YAOUNDE, Cameroon – Naija padi dem, elections don open for Cameroon on Sunday, and all eyes dey on the world’s oldest serving president, 92-year-old Paul Biya. This man don hold this position since 1982, and he dey try to add another eight years to him long resume. E be like say na only Biya we sabi for this country o!
Biya dey face stiff competition dis time around, with 11 challengers wey dey hop like grasshoppers enter the race. Among dem, former government spokesman Issa Tchiroma Bakary, wey don gather plenty followers as e dey shout say him wan end Biya reign. But e no go easy for Tchiroma, as Biya get control of the government machinery like sey na him own house.
Analysts dey ginger say Biya fit carry this election again, because him don master the art of playing the divide-and-rule game with opposition, while opposition dey scatter everywhere like jollof rice mix with beans. But no be say Cameroonians no get hope, o! Dem dey desperate for change as unemployment don dey high, and commodity prices dey fall like say dem get phobia for the ground.
Ahmed Idris, wey dey report for Al Jazeera, don talk say voters dey hope say whoever wins go fit tackle the issues wey dey vex dem. “Cameroon need serious commitment,” he yan. And he no talk am lightly, because people dey suffer under high cost of living like sey na punishment. Over 8 million people don register to vote, including people wey dey abroad. But wey the results go come out na October 26.
Some political scientists, like Stephane Akoa, don talk say make we no be naive, sey the ruling system sabi how to manipulate results. Dem don see say this election don hotter than before, and fit throw out some surprises like magician wey think say him finish show.
Francois Conradie, wey chill for Oxford Economics, talk sey although surprises dey possible, the divided opposition and Biya’s strong political network go give am the edge to win again. Na so the old man wey dey run on the slogan ‘Greatness and Hope’ go dey manage the show as he don do before. Biya no dey show face for public much, and him don only do one rally dis campaign, but e get loyal followers wey dey hold ground for am.
In fact, during him lone rally for Maroua, only a few hundred people show up compared to Tchiroma wey gather thousands for him own rally. E be like sey Biya dey spend more time for Europe than for his country. Some people dey wonder how he still dey rule since him dey busy like sey na vacation time.
As the election dey come, voters dey express their frustration. Hassane Djbril, wey be driver for Yaounde, don talk sey “no jobs dey for those wey wan work,” and him don decide to vote for Tchiroma. “We need change because this government dey treat us like prisoners.” Another mechanic, Herves Mitterand, don also yan say na time for Biya to pack him load, as things don dey worse.
The election dey come amid plenty issues like separatist conflicts wey don dey disturb the English-speaking regions since 2016. Voters from these areas don dey fear to participate due to threats from separatist groups wey don promise to deal with anybody wey show face vote. E get as e be, still the election go hold, and many dey wonder wetin go happen next.
As Biya don already warn sey no candidate fit declare results for themselves, all eyes dey on the Constitutional Council to deliver the verdict after the polls. Meanwhile, voters dey cross fingers sey change go come, or Biya go just collect am from dem like sey na small children wey dey play without supervision.
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