Nkendem Forbinake
3 September 2009
In yesterday's edition, Cameroon Tribune graphically explained how political considerations obviously motivated our French colleagues to quickly accept the "Paul Biya overly extravagant" posture to bank on.
Granted, in the journalism profession "scoops" about the lifestyles of monarchs, Heads of State, pop stars or Arab Sheiks always make headline news. Decidedly, our colleagues of the highly-respected Ouest-France, France's highest circulating daily newspaper and other publications, made a point at getting such a catch. But in real terms, this catch, as an African proverb puts it, was more of a tiger-turned-fox. In journalistic parlance - whether in our despised tropics or in the civilized west - a scoop has to do with a rare and real discovery. And for a human interest story, the "discovery" of Paul Biya spending a "daily 42,000 Euros" to enable any newspaper (worth its salt) to imagine that it had come across a "scoop" its readers were going to be so excited about.
The South-western French location of La Baule is a choice location for tourists; and has become priced destination for many world leaders seeking a peaceful environment. Little wonder, the location has hosted several international conferences in situations where organizers wanted a peaceful and resortful atmosphere.
Every tourism destination has a price. Paul Biya was not the first customer in the resort. He was just one among hundreds and, even, thousands of other customers who had preceded him in the facility.
A CFA 27 million - a - day expenditure may appear to be a bit too much to pay for a leader whose country is trapped in multifarious social problems. But seen from another angle, questioning the wisdom in such expenditure could also amount to questioning the real foundations of Cameroon as a sovereign nation. For, sovereignty comes with a number of considerations, least of which is not affirming itself or publicly presenting the country as credible and one with which people, especially investors, can do business.
The presence of President Paul Biya in a five-star hotel in La Baule, could never have been incongruent. Is a five-star hotel facility so inaccessible to a President of a Republic? If so, who then are those supposed to occupy such facilities apart from pop starts or other award-winning actors? Many Cameroonians would readily wish to see their president take up residence in a recognized luxury facility. And in voting the budget of the Presidency of the Republic at the last budgetary session of the National Assembly, members of parliament knew fully well that the President of the Republic was entitled to a number of overseas trips during which he could take some useful moments of relief for himself and his close aides. No one expects hotel rooms in La Baule to be costed at the same rates as our sea-side facility in Kribi or Limbe. It has been suggested that the President could have spent his vacation in these Cameroonian sea-side resorts. But are we so sure that, in a hard-pressed atmosphere in which citizens hover around his person, he would have had the requisite restful atmosphere necessary for him, given the highly-demanding nature of his task?
Or should we, in the name of saving money, have sent the President of the Republic of Cameroon to live in the inconvenience of a Briqueterie-type facility? We earnestly believe that the President of the Republic of Cameroon is entitled to some minimum comfort; because our dignity and prestige as a nation have no cost.
It is not too costly, let alone "extravagant" for the President of the Republic of Cameroon to momentarily spend FCFA 27 million-a-day; especially when he is not only resting, but also doing business for which the entire nation will gain ten or a hundred fold. Paul Biya's bill issue is a question of national dignity above all; because the President knows the limits to what can be referred to as extravagant expenditure after having managed a long-standing financial crisis himself. Else, we want to be told that an African cannot live in an ordinary five-star hotel because it will be too expensive for him. Who then can?
