All political parties represented at the National Assembly, for the first time had their leaders at the Unity Palace to wish President Paul Biya happy New Year.

Those who are yet to understand the meaning of the notion of political appeasement long preached in Cameroon must have had another chance to make sense out of the idea lately. The solemn ceremony of New Year presentation to the Head of State, President Paul on wednesday January 5, 2011 was another demonstration of how far the political leaders of the country are determined to go with a spirit of national concord.

For the first time since the nascent multiparty politics in the country in 1990, the leader of the leading opposition political party in the country, SDF Chairman Ni John Fru Ndi, showed up at the Presidency to say happy New Year to the President of the Republic. As another political leader commented at State house yesterday, “Cameroonians are always capable of uniting their forces together when they are looking at the essential issues”. The statement coming from a Minister, also with opposition leaning, clearly indicated the satisfaction that ran through those who saw the Chairman of the Social Democratic Front (SDF), party make his appearance into the banquet hall at the Presidency by mid day to join the national constituted corps for the traditional New Year wishes to the Head of State.

In the past, the SDF only found itself at such ceremonies through the National Assembly where as the leading opposition political party with parliamentarians in the Assembly Bureau of the House, the party held the post of one of the Vice Presidents of the House. Thus, until yesterday, the presentation of New Year wishes to the Head of State only saw political parties such as the NUDP of Bello Bouba Maigari, the CDU of Adamu Ndam Njoya and the MP of Jean Jacques Ekindi.

There is therefore reason to think that the contacts made in Bamenda last December 10, 2010 between the Head of State and John Fru Ndi went far beyond simple handshake.

It was therefore a Head of State in total harmony with his people who came out yesterday to receive New Years wishes for 2011. The over one hour ceremony that saw hundreds of Cameroonians drawn from several segments of the constituted national corps turn out to commune with President Biya.

It came just after a similar event that the Head of State had with members of the diplomatic corps during which the Doyen of the Corpse, Gabonese Ambassador to Cameroon, Michel Mandougou lauded the spirit of harmony and progress that Cameroon has embarked on. He also urged the Head of State to continue with the policy of diplomatic presence invigorated last year through his presence in most summits of world leaders.

For President Paul Biya, while Cameroon will keep working hard to boost the energy sector, it is essential that the country as well as other nations across Africa should work towards greater freedom and try to master their own destiny. Mr Biya reiterated pleas he has earlier made for world solidarity in facing growing challenges facing humanity.