Fellow Cameroonians, good day! We have come to the end of year 2015 making the 2018
Presidential and allied national elections for total change closer. Reference is made here to 2018 polls because change comes after elections when there is succession and alteration or continuity of manifesto which affects the socio-economic well being of all.
I, Felix Teche Nyamusa,SDF 2018 presidential hopeful(pending primaries) stand for a just Cameroon of the two historic legal components, with my conviction buttressed by history which has not shown any place where justice instead handicaps . Transparency and justice rewards all not withstanding whether you are: former British Cameroonians or former French Cameroonians; pygmies or Bamilikes; Hausas or Nsos; Doualas or Ewondos ... we stand to collectively prosper as a formidable country.
Nyamusa will not pretend to claim solution for all Cameroon woes, but I pledge to lay a foundation upon which details of the nation are built for a country that will be counted amongst the comity of the global tops.
Cameroon needs solid unanimously agreed on contemporary governing laws - the constitution. On this (befitting Cameroon constitution) will I erect my tent with confidence that together under God our goal is achievable for national unity, equity....
On security and "Boko Haram", sincere thanks go to the Cameroon defense forces, the vigilante groups at the forefront of the struggle as well as all Cameroonians particularly those of the north actively confronting the lethal insurgents.
When voted president, I will sue to have no trouble with any foreign "Terrorists" but will vehemently protect Cameroon territorial boundaries and interest. This by itself will help our neighbours and the international community by preventing any grooming of dissidents on Cameroon soil. We however must not lost sight of the fact that some terrorists are other persons' freedom fighters - remember Nelson Mandela's ANC freedom fighting political party that was erroneously tagged terrorists until recently?
I however pay growing tribute to the international community and NGOs that have come to Cameroon's aid during these trying moments of instability and attacks by terrorists.
I blame the Biya regime for handling the Boko Haram issue recklessly without prior discussion with Cameroon stake holders such as the legislature, the main opposition, the army ... like President Francois Hollande of France did recently before declaring war on terrorists who attacked his country. Nothing stops Biya, nevertheless, from correcting his mistakes even now!
However meaningful change or succession would not come without in-depth collective efforts. Comrades, I know, despite demanding daily chores, routine duties and individual expectations, that we have put in enormous efforts to arrive at this destination of relative freedom; more push has to be effected to take the sensitization message to every nook and cranny where Cameroonians are found particularly to the grass roots and the down trodden .
Over 25 years since the SDF death-stricken reintroduction of multiparty politics into Cameroon, we have abortively struggled to achieve democracy. One person - Mr Biya of the ruling CPDM (former CNU) appointed president in 1982 by pioneer president - Ahmadou Ahidjo, has through underhand means remained in power till date stifling competition. Business investors are scared investing in Cameroon because of the dictatorial one-man governance where president Biya usurps powers of all the arms of government. Litigations particularly involving Mr Biya and other CPDM militants are tainted in CPDM favour. President Biya(head of the executive arm) unlike in democracies is again head of the judiciary . He also appoints members of the legislature (senators) with his choice mostly of CPDM without any form of vetting by parliament or other arm of government.
ELECAM which passes for Cameroon elections managing body has her personnel appointed by the presidency and most high level workers there are CPDM who traditionally do every thing to rig polls to their party favour.
Cameroon's economy is agriculture based and still primitive yet the enabling environment for her striving via roads for communication, transportation is nothing to write home about - inter and intra regional capital towns’ roads are not befitting, to say the least, talk less of farm to market roads. Thus something has to be done immediately to arrest our country’s continuous plunder and decline!
Despite our suitable terrain for hydroelectric power generation and multipurpose dam construction, electric energy distribution, consumption is still very limited and epileptic. This same sorry scenario is true for portable water. These avoidable natural resources hindrances consequently result to high cost of production of industrial goods, translating to non market competitive items thus a scare to industrial investment of the CPDM era. President Paul Biya for over 33 years in power is best at making hardly fulfilled promises. As a consequence, many a Cameroonian (skilled or unskilled) scoops for paying jobs abroad, the accompanying hardship and dangers not withstanding. Countries like Korea, other Asian nations and those of North Africa, Cameroon once gave aid to or who where on same economic level at independence have all emerged from poverty into plenty while our CPDM perpetuity ruler ship remains doing little beyond exploiting raw materials and consuming our reserves .
Countries including many in Africa have broken their respective dictator’s jinx by sustained uprising which is democracy sanctioned for leaders without a human face who rule against popular demands - Cameroon's turn is over due , should she continue the one man show rule! We can not wait up till 2018 before replacing ELECAM with a unanimously accepted elections body. Forceful eviction of recalcitrant "Leaders" as a last resort by the people is a constitutional prescription of democratic nations including "Cameroon" and international organizations (like the UNO and international human rights) - this is what I and well meaning Cameroonians have been preaching and the time is now for succession in Cameroon ! My party, SDF and other objective Cameroon opposition political parties and civil society have yearned for good governance for over 25 long years and we can no more remain only at talking . Even sister African countries have taken this course with corresponding acclaim from the international community - so Cameroon can not be an exception.
All the gimmicks of Biya/CPDM money plunder courtesy - CERAC; expensive-cum-unnecessary Biya safaris abroad; extensive and exclusive use of state media (CRTV radio and television, Cameroon tribune...); illegal use of the entire country's treasury by CPDM with impunity during her choice occasions including elections campaigns amounts to mismanagement and or money laundry to say the least and has to be immediately stopped. Nigeria, Burkina Faso, South Africa did not achieve smooth succession by a ruling party masterminding everything - Comrades; we can't permit CPDM to perpetually ruin our dear country.
We hear Biya is scheming to precipitate the 2018 elections because of sporting activities and Boko Haram - that is how frivolous minded we have been reduced to in 33 years. Major governance, electoral time table are regularly adjusted to Mr. President's whims and caprices irrespective of their implications to the economy or other political adversaries and stake holders ! Cameroon is "Heavily indebted, poor, corrupt, insecure" 33years after President Ahidjo handed a debt free, prosperous nation to Biya.
CERAC an affluent NGO owned by Mrs. Chantal Biya used for the president's image cleansing whose funding is by government officials ought not exist in a country supposedly struggling to survive from poverty and corruption . Mrs Biya should be given the opportunity to manage a government ministry or department if she is such acclaimed expert in corporate organization management as the CERAC NGO. Cameroon has been impoverished by the powers that be - most ministers are as corrupt as their boss. They are intimidated to pilfer from their various ministerial budgets to fund regime image cleansers that go under the guise of NGOs like CERAC, PRESBY, and Synergie Africain ... This endemic cavalier management style of president Biya can not be allowed to continue!
Fellow Cameroonians, I wish you your hearts desires particularly a prosperous year 2016 knowing that together we can bring positive change to our lives and this country and say No to any dictator passing for a people's leader like others have done.
Felix Teche Nyamusa, SDF 2018 presidential hopeful (pending primaries)
31 December, 2015