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John Fru Ndi

March 14, 2023

Ni John Fru Ndi (born 7 July 1941) is a Cameroonian politician. He founded the Social Democratic Front (SDF), the main opposition party in Cameroon, in 1990.[1] He failed to get elected as a senator in 2013.

John Fru Ndi
Chairman of the Social Democratic Front
Assumed office
13 May 1990
Personal details
Born (1941-07-07) 7 July 1941 (age 81)
Baba II, near Bamenda, British Cameroon
Political partySocial Democratic Front
Spouse(s)Susan Ndi, Rose Ndi (both deceased)

Life and career

Fru Ndi was born in Baba II, near Bamenda in the Northwest Province of Cameroon.[1][2] The title of Ni, (a mark of respect) was given to him when he was born.[1] He attended school in Cameroon at the Baforchu Basel Mission and the Santa Native Authority before going to Nigeria to study (at Lagos City College) and work in 1957.[1][2] In 1966, he returned to Cameroon and began selling vegetables.[2] He ran a bookstore in Bamenda, the Ebibi Book Centre,[1][2] headed a football club from 1979 to 1988, and headed the Lions Club International branch in Bamenda from 1987 to 1988. He was a candidate of the ruling Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (RDPC) in the Mezam Central constituency during the single-party 1988 parliamentary election, losing to a different RDPC list.[2]

Ndi was the founder of the SDF, an opposition party, in 1990.[1] He was elected as the SDF's National Chairman at its First Ordinary National Convention, held in Bamenda in May 1992.[3]

In the October 1992 presidential election, he made a strong showing against President Paul Biya, losing with 36% of the vote against Biya's 40% according to official results[4] (in Fru Ndi's stronghold, Northwest Province, he officially won 86.3%[5]). This election was condemned as fraudulent by the opposition,[4] and Fru Ndi and third place opposition candidate Maigari Bello Bouba unsuccessfully sought for the election to be annulled by the Supreme Court.[6] Amidst the outbreak of violence in the North-West Province that followed the election, Fru Ndi was placed under house arrest[6][7] in late October 1992. After about a month, he was released.[6] On 20 January 1993, Fru Ndi, along with his wife Rose, attended the inauguration of United States President Bill Clinton. He and Rose were photographed with Clinton and Clinton's wife Hillary, and Fru Ndi's presence at the event had a symbolic impact in Cameroon, giving the impression of recognition and legitimacy in light of Fru Ndi's claim to have won the 1992 election.[8]

Along with other opposition parties, the SDF chose to boycott the October 1997 presidential election.[9] Fru Ndi was re-elected as SDF Chairman at the party's fifth congress in April 1999, receiving 1,561 votes from delegates against 40 for his challenger, Chretien Tabetsing.[10]

Fru Ndi was the SDF candidate in the October 2004 presidential election; according to official results, he took second place with 17.40% of the vote against 70.92% for Biya.[11] He received his best results in Northwest Province (68.16%), followed by West Province (45.04%), Littoral Province (32.71%), and Southwest Province (30.59%).[12]

Fru Ndi alleged fraud in the July 2007 parliamentary election and called for it to be annulled;[13] in the election, the SDF won the second highest number of seats but was far behind the ruling RDPC, which won an overwhelming majority of seats. After the election, Fru Ndi said that Biya should recognize him as the official leader of the opposition.[14]

Fru Ndi said on November 14, 2007 that he would be willing to meet with Biya. He said that Biya had not invited him to meet and that he had tried to meet Biya several times, contradicting Biya's statement on French television that Fru Ndi had not responded to his invitation.[15]

On 12 April 2008, Fru Ndi called for a national day of mourning on 21 April 2008 to commemorate the individuals who died during the 2008 anti-government protests and the "death of democracy" in Cameroon. Fru Ndi indicated that he believed the 2008 changes to the Constitution were intended to enable President Biya to be lifelong dictator of Cameroon and that the changes would institutionalize corruption, immunity, and inertia.[16]

Fru Ndi again stood unsuccessfully as a candidate in the October 2011 presidential election, placing a distant second behind Biya. A few days after the election, on October 17, 2011, Fru Ndi, alongside other presidential candidates, called an emergency meeting to demand that Biya annul the election.[17]

In the April 2013 Senate election, Fru Ndi stood as a candidate in the Northwest Province, his primary support base. The indirect election marked the creation of the upper house of Parliament; previously only the National Assembly had existed. Fru Ndi failed to win a seat in the Senate. He alleged that the ruling party had bribed some SDF local councilors.[18]

