Lapiro de Mbanga (Ndinga Man) and Paul Biya: Populism under an Autocratic regime.

Lapiro de Mbanga, aka Ndinga Man, the poster boy for victims of Paul Biya's strong-handed methods still languishes in a rat-infested Cameroon jail, while the president reins in all opposition to his 29 year rule. How he has managed to survive for so long under the same conditions that killed journalist BIBI NGOTA is a miracle.

LAPIRO stands accused of orchestrating nationwide riots in February 2008 that almost cost Biya the presidency. How the Denim-clad and Ray-Ban wearing Tara from the politically restive Mbanga could have mustered the power to coordinate nationwide protests without any formal organization is baffling. To put it simply, it is impossible and Lapiro is innocent.

To back this point, a quick look at the prevailing alimentary uncertainty in Africa and other less developed nations throughout the world during the cited period shows that there was widespread unrest.

True to form, in Cameroon, Biya used the tried and tested technique of the seasoned African strongman, just like Robert MUGABE would - he looked for a scapegoat to throw in jail. Lapiro had the misfortune to have been the one in Biya's sights. Others, such as the elected mayor of Mbanga also faced the same plight.

While Biya and his vast retinue of friends and henchmen may make numerous trips abroad to spend money collected from oil drilled from Cameroon's coast and the royalties from the Chad-Cameroon pipeline, his jailing of a popular icon like Lapiro will not so soon or quickly be forgotten by the people.

Lapiro, the head of a modest family, has had the singular misfortune of being misunderstood, first by the masses, then, by the Biya regime which has been in power for over a quarter of a century in CAMEROON.

In 1992, during the stormy days of the "Villes Mortes", his vehicle was burned down by rioters who reacted on suspicion that LAPIRO may have colluded with the Biya administration to calm down unemployed youths known as "NANGA MBOKO"s who controlled the streets.

Then again, when Biya's bad policies for the past quarter century reached a tipping point in 2008, it was Lapiro once more who was indexed as the spiritual LEADER of the "NANGA MBOKO"s who seized control of the streets.

In a way, it has been seen that Lapiro has a very popular appeal amongst the unemployed youth, many of whom were born after his best days as an artist in the mid-eighties were long gone. So, when the streets are on fire, Lapiro is to blame! What better way to keep things under control than to can the man?

For better or worse, Lapiro, with the connivance of the ineptitude of Biya and his henchmen, has become the symbol of the oppressed in Cameroon. He has also grown into the role pretty well. Who wouldn't, after passing on the BALANCOIR a couple of times and seeing others like BIBI NGOTA die in jail.

He has nothing to lose. The man exudes confidence despite his suffering. With presidential elections due this year (2011) in Cameroon, it is impossible for him to be freed. Ditto for 2012 as the newly re-elected Paul Biya won't want anyone to question his stolen victory.

So, the earliest LAPIRO can be released from jail in Cameroon will be 2013. He will probably seek to stand for elections as municipal councilman, mayor or parliamentarian. Whatever he chooses, he will win the popular vote, and that will be a good thing, not only in and of itself, but especially because any vote for LAPIRO will indeed be a vote AGAINST BIYA.

So, to conclude, LAPIRO is absolutely relevant to this year's presidential elections in Cameroon, and he has excellent pro-democracy credentials, having endured extraordinary rendition under Biya's regime, and thank God - survived. Few have lived to tell what lurks in New Bell and Kondengui, today's equivalents of Tchollire under the Nazi-styled Ahidjo regime which did to the Bamilekes what may have amounted to a silent genocide. Cameroonians should be thankful he is still alive. It will be a beautiful day when he is released from jail, but the fight will continue until Biya retires to Switzerland where he has elected residence.

Until then, we can only ponder some of the wise words from Lapiro - "OVER DONE NA MBOUT" which would translate very loosely as "it may not be a good thing to be wiser than ones self". (I may need a hand here).

Happy New Year Lapiro!
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