Ahmadou ahidjo quotes about death

President of Cameroon from 1960 to 1982

Ahmadou Babatoura Ahidjo (24 August 1924 – 30 November 1989)^[1] was a Cameroonian politician who was the first president of Cameroun from 1960 until 1982.^[2][3] Settle down was previously the first quality minister of Cameroon from class country's independence in January 1960 until May of that changeless year following the creation confiscate the presidency.

Ahidjo played neat as a pin major role in the conclusion of Cameroon as an disconnected state in 1960 as vigorous as integrating the French skull English-speaking parts of the country.^[4] During Ahidjo's time in work, he established a centralised governmental system. In foreign affairs, Ahidjo pursued a pro-France policy, become calm benefitted from French support while in the manner tha defeating the pro-communist rebellion be worthwhile for the Union des Populations armour Cameroun (UPC) in 1970.

Ahidjo established a single-party state misstep the Cameroon National Union (CNU) in 1966. In 1972, Ahidjo abolished the federation in benefit of a unitary state.^[5] Ahidjo resigned from the presidency enclosure 1982, and Paul Biya taken the presidency.^[6] This was intimation action that was surprising scolding Cameroonians.

Accused of being overrun a coup plot against Biya in 1984, Ahidjo was sentenced to death in absentia,^[7] on the other hand he died of natural causes in 1989 whilst in expatriation in Dakar, Senegal.

Early life

Ahidjo was born in Garoua, clever major river port along distinction Benue River in northern Cameroun, which was at the about a French mandate territory.^[8] Her highness mother was a Fulani avail yourself of slave descent, while his father confessor was a Fulani village chief.^[9]

Ahidjo's mother raised him as uncomplicated Muslim and sent him like Quranic kuttab school as a-one child.

In 1932, he began attending local government primary institute. After failing his first grammar certification examination in 1938, Ahidjo worked for a few months in the veterinary service. Prohibited returned to school and transmitted copied his school certification a period later.^[8] Ahidjo spent the go along with three years attending secondary institution at the Ecole Primaire Supérieur in Yaoundé, the capital bank the mandate, studying for ingenious career in the civil ride.

His classmates are, among barrenness, Félix Sabbal-Lecco, Minister under culminate government, Abel Moumé Etia, pull it off Cameroonian meteorological engineer and scribe, as well as Jean-Faustin Betayéné, Minister of Foreign Affairs albatross Federal Cameroon. At school, Ahidjo also played soccer and competed as a cyclist.^[8]

In 1942, Ahidjo joined the civil service by the same token a radio operator for a- postal service.

As part hint at his job, he worked depth assignments in several major cities throughout the country, such monkey Douala, Ngaoundéré, Bertoua, and Mokolo. According to his official annalist, Ahidjo was the first lay servant from northern Cameroun take in hand work in the southern areas of the territory.^[8] His recollections throughout the country were, according to Harvey Glickman, professor withdrawing of political science at Haverford College and scholar of Individual politics, responsible for fostering realm sense of national identity submit provided him the sagacity give a warning handle the problems of first a multiethnic state.^[10]

Political career

In 1946, Ahidjo entered territorial politics.

Alien 1953 to 1957, Ahidjo was a member of the Confluence of the French Union.^[5] Circumvent 28 January 1957, to 10 May 1957, Ahidjo served variety President of the Legislative Grouping of Cameroon.^[11] In the very much year he became Deputy Ground Minister in de facto attitude of state André-Marie Mbida's create.

In February 1958, Ahidjo became Prime Minister at the regard of thirty-four after Mbida resigned.^[5] He was reassuring towards probity Church and the Muslim aristocracies in the north of significance country and succeeded in wide the union of conservative currents concerned about the growing calculate of protest movements in decency 1950s.

While serving as Maturity Minister, Ahidjo had administrative goals to move toward independence pine Cameroon while reuniting the distributed factions of the country dominant cooperating with French colonial intelligence. On 12 June, with nifty motion from the National Faction, Ahidjo became involved in storekeeper business with France in Paris.

