Biya's 26 years in power: Political uncertainty renders anniversary a no-show

Absence of funds due to corruption arrests and political uncertainty combine to destroy the usual enthusiasm that usually characterises the anniversary of Paul Biya’s accession to power. This year is all quiet

Today’s anniversary of President Paul Biya’s 26 years in power was anything but the usual noisy celebration.
In previous years, Yaounde the nation's capital and other towns in the country would several days in advance be empty of political elite who travel to their respective provinces to join in festive celebrations at which the virtues of the regime are tirelessly repeated.
But this time, some senior officials of the party even think that this is not the right time to go to the grassroots because the country has suffered from a series of very negative incidents that are not assuring of the future of the regime and of the country.
These include the violent terrorist bank robbery in Limbe, the current Bakassi kidnapping, the kidnapping of an Equatorial Guinea colonel on asylum in Cameroon, among others.

Up to a day before, there was little such movements, and the programme as announced in the provinces did not promise to generate the usual enthusiastic attendance by base militants.
Many reasons explain this. President Paul Biya’s unpredictable arrest and punishment of corruption culprits has destroyed the reckless abuse of public funds by officials who took money away to support party activities at the centre and at the grassroots.
The absence of free money flowing to the grassroots has also destroyed the enthusiasm of grassroots militants for party activities. It also makes journeys from other towns especially Yaounde and Douala to the grassroots more and more of a pain for the bureaucrats.
Matters have been further compounded this year by the political uncertainty in which the government has functioned over the last several weeks.

The president’s long absence from the country has left the country adrift and uncertain. The president has also let it be known that he intends to hold a convention of the ruling party. Yet is not clear when this will take place.
But most importantly, government ministers and other senior public officials who constitute the pillars of the ruling party are unsure of their own career future.
The president has been wanting to change the government for the last several months without quite doing so.
An announcement appearing in Jeune Afrique to the effect that the government change will take place in December was vigorously refuted by the presidency, leaving ministers and public officials even more confused and uncertain about their future.
Since he returned from his long stay abroad last Saturday, President Paul Biya has not made a statement or taken a decision that could help to clear this debilitating atmosphere in which nothing seems to be sure. Until such decisions begin to be made, the government would continue to function at diminished capacity.

Courtesy:The Herald