Hidden Agenda:

Cameroon Youth Forum turns into CPDM rally

By Ajongakou Santos & Boris Esono

Family Members & Participants of

 Fallen Patiot Foundation

A great number of youths, majority of them from the North West Region have strongly condemned and rubbished the just ended Cameroon Youth Forum that took place in Buea. They regret haven been part of a forum which according to them diverted from its original aim: “train youths on security challenges and citizenship values”, to a political rally that “Forced” youths to call on President Biya to stand in the 2018 presidential elections.

                Asked if the forum was really a misplaced priority as many complained, one of the participants for the North West Region, Mr. Shubiloh Divine, called on the government not to cease hijacking events meant for the youths for their political gains. To him, the theme “Youths and Security Challenges” has nothing to do with politics or a call for President Biya to contest the upcoming 2018 Presidential election. "A glaring example of this was during the match past where the youths carried posters calling on President Biya to be their candidate".

                Another participant from the South West Region, who preferred anonymity, said the 8th edition of the Cameroon Youth Forum was more of scamming being carried out by the government to get more youths to register under the CPDM Party. Here him; "If they want the youths to stand for president Biya, something that some people are not ok with, they should come out plain instead of using a hidden agenda".

                On the sidelines, the 8th edition of the Cameroon Youth Forum organized by Zenu Network, in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Civic Education ended in Buea with a call on youths to uphold values that connect and uphold patriotism. For 5-days (Monday, July 18 through Friday, July 22, 2016) the over five hundred youths from Cameroon’s 10 regions, including the Democratic Republic of Congo were schooled on the theme “Youths and Security Challenges”.      Main issues discussed included; “Cyber Criminality, My vulnerability, Entrepreneurs, Clmate Change” he national and international 8th Cameroon Youth Forum

                Launching the forum, the Head of Division for Security and Administrative Organization at the Governor's Office, Mr. Fonju Bernard called on the youths to be more patriotic; insisting that "job abuse, cyber criminality, and violence have taken hold of the country, young people spend more of their time committing crimes which degrades society".

                To get rid of these imbroglios, Mr. Fonju Bernard challenged the youths to work hand in hand with the Ministries of Education and Vocational Training and that of Agriculture who have put in place certain opportunities for the youths to get holiday jobs that will help address and relieve them from idleness; reminding them of the adage "An Idle man is a devil's workshop".

                Going by the South West Regional Delegate of Youths Affairs and Civic Education, Cameroon’s fight against the terrorist sect Boko Haram has made the group resort to Suicide Bombings and kidnapping; to which he has insisted that Vigilance and Patriotism be the prime goal for youths to fight against terrorism and in achieving vision 2035.

                “If we want to become leaders of tomorrow, youths have to stand up now and take the Barton of command. We cannot become leaders of tomorrow when we are not leaders of today because today defines what happens tomorrow”, one of them told the Median.

                All through the 5-days of the forum, that’s for those who didn’t back out; featured exhibitions of various art works, sport competitions, sight-seeing, lectures, discussions and safari trips to the Limbe Botanic Gardens and the Limbe Zoo.

As a show for respect and principles, a minute of silence was observed for the patriotic youths who have died in the battlefield.