Critics of the globally-revered political giant, including aspirants of the forthcoming 2025 presidential election, have described the decision as self-centered and tailored to leave Cameroon facing seven additional years of the economic hardship and other challenges that his leadership has offered Cameroonians in the last over four decades. Several CPDM party heavyweights, supporters and well-wishers have, on their part, lauded the move. Some have termed the decision as the latest show of Biya’s commitment to ensuring continuity and stability.
President Paul Biya’s bid to run as candidate in the forthcoming 2025 Presidential Election in Cameroon has been trailed by mixed reactions in Cameroon and beyond. Biya announced his bid for a seventh term as occupant as the top Unity Palace office last Sunday July 13, two days after summoning the electoral college and scheduling the 2025 Presidential Election for October 12 this year. “I am a candidate in the presidential election. Rest assured that my determination to serve you matches the urgency of the challenges we face,” the National Chairman of the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement, CPDM party stated in a posts spread across his various official social media handles. Biya’s announcement that he will be on the starting block during the October 12 showdown leaves him eyeing seven more years in the biggest office in Cameroon.
The bid entails the long-serving leader who has been leading Cameroon as president since 1982, is looking to extend his leadership as Head of State to at least 50 years. With the 2025 mandate scheduled to run through 2032, the bid leaves the former Prime Minister who turns 93 in February next year aiming to stay in office until he clocks almost a hundred years. Biya’s declaration on Sunday has since been greeted by mixed reactions among Cameroonians.
While critics of the CPDM party have described the decision as self-centered and dangerously-tailored to leave Cameroon facing seven additional years of the economic hardship and other challenges that his leadership has offered Cameroonians in the last several years. Several Cameroonians interviewed by The National Post across the country expressed said that the Head of State’s move leaves a reasonable chunk of them hopeless about the country’s future.
Many youngsters expressed concern on what they described as the increasing lack of opportunities and hardship, challenges that many said could get worse if the long-serving leader is entrusted with the mandate of coordinating affairs for seven additional years. Several CPDM party heavyweights, supporters and well-wishers have lauded the move. Some have termed the decision as the latest demonstration of his endless commitment to ensuring continuity and stability.
Reminder of the dangers of prolonged leadership
In a statement yesterday, the Social Democratic Front, SDF party described Biya’s eighth term bid at the age of 92 as a “stark reminder of the dangers of prolonged leadership.” “After more than 40 years in power, what does this mean for our future?” the Joshua Osih-led party further questioned in the statement posted on the official Facebook page of the historic opposition party.
The Power to the People party which has picked its National Chairman, Joshua Osih as its candidate for the October 12 election, said Biya’s declaration kick-starts the journey for seven additional years of economic stagnation, limited freedoms and other challenges. “Another seven years under the same regime threaten to deepen the crises we face: economic stagnation, limited freedoms and lack of responsibility. We cannot afford to allow history to repeat itself. It is time to rethink the direction of our nation. Let’s unite for a better future and choose a leadership that truly represents the will of the people,” the party said before marketing its as a structure that offers “fresh alternative”. “But there is hope! SDF offers alternative: Joshua Osih, a dynamic and visionary candidate ready to lead Cameroon into a new era. With a commitment to progress and innovation, he represents the change we desperately need,” the party detailed on the statement.
Similar criticisms from other opposition figures
Several other opposition figures in the country have gone the SDF way since the announcement from Biya. In a post on his official Facebook page, the declared candidate of the historic Union of the Peoples of Cameroon, UPC party, Prof Jean Bahebeck, questioned the legitimacy of the entire declaration in what many have said was an insinuation that Biya may not be in control of affairs thereby questioning his leadership ability. “We want a televised statement, otherwise we won’t believe it.
Do you think we are naïve? Prof Bahebeck whose UPC is hugely-respected for being the oldest political party in Cameroon, stated. Prof Maurice Kamto of the Cameroon Renaissance Movement, CRM party has not come out to openly make a statement on the candidacy. But in a post on his official Facebook page, he dropped a subtle message that many have interpreted as a response to the move by Biya. “We saw the sun rise with our hopes, and the nights come with our suffering. And we thought we had lost everything forever.
Now, a people are gradually rising to say that it was forged in struggle and resilience. That its heroes have emerged from adversity and shine like stars on the horizon of our nation’s march,” Prof Kamto stated in the Monday July 14 edition of his regular MK’s Thoughts series on the social media platform. “Here is a people rising to say that there is no endless suffering for those who choose to fight, no eternal power.
No one will stop the march of our people, because no one can stop the wind,” Prof Kamto who emerged as Biya’s main challenger during the 2018 Presidential Election, further detailed on the social media post. Respected Cameroonian lawyer, Agbor Balla made a similar indirect declaration. Agbor Balla stated: “the future of our nation does not belong to the past. We must break away from the politics of stagnation and build a new vision rooted in accountability, justice, and inclusivity.”
Biya out to maintain continuity, stability
Despite the increasing criticism, bigwigs, supporters and well-wishers of the CPDM party and its leader Paul Biya have been singing different lyrics. A good section of them has described the move as the latest show of Biya’s commitment to driving continuity and stability in Cameroon.
One of the CPDM’s biggest heavyweights from the North West Region, Fru Jonathan, told state broadcaster, the Crtv that by declaring to run as candidate in the October 12 poll, Biya was simply responding positively to the calls of thousands of Cameroonians who have over the last couple of years, consistently pleaded on him to enter the 2025 Presidential Election race. “The decision comes as a result of numerous calls both at home and abroad,” the highly-respected figure said yesterday. “The decision is timely and we now just have to go to the field and continue what we have been doing: ensuring that our supporters have their voters’ cards and that they know their polling stations. We thank the president for his decision,” the native of Santa in the North West Region’s Mezam Division, added.
Renowned Cameroonian media personality, Aureole Tchoumi made a similar declaration during a program on private media television channel, Canal 2 International, on Sunday. “We want to say a big thank you to President Paul Biya for listening to us. We know that the President of the Republic has received 11, 340 motions of support with 600 thousand signatories across the country. This is huge.
Thank you for being a candidate,” Tchoumi stated. “You can’t disguise yourself after being faced with such a number of calls to represent a people. The President of the Republic has never been a coward. He knows how to take his time,” the media executive added in what has been termed as an effort to water down claims about Biya’s ability to lead.
Biya to beat opposition even on a wheelchair
During a debate program on Yaounde-base television, Vision 4, the Secretary General of the Ministry of Communication, Prof Felix Zogo who is also a bigshot within the CPDM party, stated that the CPDM party is confident that its’s candidate, Paul Biya will defeat any opposition candidate or coalition even during the forthcoming election. He said the CPDM candidate will emerge victorious even if he is contesting the election while on a wheelchair. “I want to assure you that even on the wheelchair, the CPDM candidate, Paul Biya, will defeat the opposition,” Prof Zogo said. “We will not capitalize on the weaknesses of the opposition.
We will mobilize ourselves. What is going to give us the upper hand is our presence across Cameroon. The CPDM is in every corner of Cameroon. The party will campaign when the time comes. That is why I reassure you that the CPDM candidate will defeat the opposition,” he added.
