Chris Mbunwe
8 January 2009
SDF National Chairman, John Fru Ndi, has described President Biya's end-of-year speech as empty. Fru Ndi made the statement following President Biya's traditional address to the nation on December 31.
He said the speech had nothing to offer Cameroonians because it was full of empty promises and not practical measures on tackling the socio-economic and political blunders that he has plunged the country into.
To him, Cameroonians expected their Head of State to announce the political calendar of this year not to be taken unawares as has been the case. "Rumours are rife that Senatorial elections are around the corner, but nobody knows when it would take place except Biya and his cronies. As far as SDF is concerned, we shall decide whether to take part in such elections or not."
Fru Ndi also picked holes with the President's pronouncement that the agricultural sector will be given special attention. Going by him, Biya could have presented an aggressive agricultural policy that will tackle youth unemployment in more practical terms not theories.
Furthermore, Fru Ndi said Biya should have apologised to Cameroonians for the February upheavals in the country because he was ill advised by his collaborators. The SDF Chair also faulted the President's appointment of members of Election Cameroon, ELECAM. "There was no use for Prime Minister, Ephraim Inoni to spend State resources on consultation talks when his master, President Biya, will flood ELECAM with CPDM politburo and Central Committee members," he said.
"I am once again drawing the attention of the International Community to the fact that Biya has declared war, because nobody has faith in these fellows that have been appointed since they are staunch militants of his party. When the SDF was called up for consultation, we proposed names of people of timber and calibre.
For example, we proposed His Eminence Christian Cardinal Tumi and a host of other independent minds, but look at what he has done, just the direct opposite of what we expected. This is not a neutral body to conduct free and faire elections in Cameroon. By this act, it is clear that Biya has no love for this country," he said.
While calling on Cameroonians to take their responsibility when the hour comes, Fru Ndi said there is still enough time for Biya to dump the CPDM cronies he has appointed and go back to the proposals that political parties, civil society organisations, religious bodies and traditional authorities had tabled to the Prime Minister.
If this is not done, going by Fru Ndi, Biya will not exonerate himself from any embarrassment or trouble that will spark before, during or after elections in Cameroon.
Meanwhile, Fru Ndi described Dr. Samuel Fonkam Azu, who was appointed to head ELECAM, as a barefaced liar who went on the air waves of CRTV telling Cameroonians that he (Fru Ndi) wines and dines with Biya.
"I now believe that Fonkam hatched this scheme so that he could be compensated with a post like Chairman of ELECAM," Fru Ndi remarked.
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