A dictator buried – Kaddafi. A dictator crowned – Biya.

By Innocent Chia
When the UN authorized Military Action against Libya’s Muammar Kaddafi over 7 months ago on March 17, 2011 there was fierce opposition to yet “another Western invasion of an African and Muslim country”- (my paraphrase). African proponents of this anti-Western rhetoric viewed it in black and white terms – the invasion was all about Libyan oil and little to do with the freedom of Libyan people. With reports confirming the killing of Kaddafi in his home town of Sirte, there is much to consider about the claims that only the West wanted Kaddafi gone. But today, The Chia Report makes the argument that when African leaders begin respecting the wisdom of limited terms in office, it will guarantee Africa and Africans the beginning of truly fair treatment from peers and the rest of the World.

President Paul Biya of Cameroon has shook hands with five American Presidents – Reagan, Bush, Clinton, Bush and Obama – over the span of 29 years. President Ronald Reagan served out 2 terms from 1981 to 1988. President George Bush took over for one term from 1989 to 1993. Then Bill Clinton served two terms beginning 1993 to 2001. For two terms from 2001 to 2009, George Walker Bush was President. And now 2009 - , Barack Obama is into the third year of his first term.

For all five Presidents, Democrat and Republican alike, some loved more than the others, it’s all about upholding the institutions and laws of America and protecting Americans, including defending American interests. Defending American interests is a linear constant no matter the party in power or the President. American people and interests come first and are the only constants, where all else are variables that come and go and are expendable.

Imagine that! Obama is expendable. Bush was expendable. Clinton was expendable. H.W Bush was expended after one term. Reagan was expendable. Carter was expended after one term. But all 44 of them, beginning with George Washington (1789 – 1797), fought and continue fighting, through respective approaches, in defense of the preservation of American institutions, spirit and interests. The pattern here does not need a rocket scientist to figure out – the West, represented by America, has figured out that institutions outlast individuals.

What does all of this mean?
As Libya disposes of the remains of the Libyan autocrat, Muammar Kaddafi, and Cameroon ironically crowns dictator Biya in the days ahead, it cannot, nor must it, be lost on any right thinking person that it is easier to figure out one person than it is figuring a number of people.

Paul Biya has been representing (selling) Cameroon interests for 29 years! The upside of it is that he should be great at it because experience “is the best teacher”. Or is it not? Before we consider the question of whether experience/longevity is not the best teacher, it must be said of it that nurtures stability and continuity.

But stability and continuity, in business like in politics, are double edged swords. Opponents get to know very well who you are – including the strengths and weaknesses of the leader or regime. Such knowledge, in the hands of the enemy, becomes extremely important during negotiation.

Term limits will make it practically difficult for the West to justify holding a dagger to the throat of a dictator in Africa because they know everything about that leader. There would be no bombs raining over the skies of Libya and ending with gory pictures of a failed leader. The chances would be slim of any protest marches toppling regimes in Egypt, Tunisia or Cote d’Ivoire if the people know, like Americans that Biya, Gbagbo, Mubarak, Ben Ali, are democratically expendable after one or two terms. Rather, after 29 years in power, Cameroonians continue throwing their hands up in the air to God, in resignation and asking His Divine will be done – death of Biya.

Fleeting Support
As Kaddafi may testify to Biya from the great beyond, there is no such thing as loyalty to a falling King. Human nature is infallibly treacherous if the price is right. The picture of a bleeding and dying Kaddafi in Sirte, his birth town and now place of death, is yet another reminder to Biya that even his native Mvo Meka will not hide him from the wrath of the people as much as his leaving office will.

It is noble that his sons lived and died by Kaddafi. But I wonder whether that is the life that any parent desires for their kids. Parents mourn when their kids die before them. I am yet to hear someone celebrating the fact that their kid will die with them. The antiquated tradition is extinct even in Kingdoms where servants were buried with their masters.

Kaddafi predicted that his people were going to “die to protect me”. Today, he was killed; fear visible on his battered and bruised face, like a rat. Things do not have to be so, I agree with those who decry such gruesomeness on the streets of Africa. But it must be said, too, that the West – America and its allies – are not gun happy with African leaders who see only the privileges of the position without the responsibilities.

