Rigging Three Elections in One by Ntemfac AN Ofege

The forgotten factor about the July 22 heavily rigged elections in Cameroun was that Mr. Biya’s party, the Cameroun Peoples Democratic Movement, achieved the groundbreaking feat of rigging three (03) elections in one. By Cameroon’s current “to be put in place progressively” constitution, the future elections into the projected Regional Councils and the Senate will be “indirect” elections. What this means concretely is that current councilors and parliamentarians will elect some of the members of the Senate and the regional councils. The constitution says that the president of La Republique will appoint 30% of the members of the Senate. By giving itself an insolent majority through election fraud, the CPDM is setting itself for a totalitarian control of Senate, National Assembly and Regional Councils. Look forward to 95 plus CPDM Senators, 90% plus CPDM Regional Councillors to add to the 140 plus CPDM parliamentarians. That the names of 70% of those agitating in the CPDM (including Biya Paul, Atanga Nji, etc) also feature in the list of those who owe the banks. inc

“The idea is not to re-create a one-party state as some have suggested; the one-party state belongs to an ancient period,” an elated Mr. Biya told Camerounians last August 14.

The vote-heisting, disenfranchising and ethnic cleansing, etc., have has actually created one-party system with a linear thought.

“I had hoped for a clear majority in the National Assembly and in the Municipalities,” Mr. Biya said. “I read (in the rigged results?) the desire of Cameroonians to give the government the means to execute a rigorous socio-economic policy and to give the majority of councilors the means to manage their affairs without partisan quarrels.”

What Mr. Biya calls “partisan quarrels” could actually be democratic debate, counterpoint, checks and balances, challenges to the linear thought which are all very healthy to progress in a truly democratic system. By ethnically cleansing the opposition from so-called state institutions, Mr. Biya has actually re-created a one-party state. By thy words, thou shall be justified and by thy words, thou shall be condemned. Mr. Biya’s method of thinking speaks volumes about the kind of leadership Cameroon has been saddled with these many years. What we have here is not a simplistic vista of ignorance. There is exactly the mind process of a vicious manipulator.

Article 9 of the constitution of La Republique du Cameroun says that the Head of State shall define all policies in the republique. The only policy that the Biya regime has been executing with great rigour and vigour in the past 25 years is high intensity and density corruption and incompetence. Mr. Biya has created, defined and is practicing corruption. Corruption (including election-fraud) is policy and currency in LRC because Mr. Biya has so defined it. He is the symbol of a corrupt administration. In fact, the president would have been in impeachable breach of the constitution had he condemned the massive election rigging that characterized the July 22 joint elections. Joining the CPDM tantamount to subscribing to endorsing corruption, incompetence, and rudderless leadership.

A Crime Syndicate

Speaking from both sides of the mouth, Mr. Biya called on all Camerounians (even those in the opposition?) to join him in building Cameroun? How exactly since power sharing via the state institutions is out. Whereas power-sharing, checks and balances could operate in the councils, in the projected regional councils, in parliament and in the senate, CPDM deaf, dumb and blind vote-heisting has made that impossible. The only avenue opened is that of ministerial appointment. The appointees, however, owes his allegiance to the one who appoints them.  Mr. Biya continues to display an ignorance of power-sharing mechanisms within a republic that is mortifying. Within a republic-state, the constitution is the foundation instrument while sets out the rules, institutions and functionalities within that republique. Mr. Biya asked for “a clear majority.” The real electorate - His Divisional Officers, His Senior Divisional Officers, His Governors, His Ministry of Territorial Administration, His Supreme Court and His Election Observatory, has given him that majority. Rather than ask “Camerounians” to join him in the mud, Mr. Biya should rule. He should ahead. Forza Don Biya. Ride on to perdition. History has already recorded that this is the worst president Cameroun will ever have. Even by Camerounian standards. This majority was given to him to continue the policy he has been engaged. That policy is clear. Mr. Biya stands for. The regime in Yaounde is identified with fraud, tyranny, dictatorship, trickery, thievery, pilfering, hegemony, Pedes, nepotism, Freemasonry, occultism, witchcraft, kleptocracy, tribalism, oligarchy, corruption, extortion, election-fraud, subterfuge, graft, tribalism, colonization, annexation, incompetence, confusion, underachievement, subterfuge, grand larceny, autocracy, violence, etc., etc. Any movement, political party or government with less than half of the above terms of reference would no longer be a political party. It would be a racket. The CPDM is not a political party. It is a crime syndicate. The Biya regime is not an administration. It is the ultimate mafia, one that is even more devastating in its outreach than the Sicilian Mafia. It is composed of hardened people; people who, like this Ondo Ndong character of Panya, who would steal upwards of 13.000.000.000FCFA (thirteen billion FCFA, a tidy sum) without batting an eyelid. As Don Biya presides. Joining that system or working for that system amounts to joining and working for a crime syndicate.

