Wanton quest for sensationalism

For about one month now, some opposition political parties in the country have been conducting their affairs in an iconoclastic manner apparently for ulterior motives.

They seem to question existing practices not like all political formations wanting to entrench democratic practises, but as perfectionists calling on the population or raising populist sentiments for un-avowed reasons. For instance, debate in parliament, rallies by political parties, and political party discussions on the media and other public places no longer serve as platforms to address their supporters.

They think that gratuitous attempts to create sensation and seek media visibility at home and abroad could somehow position them as the new leaders of the opposition parties in the country.

With slogans as; "Stand up Cameroon" and calls for people to dress in black on Fridays and move out with empty containers in search of water and so on, they want to convey the message of a country that is out of tune with its realities.

Yet, the issue may so much be the quest for the right solutions at the wrong place! Water and electricity supply may be a problem to everybody, but street demonstrations are unlikely going to provide any solution to problems of that nature.

Looking at the functioning of political parties, especially those calling for street demonstration, there is hardly any harmony in their action plans. Certainly a divided opposition may not be any novelty to the political scene in Cameroon, but the trend this time has been profound given that some even appear to question basis of nationhood.

While some political parties seem to classify others as sell-outs for not accepting to call for street demonstrations as the way out of societal hurdles, those who still count on institutional change through the ballot box remain adamant that they are on the right track.

Cameroon Tribune reporters trailing several political party leaders in and out of the National Assembly have often returned with overwhelming reactions from opinion leaders and politicians who disapprove of violence and senseless manifestations as the way to protest against government decisions.

Some have even expressed surprise that their colleagues of the opposition have been gazing at the wrong direction by criticising what the ruling party is doing rather than making their own plans to get to power.

While such a dichotomy on how best to face daily political challenges cuts across even parties represented in the National Assembly, the other fact is that the rallying call has hardly appealed to any visible following among the population. Dressing in black on Fridays, much less carrying water containers, cannot be reliably attributed to any political formation.

People usually dress in black on Fridays in Cameroon, mostly for funeral ceremonies. Thus, the best test for the protest could have been seen if they opted for a different day. While those who spearhead such calls for popular uprisings assess their plans, there are scarcely people who can attest to having seen where such calls have met with success.

Curiously, some media outfits have not hesitated in amplifying such campaigns in spite of the lack of support. Attempts to manipulate public opinion in this way have been seen in the past, and in some countries but incidentally, Cameroonians have never adhered to moves of desperation.

Political problems and alternatives to government proposals must not be sought on the street, people argue, especially in a country like ours where obvious developmental concerns which need urgent solutions do exist.