At the end of the day, a new generation of African leaders must see the wisdom in having in their company, the former heads of State. I know the feeling of having a younger peer call me to find out how I would handle a situation that they may be facing for the first time. There is an adrenaline rush, at least for me, in just knowing that I was of help. It is the same way when I look at arch rivals in American politics – Carter/Bush/Clinton/Bush/Obama – in one room talking about how to defend America and Americans. I believe it is a source of joy that only a hand few are currently enjoying in Africa (South Africa and Nigeria).

There is no reason why Africans can’t find a way to have a former President and the current President in the same room. There is no reason why the next President of Cameroon should have to start anew on everything because Biya has either run into exile or been beheaded. But it all begins with the wisdom that there is another person who can do the job, not because we are done with our work, but also because we can never be done with the work.

Comments

[for drinks]

l try not to read stories from my belove country but most often it is unbearable, if could remember this one of the best piece of story l have ever read from a writter in my beloved country cameroon. l like most the fact that u state that African president can sit in same room with thier ex for the common interest of the country and their people, like it is done in America. keep on with good stuffs like this.

[judas]

Well written. I hope dictator Biya will think of his family and let Cameroonians free from his bondage. We do not need a "come-no-go" president.Do not say you were not warned

[Tagro]

Biya has nothing to worry about. He's astute and serving the right interests, the imperialist community, excuse me, the INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY!. Like the king of Saudi Arabia, Biya will sit pretty if he continues his loyal service to the INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY.

[Isaac Mbeng]

There are three parties responsible for the political situation in Cameroon. The neo-colonialists, the opposition, and the Cameroonians themselves. You heard of the arrival of French Secret service personnel with anti-war materials to destabilize Cameroon as they have done in other countries in Africa which France colonized, the latest being Ivory Coast and Libya. The second detractors are the political leaders who display their greed and love for money by their refusal to unite before the election and pretended to do so after they had taken sums of money from the government, yet spent very little in their campaign. The third players in Cameroon's political scene are the Cameroonians themselves. The corrupt behavior was displayed when people took sums of money and wheelbarrows from some political parties promising to cast their ballots for these parties but failed to do so under the pretest that the money belonged to all Cameroonians. It is in contradiction to the rule fair play. You now have the lesser of the two evils in power.Why cry fowl play.

[Njousi]

The opium under whose influence Cameroonians are working will one day give way to realism and Cameroonians themselves will once more be able to sit up and take back their country. The clouds will clear off after more and more education and less initiation to the demonic cults that govern Cameroon. Failing which we can only hope that the demons will one day for want of food eat up themselves and let our people go. It takes more than the naked eye can see to be able to diagnose the Cameroonians' plight and proffer solutions.

[The Hunter]

Cameroon's become a 'fenced farm',that has been hijacked by a group of so-call friends.The popular uprisings of the 90s made most of them who were chicken-hearted to flee to the opposition.Some of them stood their ground,and the farm was almost rid of its hijackers.The latter cried out for militants,and some hunger-stricken and foolhardy citizens,were shown the way to the dining table.Even some frustrated and poverty-sticken opposition leaders joined the others in the farm,and today have become the lead praise-singers of the 'chief',whom they'd termed 'thief and hijacker'.All of these happened before our very eyes,but no one raised a finger.They're now used to eating the juicy farm harvest.The farm is already full,and there's no more space.While they're eating 'within',stay outside the farm and be making noise,with your empty stomachs.After all,let sleeping dogs lie,they're saying.'La bouche qui mange ne parle pas'!!!

[tengen]

Senior bob this is a beautiful piece of article.You have said it all.We are doomed to the situation at hand.

[munteh michael]

Hi bobe Chia I must tell you most profoundly that I have read many articles from you but this in my opinion is the best.I dare say again that unless People like Biya and Mugabe stop seeing a country as their personal property I will remain an advocate of whatever the west thinks of us oil or no oil

[John Dinga]

Bobe Chia, please accept my congratulations on your indefatigable effort at educating your fellow citizens about the world around them. My only regret is that we continue to reflect the African proverb that you are like soap, wasting away even as you try to cleanse others. For indeed most of our weaponry is invariably directed at the wrong target as seen on the pages of this forum.

All the same you have left your imprint and the proof that a war has many battle fronts - sea, air, land and, in your case, the pen. Bravo.