By Tata Mbunwe
The Secretary-General of the Popular Action Party, Fabrice Lena, has proposed that all political parties in Cameroon be merged into just four to limit the divisive effect of multipartism in the country.
In an open letter, Fabrice Lena said the over 300 political parties in Cameroon should be merged into four categories: Nationalist, Liberals, Conservatives, and Socialist parties.
“I am the representative of a political party but I strongly hold that we should review the law that permits creation of so many parties in a micro, politically immature state with less than 30 million people and multiple ethnic groups with strong cultural bond. I tell you I will vote for merging of these parties according to best prevailing political ideologies of maximum 4 categories such as; Nationalist, Liberals, Conservatives, and Socialist,” Lena said.
According to the Ministry of Territorial Administration, Cameroon has 318 political parties. However, just about 10 have a significant following.
According to Lena, the existence of inefficient micro parties has not helped matters for the common person and the divisive nature of the parties has helped the Biya regime to triumph for over 30 years now.
“The numerous micro parties are not helping matters for the common man. In fact, they are the people’s problem as of now. The existence of these small inefficient parties is the main reason for triumph of the CPDM party for the past 30 years because the foundation of multiparty politics was poorly setup,” Lena said.
He said “When we look at opposition in Cameroon, starting from the members of the so-called G-20 “opposition political parties” supporting CPDM, probably because they tried the true opposition from the beginning and discovered that the rules and conditions are not fair and equal, coupled with the fact that must of their actions to dare the Big man of Etoudi were muscled by force. They decided rationally and quietly to join the winning camp and eat quietly while helping to disintegrate, fragment and deepen the already factional society we have today.
Hear him: “Since 2016 till now, apart from the Press conference this G20 guys held in September to denounce the 22 September protest, I haven’t ever heard them make statement on any of the sociopolitical or security problems affecting the country, yet they are political parties and they want to lead the country with everybody inclusive. I hope you are seeing.”
According to Fabrice Lena, even the influential political parties with parliamentary seats – PCRN, UDC, SDF, FSNC – have failed to “work together and sanction the failing ruling party.”
Meanwhile, elections boycotters such as CRM, CPP, PAP, MOCDENA, MPSC, and USDP parties have been unable to agree and take similar actions.
“… Even though all of them have agreed that rules and conditions of Elections are not favorable… Why can they not form a common block? Why did they not protest together? Why are they not planning and acting together? Why are they not forming a common strategy? I have been in the cycle of people who want change but also of people with egos that nobody will want to surrender the political strategy, peculiarities of each party to another for the suffering people,” Lena said.
He added that the division rocking Cameroon’s politics is because “everyone seems all knowing, everyone seems all sufficient.”
He urged the Political elite to unite and for a beneficial change, stating, “change begins with you, change your mindset, stand for the right thing and choose their right road, the right people.”
