would vote during the parliamentary elections and will certainly overturn any tendency of the electorate to vote for the opposition.

elie-smithsstory: French strategy to divide & rule plus their fantasies about Africa(part 29)

elie-smithsstory: French strategy to divide & rule plus their fantasies about Africa(part 29)

The North West province of Cameroon: a province with her own codes of operation

The North West province of Cameroon, even though she is majority Christian of Protestant or Roman Catholic faiths, she has a minority Islamic population and a mild brand sharia law is applied via her Islamic courts. But, there are almost no inter religious confrontations. The only recurrent confrontations in the province are that of the farmers versus grazers. And the sources or causes are the ever reducing vegetations, whereas the population of livestock and people are growing. But, to add to the complexity of the province and her people, even though they are highly Westernised, Christianised and some Islamised, they have not abandoned their traditional beliefs. Above and beyond all the codes that civil servants needs to master before embarking into the province in order to work without any polemics, the North West province could easily be one of the best province for any civil servant in Cameroon to dream to work in.

But since most civil servants sent there are most often French-speaking Cameroonians, who are not very religious and who also snub their own traditional values and thus show little respect for the conservative way of life of the people of the province, confrontations always occur. The most hazardous thing for a civil servant in the province to do is to snub her Royals, Churches, Temples or Mosques. Any civil servant who doesn’t belief in God can work in the province, but if he/she tries to bring any libertine ideology or wants to destroy traditional values, he/she will meet the resistance of the people. However, civil servants posted to the North West and who have taken time to study the people and respect their own set out rules, do succeed and is also a benchmark and an assurance for promotion in Yaoundé. But if he/she fails in the North West, it might chime the toll bell of the end of his career promotion within the civil service.

elie-smithsstory: Africa : almost always poorly presented in France(part 27),

elie-smithsstory: Africa : almost always poorly presented in France(part 27),

The reasons why top French-speaking Cameroonian civil servants have problems in anglophone cameroon: the case of the North west province

But in the North West province like in the entire English-speaking region of Cameroon, individuals know their rights , how to preserve their rights and don’t entertain government officials who want to intrude into their private lives or want to curtail their freedoms and cultural identities. Another reason is that, the people of the North West province like the overwhelming majority of English-speaking Cameroonians do consider French-speaking Cameroonians, as dubious colonialists who are and were not able to respect the most elementary tenets of the unification agreement of October 1^st 1961. Hence there is constant friction with all top civil servants posted to the region, especially if he is not English-speaking and wants to impose laws without consulting the people. In the North West province, families become famous for their royal national/tribal links, the number of children who have been educated to PhD level and also the number of politicians they have produced. But the second seem to be the trend of the past, for these days, families become famous for the numbers of children killed during demonstrations by trigger happy Government Forces. It is a pride that some of their politicians and elites who are actors on both sides of the political and governmental/opposition platforms, use to give a messianic or doomsday touch to their political speeches and approach to events.

In order for any top civil servant posted to the North West province, in particular those of French-speaking Cameroonian ancestry, to succeed to win the hearts of the people of the province, he/she must first show that, he/she is a traditionalist, who gives respect to the local chiefs or Fon or Lamido. Traditional authorities in the North West province wield strong influence and commands more respect than the central government. Hence, any sign that; a top civil servant posted to province won’t or don’t want to respect traditional institutionalised rites, sparks confrontation immediately and even rumours that, the newly posted civil servants had disdain for traditional authorities in his previous post, could ignite a deluge of petition writing, that will certainly force the central government to appoint a new civil servant. Another stratagem to win the hearts of the people of the province by any top civil servant, who are either a Governor or Divisional or sub divisional officer, is upon taking his/her functions, he/she must make sure he attends regularly the various Christian religious meetings held in different parts of the province. And to coin it all, if the civil servant posted is Anglican, Roman Catholic, Protestant or Presbyterian, it will be highly appreciated even though it is not necessary. The North West province of Cameroon, even though she is majority Christian of Protestant or Roman Catholic faiths, it has a minority Islamic population and a mild brand sharia law is applied via Islamic courts but, there are almost no inter religious confrontations.

elie-smithsstory: My late grand mother advised my mother to get married to my father(part 26)

elie-smithsstory: My late grand mother advised my mother to get married to my father(part 26)

