SDF blasts Biya for reshuffling ministers

Shadow cabinet ministers of the Social Democratic Front, SDF, have described President Paul Biya’s recent cabinet reshuffle as a “nonevent.”

They made the observation while holding a pioneer SDF shadow cabinet ministers seminar in Bamenda. The 8-hour workshop coincided with the reshuffling of the government.

They frowned at Biya’s continuous reshuffling of his cabinet and questioned why he has belligerently refused to respect the bi-cultural system of the country, with all the circa five education-related ministries – basic, secondary, higher education, sports and physical education as well as vocational training, continue to remain in the hands of Francophones.

Besides, they pointed out that like previous cabinet shake ups, that of last Friday exposed Anglophone marginalization given that only a meager 10% of Anglophones were appointed.

The SDF shadow cabinet members equally condemned the deplorable nature of roads in the country which affects development and economic activities. They decried the use of public funds to sponsor CPDM party activities and creation of public schools following politicians’ demands in order to garner votes even where there are other schools nearby or where they are no students.

Earlier, while opening the seminar, the SDF National Chairman, John Fru Ndi reminded shadow cabinet members that the SDF concept of a shadow cabinet falls under article 11.2 of the party constitution dealing with technical committees.

“The constitution was revised at the Bamenda convention in 2006 to transform them into shadow cabinets. It’s also a re-enforcement of activities to provide a forum where future SDF government policies, decisions and actions can be scrutinized in support of SDF parliamentary actions of the parliamentary group and discussions at the SDF National Executive Committee,” Fru Ndi explained.

He noted that the SDF shadow cabinet corresponds to the various ministries that would run the SDF government when the time comes.