SDF: G27+ members boycott Fru Ndi’s funeral!.

The members of the group were not spotted at any of the funeral gatherings organised in honour of the late SDF Chairman.

The members who are 34 in number, were all absent at the inter-religious service organised in Yaounde, the Final Rally on the Bamenda Commercial Avenue Grandstand and the official burial ceremony staged in Baba II village on Saturday July 29.

Conspicuously absent at the funeral gatherings of Ni John Fru Ndi was former SDF Littoral Bureau Chairman, Hon Jean Michel Nintcheu. 

The absence of Fru Ndi’s former confidante, Hon Yoyo Emmanuel, former National Financial Secretary at the funeral ceremonies in Bamenda and Baba II, also sent tongues wagging.

In Yaounde, some of the G27+ members who came close to the funeral gatherings of Ni John Fru Ndi, merely tiptoed into his Nkolfoulou residence to sign the funeral booklet, before sneaking themselves out. 

Why the boycott?

The G27+ group, which engaged in several running battles with Fru Ndi, while he was alive, hasn’t commented on the reason for the boycott of his funeral.

But when contacted yesterday via telephone, Denis Nkemlemo, who has been serving as Spokesperson for the group, argued that members of the G27+ platform didn’t entirely boycott the funeral of Ni John Fru Ndi. 

Nkemlemo said members of the group, who stayed away from the funeral, did so for personal reasons. 

He insisted that the move by some members of the group to stay away from the funeral, wasn’t a collective decision.

Nkemlemo told this reporter that: “Most of us, participated at the level of condolence visits”.

Reminded that no member of the G27+ group was seen at any of the public funeral gatherings, Nkemlemo was quick to justify that “this is because those who were at the centre were feeling so insecure that our presence may make them lose popularity”.

Pressed to comment further, he said: “It was not a concerted action. Most of us felt that the principal organisers were feeling so insecure by our presence, that we will steal the show from them. Secondly, the organisers didn’t associate us with the preparations, despite the fact that we showed interest”.

He said despite the problems “we had with the deceased, we understood that we had had happy days, so we had to pay him homage”.

Quizzed if reconciliation between the G27+ group and the SDF was now visible, following the death of Fru Ndi and the current tension with the interim leadership, Nkemlemo was equivocal.

“I don’t think that the funeral was supposed to serve as a platform for reconciliation. We have to understand that political activities within the party were suspended immediately he died. So, it is in August that political activities will resume. It is until activities must have resumed that one can judge whether reconciliation will be possible or visible,” he added.

Told that observers had expected that the G27+ platform would use Fru Ndi’s funeral to reconcile with the party, Nkemlemo stated: “As far as we are concerned, we long reconciled with him individually and collectively because you don’t fight a dead man”.

“When you are engaged in a battle with somebody, immediately he falls, the battle is over. You can’t pursue him right to his grave,” he added.

Who are G27+ members?

The G27+ platform of the SDF is made up of a group over 32 dissident members, who have been clamouring for reforms within the opposition political outfit.

They include Littoral SDF Chairman, Hon Nitcheu Jean Michel; the National Communication Secretary, Nkemlemo Denis; former party scribe, Honorable Tsomelou Jean; Ex-National Legal Adviser, Ndiva Kofele Kale and Ex-Senate Vice President, Nkeze Emilia.

Others include: Hon Chief Tchatchouang Paul, Mahop Scholastique, Kumase John,  Hon Yoyo Emmanuel, Honorable Sonkin Etienne,  Kambiwa Chantale; Waffo Jean Robert, Ntonga, Tchangop Florent, Aboubakar Siroma, Toko Raphaël, Ngnang Cyrille,  Mouafo, Hon Chief Nji Tumassang,  Hon Fopoussi Fotso Evariste,  Wanko Jean Robert, Sukam Tchandjui Pierre, Ngoualem Rodrigue Carlos, Kouasseu Charles, Mbvoum Parfait, Ouanji Luc, Tatsinkem Augustin, Mfam Arouna, Sadefo Edmond, El Hadj Mohnkong Sidiki and Ngapna Abdoulai.

Members of the group have been a thorn in the flesh of the leadership of the SDF. The group had dragged the now late National Chairman of the party, Ni John Fru Ndi, to court.

The party heavyweights were challenging several decisions taken by the leadership of the party. 

They had accused the late SDF Chairman and the party scribe of repeated violation of the text of the political outfit.

They were also accusing Fru Ndi of grossly violating certain provisions of the text of the party and of “highhandedness”. 

The disgruntled members had also repeatedly accused Fru Ndi of scheming to hand over the baton of command on a platter of gold to the party’s Firs Vice President, Hon Joshua Osih.

In a February National Executive Committee, NEC decision, members of the group were dismissed from the party under controversial circumstances. They have since seized a Yaounde court, demanding their reinstatement.