A mausoleum dedicated to the late Chairman of the Social Democratic Front (SDF) opposition party in Cameroon, Ni John Fru Ndi has been unveiled honoring his legacy of unity and integrity. An initiative of the late stateman’s family, the tomb was unveiled on Saturday, December 14 in his native Baba II village in the Santa Subdivision, Mezam Division of the North West Region of the country.
Besides honoring the memory and legacy of the late emblematic politician, Dr Tina Fru Ndi, daughter and the late opposition leader’s successor at the level of the family said the mausoleum is also a place for the community pay their respect to their late father.
“Pa was a man of vision. Wherever he went, he would try to incorporate something beautiful he saw. The pillars in the mausoleum symbolize the pillars of life: joy, peace, integrity, humility, and forgiveness, reminding us to keep his legacy alive,” Tina explained.
She expressed her wish for Cameroonians to uphold the values her father stood for, even in his last days.
“The first is unity. Pa loved people, and this was evident in all his interactions. Love doesn’t see differences; it breaks boundaries. Unity is another principle he championed. Many people think leadership is about sitting on a throne, but it’s about service and bringing everyone together for a common goal,” Tina further explained.
The Fru Ndi’s family was joined at the unveiling of the mausoleum by several dignitaries including the administration led by North West Governor Adolphe Lele Lafrique and the President of the North West Regional Assembly Prof Fru Angwafo III. Top bras of the SDF party, political allies and admirers of the late Chairman were also in attendance.
Pilgrimage site to honor a hero
Hon Joshua Osih, National Chairman of the SDF, reiterated that the tomb is a pilgrimage site for all Cameroonians to go and pay homage to the late Chairman who greatly contributed to democracy in the country.
“The entire continent of Africa needed a pilgrimage site to honor our hero, Ni John Fru Ndi. With the commissioning of this tombstone, we now have a place to gather. We have made it clear to the children that this is not just a family site but a national one, where, when peace returns, people can come to pay homage to the person who greatly contributed to peace, justice, and democracy in this country,” Hon Osih.
The SDF Chairman also remarked that Cameroon is privileged to have had a son like Ni John Fru Ndi. However, he criticized the tendency to overlook true heroes after their passing.
“It’s the same today for the martyrs of the UPC, and it’s the same for Ni John Fru Ndi. Many criticized him, but when he sadly passed away, the same critics called me with tears in their eyes. I can assure you those were not crocodile tears. We will ensure his legacy lives on,” the SDF Chairman pledged.
The officiating minister of the Gospel, Rev. Sakwe Motale, delivered a sermon inspired by Proverbs 10:7, which states: “The memory of the righteous is blessed, but the name of the wicked will rot.”
He explained that the verse signifies that good people will be remembered as a blessing, while evil individuals will soon be forgotten.
It is worth noting that Ni John Fru Ndi died at his home in Yaounde on June 12, 2023, at the age of 81. He was laid to rest on July 29, 2023, in his native Baba II village besides his wife, Rose Ndi.
This report was first published in NewsWatch newspaper No 194 of Thursday, December 19, 2024.