John Fru Ndi has taken a critical stance against the Cameroonian government's handling of the Anglophone Crisis, a war that has affected him personally. In October 2018, Ambazonian separatists burned down his house in Bamenda.[19] On April 19, 2019, his brother was kidnapped by gunmen, who demanded a ransom.[20] Eight days later he was kidnapped himself, while visiting Kumbo, Northwest Region to attend the funeral of Joseph Banadzem, the Parliamentary group leader of the SDF. He was released shortly afterwards, with the SDF describing the whole affair as a "misunderstanding" that was quickly solved.[21] It was revealed the next day that the separatist had kidnapped Fru Ndi in order to get a chance to talk to him. In a video that appeared online, gunmen asked the SDF leader to withdraw all SDF legislators from the National Assembly and the senate. Fru Ndi replied that he would not, stating that doing so would be counterproductive.[22]

In June 2019, Fru Ndi stated that while he was not a separatist, the government "was pushing him" in that direction.[23] Fru Ndi has made a point of always travelling without a security escort whenever he visits the Anglophone regions, stating that he is not afraid of his own people - including separatists.[24]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Sarli Sardou Nana, "A Brief Narrative on the Man Ni John Fru Ndi" 2005-03-08 at the Wayback Machine, SDF website.
  2. ^ a b c d e Nantang Jua, "Ndi, Ni John Fru", in Encyclopedia of the Developing World (2006), ed. Thomas M. Leonard, page 1116.
  3. ^ "Pioneer Members of the SDF National Executive Committee (1992-1999) elected at the 1st Ordinary National Convention of the Party, holding at the Catholic Mission Hall Big Mankon, Bamenda, May 21-26, 1992" 2007-05-04 at the Wayback Machine, SDF website.
  4. ^ a b John Mukum Mbaku, "Decolonization, Reunification and Federation in Cameroon", in The Leadership Challenge in Africa: Cameroon Under Paul Biya (2004), ed. John Mukum Mbaku and Joseph Takougang, page 34.
  5. ^ Joseph-Marie Zambo Belinga, "An explanation of electoral attitudes in Cameroon 1990–92: a new appraisal", in Liberal Democracy and Its Critics in Africa: Political Dysfunction and the Struggle for Social Progress (2005), ed. Tukumbi Lumumba-Kasongo, Zed Books, page 51.
  6. ^ a b c "Chronology for Westerners in Cameroon" 2010-06-01 at the Wayback Machine, cidcm.umd.edu.
  7. ^ Nantang Jua, "The Power Elite, the State, and Transition Politics in Cameroon", Political Liberalization and Democratization in Africa: Lessons from Country Experiences (2003), ed. Julius Omozuanvbo Ihonvbere and John Mukum Mbaku, Greenwood Publishing Group, page 97.
  8. ^ Milton H. Krieger and Joseph Takougang, African State and Society in the 1990s: Cameroon's Political Crossroads (2000), Westview Press, page 161.
  9. ^ "Cameroon: IRIN-WA Special Briefing on Presidential Elections", October 11, 1997.
  10. ^ "Cameroon: Fru Ndi re -elected Social Democratic Front chairman", Agence France-Presse, April 19, 1999.
  11. ^ Candidates list on 2004 election website 2007-03-13 at the Wayback Machine.
  12. ^ 2004 candidate results page for Fru Ndi 2007-03-15 at the Wayback Machine.
  13. ^ "Le SDF exige l’annulation des législatives et municipales au Cameroun", Panapress, August 2, 2007 (in French).
  14. ^ "Cameroon: Fru Ndi claims status as opposition leader", African Press Agency, August 23, 2007.
  15. ^ "L'opposant John Fru Ndi prêt à rencontrer Paul Biya", Panapress, November 15, 2007 (in French).
  16. ^ Le Sdf appelle à une journée de deuil national 2008-04-13 at the Wayback Machine
  17. ^ "Cancel Election Or Face Consequences, Opposition Tells Biya". Cameroon News. 19 October 2011.
  18. ^ Clarisse Juompan-Yakam, "Cameroun : John Fru Ndi, la gifle !", Jeune Afrique, 29 April 2013 (in French).
  19. ^ Cameroon:Fru Ndi’s residence goes up in flames 2018-10-20 at the Wayback Machine, Journal du Cameroun, Oct 18, 2018. Accessed Oct 19, 2018.
  20. ^ Cameroon: John Fru Ndi’s brother kidnapped, Journal du Cameroun, Apr 22, 2019. Accessed Apr 22, 2019.
  21. ^ Cameroon: SDF Chairman Ni John Fru Ndi released after brief kidnap, Journal du Cameroun, Apr 27, 2019. Accessed Apr 27, 2019.
  22. ^ I Will Not Recall Senators, MPs From Biya’s Parliament, Fru Ndi Tells Ambazonia Fighters, The National Times, Apr 28, 2019. Accessed Apr 28, 2019.
  23. ^ I’m Not A Secessionist But I’m Being Pushed To……-Fru Ndi, The National Times, Jun 2, 2019. Accessed Jun 2, 2019.
  24. ^ I’ll Never Request For Security Escort In Cameroon-Fru Ndi, The National Times, Jun 15, 2019. Accessed Jun 15, 2019.

