Cameroon’s 2011 Presidential Election: The Necessity of an Independent Female Challenger

By Joseph M. Ndifor

As Cameroonians grapple with the aberration that incumbent president, Paul Biya, will hold onto power after the 2011 presidential election, there’s been no mention of a possible female challenger who could effectively oust him from that position.  Today, more than ever before, the entry of a female opposition candidate into the race to bring about the demise of this regime can no longer be ignored.  The current major opposition parties--all headed by males-have been ineffective in their attempts at challenging the incumbent. The dearth of female opposition candidates on Cameroon’s political landscape has somehow, in my observation, derailed efforts in changing the country. 

The possibility that a female opposition candidate would provide the political firestorm needed to purge the Biya regime may, in the estimation of some observers, be wishful thinking but history is full of surprises, and Cameroon should be no exception.  Just five years ago, no one imagined that a black person would become president of the United States. Following a tumultuous civil war, Liberians also stunned the world when they chose Eillen Johnson Sirleaf as their first female president. If fate somehow intervened in these instances, why should it be any different when it concerns Cameroon?

Political pundits-determined to keep the status quo, and with some errant beliefs that an Anglophone cannot rule Cameroon-would also be viscerally opposed to the notion of a female president. In arrogance-as he has exhibited  before with other opposition leaders- Paul Biya would dismiss a female opposition candidate as a nonentity, but this may be his doom. People Power, the Philippine revolution in 1986 against Ferdinand Marcos, is a classic example of a dictatorial regime that crumbled with the emergence of a reluctant female opponent (late Corazon Aquino). Were a female to take center stage against Paul Biya in the 2011 presidential contest, the intimidation and other heavy-handed methods generally meted on opposition figures may arouse the world’s attention to the plight of Cameroonians.

But what would it take for a female candidate to draw the support needed at this critical stage? While I have no precise answers for what it would entail, I would opine on some of issues that may be essential in the process:  Of all the corrupt Cameroonians that have brazenly embezzled government funds, more males, than females, have featured on that sordid list, an important factor that Cameroonians at this moment may consider in their desire for a female president. Drawing support, especially among Cameroonians in the Diaspora, will be essential.  The number of Cameroonians currently living abroad has increased exponentially over the years.  No one doubts the economic clout –though not often publicly pronounced-that these Cameroonians could exert on Cameroon’s economy. Their contributions-in the form of remittances and other business ventures- have incrementally revived some areas of the moribund economy.    This is a population that can no longer be ignored in any political process within Cameroon. It is also a good source of support for a female with presidential ambitions.

Name recognition, a sometimes-important factor in politics which has elevated women to leadership positions in some conservative countries like Pakistan, India, and Sri Lanka, has not been notably successful in the case of Cameroon, and in any event should be ignored by any determined female aspirant. In politics, it is not unusual for an unknown person to surprise the electorate with seismic victory. Timing is everything.  Cameroonians would enthusiastically support a woman who identifies herself with the suffering masses and is able to articulate firmly on the essential needs of the country.

At the international level, momentum is building in support of female leadership in many Third World countries where women issues have traditionally been shoved aside.  In response to this outside pressures, and for political expediency, many of these countries, including  Cameroon, have begun appointing women in junior leadership positions, but Cameroonian women should remain implacable to these overtures for they all mask the real problem confronting the country. A leadership change, beginning with the presidency, is the target, and should be pursued relentlessly.   Like Cameroon, Zimbabwe’s current crisis still lingers because the real target, Robert Mugabe, is still at the helm of power even though Prime Minister, Morgan Tsvangirai, was recently brought into the government. Still at a global level, France, Cameroon’s furtive ally, may reluctantly throw her support behind a female candidate who appears to garner support from countries like the United States and Great Britain. After all, then U.S. President George W. Bush was so elated upon Sirleaf Johnson’s victory in Liberia that he wanted a meeting with her in the White House even before her inauguration as president.

Cameroonians have groped in the dark for too long for a leader who could stir the country towards economic prosperity. The two prominent post-independence leaders, all males, have ruled the country with very paltry results. Maybe it’s time a female steps into the political fray and provide some fresh air.

While I’ve been deliberate in this piece not to cite possible names of women who can run for the position of president, there are many Cameroonian women out there, in the academia, international institutions, and others who, with encouragement from Cameroonians, can take on this task. Do you know of a female with leadership qualities who can surprise Cameroonians at this difficult moment and wrest power?

