Prof. Tamajong and the SDF resignation: The smile of a confident successful woman

Professor Elizabeth Tamajong followed the footsteps of her predecessors on February 14, 2015 when she tabled her resignation from her post as Secretary General of the Social Democratic Front during a National Executive Council meeting.

By her letter dated February 12, 2015, which advocated for a couple of reforms within the party, some political commentators say she resigned.

Though she claimed the SDF is very dear to her and has relentlessly and diligently served in all the positions she held, the out gone scribe called for separation of power within party structures like NIC (National investiture Committee) NAC (National Advisory Council) NEC (National Executive Council).

Elizabeth Tamajong also observed that there was need for party subventions from the state to be used for the development of basic organs and that the post of Secretary General be elective as was the situation before her appointment on July 17, 2006. This sounds like a resignation!!!

However, a close reading of another document which she made public titled “My Stewardship as SDF Secretary General" and the reaction of some SDF officials gives the impression that she had long been dismissed from the party. Let us examine calmly and honestly some of the issues raised by Prof. Elizabeth Tamajong for the better understanding of the public:

Extract “Shabby treatment of my person

Since taking office in 2006, I have been subject to repeated disrespect and humiliation, publicly and privately, from across the board of the party cadres. A few summarised instances of the unpleasant situation are:

• On the occasion of a visit to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) facilities in 2011, the National Chairman pushed my hands as I attempted to reach across a document to the then 2nd Vice National Chairman, Comrade Joshua Osih;

• At a public rally in Kumba, that same year the National Chairman rudely ordered me to take out chewing gum from my mouth;

• My signature as Secretary General has been repeatedly and publicly challenged by party officials, to the knowledge and acquiescence of the National Chairman;

• The use of the services of Private Secretaries in carrying out our duties as Secretary General was, inexplicably, misconstrued by the National Chairman though all of our predecessors availed themselves of the same facility.

• It has been a tradition in our Party that the Secretary General presents, to SDF Parliamentarians, the decision of the National Investiture Committee which appoints some of them to various posts in the Bureau of the National Assembly and in Commissions. During my stewardship, I was rubbed of this role. I only get information of their appointments via the media like any other party militant.

• Socialist International meetings are supposed to be attended by both the National Chairman and Secretary General of member parties; SDF often participates in such meetings conspicuously in the absence of the SG as was the case of meetings held in France, South Africa, and Namibia. Furthermore, no female representative has ever been designated to attend any of these meetings;

• A party such as ours, having aspirations to govern Cameroon, needs to avail herself of all the research findings and publications of renowned national and international institutions. surprisingly though, such publications were indexed by the 1st Vice National Chairman as CPDM (Cameroon Peoples Democratic Movement) materials being presented for discussion during a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting.

Judging by the fact that no NEC member raised any objection to this utterance, it would seem that the assistance was in accord with the insinuation from 1st Vice National Chairman. But no, privately after the meeting, comrades came scrambling for copies of the scientific journals published by the Cameroon Academy of Sciences and the Institutes for Social and Human Sciences, Cameroon;

• On the occasion of a National Investiture Committee (NIC) meeting, it was made known – contrary to the provisions of the party constitution quoted above – that the role of a Secretary General is limited to taking minutes exclusively at NEC meetings.

Consequently, the SG would never again be invited to any other Committee meetings of the party, such as the National Advisory Council, (NAC) – notwithstanding the fact that she is a statutory member. The role of the SG, during our stewardship, has been reduced to mere window dressing through the dictatorial actions of the National Chairman of the party;

• During the Camp David Meeting – a meeting of party elders so coined and convened to instruct the SG henceforth, not to sign any memoranda or letters directed to international bodies, diplomats or leaders of other political parties. The purported reason for this was to impede the SG from eventually assuming any executive function;

• The dates of NEC meetings, as well as the meeting agenda, are normally fixed by the Secretary General in consultation with the National Chairman, but recently such meetings (namely, the last two in Buea and Bamenda) have been summoned with complete disregard of the Secretary General;11

• I have been replaced as a statutory signatory to the party’s bank account, without even being informed, in violation with Section 13.5(d) of the Party Constitution;

• During the 2012 Elective Convention, I was unjustifiably labelled in front of over 1500 delegates as stubborn. The National Chairman even openly threatened to use his constitutional powers to sack me from my post just by the stroke of his pen;

• My constitutional responsibilities as Secretary General were assigned to other persons during the 2012 Convention, when National Chairman arrogated to himself the formation of the various Committees and their members; The Accreditation Report, prepared by me, in consonance with the Constitution of the Party, was instead assigned for presentation by Honourable Yoyo Emmanuel;

The Convention Resolutions, prepared by the SDF National Secretariat, were ordered by the National Chairman to be presented by the 1st Vice National Chairman instead of the Secretary General.

• During the said Convention, the constitutional role of the Secretary General, as stipulated in “PART II: AD HOC COMMITTEES OF THE NATIONAL CONVENTION, Rule 8 on Selection of Delegates to the Committees states: Rule 8.1: Indication for Preference of Committee Accredited delegates shall, on the first days of the Convention, submit to the Secretary General, in order of preference three committees which they shall like to be member during the Convention.

Rule 8.2: Secretary General not bound by the preference The Secretary General shall not be bound to attribute any or every delegate to the committees of their preference and may omit to attribute a delegate to any committee.”

In defiance of these provisions, this role was taken away from me – a woman – and conferred to Honourable Yoyo Emmanuel, for no justifiable reason…………” How will of this and lots more happen to you and you still think you are in your function? For sure she was long dismissed. Hopefully following the reaction of “prophet” Ni John who claimed to have seen this coming a good replacement will be made before another takes the place of the most populous opposition party in Cameroon.