North West province: the other professional petition writing land of Cameroon

The only other region of Cameroon where top civil servants don’t like to be posted to is the North West province. The North West is one of the two English-speaking provinces of Cameroon, which makes up the Anglophone region of the country. The North West province is part of the grass land regions of Cameroon. But what differentiate the North West province with the Bassa regions, are not only the facts that, the first are English-speaking, while the second are in majority French-speaking. Their difference is also cultural. The people of the North West like their French-speaking “brothers” of the French-speaking Grass field province of the West are attached to their traditional cultures, even though highly westernised and Christianised. Furthermore, the people of the North West have a very organised and hierarchical society, wherein law and order is respected and also where, traditional chiefs known in the North West province as Fons or Lamidos (in parts with Muslim population) are considered as demigods. But In the Littoral (excluding Bassaland), Centre (excluding Bassaland) and South provinces, it is easy for civil servants to work. While in the four provinces of the Littoral, Centre, East and South provinces, civil servants do not encounter major difficulties to work, it is only within the Bassaland and for reasons already mentioned that they encounter problems.

The North West province is an atypical province, for it is difficult for civil servant to work in the entire province, especially if he/she is not from the English-speaking region or in extreme cases, not a national (native) of the province. But ordinarily, the people of the North West province are warmth, jovial and welcoming. But administratively, they are not docile, they are professional petition writers, who do not only satisfy themselves with writing petitions, they also know how to make their anger known to the authorities in largely peaceful demonstrations, that sadly, almost always ends up in bloodbath. There is a reason for the perpetual rebellious petition writing and demonstrations against civil servants who are posted to work in the North West province of Cameroon. The people of the North West province, like their real brothers of the South West province, have a fundamentally different cultural background with most administrators sent to work in their region. These administrators are almost always French-speaking Cameroonians, who know nothing but brutality and top down orders. For the have been trained according to the Napoleonic inquisitory and inhumane system of administration, as opposed to the much more humane and democratic adversarial system that English-speaking Cameroonians were raised in and are used to.

elie-smithsstory: Cameroon :Sympathy and admiration for what the UPC stood and fought for (part 25)

elie-smithsstory: Cameroon :Sympathy and admiration for what the UPC stood and fought for (part 25)

The Bassalands of Cameroon and their many chiefdoms

For in Bassaland, every stream crossed, any path walked across or swath of forest crossed, has her chief with a different tribal appellation. There are no superior chiefs in Bassaland to whom the other petty chiefs pay allegiance to. But in the Grass lands and also in the greater northern provinces of Cameroon, their society is well organised. They also have chiefs and different tribal appellation after every stream crossed, or baobab tress crossed, but they have a superior chief, who rules over or dominates lesser important chiefdoms, Fondoms or Lamidates. Furthermore, the Grass lands and Greater Northern provinces of Cameroon have strict traditional rules and rites. Those are some values that are absent in Bassaland and most of the forest and coastal regions of Cameroon. While the Grass lands and Greater Northern provinces have traditional heads called Lamidos or Fons, in Bassaland, their traditional heads are called Mbombocks. In order to claim the title of an Mbombock, the aspirant must be a direct descendant of a former Mbombock, who was able to trace his ancestry to the first Jews who migrated down south and settled in an area with a mythical rock known in the Bassa language as Ngog-lituba or the White Rock. For the Bassas in their diverse nationalities believe that they are Jews or the lost tribe of Israel.

Bassas: the ethnic Jews of Cameroon

But nowadays, it very difficult to prove that and main reason is because, the Bassa don’t have written proves and all what is claimed have been transmitted via oral history. However, the other parts of the Bassa nationality who also claim and could justify their claim to Jewish ancestry are the Bassa-Badem, for they at least have native names such as Noah, Laban, Salomon or Daniel, without being Christians. How the Badems and the Bassa-Badem did to start having names related to Jews without being Christians has remain a mystery and might be an indication that, they are truly Jews, who may have lost links with Judaism, perhaps because of the early death of their ancestors and leaders. Besides that, it is very difficult to work in Bassaland. One reason often given that makes working in Bassaland difficult is their lack of hierarchical order, in their society. The Bassaland is the exact opposite of the Grass lands or the Greater Northern provinces of Cameroon, which is well organised with chiefs who are well respected. In spite their disorganised set up, the Bassas are an independent minded people who hate orders to be given them. Hence, it is difficult for modern authority to install law or any form of order in the region.

