The launch of the book came to further animate the political debate as the countdown to the election continues and anxiety grows across the political divide. There is no doubt that the launch of a book dedicated to motions of support will stir the citizenry, nothing being too small to fuel debate over the presidential election, given its importance, especially as Cameroon’s constitution devolves a lot of powers to the President of the Republic who is the central person in the political, economic and social orientation of the country. In a new-found political environment in which freedom of expression abounds, criticism, not only of the SOPECAM Publishing House initiative, but also of the effectiveness of motions of support as an expression of political support can only be expected.
All too often, some critics have portrayed the exercise as folkloric, either aimed at bringing some lower-rung politicians or administrative underlings to the fore or in some cases, being used by political heavy weights to remind the political hierarchy that they remain faithfully on board.
From the sheer geographical origins of the selected motions, one is bound to acknowledge that the actions of the President of the Republic are not only limited to the big national issues such as trans-national roads, dam projects, or the non-palpable issues as national unity, but also take into consideration the local developmental needs of the people. For example, a locality sends a message thanking the Head of State for a bridge built within their community. From a Yaounde perspective, a bridge in a far-flung locality may not have any significant national significance; but from a local point of view, it may seriously impact the lives of the people. If such people express their joy, it should be understandable as there is no other means through which such joy can be expressed. Moreover, were we not taught, as kids, to say “thank you” for every deed we benefit from?
Granted, the President of the Republic is there to oversee the welfare and wellbeing of all Cameroonians and the provision of services fit well into the road map he rolled out when he sought for votes and was elected into office. But if we were to fully conjure the very wide span of needs, it will be easy to recognise that each developmental project approved for a locality is done at the expense of another locality.
It is also important to emphasise that these motions of support are “home-grown”. They were made freely without any form of coercion. The issue about their authenticity is important in the fact that no one has ever been forced to sign a motion of support, let alone suffering from any reprisals because they failed to, or out rightly refused to sign. One of the speakers at yesterday’s launch ceremony, Professor Jacques Fame Ndongo who, incidentally is Minister of Higher Education, revealed that a number of University dons have often refused to sign motions of support. His special touch on the issue was that those dons who find favours with the President’s policies and actions should be allowed to do so rather than being considered as traitors as some of their peers often consider them. Although Professor Fame Ndongo did not mention it, it is known that some of the most acerbic critics of President Biya and those who have openly refused to sign motions of support occupy frontline academic positions in State Universities. This best illustrates the independent and personal character of motions of support which must also be seen in the wider context of freedom of expression. For, it will be an aberration to let people criticise the President of the Republic and his policies, as many people do, and prevent those who support him from doing so.
In the Cameroon of today, people with different opinions must be given the opinion to defend them.
