Who Killed Ateba Eyene?

-The early and untimely exit of Charles Ateba Eyene could be described as a most cruel death of a talkative patriot and political gadfly
By Ojong Steven Ayukogem in Yaounde

The journalist, philosopher-scholar, prolific author, social critic and political gadfly succumbed to an undisclosed illness, on Friday, 21 February 2014, at the CUSS hospital here. As the sad news of his death spread like bush fire in the harmattan during the later part of Friday, It was also immediately speculated by many here that he might have been cut down by those he so unreservedly and untiringly criticized and exposed as belonging to the cabal that has hijacked Cameroon and are playing with it like a toy to the detriment of the majority of Cameroonians who continue to wallow in an orgy of repression, want, joblessness, squalor, disease and reckless abandon and despite the bountiful and limitless natural endowments of the country.

Charles Ateba Eyene, why now?

     Even before he died, Ateba Eyene had always predicted his early and untimely exit from this sinful world. He never forgot to mention during his many radio talk-shows and interviews that he had become known for that: “I am not afraid of death; and that is why I always make sure I carry my coffin along with me where ever I go.”
    Charles Ateba Eyene, apart from the things he was known for, was a thinker-scholar and above all a politician and public servant in his own right. But his open, relentless and very acerbic criticism of the powers that be in Cameroon especially president Biya’s own Beti tribesmen (Le Pays Organisateur) and the ‘fraters’ of the different esoteric lodges (AMORC, Freemasonry, Eckankar, Illuminati, Grail etc), whom he accused of taking Cameroonians hostage, caused Ateba Eyene to be admired by the wider public and spited by many. Even his comrades of the ruling CPDM party where he was also a member of the Central Committee, did not hide their disgust for his vociferous lampooning of the system. Because he took his criticisms beyond tolerable limits, many predicted he would not be allowed to continue much longer; that he would either be given ‘something’ to make him more comfortable and of course less inspired, or he be wiped out summarily. It would appear his killers preferred the latter option. But this can not immediately be proven.
    The demise of Charles Ateba Eyene could therefore be considered rightly or wrongly as “the most cruel death of a talkative patriot and political gadfly.” Some sources said he died on Wednesday but hospital authorities kept the information secret, for unknown reasons.
    As Ateba Eyene’s body lies still in the mortuary at the CUSS Hospital here, many are those who are already urging president Biya to recognize his tireless efforts towards nation building and also grant him an official burial, why not!