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

53. Motions of Commotion

215 53 Motions of Commotion October 2007 All hell has broken lose again as the demons of “advanced democracy” are bent on not letting sleeping dogs lie with their petitions of support for their party Chairman Paul Biya to become life president. The orchestrated flow of motions of support for Mr. Biya on the occasion of his quarter century in office is a sickening reminder of the authoritarian dispensation of the one-party days and a clear indication that Cameroon’s multipartism is mere window dressing. When you listen to the wording of their motions, you cannot help asking the Almighty what Cameroonians have done, or not done, to deserve this unholy and unwholesome invasion of their consciences by political adventurers whose prime motivation is the preservation of their undeserved privileges, booty looted from state coffers and the perpetuation in power of the man who made it possible for them to have access to the public treasury. The demagogues of the ruling CPDM party have advanced a number of unconvincing reasons why they want Mr. Biya to remain in power after November 2011 when his current seven-year term comes to an end. They argue that the constitutional limitation of the presidential terms of office is undemocratic. They say there is no limitation on other elective offices and that to do so for the president would be unfair. They also claim that the constitution should not constitute a stumbling block to the exercise of sovereignty by the people if they express the wish to have President Biya to rule for life. They also believe Mr. Biya still has a heavy load of unfinished business and ought to be given a chance to accomplish his design for the nation. Where were these demagogues in 1996 when the 216 constitution was amended to prolong the term of office from five to seven years with a mandate renewable once? Perhaps it did not occur to them that the man would live up to 2011. Who does not know that there has never been any constitutional amendment or violation that was not drafted and sponsored by the president ever since the Ahidjo days? By calling for the abrogation of constitutional provisions limiting the mandate of the president, CPDM cheerleaders should be reminded that the public cannot be deceived to think it is a spontaneous and sincere expression of the wish of party militants. They talk of fairness and the free expression of the sovereign will. Who does not know that Cameroonians in what is today referred to as La République have never had a chance to experience free and fair elections? At a time when Cameroonians are struggling to keep the past behind them, pick up the pieces and carry on with their broken dreams and aspirations; at a time when people are trying to figure out a way to deal with the problems of survival on a daily basis, the spoilers of peace should spare us the nightmares of yesteryears when the sing-song of motions of support was the order of the day. People are tired of sycophants whose songs of adulation can only be a source of irritation and provocation. Biya himself has said 2011 is still far ahead and it would be a good idea to cross that bridge only when we get to it. In the midst of this entire hullabaloo, the opposition, which has regrettably narrowed their political vision to electioneering, has become a helpless and silent observer. They have always failed to seize the opportunity to ignite and galvanise their militants for a common cause after the operation go-slow of the early 1990’s. I don’t want to believe, like the deist, that God created Cameroon but has abandoned control of it. Clerics of every religious persuasion have tried to bring sanity and to instill the fear of the Lord in Cameroon but it would appear that they too, are weary. Has God forsaken Cameroon? 217 Coup Plots and Border Clashes One is tempted to believe that reports of a military plot to overthrow the government and the attack on Cameroonian soldiers in the Bakassi Peninsula may not have been a mere coincidence, especially as they occurred against the background of President Biya’s silver jubilee in office. It may appear to be wild speculation to link the three events, but leaders have very unorthodox ways of gaining public sympathy. While the...