(NewsWatch
Cameroon)-A union government with a representation
of all the major political parties which emerged from the September 30 twin
local elections, this newspaper has been reliably informed, is what President
Biya is searching for. The opposition and the governing party working together
for the betterment of Cameroon and its peoples we were told by our sources, is
the guiding post of the initiative.
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| Fru Ndi and Biya met in Bamenda in 2010 |
The president’s biggest challenge our sources say,
is to bring the Social Democratic Front-SDF, the leading opposition party in
Cameroon on board.
Such a union government would make a lot of sense if
the SDF comes in.
Emissaries will soon meet SDF bigwigs to discuss the
matter.
The move should follow recognition by government of
SDF’s proposals for the improvement of the lot of Cameroonians which can only
be implemented if they join the union government.
Above all, President Biya’s ambition for a union
government is aimed at showing the world his attainment of genuine democracy
within Cameroon.
Unconfirmed reports have it that the SDF is
contemplating accepting the offer; if this happens in December as is widely
expected, it will be a big Christmas gift.
Emissaries to be dispatched to discuss the matter
with SDF militants owe their mission to assurances that they know some staunch
SDF supporters who are ready to accept the offer.
Chairman Fru Ndi of the SDF recently met with Martin
Belinga Eboutou President Biya’s Director of Cabinet to discuss what the
chairman termed “issues of supreme interest of the state”.
After their encounter this year, Chairman Fru Ndi
changed gears, going back on his declaration that the SDF would boycott the
Senatorial elections in Cameroon and that his boys would come out with machetes
to butcher.
Pundits say Chairman Fru Ndi who has always threatened
to sack from the SDF any supporter who joins the government could also change
gear and join himself this time around. After all, pundits add, the motive is
also the supreme interest of the state
We gathered that if Chairman Fru Ndi maintains his
position of the SDF not joining government, the emissaries will turn to
influential supporters of the SDF party frustrated after the September 30 local
twin polls.
The SDF party emerged with 18 deputies in parliament
and 21 councils from the local twin September 30 polls.
The Cameroon Democratic Union (CDU) of party of
Adamou NdamNjoya we learnt will also be contacted by the emissaries. Ndam Njoya
has always maintained his position of never joining the government of President
Biya, arguing that it serves no purpose as it will be of no impact. The CDU has
four seats in parliament and seven councils.
Apart from the SDF, and CDU, the emissaries could
also meet officials of the CRM - the Cameroon Renaissance Movement party of
Maurice Kamto. The MRC secured one MP in the National Assembly - Lazare Soub
from Wouri East although they won no council.
The Union of the Peoples of Cameroon (UPC) we have
been informed, is ready to accept president Biya’s offer of a union government.
A recent Yaounde meeting ( which took place on Saturday, November 02, 2013)
chaired by Hogbe Nlend gave many the impression that the groundwork is being
laid for UPC’s return to government with Hogbe Nlend who served as Minister of
Scientific Research from 2002-2007 likely to represent the party in the
administration. It is also whispered that Biya wants to compensate Ndeh Ntumaza
by appointing either the wife or a child in government. Frederic Kodock who
left the government in 2007 was the last UPC minister who served in the Biya
government. The UPC has three MPs snatched from the CPDM in the Nyong and
Kelle, and has seven councils.
The MDR, the Movement for Republican Defense of Dakolle
Daissala has one deputy at the National Assembly. The party is an old time ally
of the CPDM. It should be recalled that in 1992, the party gave the CPDM its
six parliamentary seats helping it to obtain a majority in parliament. Dakolle who is also the lone senator of the
MDR we have been told, would not refuse to join the government; after all, he
has already served both as Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, and as Minister
of Transport.
The National Union for Democracy and Progress, NUDP
of Maigari Bello Bouba with 5five MPs and 15 councils is an ally of the
governing CPDM party.
Gregoire Owona, President Biya’s man of contact with
opposition figures met Thursday October 31 with Issa Tchiroma, the Minister of
Communication and President of the Cameroon National Salvation Front party.
Nothing filtered out of the meeting which took place in the latter’s office at
the ministry, but speculation is rife that their discussions were related to
the imminent government. Tchiroma who is the government’s spokesman has
declared that only President Biya masters the criteria for the appointment of
members of government. He lost the local elections in his native Garoua, and is
contented with a senator appointed by the Head of State last April.
Published in NewsWatch N° 006
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