By Noela EBOB BISONG
As the days narrow down to the 2025 Presidential election in October, the heat is on, but perhaps uncommon as has been the case since the birth of multipartism in the 90s. Regular opposition faces are on ground, new stars are emerging and some loyalists are displaying bold moves to cast down weights. What has been making news over the recent weeks, remains the outright defiance against the regime in power, that has been there for the past 43 years. Preaching its story of hard work and strides, with broader visions of emergence, some are of the opinion that such dreams are only long late night fictions which are in no way dawning to reality anytime soon. Therefore, they believe the time to flush out the current system with its weaknesses is now.
Issa Tchiroma’s resignation sparks controversy
As the nation boils, following lamentations, vexations and criticisms, a host of Cameroonians were taken aback when then Minister of Employment and Vocational Training, Issa Tchiroma Bakary who is also the national president of opposition party Cameroon National Salvation Front, urged Cameroonians to end 43 years of underdevelopment. He made the utterance during a rally with his supporters in the North of the country. Few days after the utterance which had gone viral, news broke out of his resignation, tabled at the Prime Minister’s office in Yaoundé. It did not take long for the former Minister to return home to his native North Region, from where he penned a 20-page document to Cameroonians, urging them to put an end to the old system, restore meaning to democracy as well as call for national unity etc. Also declaring his candidacy for the 2025 October Presidential election, Tchiroma states in the piece that, “The upcoming presidential election in October is a historic opportunity. It must be a turning point, an act of democratic truth”.
Having occupied several top government positions including Minister of Transport, Communication, Issa Tchiroma was appointed Minister of Employment and Vocational Training on January 4, 2019.
Following his resignation from government, a June 27 Prime Ministerial Communiqué designates current Minister of Youth Affairs and Civic Education, Mounouna Foutsou to accumulate the function of Minister of Employment and Vocational Training as well.
Divided opinions have been reacting to the Tchiroma resignation, as to the geniuneness of his action. While questioning the timing, a critic reacts that, “Is it only now that he has come to terms with the harsh realities facing Cameroonians such as unemployment, hunger, lack of professionalism and rampant corruption?” Others see it as a well calculated strategy to split the opposition vote, faulting the former Minister for trying to side with Anglophones, after having tried to silence their voices while he was Minister of Communication, at the wake of the Anglophone crisis.
Nonetheless, an observer points that, “Tchiroma’s resignation will not only inspire but will embolden others to ditch the moribund regime. Already there is a sustained wave of dissening voices in the South, East and Centre. In 2025, people are questioning… Tchiroma’s resignation will redefine political strategies, alliances and approaches to the October election… Perhaps we are witnessing the first episode to the dramatic end of the regime… “.
NUDP’s Bello Bouba declares for President
In the wave of political steam, being ressurrected after years of quiet, the national President of the National Union for Democracy and Progress NUDP, on Saturday, June 28 in Yaoundé announced he will be standing as candidate in the October election. Bello Bouba Maigari, who is current Minister of Tourism and Leisure said, “I have accepted the proposal to be your presidential candidate”. He was addressing militants of his party following an enlarged closed door meeting of the Central Committee of the party. However, against much anticipation, it isn’t clear if the NUDP has ended its alliance with the ruling CPDM which saw the former throwing its weight behind the ruling party’s candidate in past presidential elections since 1997. Also, it isn’t certain if like Issa Tchiroma, Bello Bouba may also table his resignation from government in the days ahead.
What remains certain at the moment is uncertain political moves, a strong opposition coalition not yet in view, voiced frustrations and cracks within the ruling CPDM.