2025 presidentials: Biya replies Bishops over his possible candidacy.

Tomaino Ndam Njoya extending news wishes to Biya Friday January 10

The man at the heart of declarations from some Bishops of the Catholic Church regarding the presidential election of this year, President Paul Biya, has shared his thoughts on the saga. 



It is a rare declaration which filtering to the public space has rather further left many pondering. For one thing, many have been expressing mixed reactions regarding President Biya seeking re-election for an eight mandate. 

Debates on the issue have continued to remain volatile since Biya told compatriots in his December 31, 2024, message to the nation of his resolve to continue serving them without resolve.

“I can assure you that my resolve to serve you remains steadfast and grows stronger by the day as we address the immense challenges facing us,” Biya had declared.

Yet, at 92, some Catholic prelates among them, the Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Douala, His Grace Samuel Kleda, have been vocal that Biya should retire from politics and “return to the village”. 

The Bishop of Yagoua Diocese, His Lordship Barthelemy Yaouda Hourgo, also joined the argument.

He had first said during a ministration that it was better for a devil to take over the leadership of the country, before questioning in a media interview: “Can you give a machete to your 92-year-old grandfather to walk for one kilometer to the farm? And you are telling us to only preach peace? People have had enough. No”.

The Bishop of Ngaoundere, His Lordship Emmanuel Abbo, also made declarations critical of Biya’s leadership, citing widespread suffering among citizens. 

Despite the critical opinions, what has been heard and still continues to be heard are replies from the President’s supporters and some members of government.

 

Biya breaks silence 

In the cool of discussing with some of his ministers while receiving New Year wishes on Friday February 10, Biya also encountered opposition politicians. 

One of such persons is the Mayor of Foumban in Noun Division of the West Region, who is also National President of the Cameroon Democratic Union, CDU, Hermin Tomaino Ndam Njoya.

President Biya had a somewhat lengthy exchanges with her but the content of their discussion was not known to the public, leaving many to be guessing. 

Yet, Ndam Njoya has in release which she said is meant to put the record straight and avoid misinterpretation, detailed what she and Biya were discussing during last week’s Unity Palace New Year wishes ceremony.

What stands out in the release is what Ndam Njoya has documented as Biya’s response to the declaration of the Catholic Bishops. 

She noted that: “Referring to the Bishops' declarations, the Head of State pointed out that the criteria for candidacy for the Presidency of the Republic depends on the Constitution and the law, and not on the Bishops”.

 

Biya not aware opposition requesting Electoral Code review

On the push from some opposition and civil society actors for a consensual review of the Electoral Code, Ndam Njoya said the Head of State told her he is not in the know of such demands.

She mentioned that Biya also admitted not having seen a draft proposal to review the Electoral Code. 

“The Head of State said he was not aware of the proposal to amend the Electoral Code, which the Platform for the Consensual and Participatory Reform of the Electoral Code had brought to his attention in November 2021,” the CDU leader noted in her outing.

The opposition party leader said she promised Biya that another copy of the proposal was going to be sent to him without delay, for appraisal. Ndam Njoya averred that the Electoral Code is vital in the organisation of free, fair and transparent elections.

 

Proposes review of Constitution

Among other things which Ndam Njoya said she told Biya was the need to review even the Constitution of the country ahead of the 2025 presidential election. 

According to her, such a step is required to appease the political climate as the country prepares for the presidential poll.

 

Open to request, demand from population

Another aspect of the Ndam Njoya-Paul Biya exchange at the Unity Palace, the CDU leader noted in her release, is what she said is the Head of State’s declarations of openness to all request from the population. 

“The Head of State said he was “open to all requests or demands from the people. He said this twice,” Ndam Njoya underscored. 

The CDU leader insisted that the disclosures in her release about the encounter with President Biya, can be verified.

 

This story was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3339 of Wednesday January 15, 2025

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