Snapshots: An X-ray of Cameroon�s Democracy, Governance and Unification

11. SDF’s Dilemma: To dine or not to dine

41 11 SDF’s Dilemma: To dine or not to dine October 31, 1997 That the National Executive Committee meeting of the Social Democratic Front ended last weekend with no public statement comes as no surprise. To resolve the highly controversial item on the agenda viz whether its MPs should withdraw from the National Assembly and local councils, is not a piece of cake. The taste of lucre and the possibilities of influence peddling are so tempting that the MPs and councillors would be hard put to forego the huge salaries and perks they now enjoy if asked to quite the dining table. However, political analysts are rather surprised that the question of collaboration with the incumbent regime should now become a bone of contention when the SDF’s policy of non-collaboration has been clearly defined and trumpeted. Boycotts, parliamentary walkouts and refusal to join a proposed government of national union are all in line with this policy. Why then vacillate over the question of participation in parliament and local councils. The rather embarrassing and ineffectual symbolic presence of the SDF in these state institutions is in sharp contradiction of its policy. If pragmatism dictates otherwise and considering the argument that continued collaboration in state institutions would go a long way to bolster the party’s leverage in the conduct of public affairs (a feeble argument bearing in mind their insignificant number in parliament and the usurpation of powers in the local councils by the ruling CPDM party), then an extra-ordinary convention ought to be convened to deliberate and ratify that change in policy. Some observers have suggested that it would have been premature for the National Executive to divulge any strategies after last weekend’s meeting, especially as it came barely days after the 42 proclamation of results of presidential election (boycotted by the parliamentary opposition) and less than a fortnight to the swearing-in of the incumbent president. Keeping matters dark, they believe, would keep the adversary perplexed and uncomfortable. But for how long and for what purpose, it is difficult to tell. Who Takes the Lion’s Share? Looking at last week’s results of the October 12 presidential election, it could be said, as one keen observer put it, that Biya had over played his hand. Cooked up figures giving Biya an over 90% score were a bitter reminder that Cameroon was virtually back to the authoritarian one-party polity. Some political eccentrics and cynics have even suggested that the disenchanted populace should now revert en masse to the ruling CPDM and recommence the fight for a share of the national cake from within. Some believe such a move would neutralize the parochial and baseless conflict between indigenes and so-called settlers or strangers in certain parts of the country where the latter are perceived as antiestablishment . With nearly every region boasting of over 90% score, one wonders who should now claim the lion’s share of the national cake since such sharing has always been predicated not on sound economic principles, but on the farcical performance of political jokers who excel in arithmetical gymnastics and hat tricks. These political contortionists should be at each other’s throat now, as they vie for vantage position in the ‘banquet hall’. In the meantime, Mr. Biya, the numerologist cum omenologist, the “Kateka” of the gambling house that the nation has become, gleefully dangles the carrot at the end of a stick and is tickling with laughter at the spectacle of political acrobats cutting capers to get a juicy morsel while he bides his time for the November 6 swearing-in just in keeping with the fetish of “l’homme du six novembre”. 43 Speculation: Is Marafa Heading for Ports? With political actors and clowns now warming up for the next round of the game of musical chairs, speculation is rife that Marafa Yaya, senior presidential aide might likely takeover the management of the National Ports Authority currently (mis)managed by Tchouta Moussa, who is said to have distinguished himself in political thuggery during past elections in his native Nde division. Poor Tchouta. After all the over zealousness and reckless spending of the corporation’s funds to boost the CPDM campaign efforts, he may soon realize that his physical exertions and display of sweaty armpits during folkloric manifestations of political sycophancy could amount to nought. Marafa’s candidacy, I understand, is propped by a strong...