A good rule for determining who is likely to win the next legislative, council and presidential elections has always been " follow the money". Applying the rule now it will be a brave punter who bet on the opposition.
Alhadji Abbo, Mohamadou Danpullo, Hayatou, Fadil, Kadji, Fotso, James Onobiono, Siaka, Hafis Ruefli, Yerima Dawa and many more unknown Cameroon multi millionaires fear the opposition can`t win the next election and therefore don`t wish to throw away their money.
It is presumably also because they find so little in the party`s policies to inspire them to give generously or to give at all.....".I don`t think the opposition is representing core opposition voters or values...." said Yerima Dawa , who used to be a strong supporter to Bello Bouba Maigari`s political party. Other plutocrats are being similarly careful with their wallets.
While some like Protais A, acting president of E-Cam, a leading employers`organisation have drastically cut their donations, others are giving nothing and it is possible some will never give again.
The problem for the Cameroon opposition is that they have come to rely on huge donations from small number of people to remain solvent. So when those people stop giving, revenue plummets, along with the means to conduct election campaigns.
Cameroon opposition prefer the big-hitter approach to the old method of raising much of their money from activists in constituency parties and from the State,
How irritating for party leaders to see these grassroots members who pay subscriptions and buy raffle tickets and who like to think they are participating in a form of democracy, and then expect to be given a say on important political matters. The former Head of State pictured above, Ahmadou Ahidjo during his 25 years in power has crushed the opposition and the freedom of expression and association. In hiding many Human Rights`activists spent time criticising the policies Mr Ahidjo was following.
The truth is that some of the opposition leaders owe their position to those same rank-and file members because they voted for them handsomely,
However, i know from talking to several of them that they have grave doubts about other important policies and have stopped donations because they hold out little hope of the President, Paul Biya changing course and doing what they regard is sensible.
Opposition in Cameroon want two things above all. The first is a change of direction in the electoral procedure and mechanism, specially along the lines of the International community suggestions and recommendation on ways of improving the country electoral system.
The second one will be on the direction of the economic and measure of boosting that in creating growth along the lines of employers leading organisation, Gicam, Mecam, E-Cam, Gfac and many more..And when the opposition can`t secure the support of businesses, it is in serious trouble.
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