Fru Ndi confronts Asonganyi, refuses to shake hands

The national Chairman of the SDF, John Fru Ndi has challenged the historical accuracy of certain facts presented by the former Secretary General of the SDF, Tazoacha Asonganyi in his book – “Cameroon: Difficult Choices in a Failed Democracy.”

Fru Ndi, appearing visibly tense, feisty and very emotional took the floor during the launching of the book in Bamenda Wednesday, August 19 and asserted that facts are for posterity and therefore ought to be presented with accuracy and precision. He was very upset and vocally expressed anger that speaker after speaker at the event, even Asonganyi, the author, never acknowledged his presence only to later call him to unveil the book.

Ndi and a delegation of SDF leadership that followed him there picked issues with the book for what he said are inaccurate facts, however, without pinpointing what facts are inaccurate in the book. Rather Fru Ndi focused on describing Asonganyi as a politician who lacked grassroots support.

In what observers have qualified as an invasion of privacy, Fru Ndi questioned how Asonganyi, (at the time he was Secretary General of the SDF) could have be the one going to buy drinks during the funeral of his sister if he had support at the base.

“I left Bamenda and went with a delegation to the funeral of Asonganyi’s sister and waited for over 45minutes without seeing him. When I asked they told me he had gone to buy drinks. When I went to see him he was drinking a bottle of beer while the sister was lying on a bamboo bed and I asked Asonganyi if he found no SDF militant who could handle those errands for him,” Fru ndi observed.

Ndi refuted allegations in the book that he accused Asonganyi of killing his wife and lamented why Asonganyi should be reminding him of the demise of his wife 11years after.

“I will be coming out with a book. I will respond to you in my book,” Fru Ndi said. “I never accused you of killing my wife, the interview I granted after my wife passed away has been published so people can read and know the truth,” he added. He, however, did not challenge any other aspect of the book but seemed worried when he fired at Asonganyi in this parabolic statement – “In a traditional dance, people dance round and when you are tired you sit down and others continue. You don’t get tired and decide to burst the drum,” he told Asonganyi.

However, Ngam Chia, Lecturer of Political History at the University of Maroua, surprised Fru Ndi when he described Ndi’s close aids as psychophants who have created a personality cult around him (Ndi). This, Ngam said, has not helped to push forth objective commentary within the SDF.

Asonganyi told the Journal after the event that he did not acknowledge Fru Ndi because upon his arrival at the event, he (Asonganyi) went and extended a hand shake to Fru Ndi but he refused to take it, leaving his hand hanging. “How do I acknowledge him when I went to greet him and he refused taking my hand?” Asonganyi questioned.

The Bamenda event was one in a series of launches that has taken Asonganyi from Yaoundé to Douala through Buea and finally Bamenda.