Buea – For more than two decades, the ignoble Bernard Forju, the CPDM parliamentarian from Lebialem, has entrenched himself in the corridors of power, mastering the manipulative political maneuvers emblematic of the ruling regime. Yet, despite his long tenure in public office, Forju has achieved little beyond serving his own political interests and enabling a cycle of marginalization that pushed his constituents into picking up arms. His recent interview with Gaza Media, ostensibly meant to address the pressing issues affecting Lebialem, Fontem in particular, instead showcased his alarming penchant for dishonesty, deflection, and manipulation.
This interview, conducted on December 15, was nothing short of an exercise in political gaslighting. Forju repeatedly sought to shift blame for Lebialem’s decades of underdevelopment onto external factors, particularly the Ambazonian conflict, while presenting himself as the savior of a community that has suffered immensely under his watch. Let us unpack the layers of deceit and incompetence in Forju’s narrative, revealing the true nature of his betrayal of the people of Lebialem.
A Master of Political Excuses
Forju’s tenure in parliament has been marked by failure and inaction, yet he had the audacity to frame himself as a “man of action” in the interview. According to him, the government’s inability to develop Lebialem is solely due to the Ambazonian conflict, which has plagued the region for the past eight years. However, this explanation conveniently ignores the fact that Forju has been in office for over two decades. What about the 17 years before the conflict began? During this time, there were no roads, no potable water, no functioning health centers, and no meaningful development in Lebialem. The region has remained in a state of neglect, with its people living in abject poverty and desperation.
Forju’s claim that he spends “twice his salary” on special parliamentary interventions for the people of Lebialem is laughable at best. It is a feeble attempt to portray himself as a benefactor, while conveniently ignoring the systemic corruption and mismanagement that have characterized projects in Lebialem during his tenure. If Forju truly cared about his constituents, he would have used his influence within the CPDM to advocate for meaningful development projects. Instead, he has been content to parrot the party line and secure his own political survival.
The “National Cake” Fallacy
One of the most revealing moments of the interview was Forju’s discussion of the so-called “National Cake” and the role of Paul Tasong, the Minister Delegate in Charge of Planification. Forju proudly declared that “our system is very good now” because Tasong, a fellow Lebialem native, is in charge of dividing the National Cake. Yet, in the same breath, he admitted that Tasong cannot allocate resources to Lebialem because it is a “Red Zone.” This glaring contradiction underscores the absurdity of Forju’s narrative. How can the system be “very good” when it actively discriminates against the very people it claims to serve?
Forju’s remarks also expose the deep cynicism of the CPDM’s approach to governance. The party uses development as a weapon, withholding resources from regions that resist its authoritarian grip. By framing development as a reward for political loyalty, the CPDM ensures that regions like Lebialem remain trapped in a cycle of marginalization and dependency. Forju and Tasong, far from being champions of their people, are complicit in this system of oppression.
A Legacy of Violence and Betrayal
Perhaps the most damning aspect of Forju’s interview was his open acknowledgment of his tacit role in the assassination of “Field Marshall.” Forju and Tasong, in collaboration with diaspora allies, raised funds to eliminate the leader of the Red Dragons, a local militia that had taken up arms in response to the government’s neglect and exploitation of Lebialem. Forju now seeks to replicate this strategy, raising funds to “neutralize” the remaining fighters in the bushes.
This admission is a stark reminder of the violent tactics the CPDM uses to maintain control. Forju’s callous disregard for the root causes of the conflict—poverty, marginalization, and lack of opportunities—betrays his true priorities. He is more concerned with silencing dissent than addressing the legitimate grievances of his constituents. His claim that peace and development will only return once the fighters are killed is a grotesque inversion of reality. The fighters took up arms precisely because of the government’s failure to provide basic services and opportunities in Lebialem.
The Root of the Conflict
Forju’s inability to deliver development is not just a personal failing; it is emblematic of the systemic failures of the CPDM regime. The people of Lebialem have endured decades of neglect, with their cocoa farms cut off from markets due to impassable roads, their children forced to leave the region for education and healthcare, and their young people left jobless and hopeless. These conditions, created and perpetuated by politicians like Forju, are what drove the youth to take up arms in the first place.
Forju’s assertion that “contractors cannot work under insecurity” is a convenient excuse. The truth is that corruption and mismanagement have long plagued development projects in Lebialem. Funds allocated for infrastructure projects have been siphoned off by corrupt officials, leaving the county in a perpetual state of underdevelopment. Forju’s attempt to blame the war for these failures is an insult to the intelligence of Lebialem people.
A Shameless Manipulator
Forju boasted in the interview that he was elected with 95% of the vote, as if this were a testament to his popularity. In reality, such figures are indicative of a deeply flawed electoral system, where intimidation, vote-buying, and outright fraud are commonplace. Forju’s claim that he has never given money to anyone to vote for him is laughable in the context of Cameroon’s notoriously corrupt political landscape.
Forju also attempted to portray himself as a reluctant leader, claiming that he only entered politics because the people of Lebialem begged him to represent them. This self-serving narrative is a transparent attempt to absolve himself of responsibility for his failures. The reality is that Forju has spent his entire career maneuvering within the CPDM system to maintain his grip on power, while doing little to improve the lives of his constituents.
The Way Forward
Forju’s continued presence in parliament is a demonstration of the failure of Cameroon’s political system. He represents everything that is wrong: corruption, incompetence, and a complete disregard for the needs of the people. It is no wonder that many young people in Lebialem have lost faith in the system and taken up arms in pursuit of a better future. Forju and his ilk are not the solution; they are the problem.
If peace and development are to return to Lebialem, it will not be through the efforts of politicians like Forju. It will require a complete overhaul of the system that has allowed such mediocrity and corruption to thrive. The people of Lebialem deserve leaders who are committed to their welfare, not self-serving careerists who use their positions to enrich themselves and perpetuate their own power.
Forju’s time is up. The people of Lebialem must demand accountability and insist on a new generation of leaders who can deliver the development and opportunities they deserve. It is only through such a transformation that the region can hope to escape the cycle of poverty and conflict that has defined it for far too long. The people of Lebialem have suffered enough. Self determination or independence is the only antidote – they must live free or die.
