SDF: Burkas, face veils prohibited at NEC sessions

The stakes are high with threats by the terrorist, Boko Haram, not helping matters. It was against this backdrop that the opposition Social Democratic Front, SDF, party held an extraordinary session of the National Executive Committee (NEC) in Bamenda on August 1st, 2015.

Party Chairman, Ni John Fru Ndi set the pace with instructions that NEC will not entertain face veils or burka-carrying members. The screening of NEC members ahead of sessions may not be excluded for purposes of visibility in collective efforts to check out the evil of terrorism.

In effect, the NEC session reaffirmed SDF’s solidarity with the nation’s defense and security forces battling Boko Haram, stressed the need for the judicious use of contributions by Cameroonians in support of war efforts and reiterated the need for economic, social and cultural developments in affected areas to accompany security strategies to tackle the roots of terrorism.

The resolutions urged the government to reinstate state authority and civil service in affected areas, plus the development of a clear cut policy on confronting terrorism. It also emerged from the resolutions that the government should initiate a permanent consultative and inclusive political forum on issues relative to threats to national security.

It was the first NEC session since the party’s 25th anniversary on May 26, 2015 and Chairman, Fru Ndi, took time off to salute stakeholders who rose to expectation for the overall success of the event.

The agenda also featured reports of the hitch-free reorganisation of party structures across the country but for what others qualified as intimidation tactics from detractors that delayed the exercise in Mfoundi’s SDF Electoral Districts.