Cameroon mourns researcher, critic, Prof. Asonganyi

All roads in the Southwest Region and the national territory led to Fontem in Lebialem Division of the Region to mourn and lay Professor Michael Tazoacha Asonganyi over the weekend.

The renowned Professor, Bio-Chemist, Researcher, political and social critic, who died on July 4, was buried in his native Fontem on Saturday, July 23.

Lebialem elite from all the nooks and crannies of the national territory; the Professor’s colleagues of the University Centre for Health Sciences (CUSS); all administrators in Lebialem, were in Fontem to pay last respects to the fallen researcher, at the funeral ceremony with Bishop Andrew Nkea as Chief Celebrant.

The National Chairman of the Social Democratic Front, SDF, Ni John Fru Ndi, made an impressive attendance with a convoy of party officials and militants, to pay homage to the one-time Secretary General of the frontline opposition party.

The media in Cameroon deeply mourns Prof. Asonganyi who availed himself when invited on any issue of public interest. He was a regular contributor, prolific and syndicated writer in most of the newspapers in Cameroon.

He also observed elections in many countries.

“Professor Asonganyi was a man of many attributes each competing with the others for excellence,” writes his cousin, Barrister Chief Fuatabong Charles Achaleke Taku.

In a write-up published in The Star in May 2014 titled “Professor Asonganyi: The Essence Of Life,” Barrister Chief Taku described the researcher: “Professor Tazoacha Asonganyi, a notable prince of the Fontem dynasty, progressive scholar, significant personality on the Cameroonian and African political scene...

“Indeed it was hard if not impossible for anyone to gag Asonganyi or place a communication barrier between him and the people for whom he lived and died. He gave all he had towards the peoples’ search for recognition, relevance, freedom, survival and the pursuit of happiness.

Free from the inhibiting structure of the SDF, an opposition political party in which he was a secretary-general, Professor Asonganyi with a profound sense of urgency, effortlessly took the genuine message of social democracy, social justice and effective power to the people directly to the people. His democratic and intellectual credentials were widely acclaimed far beyond the borders of Cameroon.

“I was privileged to write an introduction to the memoire of the fallen giant. I reminded myself and readers then and now that the sound solutions to societal problems and the sound ideology of life propounded by Professor Asonganyi were recorded in the deep confines of the conscience of humanity; our common humanity.

For this, I may venture to state and state very clearly that he was not just a worthy agent of change but a committed agent of creation which are central attributes that define the very essence of life.

Indeed the creative genius in him generated progressive ideas which if followed may provide a solution to the myriad problems facing the polity and indeed humanity at large.

“A man of powerful and compelling ideas, Professor Asonganyi was hard to ignore. He was generally admired and respected even by those who struggled unsuccessfully to hate him.

He practiced the politics of ideas and solutions to societal problems and not the politics of power for the sake of power. He also played politics without bitterness; the reason why he was highly respected beyond party divide.

He was the torch bearer of the politics of hope, fair play and love without constraints. He was the very essence of life and for this reason, although dead, he is alive,” Chief Taku surmises.