elie-smithsstory: First arrest of my father in East Cameroon(part 24)

elie-smithsstory: First arrest of my father in East Cameroon(part 24)

Bassaland: one of the bastions of petition writings in Cameroon

Offices given to civil servants sent to Bassaland and who have been victims of petition letters, thus brought back to their bases in Yaoundé, are always poorly arranged and their desks are like those of sinners waiting to be questioned on their ways to either heaven or hell. Furthermore, during dry seasons, those offices have temperatures at par with that of the ovens of backers. Civil servants posted to Bassaland and who have lost their posts because of petition letters, start cursing the day they were posted to the region, when dry season comes. For it is the best period when their administrative punishments of sitting idle in their respective offices, ignored by their colleagues and also without electric fans or air conditioners are most felt. Another thing often referred to as the lottery of Bassaland, by all top civil servants who have worked there is that, you could either get promoted or demoted within the civil service. But the first comes only the on condition that, during your stay in the region, the combined number of petitions written against or in support of you and that reaches the ministry of Territorial administration, the Prime ministry and the presidency of the Republic doesn’t exceed 2000. Sadly, the combined figures of 2000 petitions are the monthly figures of petitions coming from Bassaland against and on rare occasions, in support of any posted civil servant to the region.

Hence, any civil servant who has worked in Bassaland, know that, his chances of being elevated from where he was before posting, are slim. What causes the binge of petition writings in Bassaland are most often trivial things. Some of them are sparked by the following: in case a divisional, sub divisional, district or sub district officer or the school principal, chief medical officer or commandant of a military post, refuses to visit a local supper star, who hold an obscure responsibility in one obscure ministry in Yaoundé or fails to salute the many traditional chiefs, who at times are competing for legitimacy amongst the people. Those are some of the reasons that might flicker the anger of one native in search or in need for gratifications, to get his pen and paper and write a long graphic report on the behaviours of posted resident civil servants. Bassaland has chiefs and chiefdoms, but unlike the grass lands and greater Northern provinces of Cameroon, traditional chiefs in Bassaland in particular and most of the forest and coastal lands of Cameroon wield very little power. Bassaland doesn’t have an organised set up, as it is the case in the Grass lands or the semi desertic greater Northern provinces of Cameroon. It may partly explain the reasons why, there are many traditional chiefs in Bassaland and it is always difficult for top state civil servants who are not nationals/natives of Bassaland to seek or know their appropriate interlocutors, without risking creating animosity or jealousy amongst those who have not been contacted.

elie-smithsstory: Name change and reasons why(part 23)

elie-smithsstory: Name change and reasons why(part 23)

The Bassas of Cameroon

Most are either Protestants or Presbyterians. Some are also Roman Catholics, while a growing number are Jehovah’s Witnesses or have joined other Evangelical Christian groups. It is claimed that, it is because Bassas are rebellious, proud and adventurous; hence they joined massively the war for the independence of French-speaking Cameroon, which began in 1958 and ended only in 1970. The Bassas paid the ultimate prize, even more than the Bamilekes, who were other nationals or natives of French-speaking Cameroon who joined the war for independence in East Cameroon, led by the Union of the Population of Cameroon (UPC). The Bamilekes were equally massively massacred by the French installed government of late Ahmadou Ahidjo, especially in the late 60s and early 70s. By some estimates, the Bamilekes lost not less than 3 hundred thousand people. But since they were better organised and also knew how to compromise, they were able stop the massacre of their population. But the Bassas stood their grounds or were motivated by attributes earlier mentioned; hence the so-called pacification of the Bassaland was a phenomenal atrocity. But there are no records or estimate of figures or the number of Bassas massacred by France and the regime of Ahmadou Ahidjo, as it is the case with the Bamilekes.

