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

39. 2004 Presidential Campaign: Time for people’s verdict is now!

149 39 2004 Presidential Campaign: Time for people’s verdict is now! September 29, 2004 Campaigns for the October 11 presidential election are expected to gather momentum today after kicking off on a lame footing over the weekend. Political activities including preparatory meetings, press conferences and public rallies have been less than hectic as the electorate is more preoccupied with verifying their names on the voter’s registers and collecting their voter’s cards. The issuing of cards has been marred by confusion in some opposition strongholds as some registered voters still find it difficult to locate their polling stations and to obtain their cards. Campaigns themes While the ruling CPDM party has hinged its campaign messages on the apparent peace and stability that reign in Cameroon and making a sing song of the shop worn slogan of Cameroon as an island of peace in the world beleaguered by strife and turbulence, the opposition in general have being capitalizing on the socio economic decline and moral decadence the country has experienced under 22 years of president Paul Biya rule. CPDM The ruling CPDM party campaign managers –the majority of whom are either cabinet or ex cabinet members-are wrapping their messages in a language of deification and a mood of over confidence, especially in the South, Centre and East provinces considered to be the fiefs of their natural candidate Paul Biya. 150 Launching campaigns in Yaoundé, Foubam and Mbouda, canvassing was centred on Biya as a winning president as speaker after speaker expressed confidence in a 100% victory for their candidate. They said a vote for Biya was a vote for democracy, economic growth and the fight against poverty. A Presbyterian pastor in a prayer session at Ambam called on God to ensure success for Paul Biya whom Education Minister, Joseph Owona, described as a veritable gift from God. SDF The nation’s biggest opposition party has introduced a gimmick in its campaign by cashing in on the Anglophone problem. In a public rally in Bamenda, SDF chairman Ni John Fru Ndi cited statistics on the marginalization of the Anglophones, noting for example that only 20 Anglophones have being admitted into the school of engineering (polytechnique) ever since its creation three decades ago. The SDF deputy for Momo, Hon. Peter Fonso, reiterated the same issues while launching campaigns in Njikwa, declaring that a vote for Fru Ndi would put a halt to the marginalization of Anglophones. In a more practical note, the SDF campaign spokesman, Martin Nkemngu, on Monday CRTV campaign forum, outlined his party’s immediate plan of action including the abolition of tuition fees in state universities and the poll tax that goes under the name of “impot liberatoire” as well as pay compensation to victims of past political violence. CNRR The candidate of the Coalition for National Reconciliation and Reconstruction, Dr Adamou Njoya launched a crowd pulling rally at the Bepanda Omnisports stadium in Douala on Monday evening with a promise to restore social justice and reconcile the nation with its culture and history. He pledged to reform state institutions, brings the economy back to its feet, establish good governance and lead the fight against poverty. In the Coalition’s TV campaign spot, 151 introduced by a rather impressive jingle with images portraying Ndam Njoya as a man of the people and a devoted Muslim, campaign manager, Sanda Ouarou, decried President Biya’s rule as 22 years of betrayal and reiterated that the Coalition was committed to reconciling Cameroonians with politics. The Coalition, he said, proposes to reconcile and reconstruct a dislocated country, revive a moribund economy, and restore the tarnished international image of the country. He concluded by remarking that Paul Biya cannot do in 7 years what he had failed to do in 22 years. SLC The candidate of the Social Liberal Congress, Dr George Nyamndi, performed eloquently on his TV campaign spot, passing on his message in impeccable French and English. He paid polite homage to outgoing president Paul Biya whose achievements, he said, would only be judged by history and invited the incumbent to avail himself of a well-earned retirement. He called the electorate to break with the past and cut out a new path to progress and prosperity. UFDC Hamenei Bieleu of the Union of Democratic Forces proposes in his TV message to tackle the issues of embezzlement of public funds and unemployment which he believed can be solved...