During his first official visit to Bamenda as National Chairman of the opposition Social Democratic Front, (SDF), Hon Joshua Osih fired missiles at the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement,(CPDM), for failing to resolve the deadly conflict which has so far claimed over 6,000 lives in the Anglophone regions of the country.
He said however that hope is not lost as the opposition party is waxing strong, has the key to unlock the deadlock surrounding the drawn-out conflict, and can resolve the socio-political in 100 days after taking over power.
“The SDF is the best placed political party to usher in a political solution to the Anglophone crisis. We are confident of our capacity to bring that change but for that to happen, we must be in position of power not in the position of an opposition party,” said Chairman Osih.
He said Cameroonians should hold the party in power, the CPDM, and its leader, also Head of State, President Paul Biya responsible for the conflict that has plagued the North West and South West regions for seven getting to eight years now.
Chairman Osih used the apparent failure of the Biya regime to resolve the conflict to woo Cameroonians of voting age to give the opposition party its votes in upcoming elections.
“We are saying that the SDF is able to provide solutions but we can’t do it if you don’t give us your votes, and the power to be able to transform our ideas in to acts that would bring back peace to the North West and South West Regions,” Osih told a crowd of supporters in Bamenda.
SDF wanted to work with gov’t
Chairman Osih disclosed that at the beginning of the crisis, his predecessor, Ni John Fru Ndi of blessed memory, made it abundantly clear that they were ready to work with the CPDM-led government to bring back peace, but the regime turned down their offer.
“Since it seems that this crisis is becoming everlasting, it is the people of Cameroon who have to decide and give us their votes so that we can solve this problem once and for all. We are very comfident that we have the solution to the crisis in the North West and South West Regions,” Chairman Osih stated.
For the SDF to take power and make Cameroon great again as explained by Chairman Osih, Cameroonians must register massively on the electoral registers and vote for the party’s candidate when the time comes.
“It is rather unfortunate that many Cameroonians allow others to decide on their future. Every Cameroonian should decide on his or her future, and the only way you can do that is to register and vote,” the SDF leader said. He bemoaned that: “It is sad that people have the strongest power anyone would desire to have to change their future, but they just let it go, and some other people are elected into office”.
SDF ready for elections
Chairman Osih stated clearly that party he heads is ready for elections even if they were to be organized today.
Quizzed on whether the coming of another party named Social Democratic Face Front, (SDFF), would create any problem for the SDF come 2025, Osih answered that the actions of those behind the party in gestation are rather fortifying the SDF.
According to a leaked letter from the Minister of Territorial Administration, Shewa David, a former member of the SDF party who failed in a bid to become chairman of the party at last year’s Congress has created his own party, the SDFF. Shewa who came second in last October’s election of SDF National Chairperson has applied for the legalization of the party with the Ministry of Territorial Administration.
Chairman Osih’s visit to Bamenda also took him to Baba II, the resting place of his predecessor, Ni John Ndi, of blessed memory.
The visit to the North West regional capital is part of a nationwide tour that has already taken the SDF chairman to the Northern and South West regions.
