The SDF Chairman was received in one of the six audiences that rounded off the Head of State’s 72-hour stay in Bamenda Friday. “We agreed that the stalemate is broken and that dialogue has begun and it will continue”. These are the words of the Chairman of the Social Democratic Front (SDF) party, John Fru Ndi, after a 45-minute tête-à-tête with the President of the Republic, Paul Biya at the Presidential residence at Upstation Bamenda last Friday December 10, 2010. The SDF strongman was received in the fifth of the six audiences the Head of State granted prominent sons and daughters of the North West Region as he rounded off his 72-hour stay in the region. This was within the framework of celebrations that marked 50 years of the country’s armed forces.

After the discussions, Fru Ndi told prying journalists that he was happy for the meeting. “I am glade the 50^th anniversary celebration of the armed forces brought him to Bamenda for us to meet. A meeting, he said, put an end to the political stalemate that has existed between the two politicians since the advent of multiparty politics in the country some 20 years ago. “We were all relaxed and discussed frankly from the heart and he appreciated that”, the SDF Chairman said. He disclosed that he and the President discussed a wide range of issues. “I had to bring up the issue of ELECAM and we will be looking into that later. Due to time constraints we couldn’t discuss much but we agreed that we have come together and that discussions will continue”, he stressed. After the discussions, members of the Chairman’s delegation were ushered into the audience room and were each introduced to the Head of State by John Fru Ndi. Prior to the audience, Fru Ndi was seen in warm handshakes with the Head of State’s collaborators notably the Director of Civil Cabinet of the Presidency of the Republic, Martin Belinga Eboutou, the Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Justice and Keeper of the Seals, Amadou Ali as well as some CPDM bigwigs of the NW Region in the likes of Hon. Tamfu of Nkambe, Achidi Achu of Santa and Francis Nkwain of Boyo, in what many describe as evidence of political maturity. Like Achidi Achu, John B. Ndeh Coordinator of NW CPDM Section President said, after meeting with the Head of State, that he appreciated strides made by the party in the region, following the nine parliamentary seats and 18 councils it won in the 2007 joint parliamentary and council elections. “His visit brought a lot for us and it would be our turn to pay him back in 2011”, they said.

Other audiences were granted to Anna Foncha, wife of former Prime Minister of West Cameroon and Vice President of the United Republic of Cameroon, John Ngu Foncha, a delegation of North West Fons, North West politicians, Archbishop of the Bamenda Ecclesiastical Province, His Grace Cornelius Esua Fontem and to the Governor of the North West Region, Abakar Ahamat, accompanied by the Senior Divisional Officers of all the seven Divisions of the Region.