"He called me his son": Bamenda II SDF Chairman vows to carry Fru Ndi's legacy forward

The Chairman of the Social Democratic Front (SDF) Electoral District for Bamenda II, Ezekiel Nji Chi, has described himself as one of the political heirs of the late Ni John Fru Ndi, pledging to continue the values and leadership style that defined the opposition icon's life.

Speaking to Hilltopvoices during activities marking the third anniversary of Fru Ndi's death in Bamenda, Nji Chi said the former SDF national chairman intentionally groomed younger party militants and leaders to carry forward his ideals long after his passing.

"Yes, he actually used to call me his son," Nji Chi said when asked whether he considered himself among the many "Fru Ndis" the veteran politician left behind.

The remarks came during a thanksgiving service organised by the Fru Ndi family and the SDF at the Presbyterian Church Musang in Bamenda, where party leaders, supporters, family members and well-wishers gathered to celebrate the life and legacy of the man widely regarded as the father of multiparty democracy in Cameroon.

Throughout the anniversary activities, speakers repeatedly stressed that while Fru Ndi was no longer physically present, his ideas and influence continued to shape both the party and the country's political landscape.

For Nji Chi, sustaining that legacy is now a personal responsibility.

"I have always been there to ensure that we sustain that legacy," he said.

The Bamenda II SDF leader identified humility and grassroots politics as the two defining lessons he inherited from Fru Ndi.

"Humility and grassroots politics," he said. 

"Those are the values I continue to carry."

His comments reflected a broader theme that ran through the anniversary celebrations, with many party officials arguing that John Fru Ndi's greatest achievement was not simply founding the SDF, but inspiring and mentoring generations of activists who continue to defend the party's vision.

The Chairman admitted that returning to the late chairman's residence for party activities remained emotionally difficult.

"We sincerely miss the presence of our national chairman, the presence of our father," he said.

Yet he insisted that Fru Ndi's absence had not weakened the movement he built.

"His spirit is still with us and we are determined to sustain that legacy."

Ezekiel Nji Chi,

The anniversary celebrations also coincided with the return of the SDF's National Executive Committee meeting to Bamenda after years of disruption caused by the ongoing crisis in the North West Region.

Party leaders described the move as both symbolic and strategic, reconnecting the SDF with its birthplace as it prepares for future political contests.

For Nji Chi, however, the most important legacy of Fru Ndi is not a building, a meeting or a political office.

It is the generation of leaders he inspired.

Three years after his death, the Bamenda II chairman believes that as long as those values endure, the man many simply called "Chairman" remains very much alive in the movement he founded.

By Bakah Derick for Hilltopvoices Web

Tel: +237 694 71 85 77