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Fru Ndi, Bishop Esua, Achidi Achu, Others React

The Post (Buea)


NEWS
3 March 2008
Posted to the web 3 March 2008

By Chris Mbunwe & Peterkins Manyong

The SDF National Chairman, John Fru Ndi, in a press release, issued immediately after President Paul Biya's address to the nation, refuted claims that his party was associated with the riots.

Fru Ndi said with all the frustrations meted on SDF down the years, it could not call for an uprising only to, going by Biya, use a trade union given SDF's solid and well-implanted capacity. He said the SDF could as well coordinate another ghost town as they once did.

Fru Ndi called on Biya to look for the causes of this uprising within its own ranks and its failed policies rather than blame the SDF. According to Fru Ndi, SDF has it from good intelligence sources that "some white collar thugs manipulated the State apparatus and its information system, who helped Cameroon top the corruption league and are unfortunately still free and in positions of power, want to escape the fate of Ondo Ndong and others and have, therefore, decided to loot and burn our fatherland in order to change the ongoing on their imminent demise."

Speaking to The Post on Saturday, March 1, after inspecting the damage done to his building, which houses PMUC on Commercial Avenue, Fru Ndi said he told the youths that SDF has on several occasions carried out several street demonstrations without hurting a fly.

"I told them if they think bringing down his building would solve their problem let them do so, but let them not go destroying individual property of an already impoverished people," Fru Ndi remarked.

He blamed Biya for the killings in Bamenda during the strike, his (Biya's) arrogant tone while addressing the nation which seemed to send war signals. "If it means shooting or declaring war, who amongst them can withstand the SDF and the Cameroonian people? Let him not take Cameroonians for a ride," Fru Ndi stated.

The SDF Chairman invites Biya to accelerate the ongoing proceedings without shame or fear to block these adventurers from destroying Cameroon for selfish interests.He believes that the inflation galloping across the nation, the closure of popular radio and TV stations, the organised and well-funded riots throughout the country, the decision of the Littoral Governor to ban meetings, the carefully orchestrated motions of supports in view of changing Article 6.2, of the Constitution, as well as the carefully organised misinformation that followed the riots are all part of the same agenda for destabilisation.

Archbishop Esua

We expected a fatherly advice from the Head of State when we heard he was going to address the Nation. Unfortunately that fatherly advice never came. I called on the youths to turn to Christ despite their grievances because violence can never solve any problem.

Simon Achidi Achu

I call on the youths to exercise restraint because Biya remains the only leader they should look up to. We are destroying our houses just as we did in 1990/91 and we are going to be the hardest hit and losers in all of this.

Simon Nkwenti, Civil Society

Biya's address worsened matters because he (Biya) missed the target and instead of addressing the real issues as presented by the protesters he instead directed missiles at opposition that had nothing to do with the strike action. Nkwenti called on the youths to restrain form looting and wanton, destruction.

Fon Chafah, President General, Northwest Fons' Union, NOWEFU

I was devastated and disgraced by the extent the strike action took. Let the youths come to us the Fons for dialogue so that as custodians of our traditions and auxiliaries to the administration, we can channel their grievances to the highest authority. I congratulate President Biya for his prompt reaction which to him brought calm to most parts of the nation.

Strike Was Not Politically Manipulated

We are shocked by the President's speech which suggests that the strike was manipulated by some politicians who wanted to obtain through violence what they could not obtain through the ballot box.

A strike is an automatic response to redress an injustice or an unfair situation that an insensitive Government, organization or business has imposed on the workers.The ongoing transporters' strike was not manipulated by some politicians who took part in the last rigged elections; the whole country was tired of the hike in fuel prices.

It did not require any politicians to tell people to go on strike because all Cameroonians are suffocating under the insensitive hike in fuel prices. The price of fuel is felt by all Cameroonians because fuel affects everyone's cost of living.

We are really surprised that docile Cameroonians have born this burden for so long without going to shrike. Those who have created this fuel crisis will answer to the Nation and to God for the innocent people killed.

"It should therefore be made absolutely clear that Cameroon is a constitutional state and intends to remain so."The President in his speech stressed the fact that Cameroon is a Constitutional State and intends to remain so. The Constitution is the Supreme law of the State and every one is bound by the Constitution that is why the President cannot be allowed to manipulate the Constitution.

Any attempt by President Paul Biya to manipulate the Constitution so that he can continue to rule the country after 2011, will only lead the country into chaos, anarchy and doom.

The Constitution says Mr. Paul Biya cannot stand for elections again after 2011.

We, therefore, appeal to all peace loving Cameroonians to do everything in their power to persuade President Paul Biya to drop this mad idea of being life president of Cameroon.

[Meanwhile] We are appalled and deeply sorry for the loss of the lives of many innocent Cameroonians that have taken place in these few days. We sincerely hope that God will take their souls to Heaven as they died as martyrs for the good of their fellow suffering brothers.

A.S. Ngwana, Cardinal Democratic Party



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