According to the high school teacher and political observer, Cameroonians are not progressive; they adore the status quo and cherish ‘networks.’ What is considered blasphemous elsewhere has become normal here.
In a recent commentary, Armand Noutack II expressed his dismay that Cameroon only desires change when it doesn’t threaten its own minor fraudulent interests. He highlighted the hypocrisy, stating that some individuals present themselves as fierce opponents during the day, yet by midnight, they are visiting ministers to negotiate public contracts, which they then poorly execute for substantial personal gain.
“CAMEROON, WHO TRULY DESIRES CHANGE?
The recent initiative by Minister Motaze to audit the state payroll has illuminated many truths for me.
Cameroon truly seeks change only when its existing fraudulent interests remain undisturbed.
I often ponder whether this pervasive system of corruption was intentionally designed by President Biya, or if he merely adapted to it as a means to retain power.
Camérounians are not inclined towards progress; they are content with the status quo and thrive on ‘networks.’ Practices considered reprehensible elsewhere have become commonplace here.
Just yesterday, a uniformed officer shared with me over a drink, ‘Motaze is looking for trouble; he can’t ignore the big fish to target the crumbs of state agents.’
Otherwise, tell me,
How can one advocate for change yet object to an operation designed simply to regulate and control state expenditures?
How can one desire change while manipulating market scales, selling one kilogram of meat at the price of two?
Some civil servants claim to want change, having fled Cameroon for Canada, yet they ensure their bank cards remain with family members who continue to collect their salaries in Cameroon. Once in the West, they are vocal on social media, exclaiming, ‘Paul Biya must go! We demand change!’ What change, dear friends? What service does the salary your relatives receive monthly represent to the Cameroonian state?
Some declare themselves as opposition figures, appearing on television during the day to lament, ‘Oh, the country is suffering, Paul Biya has ruined the nation.’ Yet, by 11 PM, they are meeting with ministers, negotiating with millions or through ‘friendship’ to secure places for their children, cousins, and nephews in prestigious schools.
Certain individuals portray themselves as staunch opponents by day, but at midnight, they are at ministers’ residences, negotiating public contracts which they then execute poorly to amass significant profits.
You, a merchant, shout everywhere, ‘Change is coming! Biya is bad! Long live Senegal!’ Yet, you evade taxes and tamper with product expiration dates to sell spoiled food to people. What kind of change do you truly seek?
‘Oh, the country is in decline, Biya must truly leave,’ you declare, yet you arrive at the office at 10 AM and abandon your post by noon to manage your shop at the central market or Mokolo. By the 25th of the month, you are the first in line at the bank.
You claim to desire change, but you are also the one selling grades to students, perpetrating sexual and moral harassment. Brother, what change do you truly want?
You subsist solely on falsehoods and adulterated goods, yet you attend every opposition rally, proclaiming your desire for change. You even finance electoral campaigns with ill-gotten money. What outcome do you expect from such actions?
‘Oh, we are tired, truly tired of Paul Biya,’ you lament, yet you tamper with your water and electricity meters in the neighborhood, even becoming a distributor of electricity to neighbors who pay you for energy you do not produce. Still, you attend every opposition meeting. If this change truly arrives, what will you live on, my brother?
‘Look at Senegal, that’s democracy,’ you say, but here, you sell your convictions for 2000 FCFA, a piece of bread, and a T-shirt. No, you do not want change.
You litter everywhere, disregard all regulations, and dirty the streets, yet you follow an opposition leader, shouting for change. Brother, go cleanse yourself in the village.
Doctors who abandon public hospitals to focus solely on their private clinics—do you also desire change?
My police officer friends on the road, whose sole wish is for motorists to lack proper documentation so they can be ‘processed at the cash register’—do you want change?
Promoters of private university institutes, with their grandiose programs designed merely for profit and to exploit parents, fully aware that graduates will have no career prospects—do you also desire change?
Journalists whose daily headlines or reports are dictated by a late-night phone call—do you want change?
And my principal friends, who purchase their positions for millions and, once in office, exploit parents and cram students into classrooms like slaves on 15th-century ships—do you also desire change?
Civil servants whose demeanor is solely dependent on the envelope an applicant hands them—do they want change?
Let’s set aside the ministers and high-ranking officials for a moment; we constantly accuse them of corruption. But you, the ordinary citizen, are you truly certain you desire change?
The truth is, WE ARE CORRUPTED. If it were merely superficial corruption, it might be understandable, but our MENTALITIES are deeply affected, and that is where the real pain lies!
The Cameroonian only desires change where their fraudulent interests remain untouched. I speak of all Cameroonians, especially those who claim to be in opposition.
If you cannot embody the change you wish to see for your country, then remain silent.
Go obtain birth certificates and proof of schooling for children to justify your family allowances. That is all. Otherwise, you will be forced to repay illegally received funds and potentially face legal action.
I advise Minister Motaze to infiltrate every profession to identify and sanction field agents who allow themselves to be corrupted by fraudulent officials.
To rebuild our nation after President Biya’s departure, we must dismantle the mental spiderweb of corruption that has ensnared all Cameroonians for 43 years—and I mean all Cameroonians, both those in power and the ‘opposition.’ Otherwise…
Thank you.