It clocked 3:45 pm last Friday, September 21, when the plane carrying the Presidential couple took off from the Maroua Salak Airport amidst the admiration of an enthusiastic population.

The facial expressions of the crowd that turned out to bid President Paul Biya and wife, Chantal farewell were telling of a people who were visibly beaming in satisfaction. The Presidential couple sacrificed three days in the Far North including a historic visit to Guirvidig, one of the resettlement camps of Maga flood victims where President Biya raised the hopes of the refugees with concrete decisions that will largely reinstate their lives. A gesture of this nature could not leave anyone in the region indifferent.

And so, at the airport, all segments of the population answered present. Conspicuous among them were administrative and traditional authorities of the Region, followers of the Cameroon Peoples Democratic Movement (CPDM), religious authorities, and members of the Circle of friends of Cameroon (CERAC). Of course all these people including some members of government from the region fell behind the Governor, Augustine Awa Fonka who greeted the Head of State and his wife at the foot of the plane shortly before takeoff.

The population equally brought along traditional dance groups even though the animation was intentionally made to be low key considering the compassionate nature of the event. The absence of the singing of the National Anthem and the guard of honour epitomised the sadness in the heart of the people. In a nutshell, all that it takes to say good bye to someone who has shown compassion to a people was at the Maroua Salak airport.