International recognition

USA-based NGO crowns Fru Ndi as Goodwill Ambassador

- The SDF Chairman returned home to condemn growing indiscipline in his party

By Foy Samson in Douala

Ni John Fru Ndi

The national chairman of the leading opposition party in Cameroon SDF, Ni John Fru Ndi has been recognized in the USA for his contribution to the peace that reigns in the country. Fru Ndi was laureate of the African American Focus Inc. (AFI) Peace Award for 2015. The AFI is based in Los Angelese USA and recognizes lifetime achievements by individuals or groups of individuals in the domains of Human Development, Democracy and Human Rights.

Fru Ndi thus joins other laureates to become Goodwill Ambassador of the AFI. He is expected to preach democracy and peace not only in Cameroon but to peoples and countries all around the world where these values are not yet shared.

It was a visibly happy but humble Fru Ndi who fielded questions from journalists in Douala upon his return to the country from the USA.

Talking to the press at the Douala home of SDF Vice Chairman, Joshua Osih, Fru Ndi said the AFI Peace Award does not recognize him as an individual but the combined contribution of SDF militants to peace and democracy and the maturity they have demonstrated in 25 years of the existence of the party.

            Hear him: “I was invited to the USA where I was handed the award in Los Angelese, on 25 April 2015. If you look on the award it is inscribed: “Ambassador of goodwill shinning the light of life”. The award recognizes the SDF’s contribution to the peace in Cameroon since 25 years of its existence. It is also an encouragement for the fight to advance democracy in Cameroon,” Fru Ndi said, recalling that “the SDF has traversed critical moments in its conquered history – it won presidential elections in 1992 but was deprived of the victory; people were maimed and killed; people were put under house arrest; yet the party never thought of going to war.”

            Fru Ndi explained that if the SDF has opted for Peace and not war it is because of the love for country: “We do not want our country to go down in flames like what we see in other countries,” he said.

            Fru Ndi’s visit to the USA was also occasion for him to communion with some SDF militants who have elected residence in Barrack Obama’s country, for various reasons especially political and economic reasons.

            The SDF Chairman took time to address the situation of SDF militants who have fled the country to seek asylum in foreign lands because of the persecution they suffered in their country. He recalled vividly the case of active militants like Voukeng Donfack Alvine and others whose whereabouts are yet unknown after they were pursued by security forces on charges of subversion and disturbing the peace.

            Voukeng Donfack Alvine for example was charged with distributing seditious tracts and inciting the populations to rebellion against the state. She is still being pursued by the gendarmes. 

            Back in Cameroon, Fru Ndi used the press conference to also condemn the indiscipline that is prevailing in the Littoral branch of the SDF, whereby the SDF councilor in the Douala V council, Elimbi Lobe Abel and the regional chair of the party, Jean Michel Nitcheu are at daggers-drawn over the issue of a successor for the late mayor of Douala V, Francoise Fonning.

            Fielding questions on the burning issue, Fru Ndi said the SDF party has rules and laws that must be respected by every militant of the party irrespective of their status or position in the party. He said the party will not tolerate acts of indiscipline by its militants.

             Fru Ndi said for instance that the SDF hierarchy did not mandate Elimbi Lobe or who-so-ever to talk on its behalf over the succession of the mayor of Douala V council. He emphasized that candidates for elections are invested only by the party’s investiture committee.

            “No body mandated Elimbi Lobe to talk on behalf of the SDF. He has no right to write to the minister without the prior authorization of the party. We do not tolerate such indiscipline in our great party. Ours is a party with rules and laws,” said a visibly disappointed Fru Ndi, who did not exclude the possibility of article 8.2 being invited on Elimbi Lobe.