The violence in which Cameroon has been plunged into, coupled with incidents of hate demonstrated by allogenes against the settlers in the Centre and South Regions are perceived to presage chaos in the run-up to the 2025 presidential elections.
Worried by this trend of events, the Honorable Laurentine Koa Mfegue issued a passionate call for responsibility during the opening of the March 2025 session of parliament.
She then dwelt on the trackrecord of President Paul Biya to the chagrin of political watchers who expected her to address more pressing issues or stay neutral if politics was her bid.
Hon. Laurentine Koa Mfegue showered praises on President Paul Biya for fostering what she described as a thriving democracy in Cameroon.
She emphasized that democracy in Cameroon is active and well-exercised, serving as the foundation of national political life.
To her, it is not a democracy of illusion or deception but one that is tangible and functional.
“Whether we like it or not, whether we adhere to its ideals or not, honesty obliges us to recognize a constant truth: the democracy we enjoy today is the result of the vision of one man—Paul Biya, the President of the Republic.”
She referenced speeches President Biya made in the early days of his presidency as evidence of this democratic foundation.
“The truth it is stubborn: Paul Biya is the architect of our democracy. In view of certain beginnings experienced elsewhere, Cameroon appears as a model, a deeply democratic country, a democracy built with method, moderation, and wisdom.”
Hon. Mfegue warned against purported attempts to destabilize Cameroon, urging the political class to approach the upcoming elections with wisdom, patriotism, and full respect for the law.
She emphasized that, beyond personal ambitions, the nation’s well-being should remain the top priority.
“Faced with the next presidential election and far from sterile polemics or bad gestures, I appeal to the sense of responsibility, to the national conscience of each and every one, so that this deadline takes place in calm, serenity, and in a vision of a Cameroon that must always be on the move for its progress after October 2025.”
Expressing disappointment as the eldest MP’s outing, Hon. Nourane Foster of the PCRN regretted that, instead of addressing ‘the real problems and issues’ of this year, she preferred to showcase the achievements of Paul BIYA, the outgoing candidate announced for the next election, for his own succession.
“An opening speech by the Dean of Age amid an electoral campaign in favor of the outgoing candidate. We expected the mention of the researchers who died in the North, the deaths in Edea, the urgency to improve our road networks, the fight against cybercrime, the cost of the CNI, the fight against tribalism, the defense of the honor of our heroes who fell for the country, the demand for respect of the current electoral law for peaceful and transparent elections, as well as social assistance for our most vulnerable compatriots. But ultimately, just a speech focused on the results of the President of the Republic. We are therefore waiting for the opening of the debates to take a stand. The populations are suffering greatly in the neighborhoods,”declared the Deputy.
For his part, Hon Djeumeni Benilde of the SDF also distanced himself from the partisan pronouncements, noting that the National Assembly, being the People’s House, should not be used to blow the trumpet of one person.
An observer joked that the Eldest MP had decided to “baptize” the new building bearing the name of Biya in partisan colours.
Following is the speech in its entirety:
OPENING SPEECH OF THE HONORABLE Laurentine KOA MFEGUE, DEAN OF AGE OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF CAMEROON
– Mr. Dean of Age of the Senate;
– Mr. Prime Minister, Head of Government;
– Mr. Chief Justice of the Supreme Court;
– Mr. Attorney General at the said Court;
– Ladies and Gentlemen, Members of the Government;
– Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, Ambassadors and Representatives of International Organizations;
– Honorable Members of Parliament and dear colleagues;
– Distinguished members of Civil Society;
– Dear guests;
– Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;
On behalf of the Bureau of Age of the National Assembly of Cameroon, I would first like to warmly welcome you to this magnificent Palace, the Paul Biya Glass Palace, as it is now called.
You can understand my emotion, my deep emotion, to be this modest person who has the great honor of presiding for the first time over the opening session of a legislative year of our Chamber in this place.
My role as Dean of Age compels me to do so. It is with joy, an indescribable joy, that I assume this role, expressing my deep gratitude to the National President of the RDPC, who kindly granted me the nomination. Furthermore, I bow to the provisions of our Constitution, the whims of nature, and above all, the will of the Creator, Almighty God. All these factors have made me your Dean of Age since the beginning of this legislature.
Indeed! Everything is grace.
Following the decision from the last meeting of our Chamber’s Bureau, we eagerly await the solemn ceremony of the baptism of the Paul Biya Glass Palace. No doubt the date will be revealed to us in due course.
