2025 presidentials: Akere Muna’s endorsement rattles Biya regime.

The choice of the anti-corruption icon of global standing, was made on Saturday September 28, in Yaounde. The move is said to have taken the CPDM regime off guard, sending it into extra labour and political calculations.

According to reports, pillars within the Biya regime consider the weight and influence of Akere Muna as telling enough to upset the status quo in the 2025 presidential election. 

Strategists within the CPDM are said to be viewing the threat from Akere in the polls vis-à-vis the changing dynamics and increasing calls for change nationwide. 

The gathering brought together leaders of political parties, CSOs, prominent political figures and other dignitaries like veteran journalist, the US-based Eric Chinje.

The coalition, it was revealed, is led by Parti Universe of Prof Nkou Mvondo. The coalition is made up of the Union of the People of Cameroon, UPC; the Popular Action Party, PAP; the Movement of Patriotism and People’s Prosperity, MP3; amongst others. 

Speaking at the event, Prof Nkou Mvondo explained that the coalition is made up of about 20 political parties, associations, CSOs, and several renowned personalities. 

According to Prof Nkou, they have resolved to throw their weight behind Barrister Akere Muna ahead of the 2025 presidential election. 

Prof Nkou explained that political parties, reached an agreement to form a coalition and name a unique candidate to unseat President Paul Biya. 

The varsity don said Barrister Akere Muna is a rare pearl and meets all the requirements to become the unique candidate of the coalition.

Prof Nkou further explained that Barrister Akere Muna, as agreed by the coalition, is from the English-speaking Regions of the country previously administered by Britain. 

This alone, he said, accounts for Akere’s good knowledge of the social and political realities of the country. 

Barrister Akere Muna, Prof Nkou Mvondo went further, has enviable  international experience, in addition to his crusade against vices in the  Cameroonian society.

Akere Muna understands Cameroon

One behalf of the coalition, Prof Nkou said Barrister Akere Muna understands the complexities of the country. He described their chosen candidate as a beacon of hope, sounding confident that he will win next year’s election.

“We have the hope that in a couple of months, things will change in Cameroon for the good of everyone. We are going to invest and fight to make sure that Akere Muna becomes the third president of the country,” Prof Nkou said. 

Akere Muna says won’t disappoint 

Reacting to his endorsement, Barrister Akere Muna said he is delighted to have been chosen to run for the highest office of the country.

He thanked Prof Nkou and others who put together the coalition. Akere said he is aware of the task ahead and promised not to disappoint Cameroonians.

“I am conscious of the cry of the people of this country. I am conscious of their sufferings. I am conscious that we engage in battle to save the soul of this country. And I will be able to speak about this in the next seven days,” Akere Muna said. 

Time for Anglophone president

Several political actors reacted positively to the endorsement of Akere Muna. The President of the UPC party, Habiba Issa, said Akere Muna was a square peck in a square hole. 

The no-nonsense UPC leader called on Cameroonians to stand up as one man and register massively on the electoral list and to support their candidate, Akere Muna. 

She said it is time to give power to the Anglophone people, who must also feel like Cameroonians.

“Today, we the citizens have the final word. We can decide our own destiny. If we don't decide our destiny, politics will. Let's rise up,” Habiba said. 

The UPC leader added that: “We are bringing shame to the African people. After 40 years, Cameroon is living in misery. Let us choose a peaceful transition, free and transparent for an Anglophone candidate because two Francophone mandates are enough”. 

Time to walk the talk 

For his part, Barrister Agbor Balla lauded the initiative of the coalition, and said it was time to walk the talk. 

The multiple award-winning lawyer, called for massive mobilisation behind Akere Muna, whom he said, reflects the wishes and aspirations of Cameroonians, to win next year’s presidential election. 

“For the last 60 years, we have been going round and round. Barrister Akere Muna is a visionary…what we have to do is to support him. All we have to do is to go out there and mobilise as many people as possible,” Barrister Agbor Balla said.

According to Barrister Agbor Balla, “the election in 2025 will be very difficult because those in power don't want to leave. They want to die in power”. 

Balla said it is time for Cameroonians to come together to change the destiny of their country. 

“We have to work together to change the country. We have to build a campaign to encourage people to register. It is not only about voting. We have to stay until the votes are counted. If you don't protect your vote, you cannot win any election in this country,” Agbor Balla said. 

Akere panacea to country’s plight 

Godden Zama, former Social Democratic Front, SDF, supporter who ran for the office of the National Chairman of the party, said Akere Muna is the solution to Cameroon’s challenges.

Zama said he is convinced that Akere is the right person to put an end to the sufferings of Cameroonians.

“The cry for the past 40 years that we had in Cameroon, we now have the solution to our problems. We have the next president of Cameroon, the third president of Cameroon,” Zama said. 

He described the backing of Akere Muna to run in next year’s election as “the joy of the entire nation. The joy we have today is the joy we fought for in Ntarikon in 1990. It's the joy that our ancestors had when they brought these two nations together”.

The Executive Secretary of MP3, Hiram Iyodi, said Akere Muna has what it takes to manage Cameroon. 

“We can assure every Cameroonian that by supporting Akere Muna, we give ourselves the chance to build a Cameroon of justice, of peace, meritocracy and excellence,” Iyodi said. 

This article was first published in The Guardian Post issue N0:3245 of Monday September 30, 2024