By Atia Tilarious Azohnwi
Atanga Nji Paul, Minister of Territorial Administration has in a rare outing signed a communiqué recognizing ‘legitimate’ leaders of three opposition political parties in the country.
The Minister in a communiqué on Wednesday, July 18, 2018 recognised as leaders three officials of the Union des Populations du Cameroun (UPC), the Cameroon People’s Party (CPP), and Mouvement Africain Pour La Nouvelle Indépendance et la Démocratie, Manidem.
A communiqué from the UPC party on Thursday said only “the President Habiba Issa and Secretary General Pierre Baleguel Nkot are the legitimate voices of the party”, and not Member of Parliament, Hon. Bapooh Lipot as stated in the minister’s order.
Minister Atanga Nji had also said that the persons to speak on behalf of the CPP and Manidem are Tita Samuel Fon and Anicet Ekane respectively. Dieudonné Yebga of Manidem, an ally of Kah Wallah was barred from speaking on behalf of Manidem.
Kah Wallah responds
Kah Walla, President of the Cameroon’s People’s Party in an open letter to the Minister of Territorial Administration, Atanga Nji made nonsense of the Minister’s latest appointments within some political parties.
This in the bid to stop internal conflicts within the CPP party said Tita was the rightful representative of the party and not Kah Wallah.
Reacting to the Minister’s move, Kah Walla said the Atanga Nji’s appointment is null and void as it respects neither the party constitution nor any administrative or legal procedure in Cameroon. To her, Tita Fon, appointed by the Minister, has neither the legality nor the legitimacy to speak or act on behalf of the CPP.
Her words: “Mr. Minister, It was to our greatest alarm and surprise that we learned of your interference in our internal party affairs over the radio. As the leadership of the CPP, we wish to inform you of the following:
“There is no legal basis which gives you the right to enter into a political party’s internal functioning and decide upon the officials or legal representatives of the party”
“We have received no official document in writing, nor have we been contacted by telephone or in person by anyone from the Ministry of Territorial Administration regarding any dispute in the CPP”
“In the face of misbehaviour on the part of some of our militants who were not respecting our party regulations and constitution, we have sent the Ministry of Territorial Administration correspondence on the dates of February 14th, 2018 and March 19th, 2018 to remind all parties concerned about our party constitution and regulations”
“Your communication read over the CRTV on July 17, 2018 is null and void as it respects neither our party constitution nor any administrative or legal procedure in Cameroon”
“Therefore, Mr TITA FON, appointed by you, has neither the legality nor the legitimacy to speak or act on behalf of the CPP”
“It is unfortunate that at this time when Cameroon is facing serious reputational risks in the global community for acts of illegality and impunity with regard to its citizens, you as Minister of Territorial Administration would further undermine our democracy by committing acts that are outside the legal and administrative framework of our country”
“We are not fooled by your manoeuvres and neither are the Cameroonian people. Your lowly undertakings dishonour Cameroon and reveal, to those who were still holding any illusions, the true nature of the regime which you serve. This futile action will not demobilize us, let alone prevent us from acting in accordance with our objectives” “The CPP, led by Edith Kahbang Walla, remains firm in its strategy to achieve a democratic, political transition which begins with the departure of this regime that plunges us with every passing day, further into chaos, misery and tears.
Opposition rallies behind President Biya
Just two days after Atanga Nji signed the communiqué, Bapooh Lipot was pictured in a group of 20 opposition figures who came together to endorse the candidacy of Paul Biya at the Presidential election billed for October 7.
Twenty leaders of opposition parties in Yaoundé on Friday officially endorsed Paul Biya’s bid for a seventh term as President of Cameroon.
Cameroon’s electoral board, Elections Cameroon announced on Thursday it had received 28 applications from persons vying for the country’s top position including incumbent Paul Biya.
The next day, 20 leaders from various opposition parties gathered in the country’s capital Yaoundé to endorse Paul Biya’s bid.
Amongst them was Isaac Feuzeu of the MERCI party who equally dropped his candidacy at ELECAM to run for the elections scheduled for October 7.
Jean de Dieu Momo (PADDEC), Joachim Tabi Owono(AMEC), Fritz Ngo’o(MEC) who were all Presidential candidates in 2011 have all thrown their weights behind Paul Biya, 85.
Bapooh Lipot and Samuel Fon who were all recognised by the Minister o Territorial Administration, Atanga Nji, days ago as official representatives of the UPC and CPP parties respectively were also part of the meeting.
The country’s electoral board has until August 8 to publish the list of candidates retained for the Presidential election.
Candidates then have two days to appeal at the Constitutional Council which in turn has a maximum of ten days to produce a final decision.