The Political Bureau members of Union des populations du Cameroun are scheduled to meet next Saturday to chart the way forward.

The passing on of the Secretary General of the Union des Populations du Cameroun (UPC), Augustin Frédéric Kodock, on October 24, 2011 after that of the party’s Chairman, Ndeh Ntumazah, on January 21, 2010, has orphaned the country’s oldest opposition party. But the party’s bigwigs are poised to holding on to the legacies left by the two officials, likewise those who died before them, for continuity.

While preparations intensify within the party to give the fallen SG a befitting burial, reflection is already on course on how to continue from where Mr Kodock ended. In a chat with Cameroon Tribune (CT) yesterday October 25, Ninga Tjai Augustin, member of the Political Bureau of the party disclosed that the Bureau will meet next Saturday October 29 to among others, look at the way forward. “Continuity is assured. Our rules and regulations, which are like our constitution, state that the congress that elects the executive of the party also elects a General Secretariat.” According to Article 23 of the constitution, he said, the General Secretariat ensures at all moments, the effective functioning of the party in all parts of the country. “The members of the Secretariat are still there. Even if all the other structures of the party are no longer there, the General Secretariat can ensure the functioning of the party”, Mr Ninga Tjai noted.

But this does not mean leaving the posts of party Chairman and Secretary General vacant for ever. On their replacement, Mr Ninga Tjai quoted Article three of the party’s constitution which stipulates that replacement can be done within the party. “But we think that given our present context, it is necessary to be tactful. We are hopeful that the Political Bureau can come up with a formula to ensure that the party is ably represented at each instance where and when need be”. Meanwhile the Political Bureau meeting of October 3, the member stated, defined a calendar and everything being equal, plans are underway to hold a Governing Board meeting and eventually a congress to revive the party for future political consultations. “But this must take time for better preparation as, “given the context, we must take a leap from where we are today. This demands the presence and participation of all who are tussling for the party in respect of existing rules and discipline.”

Augustin Frédéric Kodock now belongs to history but his legacy will certainly live on. Other party faithful CT meet with Ninga Tjai Augustin described their time with the fallen hero as a moment of reawakening. “We were almost like in school given that Mr Kodock was strict. For the more than 20 years we spent with him, he inculcated certain virtues in us which we would live with for the future of our party. He always told us that his wishes were that after his death UPC should remain with dignified officials. We are ready to assume the heritage because we were well trained in his school,” they said.

His funeral programme is still to be made public.