The Vice Chairman of the Social Democratic front has debunked claims from supporters of the governing CPDM that the country’s leader Paul Biya brought democracy to Cameroon.
Speaking at the the party’s 29th anniversary in Bepanda-Douala, Joshua Osih says his party’s chairman ushered democracy when he launched the SDF in Bamenda, on May 26, 1990
“Mr Biya was never ready for democracy, the SDF forced him to accept. Six young men died during the party’s launch and they were shot by security forces in Bamenda.” Osih told reporters.
The Member of Parliament told his comrades that they have every reason to be pround. Though the party is yet to grab the presidency, militants were reminded of many victories recorded.
Amongst them, exposing acts of corruption masterminded by past and present barons of the Biya regime. “When we told the head of state that his ministers were stealing tax payers money, he asked for proof. And after investigations we exposed the first scandal which was known as the Munchipou Gate,” he boasted.
While calling for unity within the party , the 2018 Presidential candidate has urged his comrades to come back to the traditional ideals of the political movement which made it famous years back.
Party supporters were told to borrow the spirit of South Africa’s ANC that battled Apartheid for a century. Osih told militants that: “the hour has come for us to be known as Social Democrats. We are not just an opposition party because we aspire to be in power too. See yourselves as Social Democrats because that is who you are.”
Jean Michel Nintcheu, the Regional chair of the SDF says the party is more than ever resolved to defends the rights of Cameroonians who according to him are being deprived of civil liberties.
Joshua Osih says the continuous crackdown on public demonstrations is unconstitutional and the SDF will not bow to intimidation. He blamed Government’s hard-line approach to the Anglophone crisis, urging the Defence forces to stop burning villages and killing innocent civilians. “This regime is incompetent. We will continue talking to this regime until we take over them.” Nintcheu told MMI. Osih on his part has revealed that there will be no elections if peace does not return to the North West and South West regions
Despite the electoral debacle where the party scored less than five percent in the October 2018 Presidential elections, militants of the SDF have been encouraged to remobilize for future elections. This to the Douala 5 1 district chairman , Carlos Ngoualem is imperative if the party must conquer lost grounds.
Nsoesie Peter
Mimi Mefo Info
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