Snapshots: An X-ray of Cameroon�s Democracy, Governance and Unification

9. Resignation of Titus Edzoa: The Demystification of a Mystic

33 9 Resignation of Titus Edzoa: The Demystification of a Mystic April 25, 1997 The dramatic resignation from government of Public Health Minister, Dr. Titus Edzoa, last Sunday is just one more spoke thrust in the wheel of president Biya’s anti-democratic train. The resignation (the third of its kind in the Biya era following the resignations in 1992 of Governor George Achu and cabinet member Garga Harman Adji just before the presidential election) comes on the trail of disquieting defections from the Biya camp by political capos such as Ayissi Mvodo, Genevieve Fouda, Delphine Tsanga, Simon-Pierre Tsoungui who hitherto were seen as part of the pillar propping the ethnic Beti oligarchy that has ruined the nation. Indeed, Biya may soon find himself alone as the writing on the wall becomes clearer to many more of his dim-witted courtesans. Titus Edzoa has, indeed, read the writing on the wall and has jumped the boat before it sinks. However, for someone said to be an accomplished surgeon (he was Biya’s personal physician), mystic and karate enthusiast, one cannot understand why he took fifteen years to realize the regime he was serving is-and has always been – a “tragic disappointment.” Hear him in his resignation statement: “Because of political conviction, I was from the beginning fought by a small influential clique within the regime by self-styled thinkers…” Which political conviction is he referring to after serving a despotic regime for fifteen years? Dr. Edzoa’s resignation statement rings of so many falsehoods and hypocrisy that one has to doubt the righteousness of his indignation and castigation of the regime. In fact, his motives for resignation are far from altruistic as he wants people to believe. 34 Dr. Edzoa was not only the president’s personal physician, but was the president guru in the Rosicrucian Mystical Order, personal aide and at one time the effective number 2 when he was SecretaryGeneral at the Presidency – in effect the leader in this influential clique he aptly describes as “hypocritical and small-minded.” He complains of repeated attempts to humiliate him but conveniently forgets that it was he, as Secretary-General at the presidency, who defiantly undermined and made several attempts to humiliate the then Head of Government, Prime Minister Achidi Achu by usurping the latter’s powers. Titus Edzoa did not only confiscate the Prime Minister’s powers but also coveted his master’s throne. He tried to play Alexander Haig but failed. On one of Biya’s frequent and prolonged ‘brief visits’ abroad, Dr. Edzoa deceptively usurped the Head of State’s prerogative by appointing a board chairman he wanted to impose on the air transport corporation, ADC. The scandal came on the heels of several incidents of impropriety including the award of a multi-billion francs contract for the dredging of the Douala estuary port to a company in which he had vested interest. He is alleged to have hatched a scheme to extort billions from public corporations under the pretext of fund-raising for the hosting of the OAU Summit last June. Dr. Edzoa is even said to have had the cheek to invite the President, his spiritual novice, to visit his multi-million dollar moated castle snuggly situated in a lush wild life park on the south- western outskirts of Yaounde – a magnificently appointed castle, we are told, that would be the envy of the stingingly rich and spoiled stars of Beverly Hills. The accumulated effect of this pompous grandeur earned him a presidential kick last September that plummeted him from the height of the Secretariat-General to the less coveted position of health minister. Bruce Lee, Cameroon version, has since been licking his wounds and plotting vengeance. And he chose the right time to strike – less than a month to parliamentary elections. That was a master chop at the solar plexus. 35 Dr. Edzoa’s announcement that he would also run for the October presidential election only aggravated the festering ulcer President Biya must have developed after the recent defections from his bandwagon. Asked on BBC on Tuesday to state why he expects the support of Cameroonian come presidential election, Titus Edzoa, in his characteristic procrastination, said he would explain that when the time comes. Same thing on CRTV Actualité Hebdo programme of March 16. Asked to throw light on the numerous deleterious acts in public office, he offered to explain when the...