Calls for Biya’s candidature are distractions – Ndam Njoya

Leaders of some of Cameroon’s major opposition parties have described the upsurge of calls for President Paul Biya to stand re-election as distractions intended to alienate Cameroonians from pressing problems, the French language daily newspaper, Mutations reported.

Among them, Adamou Ndam Njoya, President of the Cameroon Democratic Union (CDU) and Alice Sadio, President of Alliance of Progressive Forces (APF) made the declaration in Yaounde last Friday on the occasion of republican reflection days organized by the Cameroon Democratic Union.

The CDU leader said the calls which also propose the organization of early presidential election are tailored to distract Cameroonians from pressing problems such as education, health, growing youth unemployment, economic development and the improvement of the living conditions of the population.

Ndam Njoya said through the activities of pro-Biya supporters, the way Cameroon’s history is written is gradually leading towards the confiscation of power. He specified that the confiscation inhibits those who can bring another vision of government by avoiding debate that is linked to the management of public affairs.

APF President Alice Sadio described the calls as a usurpation of power for over 34 years by a small group of people. She said the usurpation has given place to the carving out of political parties on tribal lines, rendering Cameroonians poor as well as creating other types of societal crisis.