In a famous interview with Henri Bandolo, who later became Biya's Minister of Information and Culture, President Ahmadou Ahidjo described himself thus:
I am a man whom God and destiny, I believe, chose to continue with other Cameroonians the construction of the nation and this is an important mission.
I am a pragmatic and realistic man who hates dogmatism and precipitation.
Some would say I am shy; I am a man who likes discretion. Some will say I am secretive. At the same time I am intransigent when it comes to fundamental interests: National Unity and the institutions of the Republic...
Lastly, I am a man who has had successes and failures, a man who makes errors sometimes.
President Ahmadou Ahidjo was a Fulani from the Northern Cameroon. An article in Le Monde (No. 9793, July 20, 1976; p.5.) summarized the qualities of the Fulani which are shared by the President:
"Beneath the deliberately impassive expression, behind the apparent severity and beyond the surprising economy of words, lies hidden a great care for the warmth of human contacts. This reserved,even secret, man inspires both reverence and fear, sentiments which without doubt he seeks to instill, although in private he may yield to affability.
But to understand the character and temperament of Cameroon's Head of State, one must go back to his Peul origins and discover the quality known by the members of his tribe as Poulaakou, a concept which could equally be described as 'Foulanity" since the terms 'Peul' and 'Foul' are interchangeable.
Poulaakou is a subtle mixture of three ingredients blended in differing measure according to the individual. They are 'santaande,' 'mournal' and 'aliko.' Sentaande is a combination of reserve, modesty,and 'savoir vivre.' Mounal means both patience and perseverance. Aliko indicates astuteness and diplomacy, but also prudence and discernment. Seen in this light. Ahmadou Ahidio is a living example of Poulaakou".
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