The Member of Parliament for Bamenda and Bali
has made public his intentions to be the flag bearer of Cameroon’s most
populous opposition party the Social Democratic Front SDF during the
anticipated presidential elections for 2018. Hon. Fobi Nchinda Simon made the
announcement Wednesday in the party headquarters in Bamenda during a meeting
with members of his micro-project committee and some party officials.
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| Hon Fobi Nchida Simon |
After encouraging members of his
micro-project committee to make available their projects for funding this 2018
not later than the end of March, the aspirant SDF candidate expressed his love
and concern for Cameroon and started “I truly believe that we all must help
direct the future of our nation so as to meet the challenge of the 21st
century. The winds of regime change he added “are blowing and we must come
together to nurture the fundamental freedoms, equality and prosperity which
these winds should bring. We must unite to bring Social Democracy to Cameroon.”
Reaffirming his position for his party, Hon
Fobi who has styled himself “A master builder for Etoudi”, explained that it is
SDF’s vision to “conquer power through the ballot box.” Unfortunately he
lamented “ELELCAM the organ charged with the organization of elections cannot,
in the considered opinion of the SDF organize free, fair and transparent
elections. In spite of these flaws, we have decided to go for elections, and if
need be defend our votes at all costs.”
Making the solemn declaration the
Architect/Engineer stated “as per the SDF constitution there will be an
elective convention this February 2018 where all aspirants will present
themselves for elections I am an aspirant and count on God’s grace and your
support to emerge as the chosen flag bearer of the SDF for the upcoming
Presidential elections of October 2018.”
With what can be described as a sound
educational, professional and political background including an MSc in Arch.
Engineering, Assistant Professor at the National Higher School of Engineering
Yaounde 1, designing of several facilities across the country, a second term
Parliamentarian and a consistent, committed and loyal militant of the SDF from
the 90s, Hon Fobi considers his works as a demonstration of hard work and
accomplishments as well as the vision he has for Cameroon.
While serving as parliamentarian and as Vice
Chairman of the Finance and Budget committee, the aspirant believes he now
understands the “functioning of our government as to the adoption and
implementation of policies, I have carried out several development projects
which have improved the lives of our citizens and developed our communities.”
He castigates the “over-centralization of
power, corruption, embezzlement, nepotism, lack of respect of the law,
unemployment, poor health delivery system, mass exodus of our yuths, poor and
insufficient housing coupled with urban decay, inexistent urban vision and lack
of opportunities for our children, especially those graduating from school and
universities” in Cameroon and believes that he caan be a solution.
Though endorsing the idea of a unique
opposition candidate, Hon. Fobi argues that even if the opportunity a number of
things must count amongst them material and financial resources as well as
following. “You not expect the ocean to move into the river but the river
should move to the ocean.”
It should be recalled that Hon Fobi Nchinda
Simon expressed the same desire ahead of the 2011 presidential elections but
eventually step down. Quizzed on whether the same scenario will not will not
repeat itself, the aspirant clarified that in 2011 there was no convention thus
producing a different scenario unlike this time when a convention is coming in
an electoral year and thus empowered to select a presidential candidate as per
constitution of the party.
He is the third candidate to have expressed
the wish to be the party flag bearer after his party and National Assembly
colleagues Hon Joshua Osih and Hon Mbah Ndam made their declarations. The SDF party
chairman John Fru Ndi has remain mute over his candidature despite being
nominated for post of party chairperson again by the party in North West.