SDF MP cautions Biya against delaying dialogue with SCNC

By Sylvanus Ezieh Acha’ana in Yaounde 

The SDF member of parliament for Mezam, Hon. Simon Forbi Nchinda has warned President Biya against the dangers of delaying the dialogue with the Southern Cameroons National Council, the SCNC, as recommended by the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights, ACHPR.

Speaking on CRTV’s weekend 20 minutes program, “Parliamentary Echoes” presented by George Arrey, Forbi expressed disappointment with Biya for proving tough and for manifesting open disregard of the law following his reticence to call up the SCNC for dialogue.

The ACHPR also called the African Court, it should be recalled, had few years behind not only recognised the SCNC as a legitimate group but ordered the state of the republic of Cameroon to dialogue with the former as a means of seeking solution to their grievances.

Forbi who based his plea on the aforementioned ruling chastised Biya for his continuous nonchalance towards the commission’s recommendation, opining that as head of state, Biya should have been the one to lead by example in demonstrating respect and obedience to legal institutions.

Even though the SDF member of parliament carefully avoided to call the SCNC by its true name, he slated the president for undermining the rule of law: “we all know that there is a recommendation by the African Commission in Banjul for President Biya to dialogue with the Anglophone extraction of this country. Why has he not initiated that dialogue up till date?,” Forbi questioned.

Forbi also spoke at length on the recent increase in fuel prices and the resultant increase in taxi fare. While subscribing to the lifting of the fuel subsidy, the Mezam MP said the timing and the manner in which it was done is catastrophic most especially to the common man.

He said while salaries of state workers have been increased to meet up with fuel price hike, the common man remains the main victim given that the increase in transport fare would be felt most by him as the prices of basic commodities are likely to also increase.