External links

March 14, 2023
john, born, july, 1941, cameroonian, politician, founded, social, democratic, front, main, opposition, party, cameroon, 1990, failed, elected, senator, 2013, chairman, social, democratic, frontincumbentassumed, office, 1990personal, detailsborn, 1941, july, 19. Ni John Fru Ndi born 7 July 1941 is a Cameroonian politician He founded the Social Democratic Front SDF the main opposition party in Cameroon in 1990 1 He failed to get elected as a senator in 2013 John Fru NdiChairman of the Social Democratic FrontIncumbentAssumed office 13 May 1990Personal detailsBorn 1941 07 07 7 July 1941 age 81 Baba II near Bamenda British CameroonPolitical partySocial Democratic FrontSpouse s Susan Ndi Rose Ndi both deceased Life and career EditFru Ndi was born in Baba II near Bamenda in the Northwest Province of Cameroon 1 2 The title of Ni a mark of respect was given to him when he was born 1 He attended school in Cameroon at the Baforchu Basel Mission and the Santa Native Authority before going to Nigeria to study at Lagos City College and work in 1957 1 2 In 1966 he returned to Cameroon and began selling vegetables 2 He ran a bookstore in Bamenda the Ebibi Book Centre 1 2 headed a football club from 1979 to 1988 and headed the Lions Club International branch in Bamenda from 1987 to 1988 He was a candidate of the ruling Cameroon People s Democratic Movement RDPC in the Mezam Central constituency during the single party 1988 parliamentary election losing to a different RDPC list 2 Ndi was the founder of the SDF an opposition party in 1990 1 He was elected as the SDF s National Chairman at its First Ordinary National Convention held in Bamenda in May 1992 3 In the October 1992 presidential election he made a strong showing against President Paul Biya losing with 36 of the vote against Biya s 40 according to official results 4 in Fru Ndi s stronghold Northwest Province he officially won 86 3 5 This election was condemned as fraudulent by the opposition 4 and Fru Ndi and third place opposition candidate Maigari Bello Bouba unsuccessfully sought for the election to be annulled by the Supreme Court 6 Amidst the outbreak of violence in the North West Province that followed the election Fru Ndi was placed under house arrest 6 7 in late October 1992 After about a month he was released 6 On 20 January 1993 Fru Ndi along with his wife Rose attended the inauguration of United States President Bill Clinton He and Rose were photographed with Clinton and Clinton s wife Hillary and Fru Ndi s presence at the event had a symbolic impact in Cameroon giving the impression of recognition and legitimacy in light of Fru Ndi s claim to have won the 1992 election 8 Along with other opposition parties the SDF chose to boycott the October 1997 presidential election 9 Fru Ndi was re elected as SDF Chairman at the party s fifth congress in April 1999 receiving 1 561 votes from delegates against 40 for his challenger Chretien Tabetsing 10 Fru Ndi was the SDF candidate in the October 2004 presidential election according to official results he took second place with 17 40 of the vote against 70 92 for Biya 11 He received his best results in Northwest Province 68 16 followed by West Province 45 04 Littoral Province 32 71 and Southwest Province 30 59 12 Fru Ndi alleged fraud in the July 2007 parliamentary election and called for it to be annulled 13 in the election the SDF won the second highest number of seats but was far behind the ruling RDPC which won an overwhelming majority of seats After the election Fru Ndi said that Biya should recognize him as the official leader of the opposition 14 Fru Ndi said on November 14 2007 that he would be willing to meet with Biya He said that Biya had not invited him to meet and that he had tried to meet Biya several times contradicting Biya s statement on French television that Fru Ndi had not responded to his invitation 15 On 12 April 2008 Fru Ndi called for a national day of mourning on 21 April 2008 to commemorate the individuals who died during the 2008 anti government protests and the death of democracy in Cameroon Fru Ndi indicated that he believed the 2008 changes to the Constitution were intended to enable President Biya to be lifelong dictator of Cameroon and that the changes would institutionalize corruption immunity and inertia 16 Fru Ndi again stood unsuccessfully as a candidate in the October 2011 presidential election placing a distant second behind Biya A few days after the election on October 17 2011 Fru Ndi alongside other presidential candidates called an emergency meeting to demand that Biya annul the election 17 In the April 2013 Senate election Fru Ndi stood as a candidate in the Northwest Province his primary support base The indirect election marked the creation of the upper house