Every political party that wants to be democratic has its own tendencies and internal movements. A political party cannot exclude internal debate but all this must lead to a movement whose aim is the reconstruction of the country which, in Cameroon, involves the removal of the murderous regime of Mr. Biya from power. BIYA MUST GO!
As far as our political family is concerned, let me be clear. Given the situation of our party since the last presidential election and more importantly the current situation of our country after 38 years of Mr Biya's disastrous reign, it is normal that there are internal tendencies of thought today. This debate is necessary.
I believe that it is about proving wrong those who believe that the SDF has given up. To prove wrong those who think that the SDF is no longer important. It is also about proving more than ever before the strength of the commitment of the SDF. And generally speaking, it is about proving wrong those who think that politics is no longer or will no longer generate enthusiasm, that our political family can no longer count on the massive mobilization of its militants and supporters in particular and the people in general. What we need to do now, after these last two difficult years, is to generate internally the desire to discuss, exchange ideas and reflect on the right direction to take. It is not simply a question of saying who is doing or will do what. It's about getting our political family out of a period of lethargy, laxity and division which is felt by those watching us from the outside and which has made us almost inaudible and has humiliated us a little.
We do not have the right to be divided today in front of the situation that our country is going through. Division damages any political party or movement. We must put an end to the ego bickering that has given the public a devastating image of our political family.
It is now essential to move away from a political approach in which individual considerations always take priority over the expectations of the group. There will not and never will be any individual success over the defeat of the group. Faced with the future challenges of our country, it is now the time of the group and not of personal ambitions that must end.
We must return to the fundamentals of the SDF from its foundation and which have always been defended by the National Chairman, namely taking firm stands on the major subjects of the day that shape the daily lives of Cameroonians. This should have been the priority since the last presidential election, namely to firmly oppose on the one hand and propose on the other.
The anger and disarray of Cameroonians are so great that we have no choice. If it is not us who is carrying the alternative, who will do it in our place? We must bring an alternative to this desperate image of a powerless and above all autistic and arrogant regime. An alternative to a practice of daily and scandalous professed lies. An alternative to the temptation of extremism and extremes. An alternative to the temptation to think that politics can no longer do anything and is no longer worth something. We urgently need to put an end to the perception that Cameroonians hate, namely the opposition of convenience and accompanying that has damaged our image so badly.
We must resume peaceful street demonstrations for the demand and protection of the fundamental rights of the citizen as well as on major current affairs. Fortunately, the latest appearance of Chairman NI John FRU NDI, which goes in the same direction, has come to warm the hearts of the people.
THE FIGHT MUST CONTINUE UNTIL THE FINAL VICTORY.
In the 1990s, more precisely since 26 May 1990, when the Chairman and some valiant Cameroonians launched the SDF, our party, with the slogan "Power to the people and equal opportunity", the National President has consistently resisted the calls of the Yaounde regime. His determination was based on the need for democratic principles based on freedom of expression, political pluralism and electoral transparency which requires a consensual electoral framework to enable Cameroonians to freely choose those who should rule over their destiny. Also, to promote the development of the country, the SDF under his leadership has constantly proposed federalism as an essential form of state development to address the needs and concerns of our sisters and brothers of Anglo-Saxon culture. It is precisely this stubborn refusal to organise a genuine and honest debate on the return to federalism that has caused the crisis to bog down in the two regions of the north-west and south-west with the dramatic human consequences we know of, namely more than three thousand deaths, tens of thousands of refugees and hundreds of thousands of internally displaced persons according to the partial reports of NGOs who have worked in these regions. Who does not remember the launching march of our party on 26 May 1990 in Bamenda where Mr. BIya's soldier shot and killed six compatriots? Who does not remember the march of the Union for Change in October 1993 in Yaounde where there was an assassination attempt on the person of the Chairman who was at the head of this demonstration? Who does not remember the march organised the same year by the Chairman NI John FRU NDI NI on the Ndokoti - 11th arrondissement police station route to demand the release of my entire family (wife, children, dog) taken hostage to force me to surrender? Who does not remember the Chairman brutalized at the Deido roundabout by the soldier during the march for the 9 people who disappeared in Bepanda in 2001? Who doesn't remember the march organised by our MPs in 2004 for the digitalization of the electoral register and for transparent ballot boxes where the soldier sprinkled water and tear gas on our elected representatives wearing the green, red and yellow three-coloured sash? Who does not remember the blockade operation carried out at the National Assembly in November 2017 by our elected representatives who insisted that the Anglophone question be included on the agenda of the parliamentary session? Who does not remember the marches of our parliamentarians in Bamenda and Buea still for the resolution of this crisis? Who does not remember the 2008 marches organised in Douala against the disastrous modification of the Constitution; peaceful marches that resulted in more than 400 deaths according to NGOs? Who doesn't remember the 53 demonstrations banned in the Littoral region alone since I became Regional President of the party? We must therefore not forget that popular protests through peaceful marches are the DNA of the SDF which cannot be changed, especially at this time when the battles will be increasingly tough.
From these various feats of arms, Cameroonians have retained to date from Chairman NI John FRU NDI the image of a determined patriot who believes that everything resides in the equality of rights and duties of Cameroonians, hence the slogan "Power to the people and equal opportunity" and the symbol of the scale. This determination and drive have caused him to make enormous sacrifices to the point where he has risked his life on many occasions in order to ensure the triumph of those values in which he has never ceased to believe. Today, in the evening of his life, some of us, through tactless, senseless or indulgent actions, have believed that they must question this historical image. Each one of us along the way must be able to leave some marks. Our Chairman has so far left indelible marks in the history of Cameroon. This is why the hesitations and lack of experience of some militants bring me to say here today that I will oppose any act that would tend to question the image of the Chairman and I am convinced that many of us will fight this internal struggle so that no one will tarnish this image.
It is time for us to get back on the battlefield and take initiatives or join in all initiatives aimed at liberating the Cameroonian people from the dictatorship of Mr. BIya and the Aujoulat system. The time has come for the SDF to mobilise all the forces of change (political parties, civil society associations and independent personalities) to form a broad front in the struggle for the liberation of our people.
THE SDF MUST TAKE BACK THE LEADERSHIP OF THE STRUGGLE FOR CHANGE!
Since 1990 we have been the pioneers in this liberation struggle. We must remain in the spirit of our Chairman, fight as he has always done and continue this struggle until the final victory.
HASTA LA VICTORIA SIEMPRE!
Hon. Jean Michel NINTCHEU
Regional President of the SDF for the Littoral