President Paul Biya and wife Chantal returned to Yaounde last evening to a rapturous welcome. Hundreds of CPDM militants and bystanders lined the streets of the capital to witness a remake of a similar event 20 years ago when the president on a brief stay abroad was declared dead by reports on the social media.
The return of Biya yesterday put paid to speculations about his health and the debate that was brewing about the declaration of a vacancy at the presidency.
There seemed to be more assurance when President Paul Biya had a few minutes of exchange with the Minister of State, Secretary General at the Presidency, Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh at the Nsimalen Airport before entering the presidential motorcade that took him across the town right to the Unity Palace.
His return, observers say, symbolizes stability, but Cameroonians wish that there be more transparency surrounding the health and whereabouts of the President of the Republic.
Reacting to the return of Biya, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, President of the FSNC and Minister of Employment, said it is a disavowal of authors of intoxication whose goal is to spread fear among the population. He called on Cameroonians to more than ever before support the policies of Biya whom he said was the providential man.
To mark the event, the RDPC, the ruling party, pulled out all the stops.
The residents of Yaoundé, the capital of Cameroon, woke up last morning to posters of Paul Biya visible everywhere. The city exuded a presidential campaign atmosphere.
His return yesterday was celebrated as a victory over the naysayers who predicted the worst.
Since the controversy began, the Minister of Communication, the government spokesperson, and the Secretary-General of the Presidency have clearly stated that the president is in good health and peacefully attending to his duties.
