African Leadership Fallacy

It is a long held African Fallacy that change in leadership is the silver bullet that will solve all the nations' and continent's problems. This strips the vast majority of the entrepreneurial duty to work at bettering the lot of their people waiting for the day when the Almighty God or some telekinesis will take the life of their incumbent or usurp them from power. But sooner or later they're disillusioned when the much awaited change doesn't arrive with a change in leadership. Certainly leadership ought to be an important component to the "Development Equation" but in most African countries it has been made the sole predictor, and with this fallacy in mind we're all hands folded waiting for magic solutions.
It is time to forget this governance obsession and return to nation building. It is time to consider "poor leadership" a constant in the equation of development and begin to do what we need to do to advance. When good leadership meets our train having left the station it will only propel us many generations ahead. There is no problem without a solution but as long as the solution is narrowed down to some concepts called "good governance" and "democracy" which I am quite sure we wouldn't be having even in the nearest remote future we are bound to keep spinning our wheels on same spot. 
Democracy is just a simple template.Its application must consider the timing,logistics, cultural values and social preferences. A copy and paste solution has never worked and will never be. It is just one of the many forms of governance, if it doesn't work then alternative forms should be a given a try.Insisting that democracy is the only solution is dogmatic and fallacious.It is time to try something else... ( Gabila Fohtung and Ignatius Esene)

MAY 20th CELEBRATION AND BILINGUALISM IN CAMEROON.

Today May 20th Cameroonians celebrate the “National Day”. What is the significance of may 20th to Cameroonians?

FACTS:
Cameroon has no single date of independence.
On January 1, 1960 French Cameroon gained independence and became the Republic of Cameroon and in 1961,
On the 1st of October 1961 the former British Southern Cameroons gained independence from the United Kingdom and thus emerged a two-state Federal Republic of Cameroon.
On the of 20th of May 1972 a nation-wide referendum resulted in the dissolution of the two-state federation, transforming the federation of two states into One State, A United Nation-A United Cameroon.
On February 4, 1984, President Paul Biya issued a decree changing the official name of Cameroon from the "United Republic of Cameroon" to the "Republic of Cameroon".
How United Is the Republic Of Cameroon? What are the elements of National Unity?
One of the elements is undoubtably “bilingualism”. Cameroonians ought to take pride in being a bilingual nation, one of the rare two in the world having French and English as official languages. But how true is this? How real is this ? Every honest and patriotic Cameroonian will concur with me that Cameroon is still miles away from truly integrating this wasted advantage. “Wasted” in the sense that the authorities that be haven’t realize that bilingualism in Cameroon is a plus, is a strength, is an opportunity and not a threat.
In the 80s , Cameroonians were leading most international organizations that needed representatives from Africa because of our innate advantage of bilingualism but today we possess a very little chance to compete as others have joined the race and even surpassed us. Governments across the world are investing in languages.
How is bilingualism related to the 20th of May? By celebrating may 20th, we are commemorating the union of two people initially speaking “two languages”. The union ought to hold this point with high esteem. 
IT IS NOT APPROPRIATE THAT THE LETTER HEAD OF THE PRESIDENCY OF A BILINGUAL NATION BARES JUST ONE OF THE LANGUAGES.This is the bitter truth but must be spoken. This puts into question the unity itself. Do not judge me wrong for I am an apolitical patriotic Cameroonian that wants just the best for my dear fatherland. I am just being honest with myself. For a country as heterogeneous as Cameroon, the respect each other's cultural values is a necessity for national unity.
Bilingualism is one of the elements that will make Cameroonians feel truly Cameroonians. Although every Cameroonian ought to be bilingual, when conditions preclude this, the person’s language of preference should be respected! It is the responsibility of the government to promote this. My first exposure to the French language was in form one having had my primary education with no exposure---this applies to many other Cameroonians.
I think Cameroon will become a true united nation the day all Cameroonians are able to speak French and English.
Happy National Day.

Prism of Vision

One’s “perception”, “belief” and “judgment” depends on one’s “prism of vision”-the angle from which one looks and sees, chooses to look and see or has been taught to look and see! 

