1]-Poetic Justice: A vote for an Anglophone
for CPDM Party Chairmanship in the upcoming elective congress would be an act
of poetic justice on the part of francophone CPDM militants who have since the formation
of the Cpdm party in 1985 and the CNU in the 60s, benefited from unflinching
support from Anglophone party supporters in all major party electoral
consultations. This would also compensate for the huge injustice unto
Anglophones committed by incumbent President Paul Biya when he changed the
pre-1984 rule of an Anglophone being his constitutional successor. Given the
opportunity offered by the upcoming elective congress, Biya has a unique
opportunity to right this wrong meted unto a people who freely joined the union
as a state in its own right. By pushing for such a move at the helm of the
ruling party, Biya would be paying great homage to Anglophone intelligence that
was critical to fuelling and serving his life and Presidency during the 1984
coup plot of former President Ahidjo. Failure to do so, history will judge him.
2]-A Balancing Act: A vote for an Anglophone for CPDM party Presidency 2016 would
be a balancing act after the 1985 plebiscite where Anglophone CPDM militants overwhelmingly
voted for Chairman Paul Biya who took over the CNU from President Amadou
Ahidjo. This, after Anglophone leaders voluntarily agreed to dissolve the
parties they came with from former West Cameroon and merge with Ahidjo’s CNU. If
31 years after the creation of the CPDM, francophone militants also vote to
sustain this union by jointly supporting an Anglophone for Cpdm party
leadership, and eventually Cameroon’s President, it will enhance the hitherto
heralded democratic leadership in the CPDM. as well as the bond of brotherliness between
the two peoples.
3]-Peace, Unity
and Stability: A majority francophone support for an Anglophone for Cpdm
party leadership during the upcoming elective congress would be a vote for the
fostering of the bonds of brotherliness between the two peoples. It will also
be a true translation of the much talked about peace, unity and stability of the
Country. Such a gesture would also dose off perceptions of second class
citizenship that has been demonstrated in triumphant detail over the years at
the level of the party’s Central Committee where the Secretary General and
assistants as well as Communication Directors and assistants are all
Francophones and where no Anglophone holds any decision-making position.
4]-Fundamental
Democratic Principles: By supporting an Anglophone for Cpdm party
leadership 2016, francophone militants would be demonstrating in triumphant
detail their attachment to a fundamental democratic value- that of respect and
support for minority rights. The Cpdm would have no choice but to support an
Anglophone candidate as there is enough jurisprudential evidence to the effect that
in the run up to the 2013 twin elections, the party sponsored the policy of 30%
chances for women, youths and other minorities in each list, and in the
process, unrepresentative lists were effectively rejected. In the same light,
we expect that any list for positions in the National bureau that is not headed
by an Anglophone should be out-rightly rejected by the scrutiny committee of
the CPDM Central Committee.
5]-Politic na
Njangi Notion: By supporting an Anglophone for Cpdm party presidency 2016,
francophone militants would be voting for an exemplary and inclusive Cpdm where
both Francophones and Anglophones enjoy the same rights and responsibilities
and where Rt. Hon Achidi Achu’s notion of ‘politic na njangi’ is translated
into concrete reality. It could not be otherwise given that since creation, an
Anglophone has been 1st Vice President and should naturally move on
to the Presidency.
6]-Common
Wealth: A majority support by francophone CPDM militants of an Anglophone
Candidate for party leadership would be an added advantage for them to enjoy
the real Anglo-Saxon values of transparency, accountability, respect for
Presidential term limits and the common wealth as well as the standardization
of procedures in doing political business.
7]-Consolidation
of Party Reorganization Gains: If there was any one message the base sent
to CPDM party hierarchy during the just ended across-the-board reorganization of
its basic organs, it was that a change of leadership was also needed at the
top. To most CPDM militants, there was no reason for an across-the-board
overhaul of basic structures of the party to come again and keep old guard at
the helm. The quality of leadership that the base produced at the helm of its
various Sections was signal that the party needed new and energetic leadership
to cross over 2018. Such aspirations from the base would only be met by an
Anglophone being elected CPDM Chairman and by extension, its flag bearer for
the 2018 Presidential elections.
8]-Dignity and
Respect: By supporting an Anglophone for Cpdm party Presidency 2016, the
majority francophone Cpdm militants would be voting for dignity and respect by
the rest of the political parties that dot the Cameroon political landscape and
the international political arena given the central role respect for minority rights
by the majority play in international politics.
9]-Proof
Positive of a Diversified Cameroonian Society: A vote for an Anglophone for
CPDM Party leadership would be proof positive that Cameroon is a society full
of diversity. It would also be enough proof that Cameroon’s diversity is an
asset and not a liability as obtains in other societies. This will usher in the
Anglo-Saxon political system where free political debate and transparency is
the rule and not the exception as now obtains in Cameroon. Such a healthy
political debate forms the building blocks for a decent life and society free
of rampant corruption, embezzlement and political victimization and sycophancy.
10]-Concrete Demonstration of
Advanced Democracy: By
voting for an Anglophone for CPDM Party leadership and by extension, Cameroon’s
Presidency, the majority francophone CPDM militants would not only be going
back to the roots, since the CPDM was birthed
in Bamenda in 1985, but would be proving beyond all reasonable doubts that it
remains an avant-gardist political party. This, in a country where nearly all
political parties that people the political landscape have never thought of
changing its leadership. This laudable move by the CPDM leadership in the
upcoming elective Congress, we hope, would mark the beginning of rotatable
party leadership in major political parties in Cameroon. It would be a
fulfillment of incumbent President Paul Biya’s long standing and express wish to be remembered as having brought democracy
to Cameroon through the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement, CPDM.
N/B: As
usual, I already hear some Cameroonians asking who that Anglophone capable of
replacing President Paul Biya would be. To that, I tell them they do not come
in short supply, beginning with: Yang Philemon, Peter Mafany Musonge, Akere
Muna, Prof Elvis Ngole Ngole, Dr. Dione Ngute, Fai Yengo Francis, Mbella Moki, Hon.
Lifaka Monjua, Shey Nfor Musa, Fru
Jonathan and you name them. It’s all a debate for another day. For now, let the
voting for party leadership begin.
Done this
day in Bamenda 24/08/16
Gwain Colbert
Spokesperson
for Campaigners for Anglophone 4 Presidency 2018
When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)
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