While the vast majority of Cameroonians, at least those who still believe in change, expected to see new people at the perches of these two chambers of parliament.
This March 22, 2024 was election day for the offices of the National Assembly and the Senate. At the perches of the two houses, were respectively re-elected, the right honorable Cavaye Yeguie Djibril, aged 84 for the lower house and, Marcel Niat Njifenji, 90 years for the upper house.
The change long awaited by some observers of the Cameroonian political scene has therefore not finally arrived. Once again, once too many, the national president of the Democratic Rally of the Cameroonian People (Rdpc), also head of state, Paul Biya has decided to opt for the status quo previously. Nothing new under the sun, one could then say. Clearly, the one who holds the power by law to make and undo destinies has shown the eyes of the world that he still trusts his old friends. Don't his supporters say that he is very faithful in friendship?.
This umpteenth renewal of Cavayé and Niat then appears as another snub from the central holder of power who has demonstrated through this gesture that he prefers to continue with these personalities while they show signs of physical exhaustion (nothing surprising considering their ages).
However, well before these elections for the offices of the two chambers of parliament, the signals suggested that there will be a renewal at the head of these two institutions. Many names have also circulated in the press, with good profiles. Nay, we have rather witnessed a renewal of the same. This is a distressing situation which once again demonstrates why the Cameroonian parliament is the seat par excellence of the inertia distilled by its standard bearers who no longer manage to create a new dynamic. However, many Cameroonians expected a real change which may foreshadow an abandonment of inertia for a parliament which truly assumes its missions and is not just content to be a recording chamber.
In the National Assembly, for example, many indicators seemed to demonstrate that the thread of trust is now cut between the Mayo-Sava deputy and the top of the state. Some observers claiming to be in the secrets of the Gods, with the force of arguments, even affirming that "this time it's the right one, barring cataclysm". The landing of the monarch of Mada according to them was only a question of time because he would no longer be in the odor of holiness with the son of Mvomeka'a.
Arguments which do not lack plausibility and relevance, if we stick to the latest decision of the Head of State banning the high-level forum that Cavaye had wanted to organize on an alleged famine in the north. Added to this are the unsuccessful attempts to meet the President of the Republic face to face in recent years. The last time that the PAN, in power since 1992, would have had this privilege dates back to 2013.
Also, according to certain other indiscretions, the right honorable is no longer in odor and is no longer very appreciated by certain hierarchs close to the head of state. Which are, according to the defenders of the guarantor of Mada's traditions, the origin of the coldness of relations between the two men. Ultimately, in its relations with the other elites of the far North, the PAN would no longer be the man of consensus. This is evidenced by the numerous recriminations from the elites of this part of the country regarding the forum he wanted to organize on February 14 in Maroua. Enough to record his departure from the head of this institution which has become, with regard to its management, a family property.
As for the Senate, this is where the greatest curiosity was observed. Marcel Niat Njifenji was re-elected despite his now fragile state of health and his very advanced age. He cascaded back to Cameroon while he was staying in a hospital on the other side of France.
He was taken out of his hospital bed to seek re-election. A fool is anyone who thinks otherwise. As proof, it was necessary to wait 17 days after the start of the parliamentary session to proceed with the elections of office members when this could have been done just after the launch of the work by the oldest members on March 5. The unavailability of the president of the upper house is undoubtedly the cause of the delay.
Needless to say, the reappointment of the presidents of the two chambers of parliament brings up to date the age-old question of the renewal of the political class which has become essential over time. Unless the Cameroonians have put themselves at the disposal of Mother Nature who is the real regulator.
Julien Efila
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