By Noela EBOB BISONG
There is a current atmosphere of cacophony within the opposition circle, following news of the designation of Issa Tchiroma Bakary, as the consensus opposition candidate in the upcoming October 12 Presidential election. After his meeting with Maurice Kamto of the MRC (being described by some as an opposition kingmaker in the October 12 duel), on Friday, September 12, Issa Tchiroma Bakary, former statesman and leader of the Cameroon National Salvation Front FSNC party, on Saturday, September 13, took some Cameroonians by surprise, making public his acceptance speech, in which he informs that he has been designated the consensual candidate under the Union for Change. Addressing Cameroonians home and abroad, Tchiroma stated in his outing that, “You have entrusted me with the immense honor of being the concensual candidate of the people, the candidate of the Union for Change. I accept this mission with humility, with seriousness, but also with unwavering determination.”
Urging the opposition, the civil society and others to bury egos and join him to effect the much-talked about change in the country, Tchiroma says, “To those who still doubt, to those who fear that this coalition cannot hold, I want to reassure you: we are ready. On the evening of October 12, we will be at the rendezvous with history”, he says.
Listing a number of items on his vision for Cameroon, Tchiroma says he requires one transitional mandate of three to five years, and nothing more.
Following his outing however, there has been a plethora of reactions, with some distancing themselves from the development.
“Tchiroma was not nominated by “Le Groupe de Douala” but by an outfit known as “Union pour le changement” whose flag bearers are Anicet Ekane of le Manidem and a certain Djeukam Tchameni”, an observer reacts.
Cyril Sam Mbaka, founder of The Douala Group which has been pushing for a unique opposition candidate to face the CPDM in the October election details that, “The Douala Group has nothing to do with this initiative. Djeukam Tchameni and Anicet Ekane broke away from the Douala Group and created their own structure, which they call the UPC. This has no connection with the Douala Group.” Mbaka maintains that, “For my part, I continue, along with other allied groups, to lead the facilitation work for a true consensus. My role is not to designate a candidate. I remain the sole founder of the Douala Group, and I continue to work with those who share our vision. I was not involved in this process; I know neither its outlines nor its motivation.”
Not convinced about the Tchiroma designation, another observer points that, “Right now, without an opposition flagbearer chosen by the candidates, we’re in the face of a tornado without any clue of where the whirlwind will drop us, as time flies toward October 12.”