Militants and supporters of the Cameroon Peoples’ Democratic Movement (CPDM) party of the Kupe-Muanenguba III Section, Tombel, of the South West Region have promised a 100 per cent victory for the party chairman, Paul Biya in the upcoming presidential elections and are thus registering massively on electoral registers to materialise the promise. They used festivities marking the party’s 26 years of existence Thursday March 24 to re-iterate their unalloyed support for President Paul Biya and the institutions he incarnates. “We are celebrating our President’s victory in advance given his unrivalled quest to develop our great nation and we cannot afford to waver in our support for him” was the overriding message in song, speech or dance during the crowd-pulling event at the Conference Hall in Tombel.

When the CPDM Central Committee delegate to the celebration in the Section, Prof. Elvis Ngolle Ngolle and his accompanying delegation got to the entrance of the town, it was ecstasy as a mammoth crowd of party militants were already lined up to usher them into the ceremonial ground. Like the Biblical Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, Prof. Ngolle Ngolle was escorted into town by motorbike riders clad in the party’s attire, amidst singing by the population, choral and dance groups who turned up massively for the celebrations.

In separate speeches, the YWCPDM, WCPDM, Section President, administrative and traditional authorities all hailed Paul Biya for the peace that reigns in the country, describing him as a development luminary who needs the support of all. They said President Paul Biya has always been their choice and there was no reason not to celebrate his victory in advance. The appointment of one of theirs, Prof. Elvis Ngolle Ngolle to what they termed the prestigious and juicy post of Minister of Forestry and Wildlife and others into posts of responsibility, creation of schools and other administrative units, they said, were enough reasons to uphold the ideals of the CPDM regime championed by Paul Biya. “Paul Biya is the tree of life”, “He is our choice”, “Champion of peace”, “Papa Ngolle Ngolle is our gift from God and remains your political finisher”, were some of the messages echoed during the event and conveyed to the Head of State through Prof. Ngolle Ngolle.

In response, the “Elephant man”, as the Minister was fondly called, urged the population to register massively so as to materialise their promises to the party chairman. “Our people have grown with the CPDM, benefited from the CPDM and have vowed to remain with it”, Prof. Ngolle Ngolle said. From the 28,000 voters in 2004, to double the number in 2007, the Minister said the party has been making inroads in the Kupe-Muanenguba Division, thanks to its policy of inclusion, reason why he said their target is to hit a 75,000 voter’s mark before the upcoming elections. Besides a three-point Tombel declaration in which party militants pledged to do all for their choice candidate, Paul Biya to secure a 100 per cent vote, other high points of the celebrations included the gift of 750 recruitment forms to help youths of the entire Division in the ongoing process to recruit 25,000 youths into the public service and the cross-carpeting of some opposition militants, notably, UNDP to join what they qualified the peace, development-oriented vision of President Paul Biya.