AgborTabi was a fighter and go-getter

-AshuNyenty, political analyst and international jurist

AshuNyenty had many ono-on-one
encounters with AgborTabi

The death of Professor Peter AgborTabi, ASG of the presidency, on 26 April 2016 in Nuilly France, has sparked a vast amount of debate as to the kind of personality he was and the legacy he lives behind. While many hail AgborTabi as a fearless and a very determined politician and leader, others dismiss him as a controversial and vindictive personality. To explain the different viewpoints expressed, The Median’s Editor, Ojong Steven Ayukogem caught up with CRTV’s AshuNyenty, who has been trailing AgborTabi ever since he came to the political limelight in the early 1990s.  For nearly a decade now, AshuNyenty has worked as political desk editor at CRTV. He is also an international jurist and a former student leader at the University of Yaounde when AgborTabi was the Chancellor then. As journalist and former community leader, Ashu has had many group and one-on-one encounters with AgborTabi and in the following interview gives a candid account about the AgborTabi he knew. Just read on!

How did you receive the news of AgborTabi’s death?

Well, Prof. AgborTabi has been sick for some time. His illness was on and off and he regularly went for treatment within and out of the country. So when his death was confirmed on Tuesday 26 April at midday, it was a devastating piece of information for me for two reasons. First, as John Donne, the English Poet says: “Everybody’s death diminishes me”. So from that perspective I was devastated. And my devastation was all the more because as far as I can remember it is the first time a man of that caliber from Manyu, from the South West is dying in office. On that basis I had to be devastated. So I should say that I received the news of his death with a feeling of regret. But as the Bible says in Deutoronomy: 3, that “there’s time for everything; a time to live and a time to die.” So death is the natural end for every human being. And we can only give thanks to God for everything.

Much has been said and written about AgborTabi’s life ever since his death. What reading do you make of the press reports about his life and death?.

Well I cannot say I have had enough time to go through all the press accounts on his life and death. But the few that I have seen are a depiction of the multi-dimensional persona that AgborTabi was. AgborTabi meant many things to different people. But as far as I am concerned the reports in the press are a true reflection of who AgborTabi is. To me what the press has done so far is a genuine recollection of the man, Peter AgborTabi.

The words controversial and vindictive were used repeatedly in many press reports. Was AgborTabi really controversial and vindictive in your opinion?

The Advanced Learners’ Dictionary of Contemporary English defines a controversial personality as somebody who provokes debate or draws disagreement or disapproval especially in public debates. If that is the meaning of the controversial you are talking about then I would say AgborTabi was a controversial personality. This is because the name AgborTabi alone sparked a lot of debates, for good or for bad because of what he did or what he had done, from when he was Chancellor of the University of Yaounde (I was a student leader there at the time), until his death as the Minister, Assistant Secretary General of the Presidency. In all these capacities AgborTabi has done so many things and has had many encounters with different people. Perhaps in their different encounters some people percieved him as controversial. But suffice it to say just the mention of AgborTabi’s name or his deeds any where, ignited a vast amount of discussion and debate. So in that perspective I would say he was a controversial persona.

For those who say he was vindictive, this was because he was a man who knew exactly what he wanted and how to get what he wanted. When ever he needed something he went for it, without fear. May be in the process of pursuing what he wanted he ruffled feathers with some people. But that was the kind of man AgborTabi was. A man who knew how to get what he wanted. As far as he was concerned it was the end that justified the means. So he could use just every means at his disposal, and every arsenal available to him, to achieve his objective.

AgborTabi was widely linked with a move to the Star Building as Prime Minister. Can you remember when and where he ever mentioned having such an ambition?

If I say that I have not heard things like that being said or written about him then I would be lying or all the years I have spent in the public domain have been a waste. So i can confirm to you that a lot has been said about his intention, concealed or expressed, of becoming the PM of the republic. And this goes way back in 1997 when he left government. I have had several encounters with AgborTabi one-on-one, and I have had occasion to put the question to him. But AgborTabi has never told me viva voce or even ambiguously that he had that ambition or intention. And you will not expect any tactful politician to make that kind of declaration, would you? May be those who were part of his entourage provoked such rumours. And the rumours have existed since the mid 1990s until his death. It was even believed at some point that his departure from government was because of an in-house tussle within his native South West region. But that is as far as the rumour could go. Even when he was brought back to government on the 30th of June 2009, after 12 years of political wilderness (as he himself put it), there were many people who still thought that he was being prepared to become the PM. This was written in papers and said on radio and television. Even now that he has died many are still saying that death has deprived him of his dream of becoming the PM. But I must emphasize that AgborTabi has never said so to my hearing. But from the posture of the political editor that I am, I would say the major reason for the rumour and speculation is the history and the antecedents of that position. You will recall that before him, we have had two PMs who came from the position of ASG of the Presidency namely Chief Thomas Ephraim Inoni and the sitting PM, Philemon Yunji Yang. So when AgborTabi was appointed to that position people had reason enough to believe he was being prepared for the PM job. And this could be possible, why not? But then, you know that in this country it is only president Paul Biya who decides and determines who he appoints where and when. May be the president had that behind his mind. But that is what the public thought and said about AgborTabi’s being at the presidency. Even at his death people have continued to say that he is the PM that never was.

