Cameroon: Fru Ndi Prepares Defamation Suit Against Govt Ministers

The SDF National Chairman, Ni John Fru Ndi, has vowed to take court action against all those who have maliciously linked him to the recent strike action that led to destruction and killings. He said he was suing them for defamation, having lied against him thus dragging his image and that of the SDF into disrepute.

The SDF boss made the declaration at a press conference in Yaounde on 17 March to clear the air on the accusations levied against him by some government officials in relation to the recent social unrest in the country.

“The SDF resolutely repudiates the blackmail and smear campaign directed on my person and my party by irresponsible government officials who have lost control of government machinery due to their poor management and lack of vision and have resorted to political witch-hunting,” he said.

He added that he has asked his lawyers to prepare a case file against all those who have tarnished his image and that of the SDF by linking him falsely to the recent strike action and destruction by the youths.

“We are putting our facts together with all the necessary evidences to file a law suit against Gregoire Owona, for lying against my person and making false references in Cameroon Tribune, Marafa Hamidou Yaya for defamation of character by associating me with a prison convict, Cameroon Tribune, for publishing what I did not say and the SDF will also sue the Mfoundi elite for associating the party with the strike actions and urging what they call ‘strangers’ i.e. non indigenes to quit Yaounde”.

Fru Ndi noted that a law suit would first be made in the Cameroon court and later if not satisfied in an international court. “Some years back I sued Cameroon Tribune for publishing false information that I have escaped to Nigeria. They were fined FCFA 10 million. It appears they have not learnt their lesson,” he added.

He said Marafa in his ranting, painted an image of the SDF that was reminiscent of the inflammatory Nazi type propaganda and techniques. “How can Marafa claim that the youth seminar organised in Bamenda by the SDF was to train them on how to mobilise to effect political change, thus insinuating that the seminar must have been planned to prepare the socio-political unrest that followed ten days later.

Meeting With President Biya
On his proposed meeting with President Paul Biya, the SDF chairman said it was not only necessary but imperative for the socio-political tension in the country at the moment. He brandished a letter requesting for audience with the Head of State to pressmen, revealing that a copy has already been sent to the civil cabinet at the presidency.

“It is not a matter of Fru Ndi meeting Biya but that of the main opposition leader meeting the Head of State to find a breakthrough to the present socio-political crises.

It is the life of the nation that is at stake here because the youths are in dire need of a lasting solution to their problems. The president needs divergent approaches and an opinion to know the realities of what is going on”, Fru Ndi said.

He pointed out that  he was also going to tell Biya face to face why it was dangerous for him to dare change the constitution especially article 6.2. The SDF’s position against any constitutional change was also reiterated with a call for Cameroonians to stand up firmly and defend the nation from an imminent threat of collapse.

Memo By Mfoundi Elite
On Memo by some Mfoundi elite ordering those they call ‘strangers’ that is non indigenes of Yaounde to quit the city because they claim their children were behind the destruction in the capital. Fru Ndi said it was intriguing this that memo was signed by some of Biya’s close associates like Andre Marie Fouda, Minister of Public Health.

The memo is said to smack of bad faith, greed and provocation. “It is proof of the extent to which Cameroon has been polarised and tribilised. These so-called elites of Mfoundi must be reminded that every Cameroonian has the right to settle anywhere in Cameroon. I have asked SDF lawyers to drag these so called Mfoundi elites to court”, He pointed out.

By Elias Ntungwe Ngalame    
Thursday, 20 March 2008 , Eden News paper Limbe