By Kini Nsom
The National Chairman of the National Union For Democracy and Progress, NUDP, Bouba Bello Maigari, has demonstrated a fence-sitting attitude as far as the ongoing clamour for article 6.2 of the Constitution is concerned.
While exchanging new year wishes with his party militants in Yaounde recently, Bouba Bello failed to state the position of his party in the face of current manoeuvres by the ruling CPDM party to enable President Biya to stand for elections to have another mandate.
Speaking earlier, the coordinator of the NUDP for the Centre Province, Joseph Zibi, had said militants were confused and did not know what stand to take in the face of the ongoing manipulations by CPDM officials to amend the constitution. He asked the NUDP Party Chairman to state the position in the face of such a situation.
He, however, that the party could only state its position after the UNDP political bureau and the central committee meetings would have held. According to Bouba Bello, who is also the Minister of State In charge of Post and Telecommunications, his priority was not to quickly state his party's position but to reorganise the basic organs of his party in the coming months.
He said the NUDP respects its internal regulations and must not hearken to any pressure. Everything would be organised for the party to take a stand on the constitutional amendment debate.
When a group of Journalists attempted to quiz Bouba Bello to state his personal opinion about the bid to amend article 6.2 of the constitution, he quickly jumped into his car and drove off.
Since the NUDP is in alliance with the ruling CPDM party, observers interpreted Bouba Bello's fence-sitting attitude as caution against making any statement that would provoke President Paul Biya. Yet, many said Bouba Bello's fence sitting is a tacit approval to the ongoing manoeuvres by his CPDM allies to change the constitution.
While presenting two NUDP Members of Parliament, MPs, who attended the occasion, Bouba Bello said if they did not fight hard, the CPDM, would have seized the seats. He said he was proud of leading a party of very committed militants.
He boasted that the NUDP is the only opposition party that improved its performance in the 2007 twin elections as compared to the 2002 elections. Going by him, the fact that the NUDP moved from one parliamentary seat to six remains a great improvement.
UNDP Cannot Be Indifferent
Meanwhile, the centre provincial coordinator of the UNDP said the party could not be indifferent to the ongoing constitutional debate in the country. As a frontline party, he went on, the NUDP must state its position in the current scheming by CPDM militants to change the constitution to allow their National Chairman to remain as President of the Republic for life.
To him, it was incumbent on the party hierarchy to urgently convene the
political bureau and central committee meetings of the party to take a
stand on the issue.
NUDP militants from all over the ten provinces of the country attended the occasion.
mr bello u are gradually having the appetite for `food' `and drinks' provided by the cpdm and biya.
u seem to contented with those scrape numbers of seats(6)in parliament. that is how u northerners have alway been-confused like us sheep
Posted by: vextoj | Sunday, 17 February 2008 at 05:30 PM
Mr Bello Bouba is a clear hypocrite. These are the type of people the regime in Yaounde have used over the years to influence a distrust in the ideologies of several opposition figures. His romance with the CPDM has hit hard on NJFN 's ability to govern the country. He, Kodock, Dakole Daisalla, Antar Gassagay, etc who fronted fake opposition parties in La Republique betrayed the trust the people had on the opposition. In my opinion, they are part of the reason for the voters apathy in that French enclave.
Posted by: rexon | Sunday, 17 February 2008 at 08:00 PM
What do we expect from a sheep like bello bouba.
Posted by: Delors | Monday, 18 February 2008 at 09:48 AM
Mr Bouba Bello go tell your fellow co-opposition party leaders like Daisala,Kodock,Gasagay etc that,when poor policy produces bad results it's often painfully easy to recognise inadequate leadership.You people have betrayed and ripped your people from their dreams,underminding their confidence by going into a ficticious alliance with the ruling party.Sellout politicians like you have only aided the ruling party to hijack the electoral system with their fraudulent and deceitful majority.We know as ministers you people always go behind closed doors and have secret sessions with the president.Little doubt you have hand in the constitutional amemdments plans.
Incidentally Cameroonians already know who you people are;suicidal leaders,those pick-pocketed administrators of the Bi Mvondo's clique disguised as opposition leaders.You have added pepper to the already deplorable and corrupt government.A government riddled with misconcepetions and recently reports says 400 Billion frs of fraud has been uncovered.Nothing good comes from this government.Please Bouba et al do what is right for the public and the benefit of the country.We need developmental changes for fundamental problems both in the opposition parties and the ruling government but not a constitutional change;article 6.2 in particular.
Fritzane Kiki
S.Korea
Posted by: FRITZANE KIKI | Monday, 18 February 2008 at 01:39 PM