It was in a bid to break the back of the UPC led rebellion in Bassaland, French Forces using their French-speaking West African soldiers, generally referred as Senegalese or Tireraillieur Senegalais, decided to use petrol bombs on villages in Bassaland. The method of counter insurgency used in Bassaland by the French and their locally backed regime of Ahmadou Ahidjo, caused a massacre that most people even native or ethnic Bassas, don’t want to recall, for it was atrocious. And it explains why, today, in most parts of Bassaland, there are still large swath of land now transformed into forest, complete with names, but uninhabited. In spite the price that they paid under French colonial period and also under the regime of Ahmadou Ahidjo that was installed by France, Bassas have remained recalcitrant nationals/natives. Even though their population figure was depopulated during the war of independence of French East Cameroon, most Bassas have managed to be well educated and some have become top civil servants. It may partly also explain the reasons why most civil savants sent to work in Bassaland end up either promoted or are sent back to their respective ministries in Yaoundé, to occupy vacant offices, with no real responsibilities.

elie-smithsstory: In search of a true identity(part 22)

elie-smithsstory: In search of a true identity(part 22)

Nguelemedouga in Nyanon, Sanaga Maritime division, Cameroon

But Nguelemedouga was victim of a rule that gave teaches and the school administration too much power. And because; he inadvertently denied Boakov a date with perhaps the most beautiful girl ENAM has ever known, it was why Nguelemedouga, as I have already told you, found himself in Couseri, a supposed barren land that, he transformed into a place flowing with milk and honey. Nyanon the new post of Nguelemedouga was a newly created sub district located in the Sanaga maritime division of the Littoral province. This village/town was located in the heart of Sanaga Maritime division and administratively attached to the Ndom sub division, whose sub divisional headquarters was Ngambe. The Sanaga maritime division, and in particular and the Bassaland in general, was a difficult region to work in, for any civil servant: Governors, Divisional, Sub Divisional, and District and Sub district officers. Why? Simply because, the nationals or natives (tribe) of the Bassaland had an extraordinary affection for petition writings, they were almost always ready to complain for the least mistake or conducts judged humiliating or not deserving to be practised within Bassaland. Another reason was that, since Bassaland had a large number of intellectuals, who held top government functions, there was constantly a fight to mutually snip each other.

The Bassalands of Cameroon

This was to make sure that, the specific sections considered as their fiefs within the region, was operating in their favour and also that of the government or the party they were serving. The Bassaland of Cameroon is made up of the Nkam (littoral province), Nyong and Kelle (centre province), Sanaga Maritime, parts of the Wouri divisions both in the Littoral province and also parts of the Ocean division of the South province. Bassas are also found in the English-speaking provinces of the South west in particular in the Fako and Meme divisions and also in the North West province. They are different from those of French-speaking Cameroonians regions earlier mentioned, because they are English-speaking and are attached to values and cultures of English-speaking Cameroon. Bassas are generally considered in Cameroon to be rebellious and are never impressed or afraid of anything or any one. They have insatiable cravings for adventure and are revengeful and proud. Religiously, Bassas are one of the highly Christianised and Westernised nationals of both Cameroons. They are practising Christians, even though some patches of traditional beliefs and its practises do still subsist in rural parts. Most are either Protestants or Presbyterians. Some are Roman Catholics while a growing number are Jehovah’s Witnesses or have joined other Evangelical groups.

elie-smithsstory: National/ethnic classifications of the Mettas in Cameroon & Questions(part 21)

elie-smithsstory: National/ethnic classifications of the Mettas in Cameroon & Questions(part 21)

Boakov in Buea, Cameroon

Meanwhile, Boakov finally travelled with Jeanne to Buea, provincial capital of the South west and former capital of Anglophone Cameroon. They spent the weekend at the prestigious parliamentarian Flat Hotel. During their sojourn, Boakov thought that, after showing signs of a gentleman by hiring separate rooms for him and Jeanne, it will make his plans of going to bed with her sail through easily. Then during the final day of the weekend in Buea, at the Bar of the Hotel, Boakov made an open ended question which was coated with a proposition. But to his great surprise, Jeanne, while smiling, told him that, she was not willing to date him. But Boakov is not the type of man who gives up easily. He considered the game of dating girls the same ways predatory animals operates. The first attack might not work out, but it doesn’t mean that, a patient predator as he calls himself, won’t get his prey. Boakov asked Jeanne: “now that you have rejected my proposal, may I ask you this question: who are currently dating?” Jeanne responded: “I am dating Nguelemedouga”. “Do mean little Lenin?” Boakov despairingly asked. “Yes!” Jeanne responded. In reality, Jeanne was not dating Nguelemedouga. And more, Nguelemedouga who was only planning to date Jeanne and never knew that she was also his secret lover, who only waiting for Nguelemedouga to make the advances.

