Biya has no friend

President Paul Biya is unpredictable, he is not in a hurry, he is a dribbler, he has a human heart even though portrayed as a “Lion Man” and like the politician he is, he has no permanent friends and no permanent enemies but apparently permanent interest.

Pierre Desire Engo as general manager of CNPS was so friendly with the president to the point he fancied to be adored as the “Prince of the palace”. Engo got his shock when he was jailed for pinching millions from the pension fund. He wrote to Biya complaining bitterly that the presidential “prince” was in jail but got no reply.

The anecdotes of other political friends later turned enemies are appallingly sad. His one-time physician, Titus Edzoa, Atangana Mebara, Marafa Yaya who at some stage served as secretary general at the presidency need no boring repetition nor that of former prime minister, Chief Inoni Ephraim.

Not to be forgotten is the former Chantier Naval general manager, Zaccheus Mungwe Fonjindam, the man the president was fond of singing his praises for exhuming Chantier Naval from the grave of dead public corporations and miraculously turning it into a buoyant firm.

But the Santa man did not read the dribbling antics of the big boss and floated the ideas that the constitution should be changed so that his praise singer can rule even forever. He is serving a life sentence for an amount less than his total assets.

At no time did Biya demonstrate his dribbling skills than when he wanted to fire Prime Minister Achidi Achu, from the Star Building. Yaounde was awash with speculations that the man with the eloquent quote of “politics na njangi, you scratch my back, I scratch yours” had his days on the job numbered. His security people confirmed the rumour. But he did not believe his ears.

He mustered the courage to ask the president who reportedly said the speculations were just smoke without fire. An elated and confident Achidi immediately fired his security chief in the morning for confirming the speculations. The same day at 5pm, Achidi Achu was replaced. But the now senator remains on the president’s good books and the main North Westerner who has Biya’s ears.

Even though Biya is fondly called the “Lion Man,” he has a soft spot. He understands how it could be dehumanising to fall from the sky-high tower of power, affluence, gluttony and greed to prison. He cushions the plunge with some landing pads to avoid a fatal free fall.

Titus Edzoa was first pushed from the secretary general at the presidency to minister of health, just like Marafa first landed on the territorial administration portfolio while his path to Kondengui was being cleared.

The star praise-singer, Mendo Ze, former general manager of CRTV and orchestra conductor to sing adoration for Paul and Chantal Biya had a special landing path created which was removed when he left. Mendo Ze was first appointed minister delegate in charge of communication before being put in the cooler.

But Mendo Ze’s big brass band, sorry, choir, continued to sing the songs of hero worship until last week when he landed on the dregs of prison. That is how vintage Biya operates which should give some sleepless nights to embezzlers, land-grabbers et al who could be boasting that their matters have been put to rest.

I hear on good authority that there are some 300 files waiting for the presidential endorsement, especially as most have “immunity” for the suspects who brag of being the ‘president’s men” to be clawed by warders.

Postscript: The challenge of leadership is to be strong, but not rude; be kind, but not weak. Jim Rohn