By Noela EBOB BISONG
South West Governor, Bernard Okalia Bilai has been decorated with a medal of bravery, in cognizance of his strides in maintaining order in the restive South West region. The governor, alongside four of his peers received the recognition recently in Yaounde, on the sidelines of the First Semester Governors’ Conference that took place on July 3 and 4, 2024 at Hilton Hotel. The Conference had as objective to prepare a conducive atmosphere for the 2025 election.
The gesture was done by Territorial Administration boss, Paul Atanga Nji, who maintained it was necessary to recognise the courage and leadership qualities of the governors working in the country’s currently troubled zones.
The other recipients included North West Governor-Adolfe Lele lafrique, Governor of Far-North-Midijiyawa Bakari, Governor of North-Abate Edi’i Jean and Governor of Adamawa-Kildadi Taguieke Boukar.
Minister Atanga Nji, while decorating the Regional heads, urged them to tighten security and maintain law and order during the upcoming electoral period. The Minister also beseeched them to ensure political parties, associations and NGOs respect state institutions for the maintenance of public tranquility, fight against hate speech, xenophobic utterances, drugs trafficking, road accidents, terrorism as well as banditry.
The ceremony took place in the presence of the Minister Delegate at the Presidency in-charge of defense – Joseph Beti Assomo, the Delegate General of National Security –Mbarga Nguele, the Minister of Secondary Education –Pr. Nalova Lyonga amongst others.
South West boss, Okalia was distinguished with the medal of Bravery for his dedication in service at the helm of the region with integrity and compassion.
Okalia has been described as a resolute fellow amidst the eight-year socio-political tension which engulfed the region in late 2016. The governor is being recognised for braving the odds to ensure relative peace and security in the South West. In the heat of the tensions in 2018, Okalia stormed the Mile 17 Motor Park to stop South West residents from fleeing the region. During that dramatic outing, he outrightly told residents that the region was safe and that utmost security measures were being put in place to ensure peace and tranquility. Through regional security meetings and other actions, the South West action man outlined strategies, dished out instructions and signaled warnings all geared towards quelling the security mishap in the South West.
Also, Okalia was at the helm of the organisation of the fiftieth anniversary celebration of Cameroon’s reunification hosted in Buea in 2015, the organisation of the AFCON, the CHAN and the UNIFAC cups, organisation of the peace tour of Prime Minister, Head of Government in 2019, etc as well as the continuous fight against maritime insecurity across the South West.
Bernard Okalia Bilai who started his carrier in the finance sector before diverting to administration has served the state in various administrative portfolios, including 1st Assistant D.O. for Mongo in Douala, Senior Divisional Officer SDO for Mbila, SDO for Mezam, SDO for Fako, and SDO for Wouri. He was installed as governor of South West Region on March 29, 2012.
Over time, he has remained firm, dedicated and unassuming.