Tchiroma eulogises Anicet Ekane, calls for justice.

The FSNC party presidential candidate at the 2025 October 12 poll, has also called for justice for Ekane. 

The opposition figure died in the late hours of Sunday, under unclear circumstances after spending more than 30 days in detention.

Tchiroma penned the eulogy and appealed for justice in a message he issued shortly after the demise of Ekane.

In the three-page document, which The Guardian Post has authenticated and reviewed, Tchiroma strongly condemned the death of Ekane.

Tchiroma bemoaned the fact that despite being fully aware of his serious respiratory conditions, those who held him nonetheless deprived Ekane of the “indispensable continuity of his medical care. His oxygen equipment was confiscated”.

“He was left to face away, to struggle for every breath…until the irreparable occurred,” Tchiroma wrote.

“Architect of democratic transition”

Tchiroma described Ekane as a “patriot” and “one of the architects of democratic transition”. 

Tchiroma added that Ekane played an indispensable role “to barriers. He unified hopes. He allowed dispersed people to speak with one voice”.

“It was he who, in 2025, had the audacity to build a national platform: the Union for Change, UPC, bringing together for the first time civil society and political parties in a credible, clear-sighted, patriotic coalition” he said.

“Tchiroma claims that thanks to Ekane, “the Cameroonian people were able, for the first time, to elect a President of the Republic democratically and lawfully” continued.

The former Minister of Communication, and Government Spokesperson also claimed that: “My victory is also his. It is the fruit of his vision, his loyalty, his courage”.

“He does not leave the stage empty-handed: he departs bearing the tribute of an entire nation, the custodian of the popular sovereignty he helped bring forth,” he added.

Justice, not vengeance

According to Tchiroma, “his blood [referring to Ekane] does not call for vengeance. It calls for justice”.

“Anicet Ekane is not just another martyr, he is a landmark, a symbol and a moral compass. His name will not vanish in a footnote. It will be engraved in the stone of reconstruction,” Tchiroma said.  

Tchiroma also expressed his most sincere condolences to Ekane’s political family, his loved ones, and all those who cherished him.

He also urged all other political prisoners who are still under custody not to give up hope. He said: “You are not alone”.

It is important to mention that Anicet Ekane was the leader of the African Movement for New Independence and Democracy, popularly known as MANIDEM.

He was arrested on October 24 in Douala, in the wake of post-electoral violence and transferred to Yaounde.

Ekane had endorsed 2018 Presidential election runner-up, Maurice Kamto to run under the banner of the MANIDEM party but the candidacy of Kamto was not retained by the Constitutional Council.

Ekane then forged a strong alliance with Tchiroma and publicly declared his support for the former member of government in the run up to the October 12 poll.

Tchiroma claimed he won the election. He is currently seeking refuge in The Gambia, the West African nation has confirmed.  

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3644 of Wednesday December 03, 2025