Youths in the Far North region of Cameroon have challenged a call made by the Public Health Minister, Manaouda Malachie — calling for President Paul Biya to contest the 2025 Presidential elections.
On Wednesday May 17, 2023, Minister ofManaouda Malachie during a rally in Mokolo, Mayo Tsanaga division of Far North Region called on incumbent 90-year-old President Paul Biya to contest in the 2025 Presidential elections — urging the people to throw their weight behind him.
According, to Dr. Malachie, Paul Biya who has been ruling Cameroon since 1982 is the right choice for the people of the Far North — especially the youths.His pronouncements did not go down well with other living forces of the region .
A majority of young people and victims of Boko Haram insurgency of the region say the minister was speaking for himself as they, “never mandated anybody to speak on their behalf”
According to them, Mayo-Tsanaga is an isolated spot for such political manipulation.”The youths of Yagoua in Mayo Danay rejected those pronouncements made by Minister Manaouda Malachi. Mayo Danay has never mandated anybody to speak on our behalf,” a local fumed.
Another indigene the region wondered why calling President Paul to contest elections is a priority when they face terrorists on a daily basis.
“At the moment families are grieving and all they come to tell us is about a meeting that President Paul has applied for office in 2025 while the sons and daughters of mayo Tsanaga are going through difficult times with repeated attacks,” he said.
While the CPDM allied political parties like the FSNC and MDR were present, MMI learnt the UNDP-a long time ally to the CPDM was absent.Minister Malachi was accompanied by Aminatou Ahidjo, daughter of late President Ahmadou Ahidjo who died and was buried in exile.
While some think it was right for the young people to accompany the minister in his work, others think it was a tickling time bomb to organize such a rally to end false signals.
By David Atangana