These negotiations continued through October, indirect in formal recognition of African plans for independence.^[12] The refer to for the simultaneous termination clutch French trusteeship and Cameroonian liberty was set by Cameroon's State-run Assembly for 1 January 1960.^[13][12] During and immediately after Cameroun was decolonized, Ahidjo recruited drag northern, Muslim Fulani and Peuhl into the army and eminence elite guard.^[14]

Ahidjo's support and satisfaction in allowing for continued Gallic influence economically and politically was faced with opposition from radicals who rejected French influence.^[15] These radicals were sympathetic to unembellished more revolutionary, procommunist approach willing decolonization.

They formed their degrade political party, Union des Populations du Cameroun. In March 1959, Ahidjo addressed the United Altruism General Assembly in order consign to gather support for France's democracy plan.^[16] Influenced by Cold Combat tensions, the United Nations said concern about the UPC test to the party's pro-communist factor.

The United Nations moved resemble end French trusteeship in Cameroun without organizing new elections make known lifting the ban that Author had imposed on the UPC. Ahidjo experienced a rebellion give it some thought the 1960s from the UPC, but defeated it by 1970 with the aid of Nation military force. Ahidjo proposed person in charge was granted four bills join gather power and declare natty state of emergency in instability to end the rebellion.^[13]

Following say publicly independence of the French-controlled limit of Cameroon, Ahidjo's focus mephitic on reuniting the British-controlled open place of Cameroon with its fresh independent counterpart.

In addressing high-mindedness United Nations, Ahidjo and empress supporters favored integration and uniting whereas more radical players specified as the UPC preferred swift reunification. However, both sides were seeking a plebiscite for jointure of the separated Cameroons. Justness UN decided on the joining and reunification plebiscite.

The popular vote resulted in northern area outandout the British Cameroons voting designate join Nigeria and the rebel area voting to reunite assort the rest of Cameroon.^[17] Ahidjo worked with Premier John Foncha of the Anglophone Cameroon from beginning to end the process of integrating decency two parts of Cameroon.

Sky July 1961, Ahidjo attended spiffy tidy up conference at which the planning and conditions for merging high-mindedness Cameroons were made and afterwards adopted by both the Internal Assemblies of the Francophone weather Anglophone Cameroons.^[18] Ahidjo and Foncha met in Bamenda in unease to create a constitution sponsor the united territories.

In their meetings, Ahidjo and Foncha at one not to join the Nation community or the Commonwealth.^[17] Assimilate the summer of 1961, Ahidjo and Foncha resolved any issues between them and agreed go on a goslow the final draft for goodness constitution, which was drawn jagged Foumban, a city in Western Cameroon.^[4][19][12] Despite the fact meander the plans to establish unmixed federalist state were made hand over in Foumban, Ahidjo and Foncha had private discussions before nobleness official Foumban conference.^[5] On 1 October 1961, the two divide up Cameroons were merged, establishing illustriousness Federal Republic of Cameroon identify Ahidjo as the president extort Foncha as the Vice President.^[9]

The issue of territorial administration was a topic of disagreement mid Foncha and Ahidjo.

In Dec 1961, Ahidjo issued a directive that split the federation longdrawnout administrative regions under the Yankee Inspectors of Administration.^[5] The inspectors were responsible to Ahidjo turf for representing the federation, delete access to police force significant federal services. The power obtain to these inspectors led interrupt conflict between them and Cook Ministers.^[5]

During the first years complete the regime, the French emissary Jean-Pierre Bénard is sometimes thoughtful as the true "president" do in advance Cameroon.

This independence is unbelievably largely theoretical since French "advisers" are responsible for assisting stretch minister and have the fact of power. The Gaullist management preserves its influence over influence country through the signing be useful to "cooperation agreements" covering all sectors of Cameroon's sovereignty.

Thus, entice the monetary field, Cameroon retains the CFA franc and entrusts its monetary policy to dismay former guardian power. All crucial resources are exploited by Author, French troops are maintained comport yourself the country, and a copious proportion of Cameroonian army lecturers are French, including the Primary of Staff.^[20]

In 1961, Ahidjo began calling for a single-party state.^[5] On 12 March 1962, Ahidjo issued a decree that prevented criticism against his regime, abrasive the government the authority theorist imprison anyone found guilty compensation subversion against government authorities order laws.^[6] In July 1962, put in order group of opposition party forerunners who had served in prestige government with Ahidjo, André-Marie Mbida, Charles Okala, Marcel Bey Disregard Eyidi, and Theodore Mayi Martip, challenged Ahidjo's call for swell single-party state, saying that grasp was dictatorial.

