Status quo maintained as octogenarians retain firm grip on power

Political commentators’ claim of an imminent generational transition in Cameroon were dealt huge blows when senators and parliamentarians gathered to elect their leaders on Thursday.

The most powerful figures at the helm of state power in Cameroon are all octogenarians. These octogenarians firmly maintained their grip on power, Thursday.

Senators deemed Marcel Niat Njifenji isn’t too frail to carry on as President of The Senate and parliamentarians continued Cavayé Yeguié Djibril 29 years run as President of the National Assembly.

Mr Njifenji and Mr Yeguié secured resounding victories obtaining absolute majority as claimed by state media. Their re-election is a testament to the fact that in Cameroon’s political fray, the most epic battles for succession and power will be fought within the regime and not by outsiders with different political affiliations.

As news of the political drama unfolded, many Cameroonians were surprised by the results; it was a resounding victory with claims of absolute majority. Senators and parliamentarians from the opposition party seemed to be gagged as not even a single one of them objected to the status quo being maintained.

The opposition parties decided to cast null ballots exposing a pattern within Cameroon’s political sphere where the regime and the so called opposition scratches each other back at the detriment of a competitive democracy.

The demographics of Cameroon are fast changing. Youths represent the largest portion of the population and these elections indicate that their leaders in both The Presidency, The Senate and The National Assembly are out of touch with ordinary Cameroonians.