By Bouddih Adams
The Bishop of Buea, Mgr Michael Bibi, has asked those who are blaming the Catholic Church for not intervening in the political crisis in Cameroon, whether it is the church’s responsibility to remove a govern that has overstayed in power.
Bishop Bibi was speaking in a homily during the Buea Diocesan Advent Pilgrimage at Bonjongo on November 29.
Speaking in Pidgin, Bishop stated: “The Catholic Church dong always be the voice for the voiceless, and we ko continue for talk. We even ready for die for defend truth. [But] if some government dong over stay and the people dem dong tire and want make that government comot, but the government no want go, na Catholic Church get for go move government?” the population exploded in laughter.
Since the beginning of the post-electoral crisis rocking the country following the October 12, 2025 Presidential election, pressure has been mounting on religious bodies to intervene and save the people – who are church faithfuls – from repression by the Government in place.
Some of the religious leaders like, the Archbishop of Douala, Mgr Samuel Kleda; the Bishop of Bafoussam, Mgr Paul Lontsie; and the Bishop of Yagoua, Mgr. Yaouda Hourgo, have condemned the government’s heavy hand that has come down on protesters defending what they refer to as their victory, through the ballot box in the October 12 election, which was confiscated by the Constitutional Council that declared President Biya winner.
Prior to the election, the Bishop of Yagoua, Yaouda Hourgo, came out with a strong statement insinuating that governance in Cameroon has come up to a dire level where “even a devil should be allowed to take over, then we see what to do after.”
The disavowal of the regime by the people can be discerned from reaction of the population during the inauguration of the refurbished Bamenda Cathedral when the mention of President Biya’s name by the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Jose Avelino Bettencourt.
The spite and repudiation of the people against the Biya regime was clearly and loudly demonstrated in the rumble that filled the Bamenda metropolitan cathedral.
However, the he church has always made its position on certain political issues and offered counsel, to which the government has hardly ever heeded.