South West Region: Counting Biya’s Unfulfilled Promises
By Nchendzengang Tatah
Paul Biya, the architect of the “New Deal” since 1982, remains unchanged—a relic of the past. His so-called achievements resonate only among those who can stretch their imagination to identify a single major change in their lives. Despite the glaring failures and unfulfilled potential, he continues to parade a staggering list of unfulfilled promises as he boldly struts into the next election.
Without a doubt, he assured Cameroonians, particularly those of the South West, that he will deliver even today what he has not done in over four decades. On May 31, what should have been a campaign address by Prime Minister, Head of Government, Chief Dr Joseph Dion Ngute in Buea ended up leaking out the lapses of the regime. The Chief Star Building occupant had told his party peers, all of whom were of South West extraction, that Biya was steady on delivering on five major aspects, which he felt were priorities to the region. He estimated these to be the CDC, SONARA, Tiko International Airport, Limbe Deep Sea Port and the state of the road in the region.
Beginning with the Tiko International Airport, PM Ngute simply told his eager listeners that the process was on course. But the story has been so told since 2023, when the government allocated 255 hectares of land for the project. The original airport in question is said to have suffered from neglect by the Biya administration, resulting in its abandonment.
Just like it, the Limbe Sea Port remains another far-off dream. Even though several motions of support have been sent to Biya since his pronouncement of intent and first feasible study in 2009. Works to secure the land to host the infrastructure were supposed to begin by October 2022. To date, the population has only heard news of advancing development on the Kribi Deep Sea Port of the South region, Biya’s area of origin. For many in the South West, the Limbe Deep Sea Port is just another tale – a bad joke.
It was even said in 2024 that come 2026, the construction of the Limbe Sea Port would see the light of day.
In the face of failing promises, what the people of the South West could hold on to were the gains of Biya in the region; his efforts to maintain what was achieved, at least. A quick look at the situation of the Cameroon Development Corporation, abbreviated as CDC, and Cameroon’s Oil Refinery, known by its French acronym, SONARA, is tear-provoking. Once the pride of the South West, the CDC is today buried in debts, unpaid workers’ arrears and ageing farms, all escalated by the ongoing crisis in the North West and South West. The crisis, which has paralysed activities of the CDC in many of its operational areas, is seen by many to be a result of the Biya regime shooting its foot. First, as protests for rights were met by military brutality, the armed conflict ensued, which has lasted over eight years and resulted in the death of thousands and the displacement of many more.
As concerns SONARA, PM Ngute made known a shocking revelation unknown to many ordinary Cameroonians. He said: “SONARA was built by TOTAL, a French company, in such a way that it was importing crude from Nigeria and refining it. SONARA could not refine a litre of Cameroonian crude.” Following the destruction of a factory of SONARA by a fire incident six years ago, PM Ngute admits that SONARA “is just there.”
The “just being there syndrome” is the mark on almost every infrastructure in the region today. The deplorable state of the way into the region is the first welcome. It reflects the rest of the stretches across the region, especially in rural areas, many of which have remained inaccessible, fostering a separatist agenda.
Have you ever gone to Kupe Muanenguba, Ndia? you will cry the states of road in these areas. Ndian is the PM’s Division and produces crude oil that is transported to SONARA.
Today, these same people are being consulted ahead of the October polls, but Mr President does not need to consult them, he has undusted promises lying on his table for decades- in order to make the people proud, he’d better work towards realization that consulting the people who help to “chop the money”, promise and fail.
This is the South West, walking, failing and relying on promises that do not come through.
