Cameroon: John Fru Ndi needs to shape up...

Cameroon Opposition leader, John Fru Ndi`s political project needs to take shape over the next year, said yesterday one of his close political and strategist adviser who has asked not to be named by the media.

The political-strategist adviser said , John Fru Ndi has a project that needs to take shape, become better defined during the course of the coming year.

" ...People want to see more definition of what the new project is all about, perhaps more policy and fewer jokes at  the Government`s questions in the National Assembly.." and also less dictatorship as " the only person who is keeping members of the party from making a decision on whether they want to form a coalition government or not is John Fru Ndi". There is a need of change of policy.

Incumbent John Fru Ndi vowed to re-energise his party as a matter of urgency after the presidential election held on October 9, 2011 ahead of the next general election to be held in 2012..

The number of fully paid-up members and sympathisers has dipped.

There is no official records available at the moment way long after the presidential election to confirm the lost and the diminution of membership.

The smaller a party`s membership, the harder it is to campaign and fight elections. There were too many committee meetings ahead of the presidential election in what it was considered as dirty or draughty halls and a book rule.

John Fru Ndi has recognised after the results of the last presidential election that there is a real need for the party to become more welcoming and also to make it much easier to be an active Social Democratic Front member.

" People are hungry for change" said John Fru Ndi, before recognising that  " there is a real need of reaching out to supporters and bring them back in. The new party`s project wants to make people who have been for long and those who are still sceptical about the Social Democrat to listen to the Social Democrat again."

This is all about rebuilding the trust of the people of Cameroon. The national chairman has recognised that the party has " been badly defeated and people are demoralised and there is a sense in which the party has lost confidence in our voice as a party that can and will bring the change that its needed for a stronger, fairer and developed Cameroon."

Worries as Paul Biya " too tired" for Christmas

Speculation is growing over the future of Biya`s leadership after members of his close entourage have seen him increasingly tired.

The recent cancellation of his national tour after winning the last presidential election and many other meetings are listed as the direct consequence of the general state of health of the Head of State being " questionable".

Worries have been raised in the run up to this year`s gruelling two-weeks Christmas celebrations.

Those who have spent time with 78 year old Paul Biya report in secret and away from the ears of those in charge of the surveillance equipment and the security service, he was weaker than ever before and too fatigued to listen to what they were saying.

Those aware of his health condition have been dispatched from the presidential offices to run ministerial`s departments out of the inner circle of the "Boss" or the "Leader".

 A week ago before the new cabinet was made public, he started according to a source reducing the number of audience and he no longer meets individually with fixed appointment at his office. Others say he has lost his spark and no longer talks off the cuff.

Frail Biya is  expected to attend the Christmas Eve mass with his family and the location is still kept secret by the authorities.

The health worries raise questions about the future of his presidency. Before he became the oldest president ever re-elected age 78 after the last presidential election held in Cameroon in October 9, his close entourage said he has planned to retire to spent more time with his family and write in his native M`vomeka`a.


The President can step down under the constitution if the resignation is " freely made and properly manifested". Biya will then become the second Head of State in Cameroon after his predecessor to respect that.

Officials at the Civil Cabinet and the Communication department have denied a medical condition prompted the decision to cancel the national " Thank You" tour and reduce the number of individual appointment ahead of the festive period.

There are millions around the country waiting " passionately" the visit of the Head of State since his last reelection as the Cameroon`s President for the next 7 years.

Cameroon: Biya "fortifies" his power base

Almost 9 weeks have passed since Paul Biya "won" the last presidential election in Cameroon and has been also "declared" "winner" of the election even observers said there were numerous falsifications and rigging and the results do not reflect the people`s will.

Imperturbable and politically impervious, the national chairman of the main political party in Cameroon, the Cameroon People Democratic Movement has not yet decided who will be working or  will be called to join the cabinet. But according to the latest investigation, there are some movement on the way.

There are preparations on the way for the Cameroon`s ruling party to announce the formation of a new Cabinet which will include a number of new opposition parties.

It is extremely hard to see how in this event, Paul Biya would be able to justify any role of the newcomers in the Cabinet.

The move appeared to be aimed at bolstering support of President Paul Biya`s government in the wake of an unprecedented economic hardships and a growing number of leadershipsceptics in the party.

The shuffle will give ministerial posts to a number of opposition parties that formed the majority for the presidential coalition.

There is enough space here just for Paul Biya and his team to navigate his way through the formation of the new Cabinet that will fortify his power. He has played down losses by his party, CPDM, whose support dropped "sharply" from above 80% to just less than " reality" 75% of the vote.

The opposition will only grow, as will pressure for a real change of direction and improvement of the life of millions who are still leaving in deep poverty in many corners of the country.

Biya and his team will need all the political cover that his coalition with the new opposition parties affords. US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton said Washington and its allies for foreign Aid wanted Mr Paul Biya to make way for a Government ready to establish the rule of law and protect the right of all citizens.