AgborTabi inspired fear in many and especially among his political adversaries. Why was he so feared?

Like I said earlier, AgborTabi was a very determined politician. He was a fighter. He never considered himself a loser. AgborTabi had this rare quality of politicians who are go-getters and who knew exactly what they wanted and how to go about it. He understood the system so well. AgborTabi could play the perfect courtier when it became necessary, and play the perfect ruffian when it was necessary. Though he was determined, he was also ready to play the good boy when situations required. So I am sure it is because of these that most of his political contemporaries or adversaries as you coin it were afraid of him; because he would never give up. If he set his mind to achieve something he would go right there and get it, no matter what. He was not afraid of anybody. You can recall that during the restive years of the students’ uprisings at the Yaounde University; at a time when even angels were afraid to thread on the university campus, AgborTabi confronted the leaders of the students ‘parlement’. When the students were planning a demonstration on one occasion, AgborTabi said to them, “vousvoulez marcher, ilfautplutotcourir” (meaning you want to march? I would suggest you rather run, because marching will not amount to anything). So, that was the kind of man AgborTabi was. The kind of man who could face violent students; a man who could tell his contemporaries to their face that this will not go on… this will not work, and it happened just the way he said it. I think it was because of this that he was not only feared, but was revered. And many people benefitted from his largesse. But many who did not toe his line paid dearly for it.

Many are of the opinion that it will be long for Manyu division in particular and the Anglophones in general to have another courageous politician like AgborTabi. Do you share that opinion?

I have said it before that AgborTabi was a very courageous politician. For a political system like ours, you need only people like AgborTabi to get things done. But then, no two individuals are the same. AgborTabi had his strong points and his weaknesses and shortcomings. Other people will come up and they will also play their role. It was Shakespeare who said “the world is a stage where each person comes, plays his or her role, then exits and creates space for others.” Before AgborTabi there were other politicians from Manyu. You had people like S.A. George, E.T. Egbe, Ako Defang Mengot, Effiom Willy Ndep, Frambo etc. In the South West you had people like E.M.L. Endeley, NeriusNamassoMbile, PM Kale, Lekunze, Walipenja Lobe etc. So each epoch has its own politicians. It is true that the vacuum that AgborTabi’s demise has created will be difficult to fill based on the character traits he possessed. But that is not to say that no other politician like him will emerge. To say that will sound like the French King Louis 14 who said: “après moic’est le deluge” (meaning after me it is the floods). I fervently believe other courageous leaders will emerge after AgborTabi.

Some people have described AgborTabi as a general that has fallen on the field of battle. That Agbor is that general who fought and won the most battles and also achieved a lot for his people. Do see AgborTabi in that light?

That AgborTabi fought many battles is very true. That he was a ruthless politician is also true. That he achieved a lot for his people, that is perfectly correct. I would add that AgborTabi also contributed to sell to the public the Manyu image and character. He portrayed Manyu people as an invincible people; a people who are always on top. He contributed a lot in bringing about that kind of perception of the Manyu man. He was the embodiment and the very epitome of the Manyu man – dignified, go-getter, domineering and you can imagine all the superlatives I could use. AgborTabi did a lot for his people. I recall that as Minister of Higher Education he helped a lot of Manyu families by putting their children into professional schools notably ENS, CUSS, Polytechnic and IRIC. And he did not help only Manyu people but also people from other parts of the South West and even the North West region. There are even some Francophones who have admitted that AgborTabiheped them to enter into ENS or Polytecnic. So he did all of that for his people. Today there are many families in Manyu that swear only by AgborTabi and this is simply because he changed their lot by sending one of theirs to ENS. When he was criticized for transforming intelligent Manyu children into teachers, I had the opportunity to put the question to him. I asked him whether by  sending very intelligent Manyu students to ENS to become teachers he thinks he is doing the right thing? AgborTabi answered looking into my eyes that even though he has sent Manyu students to ENS his intension is not for them to end up as teachers. That his intention is for them to be able to fend for themselves, continue their education and have terminal degrees. He said he didn’t think that what he has done is wrong because when the students come out from ENS and start working they could save money and be able to further their education. So that was the kind of man that AgborTabi was. Yet he did not think that he was doing anything extraordinary. I am saying what AgborTabi told me. This is not hear-say.

