– SDF defies separatists’ threats
– PCC bows to pressure
– Convention venue moved to Congress hall
– I’ve never been stumbling block to Anglophone problem – Fru Ndi
– Party set to choose presidential candidate other than Fru Ndi
– Intrigues over delegates heightens tension
BY ATIA TILARIOUS AZOHNWI AND SAH TERENCE ANNIMBOM
The contest to pick a presidential candidate to represent the opposition Social Democratic Front (SDF) in the 2018 elections and the renewal of the National Executive Committee of the party is raging to palpitating levels.
Tension has heightened in Bamenda as the 9th Ordinary Elective Convention of the party opens on Thursday, February 22. And in the latest twist the party has moved the venue to the Congress Hall at the heart of the town instead of the Presbyterian Church Ntamulung Hall.
PCC bows to separatists’ threats
In a brief release sent to our newsroom late on Wednesday, February 21, jean Robert Waffo shadow cabinet minister incharge of communication said the PCC authorities decided to bow to pressure to separatists’ threats and withdrew the authorisation it had given the SDF to hold its convention.
Over the last 24 hours there has been serious behind-the-scenes exchanges between the SDF hierarchy and that of the PCC. Late on Tuesday, we hear the Moderator of The Presbyterian Church, the Rt. Rev. Fonki Samuel was in a long telephone chat with the national chairman, Ni John Fru Ndi and on Thursday morning SDF authorities were upbeat about the convention holding at the PCC Ntamulung premises.
There were also security guarantees from government notably North West governor, Adolphe Lele L’Afrique. In the end it seems all this was not enough to quieten the worries of the PCC hierarchy.
The moderator had received a strange call promising him hell should the SDF convention go on as planned at PC Ntamulung.
The convention is holding amidst socio-political tensions in the North West and South West Regions of the country.
In fact, the SDF party hierarchy has been receiving threats.
A similar call was placed to the incumbent National Chairman of the SDF, Ni John Fru Ndi. The caller who presented himself as Kapo Daniel and a member of the Ambazonia movement warned that the outcome will be severe if the SDF Convention is not moved to Bafoussam or Yaounde. The said Kapo told Fru Ndi that his convention was going to pose a threat to their struggle and that he advises him because he sees him as a father to move the convention.
He acknowledged however that he respected Ni John Fru Ndi so much but held that “they” do not want any political rallies in Ambazonia not even the SDF and that if Fru Ndi went on with his convention then he should be ready to bear the responsibility for the outcome. Fru Ndi, on his part, reminded the young man the role he has played in the shaping of the face of the country and told him that they the activists should create an environment where they can discuss and that they should stop ordering him Fru Ndi do this or that. At the end of the lengthy conversation Fru Ndi reiterated that he will hold his convention in Bamenda.
Fru Ndi says he has never been a stumbling block to the Anglophone problem and sees no reason why he and the SDF should be targeted by separatists.
The SDF, it would be recalled took parliament hostage late last year insisting that solutions to the current crisis be found. Fru Ndi does not know why those who claim to be representing the interests of Anglophones would want to block the SDF from holding its convention.
The SDF convention was due to hold in 2016 in keeping with Section 12(2a). But the convention was pushed to February 2017. The socio-political unrest has caused the holding of the elective convention to drag on. The unfortunate turn of events when the CPDM held a rally on December 8, 2016 in Bamenda informed the decision of the SDF to hold on.
But the party has been pushed to the wall. They have to renew the executive committee of the party and to choose the party’s presidential candidate well ahead of time. In the past, presidential candidates of the party were chosen only a month to polling day. This time around, the need to choose the candidate and popularise him with the electorate cannot be compromised for anything.
Meanwhile, the SDF district Chair for Bamenda II was threatened by two boys at the Ntahghem hall for bringing along an ELECAM official to register voters during the a credit union annual assembly. The said boys warned him that if he knew what was good for him he should go away immediately before he regrets what will happen to him. They told him and the ELECAM official that there will be no elections in Ambazonia.
The stakes
For the first time in the 28-year-existence of the SDF, the party will be presenting for presidential elections a candidate other than the National Chairman, Ni John Fru Ndi.
Three members of the National Assembly – Hon. Joshua Nambangi Osih, Hon. Joseph Njang Mbah Ndam and Hon. Simon Fobi Nchinda – will battle for a ticket to the 2018 Presidential elections. The party’s choice will be made at an extra Ordinary Convention on Saturday, February 24, 2018 in keeping with Section 12(2) of the SDF constitution.
Tight races
The position of 1st Vice National Chairman will also be hotly contested between Hon. Joshua Osih and Prof. Ndiva Kofele Kale. Hon. Osih needs to succeed himself in order to keep his presidential ambitions intact.
But Prof. Ndiva Kofele Kale, a constitutional law expert believes that he is the right man for the job. All attempts at urging Prof. Kale choose some other office have been unfruitful.
Hon. Fobi Nchinda Simon is also putting up a spirited fight to oust long-serving SDF Secretary for Communication, Beatrice Anembom Munjo. Henry Kejang from the Littoral will be fighting to secure the office of 1st Vice Secretary for Communication.
Intrigues over delegates heightens tension
Ibrahim Aladji Soulemanou, Regional Chairman of the SDF in the Centre is complaining that the list of delegates he sent for accreditation has been greatly adulterated. He has vowed that he will be going to the convention ground with the list of delegates he had prepared with his District Chairmen.
It is alleged that the adjustments made on the list from the Centre is not unconnected to Hon. Mbah Ndam’s ambition to outsmart his rivals to pick the SDF ticket for the upcoming Presidential Elections.
In another move seen to be orchestrated by Hon. Mbah Ndam, the Adamawa Regional Chairman of the SDF was designated to coordinate delegates to the convention from the North and Far North. Members of the SDF in these regions are complaining bitterly. They ask why their regional chairmen will have to receive instructions from the Regional Chairman of Adamawa.
Allegations have it that Senator Tsoumelo, the Secretary General of the SDF is in alliance with Hon. Mbah Ndam to give him an upper hand in the elections. The SUN could not, at the time of going to press, independently confirm these allegations. Hon. Mbah Ndam’s supporters have charged back that these are mere smear campaigns on their candidate who has a grip on the grassroots.
Accommodation headaches
It is most likely that some delegates to the 9th Ordinary Elective Convention of the SDF may be lodged in halls; instead of hotels like was the case during the last convention in 2012.
Some of the delegates are complaining that were Ofon Mathias not sidelined from the organisation of the convention this year; they would have had decent lodging facilities.
We were unable to get to Hon. Awudu Mbaya who is incharge of general organisation of the convention.