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Nobody is of the opinion that our head of state should portray a low profile out of the country ,let alone stay in a hotel below the standards of the functions that he occupies-Those of head of state and commander of the armed forces! On the contrary,we are concern with a head of state who seems not to share in the sufferings of his people!Two major gaffes in my eyes have exposed our president as a vulgar leader! 1-Our president, despite red lights from the bretonwood institutions that our economy was in agony,Mr.Biya went ahead (secretely)to buy a luxeriuos plane for himself!Each of us knows how the story ended,it's like within the inner core of his collaborators there was some gnashing of the teeth,and pam!God frustrated the plan and avoided a catastrophy that would have befallen our fatherand-plane crash with president and family! 2-During the Francophony summit in Yaoundé,you and i saw the limousine our president rode on! Why should we go arround begging for money while displaying this kind of extavagancy? I know the world is ruled in majority by hypocrites who are ready to sell what ever they have for frivolous honours!Even you the writer of this article i know your entergrity,your love for objectivity and the trueness of facts as an Anglophone,why should you defend the undefendable;because of this gradual but threatenning lost of selfconfidence within Cameroonian intelectuals and free thinkers,knowledge is food,you have it use it!Dignity comes from the heart and not from the car,5 star Hotel room!Remember what you said after Dr Foncha's death----He was a down-to-earth man,He had no interest in Earthly pleasure and honors!You never said how you wised he leaved in a mansion to show that he was once our vice president!Le monde nous regarde! cheers!I LOVE PALM WINE--MBOUH!
Forbinake,It is shameful for you to write and defend the president in such a stupid way. I understand that you are doing that to protect your job. Just imagine the Fon of Lewoh spending LECUDEM money in such a way when there is no tap water in Lewoh. You are actually a disgrace to the Lewoh sons and daughters.
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The question i ask is: Why are our journalist so stupid?..How can u Mr Nkendem Forbinake write such an article to young cameroonians?..Is our priority at the moment trips to Europe in a five star hotel? Do u know that Mr Biya does this trips with an exagerated number of thieves?..Do u know that camerooninans from the NW and SW lack basich neccesities?..HAve u ever made a trip to Nso? Have a look at the roads?..And u dont understand why people complain?..
The Health Minister in Germany almost resigned for using state car in Spain for private purposes. This cost the German Tax payer about 4000Euro which is nothing when compared to what mr Biya spends in France. DO u also know the hotel wher he spends the night belong to a close friend of Mr Sarkosy, the French president?
Hey Guys, stop fooling young and proud cameroonians with this stupid stories of dignity. If Mr Biya had dignity, he will resign , give young cameroonians a chance. I know if u dont write any good news about the dictators visist, u risk having trouble but please "shut the fuck up".
I have always enjoyed reading the commentaries from my classmate and friend Forbinake. His commentaries have always been informative, insightful and very thought provoking but defending the indefensible is, as he tried to do with this piece is incomprehensible to me and to many of his readers. I read it twice to detect if he is really the author of this article. All I can say is WOW!
john Awunganyi
Echoing another poster, Mbiya is vulgar and amoral. I really don't think Biya or his den of thieves has any conscience because it is difficult to fathom what kind of leader steals from the poorest people on earth. I am of the opinion that this has gone beyond greed and graduated into some type of psychological pathology. Just try to juxtapose the sheer opulence that this guy has just experienced in France with a scene of the street kids that greet you once you exit the Douala "international" airport. It is irroncilable. I am not sure what is going to happen to Cameroon after Biya's departure because he will leave whether he likes it on not. Will Cameroon disintegrate ala Cote D' Ivoire or DRC or follow any of the other catastrophies around the continent?
once more sir, you put us abreast a new low in the world of journalism and creative writing. the cameroonian government is like a chamelion; at one time they are involved in embezzling state funds, arresting and locking up the so called embezzlers while on other times their guilt put them on the defensive...like now. see what has happened in cameroon within the space of three months: 1. biya is accused of ill-gotten wealth by the french; the defense, the 'biya code' is quickly published! he quickly makes a cabinet reshufflement! 2. again the french attack him for extravagance; people like you and chiroma go on the defense! 3. train crash and many lives lost! canal 2 anounces the real number of death, chiroma closes it down! whom are you fooling!!!! bunch of thieves!
Forbinake,It is shameful for you to write and defend the president in such a stupid way. I understand that you are doing that to protect your job. Just imagine the Fon of Lewoh spending LECUDEM money in such a way when there is no tap water in Lewoh. You are actually a disgrace to the Lewoh sons and daughters.
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