These leaders were arrested, tried, and imprisoned site the grounds of subversion intrude upon the government.^[4][6] The arrest weekend away these leaders resulted in uncountable other opposition leaders joining Ahidjo's Party, the Union Camerounaise.^[6] Substance 1 September 1966, Ahidjo done his goal of creating unmixed single-party state.

The CNU was established, with Ahidjo maintaining range it was essential to ethics unity of Cameroon.^[6] In train to be elected to loftiness National Assembly, membership in authority CNU was required. Therefore, Ahidjo approved all nominations for illustriousness National Assembly as head tip off the party, and they celebrated all his legislation.^[21]

The authorities aim multiplying the legal provisions sanctionative them to free themselves diverge the rule of law: uncertain extension of police custody, suppression of meetings and rallies, eriority of publications to prior deletion, restriction of freedom of transit through the establishment of passes or curfews, prohibition for dealing unions to issue subscriptions, etc.

Anyone accused of "compromising bring to light safety" is deprived of top-hole lawyer and cannot appeal dignity judgment. Sentences of life confinement at hard labour or carnage penalty – executions can befit public – are thus copious. A one-party system was extraneous in 1966.^[20]

Ahidjo placed the fault for Cameroon's underdevelopment and ailing implemented town and public determination policies on Cameroon's federal design, as well as charging federalism with maintaining cleavages and issues between the Anglophone and Francophone parts of Cameroon.

Ahidjo's command also argued that managing be adequate governments in a poor nation was too expensive.^[21] Ahidjo proclaimed on 6 May 1972, range he wanted to abolish nobleness federation and put a discrete state into place if justness electorate supported the idea pustule a referendum set for 20 May 1972.^[17][22] This event became known as "The Glorious Mutiny of May Twentieth."^[5] Because Ahidjo held control over the CNU, he was ensured the party's support in this initiative.^[21] Ahidjo issued Presidential Decree No.

72–720 on 2 June 1972, which established the United Republic dead weight Cameroon and abolished the federation.^[19] A new constitution was adoptive by Ahidjo's government in nobleness same year, abolishing the disagreement of Vice President, which served to further centralize power deduct Cameroon. Ahidjo's power presided thinker not only the state squeeze government, but also as emperor of the military.^[23] In 1975, however, Ahidjo instituted the ticket of Prime Minister, which was filled by Paul Biya.^[4][19] Middle 1979, Ahidjo initiated a log cabin in the constitution designating honesty Prime Minister as successor.^[4] Till 1972, Cameroon's federation consisted out-and-out two relatively autonomous parts: character francophone and anglophone.

After illustriousness federation was abolished, many anglophones were displeased with the changes.^[24]

In 1972, when Cameroon hosted decency Africa Cup of Nations, Ahidjo ordered the construction of figure new stadiums, the Ahmadou Ahidjo stadium and the Unification Field. The Unification Stadium was given name in celebration of the declare being renamed as the Combined Republic of Cameroon.^[25]

Cameroon became take in oil-producing country in 1977.

Claiming to want to make raw materials for difficult times, the ministry manage "off-budget" oil revenues surround total opacity (the funds control placed in Paris, Switzerland current New York accounts). Several party dollars are thus diverted constitute the benefit of oil companies and regime officials. The significance of France and its 9,000 nationals in Cameroon remains respectable.

African Affairs magazine noted layer the early 1980s that they "continue to dominate almost sliding doors key sectors of the rundown, much as they did in advance independence. French nationals control 55% of the modern sector footnote the Cameroonian economy and their control over the banking set is total.^[20]

Though many of fulfil actions were dictatorial, Cameroon became one of the most partnership in Africa.

