SCAPO turns into a political party

The Southern Cameroons People’s Organisation, SCAPO, one of the most active factions of the SCNC is transforming itself into a political party, the Cameroon Journal has exclusively gathered.

According to a press statement we received from the group, SCAPO has been legalized as a political party. The movement which sued La Republique du Cameroun in an African Union court in Banjul asking it to grant Southern Cameroonians independence is now called Southern Cameroons People’s Party, SCPP.

A spokesperson for the newly-created party who pleaded to remain anonymous told The Cameroon Journal that they have already been issued an authorization. But he refused to communicate the authorization number when quizzed to do so. “Details of our authorization and manifesto will be made public at a press conference that should hold any time soon,” he insisted.

Asked what would become of the SCAPO case at the Banjul Court against La Republique du Cameroun, the source simply said: “We have unanimously voted to change our platform from that of litigation to that of political party.”

He added that the party has an executive of twenty five members; with the pioneer chairman and vice, coming from the North West and South West regions respectively. The party’s motto, he said, is: “Freedom for Southern Cameroonians.”

He added that they are preparing to take part in all elections organized by ELECAM. Objecting to suspicions that they may have been bought over by Yaounde authorities, he insisted: “We are not taking the place of the SCNC…they have their right to continue their struggle for Anglophone independence…as for SCAPO, we have opted to champion the plight of Anglophones from the platform of a political party.”

The SCPP source would not agree to disclose the name of the National Chairman of the political party and rather advised our reporter to get the answers to: “all your worries at a press conference you have been invited for coverage.”

Yembe Martin Fon, a Deputy SDF Mayor in Ndu, and until the recent development Secretary General, SG of SCAPO, told The Journal that he recently resigned his position when he was informed they wanted to transform into a political party with Augustine Ndangam (Vice Chairman) as pioneer National Chairman, even though the founder and Chairman of SCAPO is one Gumne Kevin Ngwang.

Yembe hinted that Gumne was also vehemently opposed to the idea of SCAPO transforming into a political party. It is not clear if Gumne finally caved into the idea.

“When I was informed that a list of SCAPO political party executive members was being compiled to be deposited at the North West Governor’s office for authorization, I immediately tendered my resignation as SG because I cannot belong to two political parties.” Yembe said.

Describing the move by those transforming SCAPO into a political party as selfish, Yembe said it is certainly intended to be used for favour seeking from the Biya’s regime. He wondered aloud what has changed in La Republique du Cameroun towards Anglophones that SCAPO which dragged it to Court for gross injustices and marginalization of Anglophones will now be constituting into a political party to operate within the same system they berated.

“It is a terrible paradox that a movement that was created to fight La Republique du Cameroun is now very itchy to function as a political party under the same people they wanted to gain independence from,” Yembe said.

It should be noted that prior to the staging of the 50th anniversary of reunification in Buea, Prime Minister Philemon Yang had advised Southern Cameroons activists and pressure groups to transform themselves into a political party if they wanted dialogue with government.

The Journal could not immediately confirm if it is Yang’s advice that pushed SCAPO to transform into a political party. Cameroon already has over 260 registered political parties in the country.