Honorable Members of Parliament and dear colleagues;
Distinguished guests;
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;
Let us live our emotions, but it seems useful to note that our work opens today in a very particular context. Indeed, the first ordinary session of the National Assembly for the legislative year 2025 takes place as the bells of the upcoming October presidential election in Cameroon are already ringing.
For some time now, the national political scene has been in full turmoil. Certainly, the awaited deadline arouses much interest, such that the attention devoted to it is growing day by day. This enthusiasm, all these desires, and so much perceptible interest clearly demonstrate the importance of this deadline. Is it not the election to the highest office of the State, the supreme function, that of President of the Republic of Cameroon?
Ladies and Gentlemen,
All this turmoil undoubtedly proves that in Cameroon, democracy is a reality. Better yet, in Cameroon, democracy lives, it is exercised, it is active, such that it has become the leaven of national political life. It is not, as elsewhere, a facade democracy, a deception, an illusion, or political politicking.
Whether we like it or not, whether we adhere to its ideals or not, honesty compels us to recognize a constant truth: this democracy that we boast so much about, this democracy that we use so abundantly today, is the result of the will of one man, His Excellency Mr. PAUL BIYA, the President of the Republic, the Head of State in office.
Let us not have short memories. Let us remember his first inaugural speech on November 6, 1982. The National Renewal Policy he announced on that occasion had as its main foundations: the democratization, liberalization, and moralization of the Cameroonian nation.
On July 21, 1990, responding to questions from Yves MOUROUSI, a famous journalist from Radio Monte Carlo, President Paul Biya declared, and I quote: “I would like history to remember me as the man who brought democracy and prosperity to his country.” End of quote.
Taking public opinion as a witness, is it not clear today that he has not failed in this particular commitment? Certainly, we cannot be in paradise. The hardships of national and international contingencies and other vicissitudes of life have not spared our country. But, I repeat, the truth is there, it is stubborn: Paul BIYA is the architect of our democracy. In light of some falterings experienced elsewhere, Cameroon appears as a model, a deeply democratic country, a democracy built with method, moderation, and wisdom.
– Distinguished guests;
– Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen;
At a time when dissonances are brewing in the political universe of our country and when wolves, even the most unsuspected, are coming out of their dens to lead Cameroon into rifts that will certainly be difficult to heal tomorrow, from the height of my age, Dean of Age of the People’s Representation, it is my duty, a sacred duty, to exhort the political class of my country, our country, to use this broad democratic openness with wisdom, faith, patriotism, and in total respect for legality, always keeping in mind that beyond our personal ambitions, the only thing that matters is Cameroon, our dear and beautiful country.
By inciting compatriots to destabilize this country and to chaos, by wishing for the advent of malevolent spirits to preside over the destinies of the nation, we who aspire to power, what Cameroon will we lead afterward? Like the young Athenians, we must rather swear to leave the homeland better than we received it, not a state in tatters, but a prosperous nation proud of its advances.
In view of the upcoming presidential election and far from sterile polemics or ill-intentioned gesticulations, I call for a sense of responsibility, a national conscience from everyone, so that this deadline takes place in calm, serenity, and with a vision of a Cameroon that must always be moving forward for its progress after October 2025.
To all the actors, I say:
– Let those who are responsible for organizing, know how to organize according to established rules;
– Let those who must judge, say the law, nothing but the law;
– Let those who know how to mobilize, mobilize to break all participation records when the time comes;
– Let those who know how to sanctify and invoke spirits, sanctify and pray to keep the specter of division and the malevolent spirit of the devil away from our land. We know, the latter is always quick to come and sow discord among brothers and sisters.
– Finally, those who are responsible for reporting, I invite them more than ever to remain professional and respectful of ethics. I am thinking of the ladies and gentlemen of the press, the many actors on social networks. By definition, they are all apostles of truth, historians of the present. An important role that does not accommodate manipulation, misinformation, or intoxication.
– My wish is to see my country, our country, succeed brilliantly, with dignity and grandeur in the next presidential election;
– My wish is to see that after the electoral battles, Cameroonians, from all walks of life, my wish is to see them, I say, come together again, hand in hand to safeguard the essential, that is, peace, unity, living together, especially our legendary “Fighting spirit,” to face the challenges of the future.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
More than a call to one and all, it is a cry from the heart that I raise from this people’s tribune, the cry from the heart of your Dean of Age, elected by the Nation.
May God bless Cameroon
I declare open the work of the first ordinary session of our Chamber for the legislative year 2025.
– Long live the National Assembly;
– Long live His Excellency, Mr. PAUL BIYA, President of the Republic, Head of State;
– Long live Cameroon, our dear and beautiful country.
Thank you!