Boakov was very angry and felt humiliated that, a little boy who was above all his student and also younger than his son, was preventing him from dating a girl that he loves. He made his resolve as he and other have already done, to punish Nguelemedouga. How? That is what I am about to tell you and it seems I had already started. The Ecole Normale Superieur de D’Administration et de la Magistrature (ENAM) is as I have earlier explained to you, the school that prepares French-speaking Cameroonian to post positions with the civil service and since the unification of October 1^st 1961, English-speaking Cameroonians who must have to study in French in the school, must through if they do equally desire top government jobs. The most brilliant students at the end of studies at ENAM are posted to strategic posts in strategic towns or cities, while the average students are posted to less important functions. But the administration of ENAM may decide to post the worst students to strategic posts and the brilliant ones to less strategic functions. Such change of rules happens when the average or academically poor students are children of powerful government officials while the brilliant students are children of people with little or no political or financial powers.

But Nguelemedouga was victim of a rule that gave teaches and the school administration too much power. And because; he inadvertently denied Boakov a date with perhaps the most beautiful girl ENAM has ever known, it was why Nguelemedouga, as I have already told you, found himself in Couseri a supposed barren land that, he transformed into a place flowing with milk and honey.

elie-smithsstory: Trajectory (part 20)

elie-smithsstory: Trajectory (part 20)

The transfer of Nguelemedouga from Couseri to Nyanon in the Sanaga maritime division of Cameroon

Immediately Roger Abono dropped his phone. Lawson took up his and rang Abdulkadir, but he instead got Yesman Feh and Yesman indicated to Abdulkadir that he had a phone call from the prime minister. Abdulkadir who is from the northern Cameroon which is French-speaking is strangely more fluent in English than French as most elites of the North of Cameroon are. And because he was more fluent in English than in French, some politicians of the ruling party which he is also member have accused or suspected Abudulkadir of being a Nigerian who have benefited from the porous borders of the north and strange family web to claim Cameroonian nationality. But the ruling party could not afford to ask for an investigation because such risk ruining their prospects of electoral victory in the Far North. Lawson and Abdulkadir had to first change civilities before Abdulkadir could ask Lawson: “what can I do for you Sir?” “Nothing really”, replied the prime minister. But the prime minister quickly added: “I just called to inform you that, we want to change the sub district officer of Couseri.” And Abdulkadir replied: “what can I do about that Sir?” Lawson answered: “well, I thought you had a name to propose, hence I had first to inform you”.

Abdulkadir laughed and said: “my brother, No! I do not have any name to propose. I am only too happy because, Nguelemedouga like many others before him, sent to our regions are thorns to our political flesh. You can’t imagine what that idiot who is now called Ali has done”. And Lawson asked Abdulkadir: “so you knew that, Nguelemedouga had agreed with religious dignitaries of the sub district and adjacent towns to introduce Sharia law and you could not even inform me?” Abdulkadir replied: “No! Sir, you are just delivering me breaking news and if what you have just told me is correct, you can please order for the transfer of Nguelemedouga to the Nyong and Kelle division or to the Sanaga Maritime division. There he will learn how to behave and it might also chime the bell of the end of his career, alright!” Lawson responded and bade Abdulkadir good bye and dropped his phone and picked up a different one and rang the minister of territorial administration Mr Jibril. Mr Lawson informed him that, Nguelemedouga should be removed from the post of sub district officer of Couseri. And that was how during the during the 1PM French language radio newscast of CRTV Radio, Nguelemedouga aka Ali Lenin was transferred from Couseri to Nyanon, a newly created sub district situated in the Sanaga Maritime division of the littoral province. Nyanon was the heart of Bassaland and Bassa activisms.

elie-smithsstory: Royal West African Frontier Force(part 19)

elie-smithsstory: Royal West African Frontier Force(part 19)

Conversation amongst government ministers after the September 11th attacks in Cameroon

“Why?” Nyolo asked. And Nyolo continued: “those people simply want to serve all mighty Allah honestly”. “Have you also now become a Muslim?” Roger responded to Nyolo’s expensive joke and dropped his phone. Abono immediately rang Mr Juan Pedro Lawson, who was the prime minister. Juan Pedro Lawson was not only an Anglophone; he was also a practising Protestant Christian. When he lifted his phone, he discovered that, the speaker on the line was Roger Abono, the secretary general at the presidency of the republic. Mr Pedro first thought, since elections were looming, perhaps the secretary general who in Cameroon operate like the vice president and mouth piece of the president, wanted to inform him that, he has been sacked. But to his greatest surprise, he heard an almost crying Abono on the line and who was pleading: “Pedro, Pedro, please, try and do something, Makari and Couseri are now sharia zones”. And he continued: “Nguelemedouga has gone mad. You also know that, elections are around the corner” the Prime minister was overwhelmed by the declaration and appeals which followed. But he asked Roger Abono: “what is really wrong Sir?” And Abono responded: “don’t you know what sharia is all about? Makari and Couseri have been declared Sharia zones and like an octopus it will spread her tentacles throughout the three Northern provinces”. Mr Lawson paused and said: “Oh now, I can understand your anguish. But you know that, I must first inform the Speaker of National assembly Honourable Abdulkadir”.

