Dr Mbile Peter
By Dr. Peter Mbile
I learned to drive the right way, on a manual car. One lesson that has never left me is the notion of the “breaking point.” It is that delicate moment at take-off when the clutch touches the flywheel enough to reduce the noise of the engine, but not quite enough to move the car. At that point, the driver releases the clutch fully while gently pressing the accelerator, and the car begins to move forward.
As Cameroon enters this election cycle, I believe we too are at a “breaking point”. The noise is beginning to subside. Something new may soon move us forward. The breaking point, to me, is more than a mechanical reality. It is a metaphor for moderation. It is not the full force of acceleration, yet not the wasteful roar of idling. It is balance. And balance is exactly what our country needs now.
Shared Responsibility
One of the most striking features of this political season is the growing realization that no one can claim innocence in the socio-political malaise of Cameroon. Whether inside or outside the ruling party, whether cheering the incumbent, crying foul with one foot in and one foot out, or standing completely apart from the system, every Cameroonian has, at some point, participated in the good, the bad, and the ugly of our nation’s journey. We are all implicated, through what we have done, and through what we have failed to do.
This recognition is not meant to assign blame equally, but to remind us that responsibility is shared. Change must begin with ourselves, with what we seek, how we seek it, and what we expect of others.
Shifting Coalitions
As the noise reduces, coalitions are breaking apart and new ones are forming. Prominent candidates have crossed from one camp to another, as we saw when Akere/UNIVERS declared for the UNDP. Others are digging in and proclaiming righteousness, such as the coalition that recently endorsed the Tchiroma candidacy in the name of Federalism, though without explaining what they really mean by it.
We all know that one party, the SDF, has long been explicit about Federalism, yet even there the details remain vague. Conveniently so, because in politics, too much detail can be fatal. Still, we should not forget that only a few years ago, the same Tchiroma now championed by some “Federalists” spoke vehemently against Federalism during the Anglophone crisis. The inconsistency is glaring. But politics thrives on ambiguity, and as always, the devil remains in the details.
Anglophone Questions
Another striking feature of this season is the vanishing search for an “Anglophone candidate,” once loudly championed by some pundits. Two Anglophone figures, Akere and Ateki, have stepped aside in favor of Bello’s UNDP, leaving UNIVERS and its leaders to worry about campaign funds. Critics ask why these men did not join the SDF, which still has its strongest base in the Northwest, their own home turf.
Some claim it is political astuteness, a sacrifice for the greater goal of unseating the ruling party. Others argue they were swayed by the large UNDP crowds, forgetting that popularity should not be confused with programs, rationality, or vision for leadership. The bigger question remains: if Tchiroma is now truly the vessel of change, why did Akere and Ateki not see it? Is there more than meets the eye?
The Politics of Crowds
The so-called coalition of Federalists insists that it is better to overlook Tchiroma’s two decades of history; including his opposition to Federalism when Anglophones demanded it, because his crowds are large enough and he appears to have changed his mind. Perhaps. But should crowds alone determine the future of our nation? If politics becomes nothing more than a race for numbers, then substance, accountability, and principle will be sidelined.
Even Bello’s UNDP, still officially part of government, is branded by critics as a Trojan horse of the ruling party. Yet this too should have been obvious to those who joined him. Clearly, confusion reigns, and it grows precisely as the noise diminishes and we approach the “breaking point”.
The power of moderation
At this juncture, I return to the lesson of the manual car. At breaking point, the vehicle begins to move forward not through extremes, but through balance. Too much gas and the engine jerks. Too little and the car stalls. Moderation is the key.
The same is true of politics. Extremes promise much but deliver little. Righteous indignation, anger, or opportunistic coalitions may stir crowds, but they rarely build lasting progress. Moderation, by contrast, creates the space for dialogue, compromise, and genuine forward movement. Moderation is not weakness. It is the strength of discipline, of refusing to let noise overwhelm reason.
Our political truth lies not at the fringes, but at the center. It is in moderation that Cameroonians can meet, not as enemies, but as citizens bound by common responsibility. It is in moderation that we can finally begin to move this car of ours forward.
Moving forward
The breaking point is here. The noise is falling. We can continue to play politics as a game of crowds and coalitions, or we can embrace moderation as a principle of renewal. Every Cameroonian must recognize their share of responsibility for where we are today. And every Cameroonian must embrace moderation in seeking change.
This is not about lowering ambition, but about grounding it. It is not about silencing passion, but about channeling it wisely. The middle ground is not a place of compromise for its own sake. It is the only place from which a country so complex, diverse, and fragile can begin to move forward.
The car is ready. The noise is falling. Let us press the accelerator gently, with moderation, and move forward together.
