Oct 12 poll: Far North solidifies pact with Biya.

Thousands of CPDM supporters, clad in fabrics of the ruling party, flooded the event venue to show their unflinching support for the incumbent Head of State as he seeks an eight term at the helm of State.

Speaking at the rally, the City Mayor of Maroua, Dr Sali Babani, thanked the Head of State for choosing to campaign in the Far North Region. 

He assured President Biya that the population of the Far North Region is more than ready to give him a resounding victory, come next Sunday.

He said the people of the Far North Region see in Biya’s candidacy, an opportunity to vote for peace, national unity, living together, peace and the protection of Cameroon’s territorial integrity.

“We sealed a pact of confidence with you. The people have declared their confidence to maintain you as Head of State. CPDM supporters see you as a visionary, charismatic leader who says what he means and does what he promises,” Dr Babani stated.

The City Mayor told the Head of State that his consistency in keeping the country in one piece is commendable. On this score, he praised Biya for maintaining, “… national unity through permanent dialogue. The choice of the population is to remain loyal to you for your leadership clairvoyance”.

In terms of development and what the City of Maroua and the Far North Region in general has witnessed in the mandate ending, Dr Babani catalogued what he said is an impressive balance sheet of Biya’s achievements. 

 From roads to education, youth empowerment, access to health and other basic social amenities such as potable water and electricity, Dr Babani said the population is satisfied with the ground covered this far. 

 The municipal authority cited hundreds of billions invested in several projects across Maroua and the entire Far North Region, as telling of Biya keeping to his 2018 campaign promises.

Dr Babani showered praises on Biya for putting in place a reconstruction programme for the Far North Region. The plan, he said, will boost inclusive development and recovery of communities that have suffered from natural disasters and security issues. He said the plan is the strategic socioeconomic development tool for the Region.

The City Mayor was particular about the existence of Referral Hospitals in the country’s 10 Regions, the implementation of the Universal Health Coverage, UHC, scheme, special health campaign programmes and other undertakings of Biya, which he said put women, men and children at the heart of his development vision. 

“You kept your promises of 2018 without any exception.  The Far North Region is the indefatigable bastion of the CPDM,” Dr Babani declared at yesterday’s rally.

Begs for more 

Beyond transmitting the unwavering support of the population of the Far North Region to Biya, Dr Babani noted that there is need for more. He appealed to Biya to step up efforts to boost security, especially in the Logone and Chari and Mayo Sava Divisions. The municipal authority also talked of the need to address food insecurity.

“…We want more good roads, especially that leading to SEMRY,” he stated, insisting that women and youths also need to be empowered”.

‘Vote for who will help you’

Taking the floor, the Speaker of the National Assembly who doubles as the CPDM campaign head for the Far North Region, Hon Cavaye Yeguie Djibril, urged the population to vote Biya. He said President Biya is the man who will help the Far North Region. Cavaye urged the population to strictly vote to give the CPDM candidate a resounding victory. 

Biya addressing population in Maroua yesterday 

 Biya thanks population for constant support 

Opening his address, Candidate Biya thanked the Far North Region for ignoring what he said were campaigns of calumny and blackmail, to respect State institutions and continuously support him. Biya said the task ahead is enormous but not insurmountable.

The campaign rally in Maroua, the Head of State said, was for him to have an open-heart engagement with the population and discuss their challenges.

Said he: “You know my attachment to this region. You know how deeply I care about the challenges you face every day. You know my sincerity. I came here to meet you face to face, to tell you that I stand with you. I know your difficulties, and I can assure you that these problems are not insurmountable”.

 He assured them that he is in the know of the hurdles they face every day, asserting that actions will be redoubled. He talked of being ready to address issues around youth unemployment, women empowerment, improvement of social infrastructure and security challenges.

He appealed to voters in the Far North Region to massively re-elect him to continue steering the ship of the nation. With the support of Cameroonians, Biya said the nation has shown resilience and courage in overcoming challenges.

The CPDM candidate said if elected, he will focus on addressing the challenges of women and youths. 

Biya stressed the need to professinalise education to ensure the socioeconomic and entrepreneurial insertion of young people.

He averred that he desires a country where every youth; whether with academic certificates or not, will find a job or create one to live a decent life.

“…No youth whether educated or not will be left behind. It is an ambitious initiative. I don’t doubt. I take the engagement that the situation of women is serious in my agenda…,” Biya declared, adding that: “Give me your votes for this assignment. You know my support for women, we will achieve significant progress. We will redouble efforts,” Biya stated.

Restructuring employment fund, special roads funding scheme 

On specific promises, Biya told the crowd yesterday that he will restructure the National Employment Fund, NEF, to fit into his new ambition to address youth unemployment.

He also announced the putting in place of a special roads rehabilitation programme, which will be allocated huge resources. 

The scheme, he said will focus on rehabilitating existing roads and constructing new ones nationwide.

On projects such as the Mora-Dabanga Kouserri, Ngoundere-Garoua, Ebolowa-Akum II Kribi stretches, Biya said money has been raised, companies awarded contracts. Works, he said, will start in the coming days.

Beyond roads, he said benefits of huge investments in the energy sector will start being felt across the country in addition to the interest on roads.  These moves, he said, will give a new lease of life to the country’s economy.

The incumbent Head of State also assured the population that the huge investment in the country’s mining sector will improve on public revenue to fund development nationwide. 

 Asserting that in the mandate ending, access to education, health and other social services have improved, Biya renewed his commitment to do more. He restated what he said is his undying commitment to serve the Cameroonian people.

New-old promises 

He told the people of the Far North Region that actions will be taken to improve security, address recurrent floods and step up security in Mayo Sava and Logone and Chari Divisions. The actions, he said, are needed to ensure communities affected by Boko Haram incursions regain their vibrancy and contribute to national development.

The Head of State also promised to intensify sanity in the handling for public funds, promising to tighten the fight against corruption and misappropriation of public funds. 

Biya left the ceremonial ground restating that Cameroonians “are a courageous people, united to overcome challenges,” adding that: “Our march towards progress is unstoppable…my ambition to serve you has not changed”.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3588 of Wednesday October 08, 2025