Alarm Bells We Must Heed-Fomunyoh’s Message To Cameroon

Two weeks before the presidential election of October 12, I make this appeal to my fellow compatriots who aspire to participate in credible elections and an inclusive democracy. I do so in all humility, recognizing the personal and collective commitments of many others, while also drawing on my unwavering commitment to democratic principles backed by several decades of fighting for democracy and good governance across our continent. I also draw inspiration from my regular engagements with compatriots in all 10 regions of the country and in the Diaspora, many of whom appreciate my humanitarian works and attention to the needs of the most vulnerable among us.

In three decades, I have seen countries in Africa and elsewhere leverage good elections to consolidate peace and national unity, strengthen economic development, and even restore their reputation and credibility on the global stage. Today in Africa, countries such as Senegal, Ghana, Botswana, South Africa, and Malawi are admired and spoken of in glowing terms, in large part because of their election successes.

At the same time, I have witnessed flawed elections contribute to polarization of societies, erosion of national cohesion and the weakening of states. Countries have experienced socio-economic stagnation and devastating conflicts because of poorly conducted elections that stripped the process of its purpose. In recent years, election-related disputes contributed to serious backsliding in countries in the Sahel and, closer to home, in Gabon and Guinea. I sound these alarm bells for everyone’s benefit, including those who may be seeking to predetermine the outcome of a process which, to be credible and acceptable by all, must be totally free and truly transparent.

I also make this appeal as a word of encouragement to those compatriots who, despite the challenges of the pre-campaign period and the nomination of candidates, still believe in the possibility of fair play and the power of the ballot box, holding as I do that change is brought about by men and women of good will, even in authoritarian and repressive societies.

The challenges for the country are enormous, visible, and palpable; and fellow compatriots complain either openly or behind closed doors in the privacy of their offices and homes. No one is comfortable, and no one is spared.  The unbelievably arrogant few who lived in irrational opulence and once thought they could forever live in denial and immune seclusion are no longer secure in their thinking. How can we not hear the cries of distress from families bereaved by the senseless armed conflict in the North-West and South-West regions or by the frequent incursions of the Boko Haram sect in the Far North region? Who can be indifferent to the plight of over a million internally displaced persons, including young boys and girls with broken futures? Who is not dismayed or angered by countless stories of financial scandals and misappropriation of public funds? How can we not bemoan the lack of basic infrastructure for travel, public health and education? How about the reputation of our country across Africa and internationally, with a burgeoning diaspora fleeing suffocating conditions in the land of our ancestors?

Presidential elections present unique opportunities for citizens to freely choose leaders to represent their views on issues of national interest and international import. Competitive electoral processes also provide same citizens with opportunities to gauge the performance of various stakeholders and their commitment to and respect for the fundamental principles of justice, fairness, and a sense of duty and professionalism.

So far, current signs are not all reassuring, although I hope and urge that the elections management body, Elections Cameroon (ELECAM), be allowed a free hand to exercise its responsibilities with complete transparency and impartiality. I sincerely hope that ELECAM will knock off interferences by over zealous individuals of all stripes seeking to usurp the role of electoral officials duly mandated by the laws and regulations of our country. I hope that administrative and security services will not allow themselves to be misused for dirty jobs that are beneath their status and high professional and ethical standards. I dare to hope, as is the case around the world, that civil society and the media will play a major role in ensuring transparency and enhancing the participation of voters and the population during this crucial election. As in other countries, I expect civil society to recruit, train, and deploy thousands of citizen observers across all 10 regions, to monitor the vote, especially during sensitive phases of counting, transmission, tabulation, and announcement of results.

The 12 presidential candidates, their political parties and the over eight million registered voters, are key players in this process.  Many citizens are calling urgently for concerted efforts and synergies to bring about meaningful change in our country. I expect that as candidates travel across the country and dialogue with citizens, they will reflect on the insistence of the people and the glaring weaknesses witnessed thus far, to re-examine their consciences regarding their viability as candidates in the three weeks that remain.

My fellow compatroits, I strongly urge the 12 candidates to remember that history is made, not because through certain circumstances they find themselves in the spotlight at this moment, but rather because of how, in this particular moment of hard choices, they are able to set aside their egos and personal interest in favor of the national and collective interest. All 12 candidates must understand that the population is more aware and better informed today than in past years, and will hold each of them accountable, should our collective future be jeopardized because of their errors of judgment regarding this presidential poll.

A successful October 12th election will allow the country to pull itself together, redefine a common vision, and establish a collective roadmap for the future. Our country needs to reconcile and reform itself profoundly in order to rebuild after decades of unjustified waste and decline. A properly-elected leader can help the country rise like a phoenix from the ashes of its past and present! This is my wish and my hope for Cameroon.  It is a hope that can be met, if everyone harkens the clarion call inspired by a nationalistic surge of common sense.