And the prime minister went thus: “After which, I will ask the Minister of Territorial administration Mr Aminu Jibril, to remove Nguelemedouga instantly from the post of sub district officer of Couseri and seek for his replacement with some one susceptible of bring law and order in both affected towns”. The prime minister went ahead: you see, Roger, I will have to get all this steps through, which might be long , but that is how the administration operates and also because, since I am an Anglophone, I don’t want that, when things go wrong somewhere, Anglophones should be considered whipping boys. Furthermore, as you know, elections are around, perhaps Honourable Abdulkadir likes what is going on in his province, region and electoral constituency. Roger listened to the speech of the prime minister which was becoming too long and was glad when his boss ended. Then he told Mr Lawson: “alright, if you are not going to act, here at the presidency of the republic, we are going to do something and fast”. Calm down, Lawson retorted to Roger. And Roger replied: “I am calm; I just wanted to inform you, because normally, I would have acted without informing you or even the president of the Republic. However, I choose to contact you because, I don’t like the way things do operate in this country, as far as your post and responsibilities are concern. I also decided to call and inform you because; you are my direct boss in the absence of the president of the republic. But you do not want to act, so thank you, and have a nice day”.

elie-smithsstory: Contributions of none native black Africans to African nations(part 17)

elie-smithsstory: Contributions of none native black Africans to African nations(part 17)

How senior staff uses dire situations for career advancement in Cameroon

One staff of the monitoring intelligence service, by name Mbomka said: “I had always suspected that, Mr Mbong, even though a seemingly practising Christian did not love this regime”. He continued: “If not, can any one tell me, why he did not react to the news that has happened in Makari?” Then another one called Kenny asked: “what region is Mr Mbong from?” A third by name Manny responded: “May be he is an Anglophone”. And a fourth called Lusala said: “well, if he is an Anglophone, then we have an enemy within”. Mbomka came on again: “look, if Mbong thinks that, those Muslims will help Anglophones have their own Republic, then, he is deceiving himself”. And a fifth by name Nkonseka replied: “Mbong may be an Anglophone or a francophone or a Christian. But what you all fail to understand is that, he is a politician and none of them are loyal to Cameroon or Biya. I am here to look for bread and butter for myself and my family. I don’t care about details”. Mbomka, Manny and Lusala, all replied in unison: “Hey, he has just made his coming out, so, you are equally not patriotic”? Nkonseka retorted: “if you people think that, I will be intimidated, you have failed.” And he went on: “Look! I am not patriotic and if your own benchmark of patriotism is to support this government or pretend to support her, I can now expose you all and you will discover that, when you use your finger to point at any one, three fingers of your own hands are pointing at yourself”.

Whether Nkonseka’s reaction was a threat or not, it bore an immediate positive result, for fear gripped his colleagues who feared that, Nkonseka might truly expose them. Lusala said: “let us forget about our futile arguments, and let not Mbong’s action destroy us. We have been working together for too long and we now a family and our mutual brother’s keepers”. As the staff of the monitoring service were walking toward their office and arguing, Mr Mbong stood up after his prayers and rang Reka Nyolo, who was secretary general at the presidency of the Republic and when Nyolo lifted his phone, Mbong broke the news to him. The secretary general at the presidency was very happy, for he knew that, the regime had something to capitalise on and which will be used as an offer to the US government in exchanged for their support to the government of Paul Biya. But while Mr Nyolo was happy and he rang his own boss to break the news, his joy was dampened by the reaction of his boss whose name was Roger Abono. Mr Abono told him: “the news you have just given me is another blow to this government.”

elie-smithsstory: My ancestry: paternal (part 16)

elie-smithsstory: My ancestry: paternal (part 16)

