Silver Jubilee

Chairman Fru Ndi honouring 1990 Martyrs

SDF advocates new electoral code, two round elections
- But critics castigate Fru Ndi for over centralization of power and personality cult
By Njodzefe Nestor in Bamenda
The chairman of the Social Democratic front, Ni John Fru Ndi who was at the centre of attraction during celebrations to mark the 25th anniversary of the SDF has once again called on the government of Cameroon to scrape the old electoral code and enact a new one.
    Amongst other things, the venerated SDF chieftain advocated for the return to federalism, the need for the introduction of a completely biometric electoral system and two round elections, and above all the independence of the judiciary.
    These and many other issues constituted Chairman Ni John Fru Ndi’s anniversary speech at the Bamenda Commercial Avenue grandstand, that served as venue for the 25th Anniversary commemoration. Activities were guided by the theme “The SDF: 25 years in the struggle for Democracy and Good Governance”. 
    John Fru Ndi seized the opportunity to pay homage to the founding fathers of the SDF and others who had contributed enormously to the success and implantation of the party throughout the national territory. Above all he venerated the 1990 democracy martyrs who were shot by trigger-happy military men by laying a wreath in their honour at the Liberty Square.

    The mobilization was total and the turn out massive as thousands of SDF top officials, militants, supporters and sympathizers likewise delegations of other political parties from within and without Cameroon turned out in their numbers to celebrate SDF’s Silver Jubilee.
    The anxiety that characterized the D-day of the celebration was reminiscent of the day the party was launched on 26 May 1990. But unlike the launch that was marked by animosity with government agents, the Silver Jubilee was characterized by conviviality and communion with the administration. 
    The Governor of the NW region and his entire Etat-Major were present; a high-powered CPDM delegation led by its Secretary General, Jean Nkuete assisted by Senator Ibrahim Mbombo Njoya who was Minister of Interior (MINADT) when the SDF was launched, answered present and actively took part in the celebrations. 
 
Good Will Messages from other Parties
    The celebrations were not only an SDF-centered affair. Other parties from within and without Cameroon came in their numbers to lend their support. Amongst these was Bello Bouba’s UNDP represented by Churchill Achu, the UPC represented by its Secretary General, Hon Bapooh Lipot Robert, the Socialist Party of the DR Congo represented by Minister Mbaya Bonaventure and the ruling CPDM represented by its Secretary General, Jean Nkuete (personal representative of the Head of State, Paul Biya).
     The UPC representative described Bamenda as a mystery town, recalling that Bamenda gave birth to Nde Ntumazah, one of UPC’s founding fathers; gave birth to the CPDM and gave birth to John Fru Ndi and the SDF. Above all he said Bamenda brought democracy to Cameroon thanks to the SDF and thus the need for them to celebrate.
    On his part the CPDM Scribe, Jean Nkuete, who personally represented President Biya, said the frequency of encounters between the SDF and the CPDM is a sign of togetherness. He hailed SDF’s active participation during the national day celebrations on May 20.

Over 13m raised in anti-Boko Haram solidarity
    The money was raised during an ecumenical and fundraising ceremony at the Bamenda Congress Hall on Sunday May 24, organized as part of activities to commemorate its 25th anniversary. Of this sum, 10 million was contributed by parliamentarians, senators and mayors of the SDF while the remaining was raised in situ at the ecumenical service.
    Justifying the raison d’être of the service, Hon Awudu Mbaya Cyprain who was the chairman of the organizing committee of the celebrations said it was necessary to start activities of the celebrations by thanking God who has sustained the party for 25 years. The Men of God present prayed for peace and security in Cameroon and for God to help SDF grow to higher heights.
    Another high point of the anniversary was the launching of a book titled « The Struggle for Democracy and Good Governance, 1990 – 2015, The Untold Story. » The book which contains 15 chapters and 332 pages, chronicles the SDF story 25 years down the roads.
    In a conference-debate prior to the book launch on the theme: “Opposition Parties in Africa, Challenges and Perspectives”, one of the key speakers, Dr. Richard Ndi lambasted the centralization of power on the Chairman.
Dr. Ndi noted albeit regrettably that the constitution of the SDF is such that Fru Ndi heads all the major organs of the party: “Fru Ndi heads the National Executive Committee, NEC; heads the National Advisory Council, NAC; heads the National Investiture Committee, NIC and chairs the National Convention of the party.”
    He advised that it is time the party sits back, examines itself, and reflect on how the top can devolve some of its powers to other people within the party.
“    Too much centralization of power in the hands of one man is largely responsible for the dissenting voices within the party, and this has caused some people to leave the party,” Dr Ndi opined.
    He advocated for the institution of presidential term limits, so as to bar the way for some people to stay too long in power.
    Dr Ndi was also very critical of the fact that for 25 years, the SDF has no national secretariat of its own. “The question of the absence of a national secretariat for the party is at variance with the party’s status as the chief opposition party in Cameroon,” Dr Ndi noted.
    He said the fact that every major meeting of the SDF holds at Fru Ndi’s residence, does not speak well of a party that is striving towards taking over power in Cameroon. “The SDF cannot continue to depend on the goodwill of its National Chairman, for the past 25 years, to hold major meetings at his residence,” he said.