Destiny 2

Never compare your journey with others for your path is unique. Own it and make the best out of it.
People become what they become; by omission or by commission they become what they become. It is as true as you and I are living today and will die tomorrow.No philosophy can disprove of this logic!

Learning

Anything written in black and white can be learned.

Anything written by man can be learned by man .

Anything that has been learned by man can be learned by  man.

Anything that has been learned  and known by someone,

 can be learned  and known by anyone and everyone.

All that is required is to be simple, systematic and dedicated.
Don't say you can't if you haven't tried it.

                                                                     

Life

It never rains but it pours….it never shines but it blazes! Every second, every minute and every day in our lives we are subjected to temptations that tax our self-control and drain our willpower. We get worried and frustrated especially when we get the feelings of just spinning our wheels in the mud.

Unfortunately we can’t control nor predict life’s surprise stresses but once adversities set in we must take the lesson from the difficult situation avoiding to add more stress to stressful times.

We never get to know people nor places too well until life presents its other facets. In the course of our journey to destiny we meet various people positioned by God to lead us!

Some will bring a challenge……. others will bring support,

some will bring provision and some will fuel your trials.

Some will bring the whole package for your good.

But we shouldn’t be too certain that we already know the full value of the people God has placed in our lives for life is a process and humans are dynamic.

A friend once penned that “God doesn't come down from Heaven to help his faithful ones, but sends people in the form of angels”. Nothing in this world happens randomly; our destinies have already been designed. I used to worry but I do so no more for there is no problem without a solution. Everything shall come to pass for every cloud has a silver lining.

At the end of the day there will be no tales to tell and no stories to write if events didn’t happen.

The Healing Hand

Recently, I had a discussion with my mentor a veteran and a professor emeritus of neurosurgery.Though an old hand with many cumulative years of experience and excellent surgical skills, he has always shown modesty of his prowess. A few days ago he revealed to me an important professional secret which I have been meditating on .....the healing hand of God!

I became curious about his attitude as he prayed with the patient each time we had to act even if the patient was of a different religious denomination from his.I had earlier observed that some patients with (malignant) conditions already classified as doomed to die within weeks to months had an extra-ordinary survival of years to decades in his hands.So in my inquisitiveness, I asked my teacher why all medical literature and experts were/are condemning patients with such conditions to death even before their divine call comes

He said I quote"It is not all about intelligence, it is not all about skills or knowledge, it is about the healing hand of God".
No matter how talented one is, one has to always have in mind that the divine one determines the final outcome of every intervention or action we undertake in life.This doesn't some how undermine the importance of good training and the need for the medic to forge for excellent skills and a proficient hand craft.
When one considers a patient as a brother or sister not just a mere object for training nor  a client for making money, a spiritual bond is added to the physical patient-doctor relationship.This bridge brings in the main determinant of the team's success-God.
A condition sine qua non for the success of surgery is harmony in the operation room,harmony with oneself, harmony between the surgeon and the patient and other members of the team and the environment.The presence of an odd third party in the theatre who is not in synch with rest of the team members leads to a desynchronization---the bond is breached with a risk of failure of the surgery.This confounder though often neglected should be sought for before and during surgery and corrected.
To make long short, one should always remember that ....it is not all about talent,intelligence, nor knowledge...there is always a hidden divine hand of healing.Our humane actions should never be dissociated from divine providence.
Pray before you act and your actions will be miraculously transformed into success.Good day.
                                                                

Happy New Year 2013

As we move into the New Year 2013 so soon has the Old Year 2012 become history.

This is the web of temporal events in which we as humans are caught in.

As time passes , events come and go! As time passes , men come and go!

But only one thing remains unchanged....the presence of the supreme one in the universe.

He came to stay and will always be. He has always been with/by us and will always do so.

Therefore as we repeatedly celebrate the cyclical events that remind us of his existence,

so should we think of the essence for which he created us !

He created us to serve....to serve mankind of all walks of life,

both the weary and the strong, the young and the old, the black, whites and the colored and

the men of all families, ethnicities and races on the surface of the earth.

