MRC: Dismissed supporter says party hierarchy muzzling contrary opinions.

The legal mind said his dismissal from the party is a calculated move to short-circuit his political ambitions after declaring to run as candidate for the post of MRC president, during the forthcoming convention.

He was reacting on Douala-based media organ, Equinoxe TV, after his dismissal from the party.

Tamfu’s dismissal is the outcome of the resolution of the meeting, which the party president, Prof Maurice Kamto, chaired last July.

We gathered that during the meeting, the party’s National Directorate had suggested that Barrister Tamfu be dismissed. The resolution, we further learned, was forwarded to Kamto for validation.

The decision taken last June, it should be said, was only made known a few days back. Barrister Tamfu was dismissed alongside another party supporter, Armand Noutack.

The party accuses the legal mind of insubordination and sabotage.  

Barrister Tamfu had been removed from the party’s communication team and warned he would be brought before the Disciplinary Board for “failure to comply with the duty of reserve and loyalty”.

Dismissal tarnishing party’s image

Barrister Tamfu said during the Equinoxe TV outing, that the recent move by the party hierarchy to silent the voices of some vocal party supporters with ambitions to contest for the party's top job, only tarnishes the image of the party.

“It is a very bad image to our democracy…from that message, what can be inferred from the decision is that we don’t welcome contrary opinions,” Tamfu said.

Barrister Tamfu cries foul

Speaking to Equinoxe TV reporters, Barrister Tamfu said he was surprised to have been notified only on August 1, of a decision which was long taken last July 15.

“They had to wait until I project my ambition to be the President of the MRC, before they notify me,” Barrister Tamfu said.

The outspoken and popular MRC supporter described his dismissal from the party as a means to short-circuit his political ambition.

“I believe that it is a form of putting a stop to my political ambition,” he stated, quickly noting that the decision is unfair.

“…it is not fair and I will not want to continue tarnishing the image of the party. I will prefer to accept the decision of the party and henceforth look further,” he said.

Barrister Tamfu said the decision to dismiss him from the party is what he “least expected”.

“I was shocked receiving that decision. When I went through the decision, I discovered that a lot of frivolous accusations were being put against me,” he regretted.

He also described the decision of the party as harsh and unjust, adding that the party could have as well as given him a warning letter before proceeding to expel him.

“I could maybe have a temporary suspension of my political ambition or a call to order,” he noted.

Not ready to create party, join another

Quizzed on the way forward on his political ambition, Barrister Tamfu said he has no plans to create a political party or to join another for the moment.

“I think that I am now a free mind and a free thinker. I can express freely now in the society and be more useful as a civil society actor. I have no ambition of creating a new political party or joining one for now,” Barr Tamfu said.

Deputy MRC scribe justifies dismissal

For his part, the Deputy Secretary General of MRC, Justin Noah, justified that the two recently dismissed party supporters had crossed the red line of the disciplinary organ of the party.

“Tamfu Richard and Justin Noah are no longer supporters of the MRC party…,” Noah confirmed. He added that the two dismissed supporters had, for some time, been carrying out he qualified as anti-party activities.

“We all know that for a while now, they have been propagating insults and defamatory words on the side of the national president, supporters and the party as a whole,” Noah explained.  

Context of infighting within MRC

The infighting and subsequent dismissals from the MRC, it should be noted, follow the planned elective congress of the political outfit, billed for November 4, 2023. A new president of the party is expected to be elected during the convention.

The dismissal of Barrister Tamfu Richard comes barely weeks after another party bigwig, Barrister Michel Ndoki, was expelled from the party.

Both Ndoki and Tamfu had declared their intention to challenge Prof Maurice Kamto for post of MRC president, during the convention.

Barrister Tamfu had decalred his intention to run for the MRC top job last July 20, 2023.

"I am honored and pleased to announce my candidacy for national president of the MRC in [the election to be held] at the 3rd Ordinary Convention, scheduled for December 2023," the lawyer had written on his Facebook page.

"We must assume our responsibilities…rather than allowing ourselves to be overwhelmed by fear and discouragement. The Cameroon Renaissance Movement must once again become the symbol of hope for change for Cameroonians from all walks of life, the powerful machine that raised the crowds and shook the regime in 2018," he had written.