SDF's NEC tell Ivorian Assembly Speaker he's not welcome in Cameroon

The SDF party has sent a message to the Ivorian Speaker of the National Assembly telling him that he is not welcome in Cameroon. The party has also asked its Senators and Members of the National Assembly to disrupt the June session of parliament if the Ivorian Speaker is allowed to address Parliament.

This was one of the resolutions arrived at during the National Executive Committee, NEC, meeting of Cameroon’s leading opposition party, held at the Buea Mountain Hotel, Saturday.

The speaker of the Ivorian National Assembly is expected in Cameroon from June 10 to June 15 on a working and friendly visit on invitation from the Speaker of Cameroon’s National Assembly, Cavaye Yegue Djibril. Soro is expected to address Cameroon’s parliament on June 13.

According to the SDF, “Soro is considered a rebel leader who plunged Ivory Coast into years of civil war and untold sufferings. There is nothing meaningful he can tell Cameroonians, except on how to organise a civil war.”

The SDF said it will welcome a Soro’s visit to Cameroon only at the release of former Ivorian President, Laurent Bagbo. The SDF considers Bagbo to be a political prisoner.

The SDF also called for the liberation of all political prisoners in Ivory Coast, as well as make it possible for political prisoners to return to Ivory Coast.

The meeting which brought together SDF Senators, Members of the National Assembly, Mayors, SDF Shadow Cabinet ministers and top officials of the party was presided over by its National Chairman, John Fru Ndi.

Also in attendance at the NEC meeting was the former Ivorian Minister of Interior, Don Melo, who served under the regime of imprisoned Laurent Bagbo. Don Melo’s presence in Buea was to strengthen ties between the SDF and the Ivorian Socialist Front (FPI). The FPI is also a member of Socialists International.

War on Boko Haram

The party made its stance clear on the recent war against Boko Haram as declared by President Biya. The SDF congratulated government for measures taken to fight the Islamist Militant Group. However, they expressed fears that innocent civilians may be caught in the crossfire between Boko Haram and security forces.

Fru Ndi called on the population to remain vigilant and to collaborate with the forces of law and order deployed to guarantee their safety.

Another ‘albatross scandal’

The SDF resolved at the NEC meeting that its Members of Parliament call for the creation of a Commission of Inquiry to probe into two Chinese Xian MA60 aircrafts, which were purchased by the Government to the tune of FCFA 34.4 billions. The aircrafts, the SDF hinted, are to be introduced in the CAMAIR-Co fleet.

The SDF officials wondered why the government should go in for planes that have been banned from flying airspaces in China and other countries in Europe, America and Asia. The SDF described the aircrafts as “flying coffins” and said both planes are believed to cost FCFA 9 billion (FCFA 4.5 billion per aircraft), far from the FCFA 34.4 billion said to have been spent by Government.

Other resolutions

The NEC meeting cancelled the results of reorganised basic organs of the party in Douala IV, citing irregularities. It was also resolved that all SDF Electoral Districts with expired mandates be reorganised beginning from the wards. The Human Rights Commission report on the conduct of the September 30, 2013 twin elections were adopted.

Also, NEC reviewed the celebrations of the 50th Anniversary of Reunification staged in Buea last February. The SDF described the celebrations as a farce, wondering why taxpayers’ money was spent with so little achieved.