Ni John Fru Ndi, firebrand opposition leader and chairman of the Social Democratic Party, SDF, has said the background from which he is coming from does not permit him to publicly present the person who might replace him as leader of the party. This he said is for fear that the person might be killed.
The SDF leader said he is from a background of a society where people don’t show their successors while they are still alive for fear of the popular belief that once successors are shown there is a tendency they might be “killed”.
“The background from which I come from, nobody shows his successor to the people when he is still alive. I think Nfon Mukete did what he did to bring his successor, installed him as the Nfon and he withdrew from active traditional roles. I think that's an exceptional case I have seen in my life because if you see the Queen of England up until now, she is not very active but she is still there, regarded and respected as the Queen,” Fru Ndi explained.
“So, looking at the background of the society from which we come from, when you show your successor, the idea is that that successor is going to be killed. I took note of this. That is why, feeling my heart the way it is, I now signaled two to three years in advance that in the next convention, I will not seek reelection,” he said.
Fru Ndi in the interviewed distance himself from allegations made by political analysts, insinuating that he may already have a successor. He insisted that such can only be narratives of “prophets of doom”.
“…well, these are prophets of doom. I don't have a successor. I have worked with all the people equally at all levels; sending them out to the field to resolve issues that have affected the party. And when people are sent out to the different regions, different areas at different intervals, they expose themselves and sell their abilities to solve problems. The time will come when SDF supporters would recall that this or that man was able to resolve this issue here, and so I think he or she is best suited to step into the feet of the outgoing chairman,” he explained.
Fru Ndi while reacting to questions related to the party’s internal affairs said the infighting between the Honourables Nintcheu Jean Michel and Osih Joshua, may play a negative role on their path to assuming the SDF top job as they are not the only militants with ambition to succeed him as chairman.
“I do not believe that those are all the people who want to run for the SDF chairmanship…I am afraid these two are already destroying themselves, thereby are making the race better for other interested candidates,” he stated while regretted the intensify of the fight between the two lawmakers all from the Littoral region.
“I think people are trying to make mountains out of valleys. People have their ambitions and when they have this ambition and they don't channel them well, they instead betray themselves. I believe that from what is going on, party members would be able to choose who they think can best represent them,” the SDF chieftain said. Fru Ndi expressed optimism on the future of the party as he considers the internal wrangling in the party as a sign of maturity.
“…if I announced I was stepping down and people didn't show their ambition, it would have meant that the SDF is not a healthy party. This is because people trust that the SDF is a party that is capable of leading the country…I am not worried about the fate of the party because the party is still strong. If this chemistry didn't show, we would not say that we have a party,” Fru Ndi declared.
By Doh Bertrand Nua
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