Editorial: Moral decadence; Gov't should set example for youth.

To achieve that success, as the Head of State rightly pointed out drawing from a limping Indomitable Lions' performance at AFCON 2023, "requires not only talent, but also courage, discipline, organisation and hard work".

But does the ruling CPDM government live by those ideal attributes; be they in sports, schools, politics, business and civil society, for others to emulate? The question answers itself.

President Biya went on to enumerates some opportunities available in the country for the youth to be self-employed. 

He cautioned that: "However, I believe that our youth will be unable to leverage the opportunities available to them unless they fully embrace the civic and moral values that are the foundation of social life. These include hard work, integrity, patriotism, tolerance, civic mindedness, compliance with the law and respect of the common good”.

"Today, we are all witnesses of the gradual dissolution of these values in our society and, unfortunately, among the youths as well. Moral decay, irresponsible and deviant behaviour, violence, indiscipline, alcohol and drug abuse and intolerance are on the rise in our society. Schools are no exception. Social media, now the preferred means of expression for young people, is being abused and is becoming the stage for various forms of extremism,” he stated.

For a solution, he said "...I also encourage parents and more generally all educators to fully assume their responsibility. Although attitudes and behaviours are changing inexorably, they should not relent in their efforts to continue educating and mentoring our youths. They should continue to instil in them values that will enable them to overcome life’s challenges".

Well-spoken Mr President. The Guardian Post is in concord that parents and teachers have the partial responsibility to bring up children of moral rectitude, but above all the governme6nt has the preponderance of duty to set good examples worthy of emulation.

Take for instance, "respect of the law". 

Does Yaounde abide by its own laws prohibiting accumulation of posts? Is the CPDM government respecting its own laws that General Managers of state corporations should serve for a maximum of three years renewable twice, yet some have been on the job for over two decades?

Why are those who are 60 years old, which is the maximum retirement age, still working in a country where unemployment is shooting through the roof?

Why has the commission for the declaration of assets not been put in place for over six years when the law was promulgated to curb corruption, which is one of the root causes of a decadent society? Why has the sale of sachet whiskies still on when it had long been prohibited?

Why does government not reduce voting age to 18 year, so that disgruntled youth can vote to choose the leaders they want or flush out the deadwoods they perceive as responsible for their predicament?

What President Biya ignored to mention in his speech was the putrid and primitive atrocities that have been going on in the North West and South West Regions for over six years. Research has indicated that the conflict has contributed significantly to the deviant and macabre decay in the country.

Global Rights, in a recent report, wrote that: "It has had a significant impact on civilians. Indeed, as of 2022-over five years since the conflict began-over 712,000 people were internally displaced in the Anglophone regions and in the Francophone Littoral, West, and Centre regions as of August 2021, and at least 2.2 million were in need of humanitarian aid. 

Meanwhile, the African Union, AU, which has a long history of avoiding secessionist conflicts, has been very silent on the humanitarian crisis in Cameroon".

But that silence, even as the Head of State addressed the nation, has not concealed the brutal activities of some youth whose corpses are displayed in public squares as if to prove some victory by the combatants; where innocent civilians are being kidnapped and videos posted on social media showing extrajudicial executions.

Does such inhumanity by man to fellow mankind not contribute to a debauchery in society, where mob justice is common? Does ignoring such atrocities in the two Anglophone Regions not help to build a decent society? Could looking the other way when people are kidnapped, school children prevented from going to school on Mondays and innocent civilians being burnt in their houses, not be interpreted as acquiescence?

The Guardian Post shares the patriotic sentiments of the Head of State that the youth "are Cameroon's present and future. It is your lofty task to persevere, with faith and determination, in the exalting task of building this strong and prosperous nation".

But the government must be at the forefront of setting good examples for parents, teachers and the youth to follow. After all, every society is a reflection of its government in power.