Senior staff uses a dire situation for the career advancement

But Nyolo replied: “look, no body will accept that. On the contrary, it will make the world to understand what they have been rooting for and it might give them a boost that, they have personally denied themselves for close to 15 years now. Look here! Your idea, however brilliant it seems, has been rejected and please allow the SCNC to keep on shooting their own legs and you and your colleagues should fetch me something else the president could present to the US government. It is the survival of this regime that is now at stake”. Bella Mbong and Nyolo knew that, this was the opportune time to show their utility to the president of the republic; hence he went back into his office and met his colleagues who were monitoring international and world news. And they decided to tune to the 4 PM Hausa News on Voice of Nigeria (VON) and they were shocked to hear the newscaster announced that: Muslim dignitaries in the town of Makari in Northern Cameroon have after a meeting with the state representative of the locality, agreed to install Islamic rule in the town and in another town called Couseri.

The government’s news monitors took the recorded tape immediately to the desk of their service head that was no other person than Mr Bella Mbong and asked him to listen to the news reported by Voice of Nigeria. Mr Mbong listened to the tape quietly and to the consternation of the staff of monitoring service of the presidency of the Republic, their service head showed no signs of particular excitement or nervousness. Bong told them: “thank you for a job well done”. And he asked them to leave his office with an equanimity that shocked his subordinates. And as they left, Mbong closed his doors and went down on his knees and prayed to God. He said: “father God, thank you very much for this golden opportunity that, you have offered me to use and win a promotion in my career. I know you are a God who makes impossibilities because possible and thank you for giving the Muslims of the north of Cameroon, the courage to frighten this wicked and corrupt government that, I am working for”. “In the name of your son Jesus Christ, I hope that, the news from the Hausa service of Voice of Nigeria is correct. If it is not, we are going to make it look correct through your son Jesus Christ, Amen!” While he was praying, his subordinates who had left his office were walking and discussing the reaction of their service head on the flights of stairs leading to their office situated on their third floor underground the office of the presidency of the Republic.

elie-smithsstory: Variance in some languages spoken in the Cameroons & reasons why (part 15)

elie-smithsstory: Variance in some languages spoken in the Cameroons & reasons why (part 15)

How African governments benefited from the September 11th 2001: the case of Cameroon

While Paul Biya and his government officials wanted to reap benefits from the Twin Tower attacks of September 11^th 2001, they never knew how to position themselves or what to offer or appear indispensable in the eyes of the US administration. For since the cold war ended in 1989, with the Western world led by the United States, defeating the Communist USSR and their East and central European satellites, most African governments were no longer of interest to Westerners. This meant that, some countries and their governments such as Cameroon were no more receiving huge financial help, which the ruling class transferred immediately into their private bank accounts in the Caribbean, UK, France and Switzerland. The only African countries that attracted interest were South Africa, Nigeria, Algeria, Nigeria and Egypt. These countries attracted interest because of their vast minerals, Oil and Gas potentials and also because they were the largest African economies and natural regional leaders. In short, they were of geo-strategic importance. But there also existed other African countries that, in spite their inferior mineral and industrial or regional potentials, were still of importance to Western countries and the US in particular. These African countries were some on continental East Africa and also some maritime African Indian Ocean Island countries such as: Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, and Seychelles.

As for the Reunion and Mayote Islands, even though they are African countries or Island countries, they are controlled by France that is an ally of the United States. But on the East African main land, countries such as: Djibouti, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Ethiopia were and are still of strategic importance to the US and her allies, especially in the fight against Islamic terrorism. But Cameroon offered little in term of strategic importance to the US administration, especially that, she was isolated diplomatically even within the minuscule regional body called CEMAC. In Yaoundé, Biya was aware of the handicaps of his country; hence he and his advisers were working hard, but they could not truly see an appropriate bait to offer to the US administration, in order to show them that, they were also vulnerable to Islamic attacks and at such, shared the same pains and fears of the US government. One of Biya’s brilliant minister by name Reka Nyolo ordered members of the presidential team who monitors world and national news on Radio, Television and also on the World Wide Web, to open their eyes and ear wide, in order to get something in the national or world news, that, they could capitalise on. Immediately, one monitor by name Bella Mbong brought some briefings about the Anglophone nationalist movement, the Southern Cameroon’s National Council (SCNC) and he said to Mr Nyolo: “we could present the SCNC as a terrorist group”.