of Parliament previously only the National Assembly had existed Fru Ndi failed to win a seat in the Senate He alleged that the ruling party had bribed some SDF local councilors 18 John Fru Ndi has taken a critical stance against the Cameroonian government s handling of the Anglophone Crisis a war that has affected him personally In October 2018 Ambazonian separatists burned down his house in Bamenda 19 On April 19 2019 his brother was kidnapped by gunmen who demanded a ransom 20 Eight days later he was kidnapped himself while visiting Kumbo Northwest Region to attend the funeral of Joseph Banadzem the Parliamentary group leader of the SDF He was released shortly afterwards with the SDF describing the whole affair as a misunderstanding that was quickly solved 21 It was revealed the next day that the separatist had kidnapped Fru Ndi in order to get a chance to talk to him In a video that appeared online gunmen asked the SDF leader to withdraw all SDF legislators from the National Assembly and the senate Fru Ndi replied that he would not stating that doing so would be counterproductive 22 In June 2019 Fru Ndi stated that while he was not a separatist the government was pushing him in that direction 23 Fru Ndi has made a point of always travelling without a security escort whenever he visits the Anglophone regions stating that he is not afraid of his own people including separatists 24 References Edit a b c d e f Sarli Sardou Nana A Brief Narrative on the Man Ni John Fru Ndi Archived 2005 03 08 at the Wayback Machine SDF website a b c d e Nantang Jua Ndi Ni John Fru in Encyclopedia of the Developing World 2006 ed Thomas M Leonard page 1116 Pioneer Members of the SDF National Executive Committee 1992 1999 elected at the 1st Ordinary National Convention of the Party holding at the Catholic Mission Hall Big Mankon Bamenda May 21 26 1992 Archived 2007 05 04 at the Wayback Machine SDF website a b John Mukum Mbaku Decolonization Reunification and Federation in Cameroon in The Leadership Challenge in Africa Cameroon Under Paul Biya 2004 ed John Mukum Mbaku and Joseph Takougang page 34 Joseph Marie Zambo Belinga An explanation of electoral attitudes in Cameroon 1990 92 a new appraisal in Liberal Democracy and Its Critics in Africa Political Dysfunction and the Struggle for Social Progress 2005 ed Tukumbi Lumumba Kasongo Zed Books page 51 a b c Chronology for Westerners in Cameroon Archived 2010 06 01 at the Wayback Machine cidcm umd edu Nantang Jua The Power Elite the State and Transition Politics in Cameroon Political Liberalization and Democratization in Africa Lessons from Country Experiences 2003 ed Julius Omozuanvbo Ihonvbere and John Mukum Mbaku Greenwood Publishing Group page 97 Milton H Krieger and Joseph Takougang African State and Society in the 1990s Cameroon s Political Crossroads 2000 Westview Press page 161 Cameroon IRIN WA Special Briefing on Presidential Elections October 11 1997 Cameroon Fru Ndi re elected Social Democratic Front chairman Agence France Presse April 19 1999 Candidates list on 2004 election website Archived 2007 03 13 at the Wayback Machine 2004 candidate results page for Fru Ndi Archived 2007 03 15 at the Wayback Machine Le SDF exige l annulation des legislatives et municipales au Cameroun Panapress August 2 2007 in French Cameroon Fru Ndi claims status as opposition leader African Press Agency August 23 2007 L opposant John Fru Ndi pret a rencontrer Paul Biya Panapress November 15 2007 in French Le Sdf appelle a une journee de deuil national Archived 2008 04 13 at the Wayback Machine Cancel Election Or Face Consequences Opposition Tells Biya Cameroon News 19 October 2011 Clarisse Juompan Yakam Cameroun John Fru Ndi la gifle Jeune Afrique 29 April 2013 in French Cameroon Fru Ndi s residence goes up in flames Archived 2018 10 20 at the Wayback Machine Journal du Cameroun Oct 18 2018 Accessed Oct 19 2018 Cameroon John Fru Ndi s brother kidnapped Journal du Cameroun Apr 22 2019 Accessed Apr 22 2019 Cameroon SDF Chairman Ni John Fru Ndi released after brief kidnap Journal du Cameroun Apr 27 2019 Accessed Apr 27 2019 I Will Not Recall Senators MPs From Biya s Parliament Fru Ndi Tells Ambazonia Fighters The National Times Apr 28 2019 Accessed Apr 28 2019 I m Not A Secessionist But I m Being Pushed To Fru Ndi The National Times Jun 2 2019 Accessed Jun 2 2019 I ll Never Request For Security Escort In Cameroon Fru Ndi The National Times Jun 15 2019 Accessed Jun 15 2019 External links EditA Brief Narrative on the Man Ni John Fru Ndi by Sarli Sardou Nana Website of SDF Germany SDF Websiten http www thepostwebedition com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John Fru Ndi amp oldid 1130832035, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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