Those Celebrating Nkwenti’s Departure?

Conventional wisdom and the Holy Book recommends, “Never speak ill about the dead” This implies that we should show respect to people who have died by not saying anything bad about them. Since dead people can no longer hurt us, or defend themselves, it is better to forget their bad actions and remember only their good ones. Simon Nkwenti is no more. He was a human being and a mortal and like all mortals had his own weak points, since perfection is not of this world. However, we know that, “Misfortune tests friends, and detects enemies.” Simon Nkwenti’s passing unto eternity is generally very painful to a number of people. Yet it will not be uncommon if some people are surreptitiously celebrating and rejoicing for his departure. This is so because Simon Nkwenti in his fearless surge forward in diverse domains inadvertently stepped on the toes of some people. And rightly or wrongly these categories of people would obviously celebrate his departure. This only goes to prove the adage that the unhappy derive comfort from the misfortunes of others.

The education family is mourning the passing away of a colossus that has made a mark in Cameroon. Teachers and stakeholders in the education sector in Cameroon cannot pretend to ignore the contributions of Simon Nkwenti as an individual to the development of the sector. Simon Nkwenti on many occasions put education authorities in Cameroon on hot seats with his declarations and actions. Although his departure is greatly felt by all and sundry, it would not be surprising if some education authorities in the country are happy of his departure as his stance on most issues relating to education and the teacher’s plight used to put their hierarchical positions at risk. In fact, Simon Nkwenti used to put them at the edges of their seats.

 Amongst a plethora of groups that are shedding crocodile tears for Simon Nkwenti’s departure are some teachers who often accused him of holding the English education subsystem hostage by influencing the appointment of education officials and principals. In fact this group of teachers muted in subdued tones that Simon Nkwenti ‘pocketed’ the Minister of Secondary Education. These teachers would obviously celebrate his departure. In the same light, some dissenting voices were often heard from a handful of teachers complaining that Simon Nkwenti hijacked CATTU and they could not form their own trade unions. With the departure of Simon Nkwenti these teachers would obviously fight to occupy his position in CATTU or form their own teacher’s trade unions that have been lying fallow in their minds. However, while still alive, Simon Nkwenti had always encouraged the creation of other teacher’s trade unions, arguing that if there were many trade unions that fought the same fight of improving the plight of teachers, the situation could be better.

Another group of people that would celebrate Simon Nkwenti’s departure are corrupt officials in public offices in the North West Region. As an activist of the Civil Society, Simon Nkwenti used to conduct yearly surveys of public offices in the North West Region in a bid to determine how user-friendly they were and how corrupt the officials in these officers were. After the surveys the results were always published in a public ceremony and services that were found corrupt during the surveys were put to public ridicule. More than once, his publication of the corruption index met with indignation from the officials of such corrupt services as their offices were often raided by whistle blowing public to shame them. It is obvious that with his departure these corrupt officials will heave as sigh of relief from being further put to public ridicule by Simon Nkwenti.

Some Civil Society Organisations were uncomfortable with Simon Nkwenti’s popularity that catapulted him to the post of coordinator of Civil Society Organisations in the North West Region. This was so because these budding leaders wanted to make names by their own rights but the overbearing personality of Simon Nkwenti eclipsed them. These budding leaders should be celebrating his departure as he has left a virgin field behind for them to compete and conquer.

Simon Nkwenti was a thorn in the flesh of thieves in Bamenda town as he organised vigilante groups that checked their activities. It was even alleged that when Simon Nkwenti planned and put in place the security strategies in Bamenda, most thieves moved out of Bamenda and elected residences in other major towns. His departure will sure please them and perhaps most of them will return if things are equally hard on them outside Bamenda.

It is common knowledge that Simon Nkwenti never tolerated injustice in his life. The former Governor of North West Region, Abakar Ahamat would never forget his stay in the North West Region as a standoff between him and Simon Nkwenti nearly cost him his job of an administrator. The genesis of the matter was the annulment of regional transfers of teachers done by the Regional Delegate of Secondary Education. The NW Regional Delegate had deployed teachers throughout the NW Region and some had moved with their families to their newly transferred schools only for Governor Abakar Ahamat to cancel the transfers. His move caused a lot of confusion and CATTU during celebrations marking the World Teacher’s Day lambasted the governor for such an act. He took it as a personal affront between him and Simon Nkwenti and used any given opportunity to pour invectives on Simon Nkwenti. He went as far as suspending Simon Nkwenti’s salary and Nkwenti fought him back. When the governor again suspended CAMCCUL and its affiliate, Simon Nkwenti fired back through the press and called him an anti-Northwesterner. This did not go down well with Governor Abakar Ahamat who was later transferred to the Adamawa Region. Given the very tense and strained relationship that existed between the two, chances are that one should be happy with the departure of the other.

