Redeployment of Governors

Anglophones less fit for delicate missions?
Two governors of Anglophone extraction: Awa Fonka Augustine and Joseph Otto Wilson were last week relocated down South from the North of the country, where Boko Haram has been razing havoc in the past many months. Commentators have been wondering whether the transfer of the two Anglophone governors was a coincidence, or it was just another instance of president Biya’s reluctance to allow very delicate sovereignty missions in the hands of Anglophones.
By Ayukogem Steven Ojong in Yaounde

Awa Fonka Augustine & Joseph Otto Wilson

Awa Fonka Augustine was replaced in the Far North by Midjiyawa Bakari, a Moslem Fulani from the North, while Joseph Otto Wilson who is now the Governor of the Centre region was replaced in the North by Abate Edi’i Jean, an indigene of the Centre region.
    It can very easily be understood though, that Midjiyawa Bakari could have been sent to Maroua in the Far North because being a Hausa/Fulani, he speaks the native language of the area and so can better relate and communicate with the populations, especially at this time of the Boko Haram scare. Also, Boko Haram said to be a religious (Moslem Phenomenon) Governor Midjiyawa will be commanding in his home front, in a war whose origins and under-tones he is expected to quickly and very easily decipher.
    But it should at once be recalled that Awa Fonka was made governor of the Far North in compensation for loyal services he rendered to the state and especially the minister of Territorial Administration, Rene Emmanuel Sadi, during his brief stay as SDO of the Mbam and Inoubou division (Rene Sadi’s division of origin).

    As governor of the Far North region Awa was credited with the successful coordination of negotiations leading to the release of members of the Moulin-Fournier family who were abducted by Boko Haram around the Waza Park, on 19 February 2013. He also negotiated the release of Father Georges Vandenbeusch who was also captured and taken hostage on the night of 13 to 14 November 2013 in Koza also in the Far North region. Then Governor Awa also secured the recent release of the two Italian monks Giampaolo Marta and Gianantonio Allegri and the Canadian nun, Gilberte Bussier who were also abducted by Boko Haram, on the night of 4 to 5 April 2014 in Tchèré also in the Far North.
    Awa Fonka is also credited for his careful and commendable handling of the flood crisis that rocked the Far North last year leading to the displacement of thousands of families that needed rehabilitation. Then Awa also secured a sweeping victory for the ruling CPDM party in the twin Municipal/Parliamentary elections on 20 September 2013.
    But recent events by Boko Haram in the Far North might have lead Yaounde authorities to start doubting Awa Fonka’s ability and capacity to forsee trouble and pre-empt them. It had become increasingly evident that Awa was even becoming overwhelmed by the recurrent troubles created for him by Boko Haram.
The attack on the Kousseri gendarmerie brigade on the night of 3 to 4 May 2014, during which two Cameroonians (a gendarme officer and a suspect in detention) were killed, and which made way for Boko Haram to free one of their men who was locked up at the brigade, certainly did much harm to Awa Fonka’s reputation as governor, not withstanding the distance that separates Kousseri from Maroua the Regional capital. The attack by Boko Haram dealt a big blow to the internal security of the country and exposed our institutions as not adequately secured. Yaounde authorities certainly did not take this kindly.
Then the recent strike yet again by Boko Haram, on the residential area of the Chinese company in the Waza locality, during which 10 Chinese were abducted, one Chinese killed and one Cameroonians soldier of the BIR also killed and 10 Pick-up vehicles belonging to the Chinese company carted away by Boko Haram was certainly the last drop that filled Awa Fonka’s cup. The attack on the Chinese base was one too many; and Awa Fonka could no longer be left on a seat that was already becoming too hot for him.
In fact, that Boko Haram had succeeded to hit a target that was heavily guarded by the almighty BIR, only left Yaounde authorities utterly confused and in awe.
    Corrective measurers therefore had to be taken, and one of them could only be the replacement of Awa Fonka with a more trusted and strategically adapted person.
    But if Awa Fonka was replaced because of the above reasons, what about Otto Wilson? The latterhad experienced little or nothing of the Boko Haram menace. But who knows? With the present militarization of the Far North region, Boko Haram could just decide to move a little down South, towards Garoua, and Otto Wilson might not be and best bet to handle the situation. President Biya is usually cautions and very reluctant and unenthusiastic entrusting delicate sovereignty missions to Anglophones.
However, the fact that neither Awa Fonka nor Otto Wilson was sacked but only relocated to other regions could mean that their transfer was not informed by lack of competence but lack of trust. It is proof that they did not perform poorly in their their previous areas of command.
    It should be recalled that as governor of the North region, Otto Wilson also handled the deadly floods in that region and coordinated the 20 September 2013 twin elections which the CPDM won crushingly in that region.