Declaration of a Group of 20 Political Parties to support the Candidature of the Head of State H.E Paul Biya, in the 7th October 2018 Presidential Election.

Every citizen who has decided to create a political party has as ambition, the supreme magistracy of his country. Since the re-introduction of Multi party politics in 1991, Cameroon has recorded more than 250 political parties. In democracy, the opposition plays the role of checks and balance thereby ensuring a certain level of stability in the running of state institutions. Leading a political party is not synonymous to a systematic opposition of all government initiatives, neither does it confer on its leader national stewardship as it is considered in Cameroon and in most African countries.

Since the Presidential election of 201, some members of our group requested the putting in place of a dynamic framework for change to take place in the political arena in Cameroon. To this effect, three (3) preconditions were suggested as follows;

a)A single candidate for the Opposition parties for the 2018 presidential election

b)The implantation of branches of our group in the 360 subdivisions of Cameroon

c)Create a platform to work in collaboration with elections Cameroon (ELECAM) in order to obtain a massive registration of citizens of voting age on the electoral roll.

It is evident that the opposition in Cameroon cannot succeed to win a presidential election by presenting multiple candidates. This way, their votes would be divided leading to mediocre results. As such, the candidature for the CPDM being the only Political Party well represented in the 360 subdivisions will always have an urge on the opposition.

Our proposal for a single opposition candidate met resistance from those who think that they are strong and can win the presidential election single-handedly.

Since 2011, the CPDM elite has been carrying out sensitization on the field to encourage their militants to register on the electoral roll, unlike the opposition which only woke up from slumber on the eve of the poll.

How can you think of winning a presidential election without any important electoral base? Most opposition leaders are contented with the “ONE MAN SHOW” syndrome characterized by frequent appearance on television channels and social media, forgetting that elections are won on the foeld.

Due to the lack of organization of opposition political parties, the egoism of some of its leaders, the inflated ego of some pretenders to the presidential seat who are all in the logic of  “ME OR NOBODY” the lack of a credible manifesto, and lack of means, the opposition can only dream of change.

We the leaders, of the opposition parties united under the “GROUP OF 20” have decided to give our total and unconditional support to the candidature of H.E President Paul Biya for the 7 October, 2018 presidential election. In our opinion the head of state possesses the qualities and wherewithal necessary for maintenance of peace, stability, national unity, economic progress and the respect of Cameroon in the international community.

We are neither CPDM militants nor its sympathizers but after a thorough analysis of the economic and political challenges, as well as those in the domain of sports, we think that the candidature of president Paul Biya merits the support of all Cameroonians of goodwill and those having love for country and the future of children.

Notwithstanding, our support for the candidature of H.E President Paul Biya is not without conditions. We are requesting that after his brilliant re-election, he should look into the preoccupation of our militants and those of Cameroonians in general. These include;

1.the acceleration of the decentralization process and the provision of the necessary means to the new ministry of decentralization and local development to carry out concrete projects on the field.

2.speed up construction works on infrastructure for the CAN 2019 so that all the major projects (construction of stadia, hotels, and hospital etc.) should be ready before the D-day as promised by the Head of State. Our credibility is at stake.

3.proceed with the revision of the contract between the state of Cameroon and ENEO, so that the quality of their services to the population, especially those in the East, North West, Adamawa and FAR North Regions is improved.

4.harmonize retirement age at 60 for all state agents: we think that there is no reason to allow a certain category of state agents to retire at 55 when they are still useful to our country.

Our position on the situation in the NORTH West and South West Regions in unambiguous. Unity, peace and social cohesion must be preserved so that Cameroon remains that nation admired in Africa. The government addressed all the grievances raised by teachers and Lawyers which caused the crisis in November 2016. Available facts indicate that the Head of state even went beyond the demands of the striking lawyers and teachers.

Nothing can therefore, justify the attitude of a minority who wants to take hostage the two regions of our country, causing pains and desolation to families. Cameroon the cradles of our ancestors, does not deserve this image in the 21^st century.

Taking into consideration the above;

a.we reiterate our position for a Cameroon that is neither Anglophone nor Francophone, but a united and indivisible Cameroon in its linguistic and cultural diversity.

b.request for gov’t to maintain a firm attitude of no tolerance towards our compatriots who have taken the risk to undermine national unity,

c.request gov’t to hasten the trial of persons arrested for violence and crimes carried out in the North West and South West Regions. The guilty should be punished while the innocent are freed,

d.reject all appeals for amnesty for terrorists arrested in fragrant delito of rape of our children, destruction of public and private property, burning of schools, hospitals and health centers, cowardly murder of elements of our defense and security forces in the North West and South West Regions;

e.request the gov’t to take appropriate measures to track down terrorists who recruit, drug and enlist children aged between 11 and 16 years in their militia and living in makeshift camps and bushes causing terror in certain localities in the North West and South West Regions.

f.exhort some of us naïve compatriots in the North West and the South West Regions following the terrorists in their senseless quest to create an imaginary state to drop their arms and return within the Republic for disorder doesn’t benefit any one for Cameroon being a country of freedom offers legal framework where grievances can be expressed without violence, racketeering, organized crime, intimidation and blackmail.

g.Thank the Head of state for putting in place the emergency humanitarian plan for the North West and South West Regions, hoping that this plan will bring the necessary assistance to all internally displaced persons and Cameroon refugees in Nigeria.

Convinced that the Head of State is the custodian of our constitution,

We the “GROUP OF 20” opposition political parties, through our declaration of this day make our modest contributions to nation building. This justifies our support for the re-election of the Head of State for the 7 October 2018 Presidential election.

Done in Yaounde, this Friday 20^th July 2018