Osih rules out reconciliation with dismissed SDF bigwigs.

The SDF bigwigs, including Hon Jean Michel Nintcheu, Prof Kofele Kale, Nkemlemo Denis among others, were dismissed from the party after internal wranglings which ended in the courts.

Since the departure of the over 30 heavyweights of the SDF, there have been calls for reconciliation to facilitate their return to the fold.

But speaking at presser in Yaounde at the close of last week, days to the celebration of the 35th anniversary of the SDF, on May 26, the party’s National Chieftain dismissed the possibility of any reconciliation.

Insisting that disputes within the SDF are settled internally, Hon Osih was categorical that by taking the party’s previous leadership, including its founder, the late Ni John Fru Ndi to court, the group of now former SDF officials, had crossed the red line.

He said even at the demise of the late SDF Chieftain, the group of over 30 politicians failed to do the needful, by ‘pleading for forgiveness’ for their ‘sins’. Osih was blunt that the action of the dissident SDF officials was an affront to the party.

Turning to other issues at the press conference, Hon Osih urged Cameroonians to register and vote massively during the forthcoming presidential election.

"Register and vote. It is a republican duty. If you are not registered, you do not have to complain," Hon Osih said.

The SDF Chieftain regretted that since the introduction of multi-party politics, the current regime has been voted by 2.4 million Cameroonians, who, he said, decide the destiny of over 30 million people.

"That is less than 8% of the population. That is why nothing is moving. And as long as we do not seize this election to take back power, the narrative will not change. A small majority decides how the country is being run, election after election. There is about 32% of the population that does not take part in the elections. The moment a part of the 32% votes, everything will change," Hon Osih stated.

Commenting on the up upcoming presidential election, Osih regretted that: "A group of friends have taken the country hostage”. He was categorical that once the people go out en masse and vote, things will change. 

Resolving armed conflict in NW, SW  

On the ongoing armed conflict in the Anglophone Regions, Osih, who is presidential flagbearer, said under his watch, violence in the restive North West and South West Regions, will be brought to an end in 100 days, if elected president.

Hon Osih explained that his party’s priority is not to bring peace to the North West and South West Regions within 100 days but to end the violence. The absence of violence, Osih insisted, does not mean the people are at peace. 

"There is violence and there is a political situation that needs to be addressed. These are two separate things. If you want to bundle them into one, we would end up with another 20 years trying to stop what is going on in these two Regions," Osih said.

"We are giving ourselves 100 days, so that we do not disappoint you. But we will be there on the field…we will go down to the North West and South West Regions to make sure that the violence stops," he added.

Speaking further, Osih expressed dismay over government’s inability to resolve the crisis in the two English-speaking Regions. 

"Right now, why is the war raging on?...this government is blind to the fact that peace is not cheap. There is nothing like cheap peace. Peace is extremely expensive. Peace is more expensive than war. War is already expensive but obtaining peace is very expensive,” he noted, stating that government's lackluster attitude towards resolving the Anglophone crisis is affecting the country's economy. 

He said: "War caused us about four points on our Gross Domestic Product, GDP. I am very sure that if we look deeper, it is even more than that".

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3458 of Wednesday May 28, 2025