Coalition of Cameroon Federalist Groups and Activists (CCFGA)
To: All Traditional Rulers in former Southern Cameroons
Open Letter: Against the partisan politics of traditional rulers in former Southern Cameroons and Cameroon in general
Your Royal Majesties,
The Coalition of Cameroon Federalist Groups and Activists, CCFGA, recognizes the important role you play in our society as custodians of our various traditions. We are, however, disturbed by the partisan politics demonstrated by some of your colleagues. Cameroon has a multiparty political system, which means that almost all traditional communities include people with opposing political views and affiliations. While the ruling CPDM, through electoral fraud and persecution of opposition politicians, seeks to make Cameroon a quasi-one-party system, it is morally wrong and a sign of poor judgment for some custodians of our traditions to demonstrate blatant divisive partisanship during election seasons.
Our critical observation is prompted by recent developments in the political landscape. Many Cameroonians are calling for a fairer political landscape and more intra-party democracy in the CPDM, including the retirement of Mr. Paul Biya. However, some of your colleagues in former Southern Cameroons are publicly supporting Mr. Biya’s candidacy for another seven-year term as he approaches his 93rd birthday. It is clear that the candidacy of Mr. Paul Biya, despite his palpable disapproval by the majority of Cameroonians, is motivated by an infamous system of electoral fraud and CPDM’s persecution of political opponents. Signs of pre-electoral frauds are abundant today, from dubious voter registration practices to strategic appointment of election officials. Those traditional rulers defying the people’s desire for change by supporting the unpopular Mr. Paul Biya can incur disrespect from their people, thereby exposing themselves to justified criticism.
It should be recalled that many of our problems in Cameroon today are traceable to electoral fraud, political coercion, and alienation of elites and traditional rulers from their grassroot communities. To solve these multifaceted problems, we ought to combat the electoral fraud and political intimidation typical of the ruling party.
The CCFGA is campaigning for massive voter registration to remedy the underrepresentation of former Southern Cameroons in the national electoral register. We are equally fighting for free, fair, and competitive elections as a means to ensure that politicians responsibly address the problems faced by Cameroonians. We invite you to join us in this noble endeavor. We urge you to refrain from further devaluing our traditional values by parroting the “motions de soutien” that have led to arrogance, corruption, tribalism, and gross incompetence in the governance of our country, Cameroon. The CCFGA will ally with those Cameroonians who undertake various peaceful methods to denounce the mismanagement of our country and the proliferation of electoral fraud. We hold you in high esteem and would not like to be forced to recommend alienating mechanisms to our people against traditional rulers who make a mockery of our current suffering. It is beneath your offices to be partisan in a multiparty political system such as the one we are trying to consolidate in Cameroon.
May God grant you wisdom in navigating the competitive political landscape of Cameroon, while preserving your dignity as custodians of the traditions of people who naturally have varying political views and affiliations. Genuine political competition, not arrogant partisanship of elites, will guarantee a politically stable and prosperous Cameroon. This competition and the nonpartisanship of traditional rulers during elections will bring us closer to our vision for Cameroon: One Nation, federated.
Yours sincerely,
Michael Takie
Chairperson, CCFGA