Cameroon’s Prime Minister, Chief Dr. Joseph Dion Ngute, has discussed strategies to secure a victory for the ruling party in the upcoming election in the Southwest Region.
The PM held a series of fireside pre-campaign meetings with the CPDM’s campaign teams from four out of six Divisions of the region on Friday and Saturday.
Though the discussions were held behind closed doors at the Buea Mountain Hotel, they shared a common objective: securing a victory for the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement, CPDM.
Shortly after the meeting, Minister Paul Tasong, who leads the CPDM campaign in Lebialem Division, stated that the PM met with them to assess their readiness to vote massively for the CPDM’s national chairman, Paul Biya, in the October 12 presidential election.
“At the end of this fireside chat, we arose feeling totally fired up and ready to do what it takes. We shared with the PM our level of preparation, the challenges we are facing, and our analysis of the context and environment in which this election is going to be held this year,” he said.
According to him, the PM offered advice and encouragement.
“He promised to do what he can within his own powers to support us in meeting our targets and objectives come October 12,” stated Paul Tasong.
Earlier on Saturday, the PM had met with the team from Kupe Muanenguba, led by former Minister Prof. Elvis Ngole Ngole, now chairman of the Douala Regional Hospital.
Prof Ngole Ngole, who is the President of the CPDM Kupe Muanenguba Campaign Committee, said his division is a political stronghold of the CPDM.
“We have voted consistently for the CPDM. There is no doubt about the political atmosphere. We are ready to vote 100 per cent again in the forthcoming election,” he said.
According to Prof. Ngole Ngole, the loyalty and fidelity of Kupe Muanenguba to President Paul Biya and the CPDM is unconditional.
“The Prime Minister’s initiative to have this fireside conversation with us is very welcome in our division,” he added, expressing confidence that his division will deliver another victory for President Biya.
Similar sentiments were echoed by the Minister of Special Duties at the Presidency, Victor Arrey Nkongho Mengot. Leading the Manyu Division delegation, he stated that President Biya has accomplished a lot for the Division and for that reason deserves another term in office.
The event was held amidst a lockdown in the region, a result of an armed conflict that has persisted for nearly nine years.
The campaign strategies discussed by the teams remain undisclosed, as private media was not permitted to listen to the deliberations.
The presidential election will be held in less than one month. So far, 12 candidates, including the incumbent Paul Biya, are vying for the nation’s highest office.
President Paul Biya, 92, is the world’s oldest leader and the second longest-serving ruler in Africa.
When he announced his bid for an eighth term, he said, “the best is yet to come.”
If Paul Biya wins, he will be 99 years old by the time his mandate expires in 2032, and would have ruled for half a century.
This year’s election is unprecedented, considering the number of registered voters, that is, eight million as opposed to six million in 2018.
