A day after the burial of Anicet Ekanè, a leading figure in the Cameroonian opposition and former leader of MANIDEM (African Movement for New Independence and Democracy), tensions surrounding his political legacy remain high. Banda Kani, a close associate of Ekanè, has expressed his outrage at what he sees as attempts to hijack the memory and political struggle of Ekanè.
Invited on the LIBRE EXPRESSION program on Info TV, Banda Kani did not mince his words. He denounced the attitude of personalities he accuses of wanting to appropriate the struggle led by Anicet Ekanè, who died on December 1, 2025, after being arrested a month earlier. Ekanè was buried on April 9 in his native village, after receiving tributes from many figures in the Cameroonian opposition.
'Some often behave like scavengers,' said Banda Kani. 'That is, you have not shared someone's struggles throughout their life, but because of a circumstance, you suddenly consider yourself the custodians of the struggles they have led'.
Banda Kani recalled being Anicet Ekanè's right-hand man for ten years, emphasizing the depth of their political and personal relationship. 'I was his right-hand man for ten years. Ten years. I know him very well. I shared all his struggles. We lived together on fronts known to all,' he insisted.
Faced with these controversies, Banda Kani has chosen to distance himself, believing that Anicet Ekanè 'deserved better than that'. 'That's why I prefer to be in the background, take a step back and let the big boys fight the battle around his remains,' he concluded. This stance comes in a context of high political tensions in Cameroon, where the figure of Anicet Ekanè remains a symbol of the struggle for independence and democracy. The MANIDEM party, which he founded, continues to play a role in the Cameroonian political landscape.
Anicet Ekanè's funeral was marked by disagreements over the management of his political legacy, as evidenced by the reaction of Me Alice Nkom, who denounced a 'reputation assassination'. These post-mortem tensions highlight the power struggles and rivalries that run through the Cameroonian opposition.
Banda Kani's decision to withdraw from what he sees as a political recovery underlines the complexity of the situation and the difficulty of keeping alive the memory of a politician committed to a context of strong divisions. He had been at the head of MANIDEM before slamming the door, denouncing a coup.
