Population urges Mr Biya to seek another term of office in 2011 presidential election, pledging their unalloyed support.

The people of the North West Region have urged President Paul Biya to seek another term of office in the 2011 presidential election, promising to rally behind him in the discharge of his task of nation building. The people in their thousands gathered at the Bamenda Congress Hall yesterday, November 4, to manifest gratitude and loyalty to President Biya for appointing Philemon Yang, Prime Minister, Head of Government and various New Deal achievements in the region. This was in the presence of the leader of the CPDM Central Committee, Madeleine Tchuinte, Minister of Scientific Research and Innovation, some members of government, the Governors of the North and Littoral Regions.

With the Prime Minister Yang as the guest of honour, the North West population through speeches, singing, dancing and in the Bamenda declaration, thanked President Biya. Hon. Francis Nkwain who read the declaration, invited Mr Biya to once more visit Bamenda, "his second home". The Prime Minister in his keynote address, stated, "Bamenda and this region exist in a country which is one and indivisible; one nation, one flag, one territory, one people, one nation, one national dream and one hope for continuous prosperity". He also told the people that, "the political choices we make, also make us", stating that a wrong choice can lead us to unnecessary complications of dangerous consequences". Mr Yang used the occasion to laud the tolerance and open-mindedness of the people. He singled out the militants of the Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (CPDM) for praise for having chosen a party which preaches dialogue, peace, unity and development, stating, "we love your honourable choice, because you were right yesterday and will be right tomorrow".

The Bamenda ceremony, Mr Yang said was a prelude to the greater event of November 6, solemn 27th anniversary of President Biya's accession to power. He said the event merited celebration because his ideas, actions, character and reputation have made the Head of State an influential, patient, trustworthy and patriotic Cameroonian.

Reacting to the difficulties and needs of the North West presented by different speakers, the Prime Minister assured that government cannot neglect any part of the country. To achieve general and sustained development, Mr Yang advised the population to work hard to make a one and indivisible strong, peaceful and prosperous Cameroon. He reminded them that everyone has the obligation to protect the interests of the country and stated that the nation relied on the patriotism and contributions of all.

Commitment

The population through the various speakers reaffirmed the commitment of the entire region to support President Biya and the New Deal ideals. The President of the Mezam I Section of the CPDM, Paul Atanga Nji thanked President Biya for appointing Yang Prime Minister and said the Bamenda occasion was a moment of thanksgiving and to take a firm engagement never to make the mistakes of the past. He said the only way of manifesting concrete thanks will be for the North West to give Mr Biya victory in 2011. The representative of the North West business community, Eric Njong, said the visit of the Prime Minister was an occasion for them to organize themselves to live up to his expectation of providing jobs. He called on government to cleanse the business environment, as well as build and maintain infrastructure. The North West business community pledged support to the Prime Minister and the Head of State. The Secretary General of the North West Fons' Union, His majesty Dr Akam also promised their total support to the Head of State. The Fons handed symbolic gifts to the Prime Minister. The Government Delegate to the Bamenda City Council, Vincent Ndumu urged government to create a State University in the region, complete the Bamenda Ring Road project and create other development infrastructure.