The calls come days before the expected proclamation of the October 12 presidential poll this Thursday October 23.
Cameroonians have continued drumming transparency and peace as the nation awaits the proclamation of the result of the 2025 presidential election next Thursday October 23. Traditional, religious, political and other authorities have been leading the calls. While a section of them have been urging competent bodies to strive for the respect of the people’s will by proclaiming a result that reflect the choice that Cameroonians made during the October 12 poll, a section of them have targeting the population, challenging them to remain calm, before, during and after the proclamation of the result.
One of the religious leaders who have been drumming peace is the Archbishop of Garoua, His Grace Faustin Ambassa Njodo. The Catholic Church bishop in an outing in the North Region last weekend, said the church continues urging peace and calling on all Cameroonians to pray for peace to reign in the country. “May our hearts be at peace.
We pray for families to be at peace. We pray that the society will preach peace. We pray that all of us will work for peace, defend peace and promote peace,” the religious leader stated in a message that was further reechoed by Rev Ndike Wesley Agbor of the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon, PCC. “Our Lord Jesus Christ promises us the culture of peace and that is what we are praying for.
Without peace, we can’t enjoy our stay here in Garoua,” the PCC official said during an outing in Garoua in the chief town of the North Region over the weekend.
Enter traditional authorities
Traditional rulers who have joined the call include the chiefs of the South West Chiefs Conference in the South West Region, the Fons of Lebialem in the South West Region, the traditional ruler of Babungo in the Ngoketunjia Division of the North West Region, Fon Chafah Isaac and a host of others.
The Fons of Lebialem in their outing, called for the respect of law and other, citing the ongoing Anglophone crisis in the North West and South West regions as an example of how damaging the failure to embrace peace and calm can have on communities and its peoples. “Furthermore, we wish to remind our beloved people of Lebialem that the difficult times the Division has been through for the past eight years and its effects on the lives of the most vulnerable amongst us are not yet over.
Consequently, we call on you all our cherished and beloved people of Lebialem Division wherever you are; to exercise maximum restraints as the nation awaits the proclamation of the results of the presidential election by the competent authorities in accordance with the law of the land,” the Lebialem Fons stated “…To remain vigilant, as a measure to protect yourselves and your properties as well as your families and not to allow any individuals or group of individuals to engage you in activities that may jeopardize your lives or liberties in any way; to bear in mind that crowd action may be collective, but punishment for breaking the law is always personal,” the traditional rulers further stated in a statement made public yesterday.
They further urged the chairpersons of traditional councils, the presidents of cultural and development associations, the presidents of Lebialem meetings and all community leaders, “to give this message utmost consideration and widest publicity.” The Lamido of Garoua, His Majesty Ibrahim El Rachidini in an outing in the capital of the North Region said traditional authorities are focused on ensuring that the population remains calm, stating that he and his peers are among other things, focused on fighting against the use and spread of hate speech among the population. “Peace is what we want.
We continue praying for people to avoid all forms of hate speech so that we can continue living peacefully,” the Lamido said.
Calls for transparency, respect of people’s will
While the calls for peace to continue reigning multiply, so too have been the plea for transparency and the complete respect of the will of the people on the management of the October 12 presidential polls. One of the authorities who have been championing efforts to ensure the respect the will of the people is the Archbishop of Bafoussam in the West Region, His Grace Paul Lontsie.
The Bafoussam Archbishop in an outing over the weekend, said peace goes hand in hand with truth and the respect of the will of the people, urging competent bodies responsible for the votes to embrace transparency and proclaim a result that reflect the voice of the people “One cannot talk about peace and rig votes, stealing victory from the people. Peace goes hand in hand with truth and respect for the will of the people,” the Archbishop of Bafoussam who been one of the most vocal voices in the Cameroonian political landscape over the last few years, stated.
The result of the presidential election is expected to be proclaimed by the Constitutional Council on Thursday October 23. Incumbent Pau Biya of the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement, CPDM and his former ally, Issa Tchiroma Bakary of the Cameroon National Salvation Front, FSNC are believed to be leading the race as favorites for the Unity Palace top job.
