Idea 2: The Dangers of Oversimplified Politics.

The last couple of weeks have been interesting for most Cameroonians. Like many others, I have found myself having to answer questions about why “we chose to vote” a 92-year-old as president for a seven-year mandate. While people have been quick to criticize the political situation, not that I am defending it, I have noticed that the debate has often fixated on President Paul Biya’s age and the length of his time in power rather than the substance of his leadership. It is as though longevity and old age are inherently evil, and youthfulness in leadership is a silver bullet for all the socioeconomic challenges we face. But that is a dangerous oversimplification.

In a country where power has remained in the same hands for over four decades, it is natural to equate change with salvation. However, history has shown us that simply swapping leaders without a clear and better vision is like rearranging furniture in a burning house. It does not fix the underlying problem.

Many of those who campaigned against President Biya in the last election defined themselves more by who they were against than by what they stood for. Their messages were framed around outrage, not outcomes; around rejection, not renewal. Their campaigns sought to build camaraderie with the electorate against a “common enemy.” But sharing a common enemy does not mean sharing a common vision. And simply changing who holds political power does not automatically make things better. I find it exhausting watching the same script play out, the same outrage, the same promises, the same disappointments.

My frustration with many politicians, as well as those who see themselves as freedom fighters or anti-regime crusaders, stems from their tendency to oversimplify the problems societies face while overlooking the complexities of the systems within which these problems must be addressed. They offer catchy slogans and unrealistic promises instead of coherent solutions, thereby setting themselves up for failure and their followers up for disappointment.

Leadership should be more than just opposition. In today’s increasingly complex geopolitical environment, leaders must be more than ever before thinkers, builders, and visionaries. They must clearly articulate not only what is wrong but also what they will build and how they will do it. We must insist that our leaders truly understand the challenges we, the electorate, face. We do not wish to be herded into a future burning with hate or riddled with intolerance. Our societies deserve leadership that heals, not divides; that enlightens, not inflames.

History offers enough lessons to make this clear. Humanity has cycled through ideologies that each rose as supposed answers to their era’s challenges. Nationalism promised pride and unity, but often sowed conflict and exclusion. Socialism sought equality, but sometimes bred stagnation and control. Capitalism unleashed prosperity and innovation, but also deepened inequality and environmental harm. Each of these began as a solution only to become, in time, part of the next generation’s problem. That is the cycle of human politics.

This should remind us that our challenges are not simple. They are wicked problems, complex, interconnected, and constantly evolving. They cannot be solved through slogans, scapegoats, or sweeping promises. They demand humility, depth, and courage — qualities too often replaced by theatrics and noise.

Yet election after election, electorates around the world fall for the same easy answers: blaming predecessors, vilifying opponents, and dividing society along identity lines. These tactics may win votes, but they cost us our collective maturity.

Politicians must understand that leadership is not found in the mud of obscenity or the fire of outrage. It is found on the high ground, where integrity meets vision and courage meets understanding. According to our various leanings, Democratic, Republican, Independent, or otherwise, we will follow those who aspire upward. But those who continue to sink into the swamp of vulgarity and division will proceed alone.

True leadership demands more than opposition. It requires understanding, empathy, and a sense of purpose. The rest is just noise, and history has grown tired of noise; we, the electorate, are tired of the noise.