In a final, passionate appeal to voters, the ruling CPDM party has wrapped up its campaign in the coastal communities of Fako, urging the population not to gamble on an uncertain future but to hold firmly to President Paul Biya, whom they described as the proven “bird in hand.”
The rally, which took place at the Mokindi Community Field on Friday, October 10th, marked the culmination of a week-long campaign tour by Dr. Thomas Ndive Molungu, the CPDM Communal Campaign Team Leader for Fako 1B Section.
Addressing a crowd of supporters, Dr. Ndive leaned heavily on a classic African proverb to frame the Sunday, October 12 presidential election as a choice between certainty and risk.
“President Paul Biya is the bird you already have in your hand,” Dr. Ndive declared, his voice echoing across the field. “The wisdom of our ancestors tells us that a bird in hand is worth more than two in the bush. Do not make the error of throwing away the bird you have, for the promise of two in the bush that you may never catch.”
The metaphor set the tone for an event that blended promises of continued patronage with direct appeals to loyalty. The message was clear: the system under Biya provides tangible, if modest, benefits, and switching allegiance is a dangerous gamble.
Women and Community Leaders Cite Benefits
The campaign team received the blessing of the local traditional authority, Chief Paul Njie Lifanjo, before a series of speakers took the stage to testify to the government’s presence.
Speaking on behalf of the women of Isokolo, Mrs. Clara Amundo Afadani, the WCPDM President, provided a starkly practical reason to vote for the incumbent. She revealed that over a ten-month period, women in the area had received relief assistance of FCFA 2,500 to FCFA 3,000 each, distributed through the Limbe II Council.
“Our women really need to vote for Biya… so he can continue to give them more benefits,” Mrs. Afadani stated, directly linking the act of voting to the expectation of future financial assistance. She also credited government-approved schools for creating teaching jobs for many local women.
Mayor Chief Woka Ngale Daniel presented a more pointed argument, tying the fate of the community to that of their own son, Limbe City Mayor Paul Efome Ngole. “Voting against Biya on Sunday shall mean voting against your City Mayor,” he asserted, reminding the crowd of council initiatives like free birth certificates and implying that these benefits could be jeopardized.
A Lesson in Ballot Casting
In a telling moment that highlighted the party’s concern for spoiled votes, Section President Eluke Mbai Ephraim gave the crowd a meticulous tutorial on how to correctly vote for the CPDM.
“When you get into the voting booth, take your time,” he instructed. “Make sure you pick just one white ballot—the one with the red fire sign and the picture of President Paul Biya.”
He carefully guided them through the process: “Put just one ballot inside your envelope, throw the other ones inside the waste paper bag, then step out and put your envelope inside the ballot box.” The detailed instructions underscored the party’s drive to ensure every possible vote is counted correctly.
The rally was notably animated by a significant contingent of Muslim women, who expressed their support through songs and dance, highlighting the diverse coalition the party was mobilizing in the region.
As the event concluded, coordinated by Emcee Akume Ernest, the message left with the people of Isokolo was one of cautious pragmatism. In the final hours before the poll, the CPDM’s campaign is not selling a vision of radical change, but a warning against losing what they already have—their “bird in hand.”