In the July edition of his newspaper, the Star, ‘Enoh Meyomesse, leader of the National Renaissance Party, Parena, likened it to a man being infected with AIDS, prostrate cancer, hypertension and diabetes at the same time. Mr. Biya presides over that. He is the president of all of that. Or rather, was this just a Machiavellian spider calling the SDF flies to come into his parlour and legitimize his racket? By acknowledging the outcome of the July 22 elections Mr. Biya officially acknowledges that his governance is a racket.

By rigging three elections in one, Mr. Biya has made it clear that it will be corruption as usual until 2011, when he hopes to rig the elections and preside over some more corruption. Except of cause, death, the ultimate solution to human conflict does him part. This is a very strong possibility.

A Corrupt Elite

Eric Chinje once pointed out that Mr. Paul Biya sees Bello Bouba and not the millions he claims to be speaking for. He sees Mr. Ndi and not the millions he claims to be speaking for. Consequently, Mr. Biya sees an elite class of fellow underachievers and losers. He does not see the majority. Take the figures. Take the figures. By every extrapolation, Cameroun has a population of circa 17.000.000. By African standards, at least 70 percent of that population should be registered since Africa countries tend to have a young population which is easily mobilized for elections. There should be at least 10.000.000 Camerounians on the national voter’s register; the best-case scenario is 11.900.000. Thanks to massive disenfranchisement and ethnic cleansing, the current voters register has less than 3.000.000 and less than 1.000.000 Cameroonians actually voted. There were less than 500.000 Southern Cameroonians out of 6.000.000. What this means concretely is that 90% of Camerounians are excluded from the electoral process. Since 1992, Mr. Biya’s score, on the average for every seriously flawed (massively rigged) presidential election, has never been beyond 1.500.000 votes. This is less than 10% of the population and less than less than 15% of the potential electorate of 10.000.000. You see, we are dealing with some unrepresentative, illegitimate governance created by fraudulent and hence unrepresentative and illegitimate processes.

The “Camerounians” that Mr. Biya also claimed to be speaking for constitute a minority group of elites, all of them kleptocrats. The fact about the matter is that the political entity called the CPDM is a party founded on a forensic ideology – steal from the commonwealth. As Don Biya presides.

Compelling Reasons to Walk Away

Speaking to the local media, opposition leader Fru Ndi bemoaned the fact that a francophone minister told him that francophones do not want “this Anglophone business.” The minister added that, he, Fru Ndi should limit his political agenda for change to the North West province. How clear can a message be? Mr. Biya said the same thing in 1992: “Qui sont ils? Ils veulent change quoi?” (Who are they and what do they want to change?). For how much longer will Anglophones prisoners of hope continue leaning on a system that has demonstrated in many ways that it does not want them? The wayward bride has told right into your face that you are not wanted; yet you continue hanging around. However, the maxim is well known: “Those who make peaceful change impossible make the violent option plausible.” Those who make power sharing impossible also make forceful-sharing plausible.

Comments

[wendy Ekole]

Your frustruations with the current regime are so glaring Mr. Ofege, but your accusations of a rigged election should be based on scientific analysis; based on systematic research, not on conjecture and speculation which is so rampant in this so called multiparty era in Cameroon.It will be wise to be a non partisan journalist,report on facts, and not to be seen as too eager to challenge the incumbent with no scientific data emanating from thorough research to buttress your assertions. What we should be fighting for is for jobs, adequate, affordable healthcare with doctor and nurses accountability, good roads, eradicating poverty,eradicating aids,conserving our lands, fight global warming. We should challenge leaders with issues like these and not dwell too much over spilled milk. Reading through your blog, you come across as angry, frustruated,and incoherent. You are very knowledgeable. Use it for the common good.

