For as long as soccer has existed in our country, no player, professional or otherwise, has ever made such an indelible mark on people's minds, both through his actions and the controversies surrounding him.
The ongoing confrontation between Samuel Eto'o Fils and the Ministry of Oversight rings in the ears of the people as an anthem to break away from ties with a regime whose lukewarm track record offers little hope to most Cameroonians. The twists and turns of such a confrontation have yet to have their final say, especially with the MINESEP/FECAFOOT saga only just beginning. Given the deep divisions within public opinion and the subtle power struggles within the current regime, it seems likely that this confrontation will persist.
Hidden within the system, some manipulate from the shadows, while others eagerly await their moment to reveal their own cards. Football has thus become a coveted prize, drawing ambitions in a country marked by the intellectual poverty of its elites and the visible material poverty of its lower classes.
Under these conditions, football becomes the sole yardstick against which visibility of a failed regime in nearly every other social and economic aspect of life can be judged. Clinging to this lifeline like a drifting shipwreck, the regime tries to seize it at all costs to gain some legitimacy. However, unlike past fortunes, this time there are disagreements with a once trusted ally, which some within the regime cry betrayal about. Hence Samuel Eto'o Fils' recent statement on June 14th via Instagram, loudly proclaiming he is not a candidate for the 2025 presidential election: "The Presidency of FECAFOOT is not a stepping stone to the Presidency of the Republic."
Yet, such a statement may not reassure the regime's top brass, for whom power for power's sake is the only worthy motto, no matter the cost. Eto'o Fils himself expressed indignation in his Instagram post against the "defamation" aiming to "bring him down," and the "bad faith" that burdens him. He further claims that rumors about his presidential ambitions have caused suffering to his family, fear among his friends, and have hindered his sports projects. He asserts these rumors threaten his safety. Is Eto'o Fils being intimidated due to his alleged political ambitions? If so, by whom? Why should Eto'o Fils not be allowed to run for the presidency, given he is as much a Cameroonian citizen as any other who might aspire to such a position?
In reality, Samuel Eto'o Fils' Instagram post, far from clearing up misunderstandings, raises more questions than it answers. It sheds light on the mafia-like practices within the regime, where intimidation, threats, and blackmail thrive, especially when it concerns the country's highest office.
It indicates that the extreme control some top figures in the regime exert over this position is far from over. Eto'o Fils' statement reveals that the democratic pretension in our country is a constant charade and that the path to achieving it, if not an illusion, remains a formidable challenge. It underscores that abuses in Cameroon are not limited to the impoverished and marginalized but extend to individuals of all ranks and those who have served the nation. It demonstrates that the democratic pretension in Cameroon is anything but smooth sailing. It consists of turbulent waters dominated by cascades, falls, and underhanded tactics that are now more apparent as the 2025 presidential election approaches.
Eto'o's post reflects the savagery Achille Mbembe describes as inherent in the practices of power, driven by a fierce determination to perpetuate itself against all odds. It points to the extreme channels used to channel positive energies that could arise on the eve of this election, which for the majority of the people should be a pivotal moment of change. At the same time, Eto'o's statement foreshadows that the paths to freedom will never be fully open unless the people, when the time comes, decide otherwise.
TIENTCHEU KAMENI Maurice
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