Politicians in Cameroon have always been regarded as liars. The joke that you could tell when a politician is or was lying because his lips moved is as old as the hills, but the political cleasing corrupted operation by the incumbent President Paul Biya and some of his ministers made a bad reputation worse. Far worse.
Since one of the most often used definitions of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result each time, it may be that there are at least 135 MPs who are insane.
Remember the African United Organisation Summit and the purchase of the presidential aircraft and the management of the purchasing power of some members of the government scandal..?
Couple of years ago a leak of Paul Biya confidential weekly report brought the entire political class to its knees.
Many members of the government and Members of the Parliament were and are....and remain decent, honest and hardworking.
But many others were and are exposed as greedy, dishonest and dishonourable. They were caught fleecing the taxpayer.
Some committed basic fraud, pocketing money to which they weren`t entitled through abuse of their power. Others simply pushed the boundaries of legitimate purchase.
Some were jailed for fraud. Others stood down from public office and activities rather than to be kicked out not by voters at the moment but by the " Boss". Plenty are going to be kicked out when comes the 2013 elections.
As is always the way the bad eggs tarnished the entire group. But so extensive was the abuse and so widespread, that only few people were prepared to make the distinction between the corrupt and the honest Members of the government and Members of the Parliament...
This week it was revealed that there are 135 Mps who are directly connected with all those former government ministers who are in jail in Cameroon. It should be said that be connected to a Member of the government is not illegal or against the rules.
But the connection itself can become illegal according to the rules. At this point it will be good for the entire opposition to request an Independent Parliamentary Standard Authority or Commission to be put in place in order to deal properly with all these mistakes and set the rules.
The right honourable Cavaye Yeguie Djibril, the speaker of the house with an extended mandate term for 6 months might have some institutional questions to answer about the behaviour of some high rank members of his own political party and government who are now in jail since the launch of the political cleasing corruption operation headed by Paul Biya himself as supreme chief in command.
The opposition parties have been given a welcome opportunity to continually highlight the serious disagreement within the main political party in power, the Cameroon People Democratic Movement, (CPDM) over a hugely important matter, the economy and the good governance of the country. But the opposition stumbles from one disaster to another, all entirely of their own making.
Gregoire Owona, Minister of Social Security and Labour yesterday reminded everyone why the entire opposition in Cameroon right now is still regarded in many quarters as the " nasty party".
Pr Maurice Kamto, former government Minister and newly appointed chairman of a coalition of political parties (MRC) for the Renaissance of Cameroon, with no representatives in the Parliament said, some in the government today have always been regarded as liars and nothing good and reliable can come from them.
In the wake of the purchase of the presidential aircraft, we`ve heard constant moans from Ministers and Members of the Parliament about how difficult life now is for them and their family.
Their every step is monitored, they are treated as corrupt by nature and the bond they felt they once had with the public has been shattered.
Polls show that where as 78% of us today trust doctors and 36% for journalist and only 14% for politicians.
It would be very interesting to speak to that 14% who might be some generous souls to continue to trust politicians or must be family related...Minister of Labour and Social Security, Gregoire Owona, a long standing Biya`s supporter might also have some institutional questions to answer about those of his colleagues who have been arrested and jailed for serious allegation of corruption, even they are still portraying their " boss" as a talented Head of State.
It is now time, they plead for us to trust MPs and government Ministers again and knowing that the rest of us are scrutinising every franc they claim..Every government minister and those who are in power today or in an influential position today will have his action scrutinised by the people.
