In a bold opinion piece, Cameroonian leader Alex Nguepi challenges the nation to reject tribalism and embrace nation-building through economic progress.

«Investors who have poured their resources into developing homes, factories, businesses, and enterprises should never have to justify their contributions to those who have chosen to remain on the sidelines,» Nguepi asserts.

The Bamileke community, he emphasizes, has no obligation to explain their property ownership in cities like Douala or Yaoundé. «Cameroon belongs to all its citizens—not to any single tribe or ethnic group,» he states firmly.

The nation’s major cities were not built by one ethnic group alone. They stand as testaments to collective effort—millions of Cameroonians contributing through taxes, labor, and shared sacrifice from every region. «No one holds a monopoly on Cameroonian citizenship,» he declares.

The undeniable truth, Nguepi argues, is that the Bamileke have cultivated a culture of savings, entrepreneurship, and wealth creation. «While some spend, others invest. While some seek excuses for stagnation, others work tirelessly to secure a better future for their children,» he explains.

He dismisses the notion that economic success should be politicized. «It’s absurd to frame the achievements of one community as a political issue,» he states. «Investors deserve admiration, not suspicion.»

The real scandal, according to Nguepi, isn’t that Cameroonians are building across the country. «The true scandal is that after decades in power, some leaders still resort to division and tribal rhetoric to mask their economic failures,» he says.

When unemployment rises, poverty deepens, and opportunities dwindle, those clinging to power often turn to the same divisive tools: tribalism, autochthony, and social fragmentation. «This tactic is a hallmark of failing regimes with no solutions to offer,» he warns.

Cameroon, Nguepi insists, doesn’t need tribalists—it needs builders. «The nation thrives when its people invest in businesses, generate employment, and contribute to national wealth,» he argues. «Progress comes from entrepreneurs, farmers, industrialists, and workers—not from hate speech or division.»

His message is clear: «Let every Cameroonian build, invest, and create wealth. That’s how our nation moves forward.» The future, he believes, belongs to those who build—not to those who sow discord.

Alex Nguepi»