Cameroon 92-year-old Presido Biya Show Face Rare To Start Election Campaign

Cameroon 92-year-old Presido, Paul Biya, don finally show face for campaign rally on Tuesday for Maroua, inside di troubled Far North region, as di oldest head of state for di world dey plan extend him 43-year rule for di upcoming October 12 presidential election. For stadium wey full of supporters, Biya promise say if dem vote am in again for di 8th time, he go boost security for di region wey Boko Haram don dey disturb, reduce youth unemployment, and fix road and social infrastructure. “I sabi di wahala wey dey worry una, and I know say some of una don lose hope,” na wetin Biya yarn. “But based on my own experience, I fit tell una say dis wahala no be something wey man no fit handle.”

Di Far North region, wey dey suffer constant attack and kidnap from Boko Haram, get about 20% of di 8.2 million people wey fit vote. Two strong opposition candidates, Bello Bouba Maigari and Issa Tchiroma Bakary, wey be Biya former padi dem, still get solid support for di mainly Muslim and poor area. This na Biya first campaign appearance after he return from one week for Switzerland, dem no talk wetin carry am go, but na so so Europe he dey waka for medical reasons. People dey complain say him age don slow am down and say e no fit lead well again. For him 43 years for power, Cameroon never still solve secession wahala, corruption, and underdevelopment, even though di country get oil and minerals. UN still talk say about 43% of Cameroonians dey live inside poverty. But Biya still likely to win, especially after dem block him strongest opponent, Maurice Kamto, from contesting, and di opposition still dey scattered. Election wahala no be new, as pipo dey always accuse officials of working for Biya, especially since many of dem na him old boys. Di two-term limit for presidency sef don comot since 2008 after parliament vote am out.