Fru Ndi defies protocol

The National Chairman of the leading opposition party in Cameroon, Social Democratic Front, SDF, Ni John Fru Ndi, rejected an offer of a third seat at the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference after he was displaced from his sitting positions twice by Protocol Officers.

Upon his arrival at the Yaounde Conference Center, Fru Ndi was stopped by security officers, who wanted to subject him to a security scan at the entrance to the ceremonial ground. He stood his grounds that he was not going to be subject to any such checks. After some minutes of persistence on the part of security officials, he was allowed in.

When he got into the hall, the Chairman was offered a seat to the far right of the area allocated for Government officials. He was later ushered to a position behind Government officials and the CERAC Delegation. When ushered to another seat for the third time, he refused to move.

Questioned at the end of the opening ceremony on what was happening, Fru Ndi said they always do that. His words: “When I got into the hall, they showed me a seat, I sat; then I was moved to another and I went there. When they came again, I refused to move to the third seat, because I saw that seat as a very strategic place for me. When Mr. Biya came, there was no way he could miss my presence. So when you push me up and down, when I get where I think I would make my message go through, I don’t let you push me from there”.

Commenting on the organisation of the conference, he condemned the fact that traditional dances which were brought from the same areas were imposed a unique choreography that did not reflect the diversity of Cameroon’s cultural landscape. He said it was wrong for the Ministry of Culture to impose a dancing pattern on them, thus depriving them from showcasing their culture.

He lauded the University of Buea Choir for their good singing, but pointed out that they sang so many South African songs. He said they should have equally practised songs from Nigeria, Kenya and other countries. He further questioned where the Cameroonian folklore was, but appreciated the efforts of the female dance group from Menchum for showcasing their culture.