FIFTH ORDINARY NATIONAL CONVENTION OF THE
SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC FRONT
CLOSING SPEECH
BY NI JOHN FRU NDI, NATIONAL CHAIRMAN OF THE SDF
Your Excellencies, Members of the Diplomatic Corps,
Distinguished Invited Guests,
Leaders and Representatives of Sister-Parties of the Socialist International and Other Friendly Political Parties,
Members and Sympathisers of the Social Democratic Front,
Ladies and Gentlemen.
After four days of real and popular enthusiasm and intense work, we have come to the end of the Fifth (5th) Ordinary National Convention of the Social Democratic Front that began, in this Conference Centre of Yaounde on the 16th of April 1999. We can now take stock of our work.
After our initial apprehensions, which were quite understandable given our modest resources, the usual threats and sabotage of our activities by the Biya Autocratic Regime, we cannot but congratulate ourselves that the organisation and the proceedings have been commensurate to our efforts, our sacrifices and our projections.
Dear Comrades,
Permit me, on behalf of the newly elected National Executive, to say with much pride and satisfaction that this convention has been a great success in spite of a few organisational hitches; and for this I would like to thank all its participants and the many who in one way or the other assisted us morally or materially to bring our dream to fruition.
I heartily thank all the militants and sympathisers and especially those of the Centre Province for their warm reception and hospitality;
I also thank all the members of the National Organising Committee and all the sub-committees and the different individuals who, by their sacrifice, know-how and total commitment, contributed to the success of this convention.
We cannot of course, forget our party officials and volunteers for their availability and timeless service, the national and international press for their excellent coverage of and interest shown in our convention, the artists, musicians and dance groups for the spectacular animation they provided us during the four days.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear Comrades,
Let me seize this last opportunity to thank all our invitees to the convention and in particular the representatives of sister political parties, the friends of Cameroon as well as members of Socialist International who came especially to cheer us up in our struggle to put in place a genuine democracy in our country.
We sincerely believe that they are returning to their homes with living memories of this convention and will be witnesses to those who, for their interest and ours, support our struggle for a Nation free of dictatorship; a Nation where freedom and liberty will triumph.
I congratulate all those who have won at the elections and exhort them to immediately set down to work so as to fulfil the expectations of those who voted them. To those who did not win, I encourage and exhort them to redouble their efforts because elections are only a choice and the SDF, in order to meet the challenges facing it, needs every one of us on deck.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear Comrades,
Beyond the pump and pageantry of such a great event, this convention attained its main goal, which was to reinvigorate the party and to instil confidence in our members, strengthen our rallying ability in the pursuit of the sacred and fundamental objectives we set for ourselves in 1990.
In our struggle for change and freedom, the role of the opposition in general cannot be over-emphasised. Our party has taken careful note of the calls and suggestions made by the opposition parties that honoured the invitation to our convention.
To the government, the SDF reiterates its readiness to engage in frank and sincere dialogue within a reasonable time frame in order to seek a final solution to the problem of alternation of power in this country.
However, we shall at depend on the hazard of history. The convention has just empowered us o use other means to bring change in Cameroon and thus alleviate the sufferings of Cameroonians.
As you all know, our party has had a number of problems with members who by their activities have excluded themselves under section 8.2. While we encourage the healthy exchange of ideas and total free expression within the party, those who think they can destroy the SDF either from within or from without should rest assured, as they can see from the tremendous and vibrant success of this convention, that they will destroy no one but themselves.
Fellow Comrades,
Here we are poised to take a new start, determined more than ever before, to assume our responsibilities, consolidate our ranks to definitely paddle our own destiny, here we are at the dawn of the 3rd millennium with 17 years of wastage, misery, vices and diseases as our single heritage.
Here we are beside our graves. Are we going to let ourselves buried without uttering the last cry?
All of you here have said NO. We are going to take our responsibilities because nine (9) years of fighting for change have taught us much.
Fellow Comrades,
Here we are at the end of the 5th Convention of the SDF after seriously reflecting on and democratically discussing the future of our nation.
Our great party, which has been reinvigorated by the fresh impetus of this convention, is ready to take another decisive step in its existence. At this moment that we are initiating a new take off, I exhort you comrades to join the ranks, be more vigilant and militant.
This is because faced with various challenges like the need to break new political grounds, what is expected from us henceforth is our ability to take control of events, manage difficult situations, surmount obstacles and overcome dangers in our irreversible drive to take power.
I am convinced that with the faith and interest shown by the whole nation in our convention, our deliberations would bear handsome fruits.
It is my fervent wish that this convention should instil in the Cameroonian nation the determination to take its destiny into its hands at the dawn of the 3rd millennium.
I declare closed the 5th ordinary convention of the SDF.
Long live the SDF!
Long live Cameroon!
Yaounde the 20th April 1999
The end
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