The Head of State has completely changed his schedules to fit the COVID-19 context
The million dollar questions on the lips of most Cameroonians now are;
Where is their President?
Why is the President absent from public despite the spread of Coronavirus in the country?
Is the President alive?
People have been providing answers to these questions depending on their respective understanding and appraisal of state functioning.
Besides Cameroonians, other International Institutions have also questioned the silence of the Head of State, Paul Biya to personally address (not Communiques) the COVID-19 pandemic just like other Presidents of the world are doing to their citizens publicly.
So far, it is the Prime Minister of Cameroon, Joseph Dion Ngute, and the Minister of Public Health, Dr. Manaouda Malachie who are at the forefront Communicating on COVID-19 prevention in the country.
The last public appearence of the Head of State was on March 11, 2020 at the Unity Palace, during and audience granted to the US Ambassador to Cameroon, H. E Peter Henry Balerin.
Opposition leaders in the country have been fast in criticising the silence of Paul Biya and spreading rumours of his health condition.
Some have even promised to initiate legal proceedings to find out if there is vacancy at the helm of the nation, like the Popular Action Party, PAP and the Cemeroon Renaissance Movement, CRM.
But according to information gathered and published by the Pan African Magazine, Jeune Afrique, the Head of State is alive.
He is not even COVID-19 positive but has decided to retire to his native village, Mvomeka’a in the South Region of Cameroon.
Unlike other sojourns in Mvomeka’a, where the Head of State used to perform his official duties and even grant audiences to many, Paul Biya has this time rescheduled his agenda.
According to Jeune Afrique Magazine, Paul Biya no more grants audiences in his capacity as President of the Republic and recieves only some selected few of his close collaborators.
His special advicer, Joseph Fouda and the Director of the Civil Cabinet at the Presidency of the Republic, Samuel Mvondo Ayolo are the chosen few who could presently be received in audience by Paul Biya in Mvomeka’a.
Close security chief, Mike Davy Ottou Meka it should be noted is ensuring the safety of the President according to the Magazine.
All non essential state personnel at this moment are not allowed access to the President’s Mvomeka’a residence.
On the part of the government, every one looks up to the Head of State for Important instructions concerning the running of state affairs.
