Freed from prison some days ago after serving a six months jail term at the Douala central prison for the destruction of the General Leclerc statue at the centre of Bonanjo Douala, Andre Blaise Essama (ABE) is a notorious activist who has been militating for the respect of national heroes. He believes time has come for Cameroon to respect it heroes especially those who fought for its independence by implanting their statues in big towns in replacement of colonial status.
He was arrested while destroying the statue and condemned to pay a financial fine or serve a six month prison term. He preferred to serve the jail term than pay the fine.
Apart from this, ABE is a strong opponent of the Biya’s regime and will not stop at anything to make his voice heard in criticisms and open call for political reforms in Cameroon.
Who is Andre Blaise ESSAMA (ABE)?
ABE was born on the 28th of April 1976 in NDONGUE of the Mungo Division of littoral region of NDONGFACK Dieudonné and AFFANA Marguerite making him a native of DCHANG in the Western region of Cameroon. His father is a former director of SGBC bank in the western part of the country and he grew up in numerous towns namely, Garoua, Bamenda, Baffoussam and Douala.
He obtained his baccalaureate in Douala at Lycee de KOUMASSI BALI in marketing before enrolling into a professional institution in Douala where he obtained a diploma in computer programing. He was sent for further studies in France by his father where he obtained another baccalaureate in computer programing.
After his studies ABE started playing a fool in a hospital in Marseille France that earned him a living. At the expiration of his visa, he was repatriated to Cameroon in January 1999. Since his coming to Cameroon ABE has tried in vain to obtain a job in Cameroon and this has pushed him to continue in his fool play job that he started in France.
According to his mother, ABE was supposed to meet the first lady of Cameroon to present a project on the computerisation of her foundation CERAC and was prevented to do so because he was considered too young and fake. He was caught and detained at the general secretariat of defence for some years.
He has participated in many social, political and economic manifestations at times being called the organisers and sometimes improvising.
He is a fervent opponent of the regime in place and has long been militating for the respect of national heroes and the removal of all Paul Biya’s posters in the town of Douala. This has earned him the support of some political leaders in Cameroon and abroad.
His actions and fight have made people to have divergent conceptions about him as some see him a fool and mental deranged person.
ABE is not married and says he will continue in his fight so long as he lives. He has promised to propose the construction of the statue of Ruben UM NYOBE to the Douala city council in the days ahead. He did not give details on how it will be financed.
Source: Cameroun-info.net, Mutation Newspaper, others.
CAMER VERITAS 