Prime Minister Philemon Yang in his keynote address, said Volume IV of the book, was a celebration of the choice of Cameroonians who have continued to call on President Paul Biya to stand as their candidate in the 2011 presidential election. Mr Yang said, “the majority of Cameroonians support the candidate we know” and stated that, “in the minds of our people, the choice of Paul Biya is irreversible”. The Head of Government said the motions of support show that Cameroonians like, President Biya, who is the nation builder and the candidate who inspires hope and a bright future. The motions therefore, are a show of wisdom of and political prudence of the people and a message of reassurance. The SOPECAM General Manager, Marie-Claire Nnana who said the corporation’s mission was to channel the people’s expressions, also officially handed a copy of the book to the Prime Minister.
The event took place in the presence of many senior government officials, members of the diplomatic corps and civil society organisations. The Secretary General of the Central Committee of President Biya’s ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM), René Sadi said for the party, the motions were an important political act. He said Volume IV of the book showed the people’s frank, profound and committed support to the Head of State. Minister Sadi said the motions accompany the steps of President Biya and indicate his communion with the people.
The Book
Volume IV of “Paul Biya: The People’s Call”, is a 295-page collection of motions of support, 31 from CPDM-based organisations and 44 from civil society organisations. The motions are divided into five sections. Section one is the people’s call for President Biya’s candidature, two is their support for the President’s fight against corruption, section three deals with positive indicators to economic development, sector four has motions defending the national integrity of Cameroon and five concerns the people’s wishes for the Head of State. Prime Minister Yang wrote the prologue to the book entitled, “ For an emergent Cameroon with President Paul Biya”, René Sadi wrote the preface on the challenges of today and tomorrow and the post-scriptum on why they are calling by the General Manager of SOPECAM, Marie-Claire Nnana and Deputy General Manager, Shey Peter Mabu. The Epilogue is President Biya’s New Year 2011 message to the nation, speech during the Ebolowa Agro-pastoral Show and National Youth Day message last February 10.
Professor Jacques Fames Ndongo, Communication Secretary at CPDM Central Committee and Minister of Higher Education in his introduction described the motions of support as “a speech act”. He said the book with 18-coloured pictures had to be taken seriously for it is a scientific piece of work. Professor Ngolle Ngolle Elvis, the Minister of Forestry and Wildlife who also wrote the introduction to the book, described it as the manifesto by the people of Cameroon to their nation, showing their concern for a better future. He said the book is a manifesto of the kind of leadership the people need and must have. Professor Ngolle Ngolle also qualified it as a search for a republic of values and a dream of hope for the entire nation.