Comments

[Tomashu]

As much as I would be thrilled by a female candidate in the 2011 presidential elections, policy and vision for our country is what would make any candidate truly outstanding. I think it is about time Cameroonians start asking their politicians tough policy question. We have voted along tribal lines and empty promises and that hasn't made our country any better. Let's look beyond gender,tribal allegiance, political alliances etc, these only divide us and mask out quality candidates.

[Bob Bristol]

If we must follow precedence, then I would say first things first. An independent electoral commission before the contestants are made known. But then, if Biya is still a candidate then lets forget about using the ballot.

On the issue of a female candidate, the big question is WHY ARE THEY? In fact, Cameroonians of all gender have all stained themselves in one way or the other that very few can beat their chest in public to castigate issues of corruption or nepotism. However, I would still encouraged those who have soiled or abuse their positions at one time but have made considerable progress to redress and work devotedly in their various fields to show up.

If not that age may be weighing so much on her, the Dorothy Njuema that I met in Yaounde as rector , is a strict disciplinarian and an achiever. For the few months I spent in Cameroon, I couldn't reconcile the past stories about her and the personality I had the opportunity of interacting with. We may need her kind in Cameroon today. But she wouldn't win my vote if redressing the Anglophone problem is not part of her top most priority.

[Ekema]

2011 is a year of change, cameroonians want to hear of new names as far as the the 2011 election is concenr. giving room to women i think is a very good idea and cameroonian will be very happy having a mother as a president of the country no matter where she comes from.let opposition parties like SDF,UNDP, look for a woman who can talk to the people as a mother and we shall see that change, the SG of the SDF can stand as a candidate she is bilingual, minister Ama Muna can stand as a candidate she too is bilingual, Dorothy Njuema can stand if only biya will not be a candidate then will shall see our dream of change come true. long live cameroonian women your time to shine is now may God bless

[Adolf A Agbormbai]

It's good to see that Postnewsline.com, which I thought was long dead, has been running as Up Station Mountain Club. The new site is much better than the old one.

Keep up the good work of writing classy articles on topical issues. I shall be coming back here for my commentaries.

As far as I'm concerned the major strategic issue for Cameroon today is who will replace Paul Biya in 2011.

For the good health and well being of the nation it is mandatory that Paul Biya leaves office in 2011. We need a new country with fresh ideas and a new leader.

We must have a brilliant leader in office in 2011. Tribe does not matter. Gender does not matter. Only ability matters!

To find this leader there must be due process...

Between now and the next general election party leaders and independents must research and formulate their political manifesto describing and analysing the problems of the country.

This manifesto will discuss the strategies and higher-level tactics for dealing with these problems. The solution must be grounded in reality and take into account constraints.

The manifesto will include implementation or action plans for applying the solution, and the start date for such plans must be the FIRST DAY in office.

Low-level tactics are not needed at this stage because they are the things one adjusts on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis to implement the solution. They must therefore be flexible and are best formulated when in office.

The role of the Press is to ensure that the nation understands the various positions of the leading candidates. Basically they must help the people to make informed decisions at the ballot box.

The press will interview these candidates on their manifestos, and critically analyse their positions in language that the people can understand.

The press will also organise debates among the leading candidates so that they can argue out their positions and defend their solutions.

The goal behind all these is to ensure that the best candidate gains the Presidency through the ballot box. This candidate will be brilliant, knowledgeable about the issues of the country, and will thus have the best solution for the way forward.

When in office the Press will keep an eye on the Presidency and its actions to check that the promised manifesto is being implemented. And when there are deviations, the Press will raise an issue on the matter.

Cameroon must have an independent election body that guarantees fair elections and that is therefore acceptable to all stakeholders.

Forget about Paul Biya's ELECAM. It is Biya's toy for defrauding elections and keeping himself in power forever.

Paul Biya is irrelevant to the next general elections, as his term runs out in 2011. He therefore has no authority or say over the events of that election. Authority belongs to the Cameroonian people and not to Paul Biya.

Cameroon is bigger than Paul Biya or any individual Cameroonian. Cameroon has decided that Paul Biya's ELECAM will not stand and it won't!

Preparations must start to formulate an independent election commission that will oversee the next general election.

[Peter Forkou]

Mr. Ndifor,
Did you have somebody in mind? Are we going to sit around and wait for a woman to remove Biya from office? This is really grappling in the dark. Ellen Johnson was a powerhouse in Liberian politics before she ever ran for the presidency. I am not sure there is such a woman in Cameroon. We have some phonies who have been bought by the current administration and there is just not much we can do. Biya is going to win the next election and the next, all what we should pray for is that what happened to Bongo should happen to him. Luckily for us Frank is not the kind of person we should be worried about.