True
exponents of change have been observing the recent confidence and
audacity of the Biya regime in its latest foray into the Northwest
province and the humiliating posturing of known leaders from this
honorable province of change, leading the struggling masses and
advocates of change in the province feeling that they have been
completely deserted. We have also been observing the
increasing number of presidential hopefuls that make pundits to wonder
if they understand what the struggle is all about. In fact, one would
be tempted to borrow from Che Guevara in his observation that “the problem with Africans is incomprehension.”
It is mind-boggling imagining that change
can be realized in Cameroon under the current setup of a decrepit
opposition, the best-rigging machinery the world has ever produced (the
French imposed anachronistic system under the stewardship of Paul Biya) that disenfranchises more
than half of its population before elections, prevents more than half
of the registered voters from voting, ensures multiple voting for its
supporters, prevents the opposition from having representatives in most of the polling booths and acts at will in multiplying the vote tallies at the booth, district, divisional, provincial(regional) and national
levels. And when the election masquerade is over, France as usual would
be there to congratulate Biya, thereby leading the international effort
for the regime’s legitimization.
We
are about to get into the next decade of the New Millennium. The
conflagration of forces, time and destiny is on the side of advocates of
change. The New Cameroon would be born in this decade. But it would be
a hard and merciless struggle. It would need an effective
organization, dedicated leadership, a spirited population, a united
purpose, a national ideal, knowledge of our history and reconciliation
with our past to make the change less costly. It would involve
dismantling the system. That calls for undivided ranks in the
opposition. We should start 2011 building-up resolve, clearly defining a
strategy, identifying our goals and clearly identifying the camps. Indispensable in the effort are purposeful debates, progressive alliances and an effective PR.
The
New Cameroon will be born on the shoulders of the post-independence
generations, the Parlement age-group, and especially on the feet and
voices of the post 1990-generation.
Change is something sure and it is normal when generations succeed each other. President Paul Biya has never needed to rig any elections, he has always counted on the support of Cameroonians and that is what has maintained him in power till now
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