By Noela EBOB BISONG
In the declaration of his candidacy for the October 12 Presidential election, Hon Osih Nambangi Joshua, national chairman of the Social Democratic Front SDF party and candidate in the October 12 Presidential election, has posited that, within the current context, he is the best candidate to become Cameroon’s next president, since all he has in mind is to improve the welfare of his compatriots.
“My party, the SDF, has always been known as “Suffer Don Finish”, with its slogan: “power to the People and Equal Opportunities”, the SDF national chairman states.
Paying tribute to the founding fathers of the SDF, especially the memory of the late SDF Chairman, John Fru Ndi, Osih says that, “I learned politics from these elders. I have gained the much-needed experience. I have demonstrated loyalty… I have sacrificed my personal affairs and my private life to serve the collective interest. I have felt the pain of slander and humiliation but I have remained humble and faithful, trusting that the truth always triumphs.”
The presidential hopeful affirms that, “Today, I pledge to dedicate my life to the service of the entire nation, with God’s help and your support, I know I will accomplish this task.”
The serious-minded Osih details Cameroonians that, “For more than 40 years, my work as a social entrepreneur has brought me closer to our ordinary citizens. I have been to all the divisions and most remote villages of the country. I have been to all the refugee camps. I have met internally displaced persons, I have met hardworking Cameroonians.”
The SDF Chieftain maintains that the number one problem of Cameroonians is that of recognition. “I can humbly say, I understand the problem of Cameroonians:They have no STATUS, therefore they simply do not exist”, he says.
Empathising in current hardships faced, he says “We all lead precarious lives in this country because the foundations of our society are precarious. My fight is to rescue Cameroonians from this precariousness.”
The presidential hopeful says he will prioritise sectors like land tenure, agriculture, health, issuance of birth certificates and identity cards, employment, housing, education, social security etc.
Without mincing words, Osih declares that, “I am the candidate of solutions…I oppose Presidentialism and I am promoting an alternative project where most of the power will be handed over to the Municipalities. This is called Federalism.”
He furthers that “The Cameroon of tomorrow must be born from a new, just, honest and courageous social contract between the people and their leaders. A contract of inclusion, social justice, innovation, transparency and accountability.”
In a realistic approach, the Chairman states, “I am not promising you a miracle. I am promising you a direction, a commitment, a method, an alternative. .. “.
Also, in an August 6 Press Release, Osih describes the October 12 rendezvous as a premise for Cameroonians to make a choice amongst three paths: “The status quo, under which we have been sinking for decades; A mere game of musical chairs amongst actors of the same system; Or a genuine change of course, grounded in a deep and comprehensive refoundation of our institutions”.
Osih holds that amongst the selected political parties for the election, only the SDF represents a credible offer for real transformation, “With a solid political apparatus, present across the entire national territory and in every polling station; deep political experience; unwavering loyalty to the forces of change; a clean and uncompromised record; the capacity to resolve the Anglophone crisis; and above all, a unifying and relevant candidate with a people-driven and inclusive political program.”
With the rejection of the candidature of Prof. Maurice Kamto and the seeming over-riding majority of the ruling CPDM party, observers are pressing for a unified opposition force to stage a strong fight come October, with SDF’s Osih Joshua being tipped favourite as an apt representation.
“The time has come to move forward together, with courage, dignity and determination – without rancour or bitterness. We invite all, without condition or reservation, to march toward the future with a calm and resolute heart so that the forces of genuine change can win this election”, Osih implores.