checking executive powers

Dear Friends,

By now I know exactly in which direction the polls will go and so it’s about time we start thinking of how to restructure the national assembly to check the powers of the executive.  A look at the Cameroon national assembly for the past many years will remind us that it has been nothing more than a collection of signature holders ready to sign laws whose content they basically have no idea about let alone understanding the impact of such laws on the people of Cameroon. I think it’s about time we flush the national assembly and begin to build a truly nationalists assembly that will lead this nation out of its current social, cultural, political and spiritual casualty. With over 200 hungry, focus blind political parties, I think the civil society in Cameroon must stand up to help direct the nation to a safe return to social justice, peace, the rule of law and development.

Looking at the work of the civil society this far, I must say that though weak and heavily infiltrated by destabilizing forces, the number of meetings and declarations, warnings and predictions around the current presidential elections are evident that the Cameroon civil society is growing. I personally think that for the first time, the civil society has demonstrated a sense of unity and direction.  

The major work in the months ahead will be to help put in place a national assembly made up of men and women who will for once think beyond their narrow selfish and party interest.

Any “victory” tomorrow that will not be check by a carefully calculated and constituted national assembly in the months ahead will always be remembered as the day Cameroon sank in her own tears.  

I read from some web pages that Mrs. Paulin Biyond was appointed as the representative of the civil society.  Let me clarify here that she was NEVER appointed as a representative of the civil society. She was appointed as a Cameroonian on the basis of her misguided trust by the head of state and so in no way can be quoted as representing the civil society.  After this trust was abused, the same head of state removed her which is but normal. The civil society to the best of my knowledge was never consulted before appointing the two members. Her dismissal from ELECAM should as a matter of fact open serious investigation to the level of impartiality of all the members.  The known trips abroad by some members should be investigated as well.