[TM]

Madam Ekole,What's in your song?.I wonder if you live in the real world. Ofege is just doing what a good journalist and political analyst should do. Its a shame on your part. I guess you could also choose to blog and educate us on that elitist view of yours. What is partisan about the truth in this column. The Cameroon of today is that place where veritas is considered to meaning frustration ,anger and incoherence. As a south westerner, i do not in anyway see any good coming out from the Biya junta. The south west just like other regions in the Cameroons have never being given the chance to choice their leaders. The cpdm and its present group of smooth criminals have succeeded to impose themselves on the people for decades. Yet with all the power at their disposal,jobs, good healthcare ,better schools and better governance you keep dreaming of has not and will never be realised. The truth Wendy is that this bunch in power do not have the political will to make Cameroon better and progressive. You should by now realise challenging the status quo like the one we have in place in doomed Cameroon is not a thing for chicken hearts. Its a thing reserved for thick men and women like the Ofege's , Eyinga's etc and many more other genuine fighters of change out there. Wendy, you sound like a sympatiser of the system in place. Its no secret that the present political setup in present day Cameroon has seen the rise of the worst set of men and women in the name of politicians. Men and women who have succeeded to benefit financially and materially at the people's expense. Let me remind you and like-minded folks like you,a new - new setup is in the making. My generation in their 30's and 40's like it or not will push this system out. Orthodox and unorthodox means are on the table. The purge of smooth criminals is the only way to bring back sanity to the Cameroons. Wendy, there will be no fence sitters and Foncharians. U will have to choose between a progressive or a regressive Cameroon. Ofege is already doing his part as is demanded of opinion writers,shaping , shaking and moving minds. He is challenging the status quo because its no use being their praise singer when there is nothing to show after decades in power. Grand captions is what we hear daily.From the NEW DEAL,today its about GRAND AMBITION with no positive result to show.Keep dreaming Wendy. Its a good thing to dream of jobs, good healthcare , eradicating poverty etc. Dont forget that the incumbent had all at their disposal to make this dream of yours come true. Their huge majority in the house,total control of the executive,judiciary and law enforcement etc. Yet Wendy ,have you ever asked why with all this at their disposal the incumbent system has never being able to make your dreams which to be honest is shared by many come true. Keep dreaming Wendy. But please leave our Ofege alone. U free to go blog yourself. The incumbent system will pay you to sing and praise them. There are already right wing Cameroon sites online doing their dirty job. U too can be come one of their agents. Just do not forget, the silent majority will is watching. The list of like minded folks like you is updated daily. The people's enemies .

[wendy Ekole]

Au contraire, I totally admire Mr. Ofege and I am always consumed by what he has to say. I just want to be sure that what he has to say is factual and not conjecture.You can agree that an article such as his, can provoke sentiments of revolution even in people like me who sit on the fence. "Been there, done that!" People make assertions, claim to have inside knowledge about what is going on, and they come billowing in a smokescreen with their grandiose assertions;"do not inhale!" We must question everything.Everyone can offer an opinion, be it a dissenting opinion from the popular silent majority.Now I am being watched. Now you are the Gestapo. How different do you think you are from the current regime, or Hitler's Nazi Germany, or Stalin's Russia, or Mussolini's Italy, if dissenters are put under watch?Now you have a black book with a list.Now I am being threatened by a cyber bully!oooh! I'm scared...I belong to no party affiliation.My wish is for everyone to work for the common good: good health for all, jobs for all, a place to live for all, good roads for all, a good education for all, peace and prosperity to all, freedom for all.Justice for all. Let us build a constructive and progressive country, with a new regime or with the current regime. Let us work hard for our country.

[wendy Ekole]

Au contraire, I totally admire Mr. Ofege and I am always consumed by what he has to say. I just want to be sure that what he has to say is factual and not conjecture.You can agree that an article such as his, can provoke sentiments of revolution even in people like me who sit on the fence. "Been there, done that!" People make assertions, claim to have inside knowledge about what is going on, and they come billowing in a smokescreen with their grandiose assertions;"do not inhale!" We must question everything.Everyone can offer an opinion, be it a dissenting opinion from the popular silent majority.Now I am being watched. Now you are the Gestapo. How different do you think you are from the current regime, or Hitler's Nazi Germany, or Stalin's Russia, or Mussolini's Italy, if dissenters are put under watch?Now you have a black book with a list.Now I am being threatened by a cyber bully!oooh! I'm scared...I belong to no party affiliation.My wish is for everyone to work for the common good: good health for all, jobs for all, a place to live for all, good roads for all, a good education for all, peace and prosperity to all, freedom for all.Justice for all. Let us build a constructive and progressive country, with a new regime or with the current regime. Let us work hard for our country.