Many say one of AgborTabi’s political blunders was his declaration that the KumbaMamfe road would be built in 18 months. The road was not done then. Did you also evoke this during one of your encounters with him?

It is true that AgborTabi made that statement. I remember it was in 1996. And I was politically super-conscience at that time. And I can tell you that there were caterpillars on that road at the time. Bridges were built on that road at about that time. So I am sure it was on the basis of that that AgborTabi made that statement. But we all know that those machines later disappeared from there. I am sure that when he made that statement he was cock sure that the road would be built. That is why he said if the road is not done the people should hold him responsible and not President Biya. So when I met AgborTabi several years later, I asked him: “Mr. Minister you said the Kumba-Mamfe road was going to be built in 18 months. It was not. Do you regret what you said? AgborTabi told me in his residence at Biteng, Yaounde that he regretted haven made that statement and that he would never make such a mistake again. He said this after his appointment as Minister, ASG of the presidency, on the 30th June 2009. When I asked if he considered that as a stain on his political career, he admitted it really was a stain.

After your many encounters with AgborTabi would you say he came back to government wiser and more mature than he was?

Yes of course. And I discussed that with him. I always asked him difficult questions whenever I met with him. And when I asked him that question, he said yes. He said he had become more mature. And if you observed him closely you would have noticed that his public postures and utterances since 2009 were more careful and selected. He started tolerating divergent views. He became more conciliatory and more down to earth. This portrayed somebody who had learnt his lesson. He had become wiser and more mature.

If your opinion was sought as to what kind of burial should be given to AgborTabi, what would you suggest?

First of all my opinion cannot be sought. So that is out of the question. But as far as I can remember and as far as Manyu Division and the South West region are concerned, it is the first time that a sitting minister dies in office. We have not had that before. So based on that, and because AgborTabi was a man of the people, a man who cut across Manyu, the SW region and Cameroon, I think his funeral has to reflect the multi-dimensional personality that he was. His funeral has to be all inclusive. Even if we end at the level of the South West or Manyu, it has to reflect the different currents. I don’t think this is the time to go back to his political battles because in death we forgive and forget, in death we become humble, in death we drop our differences and in death we develop wisdom to make peace. And I should mention that AgborTabi had reconciled with many people before his death. I recall an opposition MP he met at the airport on the day he was being flown abroad for his treatment. The MP had done something that in ordinary times AgborTabi could even slap him. But even though he was very sick, AgborTabi called the gentleman at the air port and told him that he has heard what he did and that on his return to the country, he would call him and they would sit and discuss. But AgborTabi never returned; he returned only as a corpse. So that was AgborTabi in his last days. In my opinion therefore, his funeral should reflect this kind of persona; less antagonistic, less vindictive, less divergent and an all-inclusive politician.

Any last word to close this interview?

I would say AgborTabi, by his character, inspired many people. He helped in the political socialization of many. His spirit of determination, his spirit of a go-getter, his spirit of decisiveness, by all these traits he inspired many. But like every human being, he had his weaknesses. He had flaws and shortcomings which might have affected some people. But what we have to be concerned about now is the legacy he leaves behind. If so many people are talking about him it is because they saw in him a leader, and indeed he was a leader. Leaders are born and not made. It is true that education shapes them and blunts some of the rough edges. But I think AgborTabi was a leader par excellence. That is what I want people to retain from him, in spite of all his weaknesses. My personal story with AgborTabi is not a good one. But I have gone beyond that. I recognize that he was a leader. If AgborTabi were on your side in our political context, then you had nothing to fear. If he were on your side, you could not determine your limits. In our political context it was better to have AgborTabi on your side than to have him against you. If you had AgborTabi against you (laughs), your chances were very slim. I am not saying that if you had him on your side you’ll achieve all you wanted. But giving his character, you were sure that at least you had protection.

Thank you for accepting to share your extensive understanding and knowledge of AgborTabi with our readers

You are welcome, and we hope other leaders from Manyu and the South West should try to copy some of the things that made AgborTabi tick. It was Shakespeare who said: “some people spend just a little time and their impact lives for long years after they are gone, but some others spend a long time yet people quickly forget about them.” AgborTabi was of the former category. He will be remembered for long after he would have gone.