Like Cameroon, (Un)like Nigeria -By John Oyebanji

The Cameroonian President, Paul Biya had some weeks ago made a public embarrassment of the entire Republic of Cameroon, at the US-Africa Leaders Summit, where he couldn’t even comport himself, as he forgot why he was at the summit. He was called to the microphone after President Kagame of Rwanda delivered his address. Paul Biya was asking his aide where he was, and why they were there, not bothering the mic. He even asked if there were important personalities at the meeting. For some minutes, he was staring at the paper given to him, his aide mounted the podium to remind him that the world is waiting for him to speak. He responded with two farts. Yeah, isó! It took him a long while before he could even read what was written in the paper for him, and in those times, the world sat there waiting. You would wonder what happened. The man is old and will be 90 years of age, in February. He’s suffering from dementia, and as an effect, every Cameroonian was taken for a joke before the world. Who should we blame? The people around him. This man could have resigned from office a long time ago, but the cries of “Your Excellency”, “Carry On”,  and “You’re doing well” had deafened him, for the crumbs the aides will take to themselves. Nigeria has an additional month to prove a point, that we can’t be taken for a joke in the comity of nations. Just one month to affirm the greatness and potential of our country. Just a month to choose which side we are – Like Cameroon, Like Nigeria; or Like Cameroon, Unlike Nigeria. I didn’t say anything but make a wise choice at the poll.