War against indiscipline:

BetiAssomo purges EMIA of fraudsters

Among the names expunged from the list of those admitted into the school were those of children and relations of some CPDM regime barons

By Tanyi Kenneth Musa in Yaounde

Joseph Beti Assomo

Recent actions by the minister delegate at the Presidency of the Republic in charge of Defence, Joseph BetiAssomo, are indicative of the fact that things may never be the same again in the said ministry. The most recent of such actions is the expunging of the names of a handful of fraudsters from the list of candidates who passed the written and physical education part of the recent entrance examination into the Yaounde military academy, EMIA.

                At press time, The Median was not clear on the exact number of candidates whose names were dropped from that list. But this newspaper was reliably informed by more than one source that the candidates in question were children and relatives of some big shots of the regime. They are reported to have used their positions and financial strength to influence the results.

                BetiAssomo did not end at flushing out the names of the fraudsters from the list; he also ordered an enquiry on the matter and insisted that the culprits must be brought to book.

                Critics have hailed this decision of the new Defence strongman, terming it valiant and unprecedented. “BetiAssomo’s looks do not match his actions,” a gendarme officer having the rank of ‘maréchal de logie chef’, BengonoAnicet, told The Median. “When he was appointed minister of Defence we thought he was too womanly for that position. But we are now seeing his courage and bravery. Never judge a man from his looks.”

                This action of Joseph BetiAssomo’s is coming hard on the heels of another decision he took meting out exemplary disciplinary sanctions to four soldiers who were found guilty of crimes against the honour and ethics of the defence forces. On this occasion too, the minister announced that legal action would be taken against the defaulters.       

                It should be recalled that shortly after he was appointed minister of defence, Assomo’s first action was to visit the battle front in Far North Cameroon where soldiers are resolutely defending the territory against jihadist Boko Haram insurgents. The defence minister had a common meal with the soldiers and joked with them in about the same way like we see US presidents do with American soldiers in the battle field.

                Yet BetiAssomo did not end there; he also later traveled to the Bakassi peninsular where Cameroonian security forces are also protecting the territory against the activities of sea pirates. Here again he communioned with the men in uniform, to the discernible satisfaction of all.      

                “If BetiAssomo continues in this way, he is very likely to occupy that position for long. He is the kind of person President Paul Biya likes – somber and humble yet courageous and disciplined. It is now I begin to see why the President appointed him minister of Defence,” a senior military officer who asked not to be named told The Median.