By Hilltopvoices
The funeral of the late Simon Achidi Achu has emerged as the biggest assembly for members of Cameroon’s People Democratic Movement CPDM in the North West Region since the start of the ongoing armed conflict in the region. Added to the many that came in from Yaoundé were others from across the region though without uniforms but their leader Yang. Unfortunately, there was no militant who could lead the funeral gathering with a Mbagalum tone as the deceased did every time the opportunity provided itself. The late Simon Achidi Achu opened or ended his rally messages with Mbagalum a preferred traditional rhythm the Ngembah area of the North West Region.
The former Prime Minister and Vice President of the Senate who breathe his last in the USA, May 4, 2021, now rest in peace at his Rock Farm residence in Santa Subdivision. The passionate farmer descended in to the bossom of mother earth on Saturday July 3, 2021 in the presence of top government officials led by the Head of Government
Chief Dr. Joseph Dion Ngute, Prime Minister and Head of Government, personal representative of the Head of State to the official funeral of former PM Achidi Achu, had on behalf of the Head of State, raised the late statesman to the Dignity of the Grand Cordon of the Cameroon order of Merit posthumously. The dignified burial ceremony for late Pa Achidi Achu was attended by multitudes of people of all walks of life from Cameroon and beyond but for the local people who were scared in to hiding with the presence of the military. The local people were deprived of making some money selling farm produce to the visitors who came in their numbers.
From the different attributes to Pa Achidi Achu, Prime Minister Dion Ngute sum it up in few words saying He was a shrewd political savvy with a genuine love of people.
CEMAC Commissioner Shey Jones Yembe says, he demystified the Office of the Prime minister with his open door policy and a down to earth approach to issues. Haven paddled the government through the political upheavals of the 1992 and the economic crisis of 1994, Mr. Yembe like many others think Pa Achu would have managed any other crisis including the ongoing crisis in the two restive regions.
Ministers Fuh Calistus and Mbayu Felix, lauded the down to earth character traits which they inherited from Pa Achu who put others first in whatever he did. Both personalities have taken to heart education for all without any discrimination as Pa Achu in his lifetime lived paying school fees for children without asking who their parents were.
Former PM Yang Philemon says the State man practiced politics without bitterness, a trait which opposition leader Fru Ndi agrees wholeheartedly.
The Mayor of Ndu, Elhadj Abdou Borno said he knew Pa Achu since his student days and as a young politician got to learn so much from him. "......Pa Achu advised me to find interest in farming which I am glad I did and am harvesting big ...." he said.
On her part one Pa Achu's spouse, Yaah Judith Achidi Achu Sunday said they of the family came to realize that her husband did not belong only to the nuclear family. At first, they never understood this but later came to terms with the old adage which says "....when a hunter kills a monkey he can either eat or sell but when he kills an elephant he's obliged to share it with the rest of his people." To her Pa Achu was a very big elephant that could not be consumed by the family alone.
The dropplings of Pa Achu's final journey to the world beyond in terms of development, saw the tarring of two streets leading to Pa's residence and grading of the road to his Rock Farm. Mayor HRH Samkie Elvis Gahnyam II of Santa on his part named the tarred streets "Achidi Achu Street" just like the former mayor Mose Kahn Elroy, named the Council library after Pa Achidi Achu for his enormous contribution to education in Santa.