[Fotso Sackmen]

To EKole,
Your comments leave much to desired (for someone who claim to be versed in 'scientific research'). It seems you are a student of presentism; that is, someone involved in the de-historisation of history:
1. Mr. Ntemfac Ofege is a seasoned scholar and political analyst. What he has expressed here is an analysis; deeply rooted on the realities of the recent twin elections in Cameroon. It is systematic and scientific and not based on what you claim to be 'conjecture' and 'speculation'. Using the tool of inference in science, he has attempted to project the political framework that Biya and his cohorts intend to construct during the post-election era. In fact, Ntemfac's seminal piece aptly describes the workings of the 'elitist firm'
in Cameroon that goes with the name of 'government'. This firm has transformed the State into what I call an elitist predatory State.
2. Your comment constantly makes mention of 'scientific data'. What is a scientific data, Ekole? Do you think it is only 'hard facts'? Human experience (which forms part of knowledge)is accepted in social science research. Ntemfac's paper is built on experience and facts, which makes it a scientific analysis. Even if science is only hard facts as you seem to claim, does the communique from some foreign embassies in Yaounde and the reports of some election monitoring/observation groups that monitored the twin elections make some sense to you?
3. You also talked about building a strong and viable Cameroon through national development. But you fail to realise that national development can only be achieved through a holistic perspective in which national politics has a fundamental role. Your approach is like telling a student at a secondary grammar school to sew you a dress without the training in seamstressing.

[TM]

A REBUFF TO Ekole Madam Ekole, fear not. U not being bullied. Once again you make me wonder if u live in a real world. Read this lady, the real world out here in the Cameroons is different. Its a tough one lady. The folks get poorer and poorer, while the nouveau riche keep raising daily. Men and women who never worked hard or struggle to become rich.Infact to be rich is glorious but not at the expense of taking poor folks for a ride. While those who just want some form of decency are struggling to put bread and butter on the table for their families. Come on ,this does not come across as angry and frustration. Its the real thing out here. You see,they rule of the game out here is that if you can't beat them ,join them in the spoil. Must all of us be part of that indecent game. No way. I am in my mid thirties and have seen my age group joining the DIMABOLA choir just to make their own part. Its a country were smooth criminals turn politicians are trying to built political boutiques and so they are forced to go the extra length to protect it by ensuring the folks never get a chance to choose. With all due respect madam Ekole,if u intention are good,i will urge u to join the civil society. Go creat for example lets say an NGO to monitor and ensure those folks in Yaounde become more accountable and responsible. In a couple of months you no doubt might have as option to quit or work for the system in place. That is the real Cameroon. That explains why for folks like Ofege who have chosen to stay the course and refuse to waver at the detriment of their personal security and finances,i beg we spare them. Guys like this have the backbone we rarely find around most especially in the Cameroon of today. Its no secret he was once in the sdf and surely still have a soft spot for the sdf, yet his critiques have never spared the present shortsighted guys leading the sdf.
The progress we all hoped, can't come out of this guys in power. They do not have any legitimacy and so there is actually no one they owe any accountability to. Even with your NGO lady Ekole, you will not force this elites to be accountable . Lady Ekole, do not forget its being more than two decades. If all the progress we all hoped and still hope for were to come, at least we could have seen a bit of it. Yet we are still creeping and you should ask this question just like so many of us are already now asking - "HOW MUCH TIME DO THIS GUYS NEED" to make true their rhetorics. Come on, i pray you tell me if this current regime will ever be brought to sanity. The heartland of the south west my home province is in dire need of simple infrastructures and the simple folks if given the chance will almost certainly never vote cpdm. They will likely choose progress from whatever other quarter that comes. Its no secret the people of Ndian overwhelmingly voted sdf in this last gimmick that went around for an election and guess what,another group of leaders just like business as usual have being imposed on them. The story is the same in the entire Cameroons. Rule the current regime out. They had their chance to deliver and they failed. I say this without mincing words. All options are on the table. The worst form of purge is in the making. They just alienated the silent majority as if the Cameroons is their exclusive preserve. No way. You do not get an omelet on you plate without breaking egg.