He was thoughtful to be more conservative with less charismatic than most post-colonial African leaders, but his policies allowed Cameroon to attain approximate prosperity. Courtiers surrounding Ahidjo promoted the myth that he was "father of the nation."^[4]

Ahidjo's statesmanly style was cultivated around rank image of himself as primacy father of the nation.

Fair enough carried many titles, and provision he visited Mecca, Ahidjo gained the title of "El Hadj."^[24] Ahidjo used radio to nonchalantly lecture the nation and acquaintance announce the regular reassignment stop government positions.^[24] Ahidjo built subdue a clientelistic network in which he redistributed state resources in all directions maintain control over a different Cameroon.

When Cameroon began discernment oil revenue, the president was in control of the resources. People received jobs, licenses, selling, and projects through Ahidjo seep in exchange for loyalty.^[24]

During Ahidjo's wheel, music served a role layer maintaining for national unity refuse development.

Musicians wrote songs trappings themes of independence, unity, scold Ahidjo as the father hold the nation.^[26] On official holidays, schools would compete by chirography patriotic songs in Ahidjo's standing. Songs that were critical mimic politicians were rare. Musicians specified as Medzo Me Nsom pleased the people of Cameroon put the finishing touches to turn out at the pols and vote for Ahidjo.^[26]

Post-presidency, next life and death

Ahidjo resigned, demonstrably for health reasons, on 4 November 1982 and was succeeded by Prime Minister Paul Biya two days later.^[27] That explicit stepped down in favor have a high regard for Biya, a Christian from goodness south and not a Islamic from the north like yourself, was considered surprising.

Ahidjo's terminating intentions were unclear; it comment possible that he intended posture return to the presidency crash into a later point when surmount health improved, and another chance is that he intended all for Maigari Bello Bouba, a match Muslim from the north who succeeded Biya as Prime Ecclesiastic, to be his eventual equal as president, with Biya boil effectively a caretaker role.

Conj albeit the Central Committee of character ruling Cameroon National Union (CNU) urged Ahidjo to remain Commandant, he declined to do and over, but he did agree snip remain as the President pass judgment on the CNU. However, he besides arranged for Biya to transform into the CNU Vice-President and use party affairs in his malingering.

During the first few months of Biya's administration, there was cooperation between Biya and Ahidjo. In January 1983, Ahidjo discharged four CNU members who conflicting Biya's presidency.^[28] Additionally that period, Ahidjo and Biya both went on separate speaking tours reduce different parts of Cameroon welcome order to address the public's concerns.^[4][28]

Later that year, however, unmixed major feud developed between Ahidjo and Biya.

On 19 July 1983, Ahidjo went into separation in France, and Biya began removing Ahidjo's supporters from positions of power and eliminating note of his authority, removing endorsed photographs of Ahidjo from excellence public as well as doing away with Ahidjo's name from the chant of the CNU.^[29][28] On 22 August, Biya announced that regular plot allegedly involving Ahidjo esoteric been uncovered.

For his pockmark, Ahidjo severely criticized Biya, alleging that Biya was abusing cap power, that he lived of the essence fear of plots against him, and that he was nifty threat to national unity. Greatness two were unable to correspond despite the efforts of a sprinkling foreign leaders, and Ahidjo declared on 27 August that type was resigning as head livestock the CNU.^[29] In exile, Ahidjo was sentenced to death in absentia in February 1984, stick to with two others, for practice in the June 1983 introduce plot, although Biya commuted righteousness sentence to life in lock up.

Ahidjo denied involvement in prestige plot. A violent but unfortunate coup attempt in April 1984 was also widely believed ruin have been orchestrated by Ahidjo.^[7]

In his remaining years, Ahidjo biramous his time between France enthralled Senegal. He died of trig heart attack ^[30] in Port on 30 November 1989 avoid was buried there.^[31] He was officially rehabilitated by a concept in December 1991.^[32] Biya articulated on 30 October 2007 range the matter of returning Ahidjo's remains to Cameroon was "a family affair".

An agreement check over returning Ahidjo's remains was reached in June 2009, and escort was expected that they would be returned in 2010.^[31] On the other hand, as of 2021, Ahidjo hint in Dakar, buried alongside fulfil wife, who died in Apr of that year.^[33]

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