Ahead of multiple elections: Buea Bishop calls on Christians to register massively, vote en masse.

It comes after that of members of the National Episcopal Conference of Cameroon, the largest grouping of Cameroonian Catholic Bishops,

The letter, copy of which The Guardian Post obtained, was circulated Sunday May 19.

In the letter addressed to the all clergy, religious and Christians of voting age of the Diocese of Buea, the Chief Shepherd of the Diocese wrote: “I write to you, today, to invite all those of voting age to take time to register, so as to be able to vote in the upcoming 2025 elections”.

The spiritual leader stated that: “It is true that there is a high level of voter apathy in our country Cameroon. It is equally true, however, that the future and destiny of a country is the collective responsibility of its people. This is particularly true of us Christians, who are not only bound by a civic responsibility, but also by a moral obligation to participate in the life of the state, which includes exercising the right and duty to vote”.

Bishop Bibi recalled that: “During the Second Synod on Africa, held in October 2009, the Synod Fathers reiterated this Christian responsibility with a particular urgency for Africa, as they reflected on ‘The Church in Africa in Service to Reconciliation, Justice and Peace’”.

He recounted that: “In the document produced after the Synod, the Holy Father urged us to remember that ‘Human peace obtained without justice is illusory and ephemeral. Human justice which is not the fruit of reconciliation in the truth of love' (Eph 4:15) remains incomplete; it is not authentic justice’”.

The preacher said: “It is this truth, love, justice, and peace that our country Cameroon stands in great need of at this critical time in its history”.

He continued: “I therefore call on you my fellow citizens and Christians, to realise that choosing those who will lead us in the upcoming elections is a crucially important means of securing true justice and peace”.

“At the same time, I implore those men and women among us who have been called by the singular grace of God to be part of those facilitating the electoral process, that they may recognize, with the fear of God, the even greater responsibility that falls upon them, to protect the fairness and transparency of the entire electoral process, respecting the common will of voters,” he added. 

He was blunt that: "Failure to respect the national constitution, the law or the outcome of the vote... would signal a grave failure in governance and a lack of competence in the administration of public affairs…Such failure will only plunge our country into greater chaos”.

He continued that “as we begin to prepare for elections, I invite you to prayerfully listen to the voice of truth, which is the voice of Christ, and to follow the guidance of a well-formed conscience. I invite all priests, religious, parents, teachers, and all those of voting age not only to register to vote, but also to remind and encourage one another to do same”.

“May the Spirit of Truth who descends afresh upon us at Pentecost lead us in truth, so that through our political choices we may bring to the public sphere the transforming power of Christ's truth, justice, pence, and love. And may Our Lady, the Principal Patroness of Cameroon intercede for us,” he concluded.