He created us of his own image to serve and not wait to be served,

to build bridges amongst his people rather than breach the bonds amongst his men,

to live a life serving by example with the expectations of no returns ,

and  being part of  the change we want to see.

To enjoy our differences rather than complain about our dissimilarities,

.for there is always strength in diversity.

Flashing back into time, one will quickly realize how one has been/is blessed,

Many have been disabled by diseases that have left them in destitution and dissatisfaction about life,

Many have been stressed and strained, worn and torn by the psychotrauma of wars, draughts & inundations, famine and other natural calamities.

Many of our peers lost their eyes, limbs and even their entire lives, some even as recent as the dim of last year's dusk; yet we have been granted the unmerited favor to see the twilights of the New Year’s dawn .

Let’s Count our blessings one by one and see just how much God loves us.

Let’s be contented with what we have rather than complain of what we ought to have

 for God’s time and plan is the best.  

Although the occurrence of events might have fallen short of our humane expected sequence,

there is still every reason in this season to say “Thank You Lord for My Life and Our Lives”......

for life doesn’t always evolve in proportionality.....

it waxes and wanes with moments of joy and moments of sadness,

moments of luck and moments of mischance, moments of successes and moments of failures......

But in all these, the most important is to learn and take the lesson to prevent repetition of history.

Thank you God for my Life. Thank you Lord for Our Lives! Happy New Year to Every One.

 

Birthday Reflection

Over the years, I have cummulatively learned from the sweet & bitter experiences of life and have come to the following conclusion:

Always stay in your zone of safety and stretch not so much beyond limits!

Be contented with  & make use of the little you have  rather than complain  and

frustrate yourself about the much you ought to have, and more will come your way ,

For in  real life 1+1 is often  greater than or less than  2 and seldom equals 2!

Take the risk if it costs nothing and the benefits are rewarding!

Be positive but not too optimistic for it easily leads to frustration!

Go not to places where you will be humiliated or down-graded!

Request not for unmerited favours for such are never free of attached strings!

Be the first to serve and expect not any immediate nor direct benefits,

But fail not to demand for your due  accepting no surpluses nor minuses!

Be confident,hardworking and disciplined but also be wise and smart,

So as to utitlize every presenting opportunity for repetition is not a rule!

A little  aptitude with great attitude will project you to the desired altitude!

Be yourself no matter what they say,for you are created unique

Do everything to avoid poverty for it is the buttress of all evils! 

Men are created Different so as to Enjoy NOT Suffer

 

If men would consider not so much where they differ, as wherein they agree, there would be far less of uncharitableness and angry feeling in the world says Joseph Addison.

Men were created different so as to enjoy, not suffer. Men are created different so much so that even identical twins still exhibit elements of difference. But why this difference poses a problem to many still beats my imagination!

This afternoon while I stood near a grocery feasting my eyes with the multiplicity of fruits displayed for sale, I curiously noticed that as people came  and went  ,no one found fault in the other’s choice of

purchase though each bought a fruit of a different colour,flavor...some went for the apple, some for the banana etc.

Making an inference to human nature I find it quite hard to comprehend why human differences are accepted by others with difficulty. From the very beginning men were created different as well as every

other thing on the surface of the universe.
This difference ought to be explored at man’s advantage, for man’s happiness and for men to enjoy and not the inverse. Imagine an artistic work of just one color...how dull it will look!

From my observations and experiences, differences culminate into squabbles, conflicts and wars when one tries to force one’s ideologies, beliefs etc on others .A difference becomes perceived as a problem when arbitrary classifications are made based on our natural differences placing some at a relatively higher position and others at the lower end.

No doubt colors initially created to beautify the world have now been tagged with different connotations-some with a negative and others with a positive Pygmalion effect.

White-Clean-Pure-Good-Superior etc

Black-Dirty-Impure-Bad-Inferior—etc

Judge not as not to be judged. When one assumes the role of the creator passing judgment and condemning others simply because of a difference, then the very essence for which we were created different so as to savor becomes lost.

Let’s explore, exploit and employ our differences for the service of humanity. Let differences be seen as complementary portions that need to be assembled to form the whole.Let's learn and enjoy our differences. Let’s use our differences to make the world a more convivial place to live in.