October poll: When youth become pawns.

On Monday, youth, said to be coming from all parts of the country, converged on Yaounde, after President Biya announced his candidature for an eighth term; at an Android generation of democracy where a third term is considered a sacrilege.       

As watched on television, the group of not too young compatriots presented a sack, not a cheque, supposedly full with banknotes totaling 40 million FCFA. Thirty million FCFA of the amount, they claim, was to be deposited at the treasury as caution for President Biya's candidature; as provided by law and the rest for other exigencies for the CPDM candidate.

The Minister of State, Secretary General of the Presidency of the Republic, Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh, received the money. 

The development, which took place at the Presidency, has raised many questions than provided answers; with many wondering if the seat of State has been transformed into the campaign headquarters of the CPDM?

Before the Unity Palace play to the gallery and even before President Biya had accepted "the people's call", youth in Bamenda had converged on the Congress Hall, under the banner of the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement youth wing, YCPDM, for a "symbolic fundraising" effort that reportedly fetched about seven million FCFA.

Media reports of the ceremony noted that "speakers at the event praised Biya’s leadership and expressed hope for his continued guidance. However, while the atmosphere inside the hall was celebratory, outside, discontent was visible". 

According to the reports, "several commercial motorcycle riders who had helped mobilise crowds and led convoys to the venue, grumbled aloud  over alleged underpayment and broken promises". 

Several riders complained to reporters that "organisers had pledged 1,000 FCFA worth of fuel to each of them, which many said they never received".

The Bamenda fundraising followed another in Buea, where the youth reportedly donated a "symbolic" five million FCFA to support the campaign of their "Champion".

Why is it that only the miserable youth, many who cannot afford three meals a day, have been donating?

A report by the World Bank notes that the youth, "aged 18 to 35 represent 57% of the labour force in Cameroon, but many struggle to find work. With rapid population growth and urbanisation, the need for better employment opportunities is urgent".

The United Nations forecasts that by 2050, 70% of Cameroon’s population will live in urban areas. While this presents a chance to reap the benefits of a demographic dividend, it also "raises the risk of deepening poverty and exclusion if jobs do not keep pace".

Jobs are not being created to match a growing population, now estimated at 30 million, with the majority being youth.

The last census indicated that people, aged over 60, constitute only some three percent of Cameroonians.

Most of the shakers and movers in the ruling party, with loaded bags of money, are ministers, General Managers of State companies, billionaire businesspeople and corrupt top civil servants who are of the fading analog generation. They are swimming in affluence and flaunting their wealth to the chagrin of the poor and unemployed youth. 

Why are these grandparents in power and on the corridors of power not giving their campaign millions, or are they doing it in a sacred way? Why is the emphasis on youth in a regime that flatters them as "leaders of tomorrow," but continues to want them to financially support a gerontocracy?

Understandably, youth in their numbers will decide the results of the election, in which massive voting and returning to watch the counting could make it difficult to rig or "steal" any victory.

They are the ones traditionally on the forefront of demonstrations and violence, which are often triggered by rigging.

The Guardian Post hopes Elections Cameroon, ELECAM, will provide a level playing field, despite the imperfections in the Electoral Code.

Admittedly, youth unemployment, insufficient and inefficient infrastructure, as well as social amenities, are issues of concern to ordinary Cameroonians. They struggle daily to live with the rising cost of basic commodities and the most affected are youth with decrees, but unemployed or underemployed in activities such as commercial motorbike riding, call boxes, and hawking.

Even a fool will not accept that in such a dire situation to the point some are often influenced not by their consciences but bread and sardines to vote, will be the ones contributing millions to support the campaign of a person his former Government Spokesman, Issa Tchiroma, said "brings them misery".

If the politicians lurking in the dark cannot provide jobs for the youth, they should at least not be used as pawns in a chessboard of political campaigns. All the people cannot be fooled all the time!

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3505 of Wednesday July 16, 2025