Editorial: Under the sunshine of grass-roots power

For once the ruling Cameroon Peoples Democratic Movement, CPDM, is beginning to bask under the warm sunshine of transparency and respect for grassroots power. The last municipal elections earned the party this credit.

And only recently, this grassroots power manifested in the elections of Barrister Nseke Luma who has replaced the Late Dalle Isaac as Mayor of Limbe III. Nseke, thirty eight (38), virtually not so much in the political lime light of the municipality, left a prominent central committee member and former Mayor loosing the elections again.

If nothing else, this is a new development in the election politics of the ruling CPDM in that the principle of primaries, which usually gives the grassroots the right to choose their leaders is gradually being adopted by the party.

What this amounts to is that the top of the party is beginning to untie its grip on the basic organs of the party. It is only pertinent that the party should be encouraged towards this as a way forward for our democracy.

In the overall machinery of democratizing our electoral process, however, it is only regrettable that the same was not the case in the selection of candidate for the parliamentary elections which, put side by side the municipals, was dobbed “Twin Elections”.

In the case of candidates for the parliamentary elections, there was evidently the heavy hand of the central committee which, along the line seemed to have destroyed the frame work of the democratic process manifested in the municipals.

There is nothing so distasteful and humiliating as to start a good foundation only to dent it mid way and stand bye and helplessly watch it collapse. This is largely due to the wishes of a few individuals who believe that they alone, have been ordained by the political god to wield power and provide a sense of direction for the people.

The case of the selection of candidates for the election of senators is another example of how Cameroonians were denied the right to select their candidates.

The process of the final election itself has raised many questions from some political analysts, who have described the electoral college of councilors whose mandates had expired and were considered to possess no legitimacy to elect the body of such high responsibility for the future of this country.

Perhaps the safest way forward is for Cameroonians to take heart and maintain their patience in the hope that the ruling CPDM will realize that the past was certainly not the best in terms of performance, and that all will be well as we move gradually towards another election season.