Another group of people that is happy with Simon Nkwenti’s departure are politicians. Rightly or wrongly, politicians have often considered the popularity game to be their sport but Simon Nkwenti often beat them at this game to their discomfiture. Most politicians were Lilliputians in front of Simon Nkwenti in the North West Region and this did not please them Simon Nkwenti was a crowd puller and opinion leader that could sway the crowd to any direction and politicians dreaded him because he could destroy their political careers if they misfired.  With him quitting the scene, these politicians would surely rejoice as they would regain their declining popularity due to their unrealistic programmes and unfulfilled political promises.

Thus while many will be mourning the departure of Simon Nkwenti to the world beyond and the vacuum that his departure has created, some hypocrites would be shedding crocodile tears while laughing under the armpits and celebrating his departure. That is life but no person can replace another here on earth for each person is unique and God had a purpose for that person here on earth. None should rejoice for the downfall of another. God forbid!

What Is Fru Ndi’s Problem With Chronicle?

If The SDF Chairman Were In Biya’s Shoes?

It has often been said and with much justification that unless the wind blows, you can never see the rump of a foul. In 1990 RODCOD GOBATA, ace columnist for Cameroon Post newspaper wrote that Time was a great demystifier. He was replying those who tried to demystify (understand) the secret behind Fru Ndi’s power. (The SDF Chairman was an enigma then because of his audacity in challenging the Biya regime).

Twenty years have rolled by since GOBATA made his prediction and the truth about Fru Ndi is there for everyone to see- the man who claims to have brought press freedom to Cameroon hates a free press like the plague.

The SDF National Chairman began to manifest this vice when he dragged Cameroon Tribune to court in 1992 for defamation. Since a vast majority of Cameroonians were against any organ that stood for the state, they applauded rather than condemned this onslaught against freedom of expression by an opposition leader. Fru Ndi won the case, but by that same victory lost the moral authority to pose as a champion of genuine press freedom. Utterances of the SDF chairman and his surrogates at the time all hinted at the fact that freedom of the press meant he liberty to praise Fru Ndi and the SDF, while castigating Paul Biya and the CPDM.

This thinking was manifested most glaringly in January 1996 soon after the SDF won the Santa council. A mammoth jubilating crowd stormed Fru Ndi’s compound to congratulate him. Addressing them, Fru Ndi said that as they had won elections they should start behaving in a mature manner: no more burning of worn out motor tyres or any form of violent street protests. When The Herald newspaper published the story in its next edition, Fru Ndi nearly went insane with anger. SDF vanguards were sent to hunt Peterkins Manyong, the correspondent who wrote the story as if he (the writer) was a mad dog. When the correspondent on learning of this went to Fru Ndi’s Ntarinkon residence to know why he was being hunted, Fru Ndi rushed to attack him physically but was restrained by some of his aides. In frustrated rage, Fru Ndi tore the copy of the reporter’s copy of the paper, while threatening to stab him if ever he wrote anything against him. That was not enough “you son-of-bitch” he added “if I didn’t bring press freedom to Cameroon how would you have been able to write and make money from the sale of papers”. Peterkins was later to be well tortured by Fru Ndi’s thugs at Fru Ndi’s towers along the Bamenda commercial avenue after a NEC meeting with the SDF national chairman looking on.

There is no iota of doubt that they were acting on his instructions. The hypocrisy of the SDF national chairman was manifested on another occasion. During a rally in Nkwen while he was condemning the Biya regime for muzzling the press, SDF vanguards were harassing Sama Steve, a journalist for taking pictures of Fru Ndi while he was speaking. They finally seized his camera which they returned after a hard struggle.

Fru Ndi and Chronicle

Cameroonians, especially of English expression know the degree of service and sacrifice Eric Motomu rendered to Fru Ndi and the SDF while he published the Socialist Chronicle. He did so at the expense of economic benefits and journalistic balance. Motomu saw the SDF in the same light as the party’s founding fathers perceived it: as a front to fight for a change. Since in a war situation the journalist must report from a particular platform, he chose the side of the SDF, the side of the oppressed.

But when the scale began to fall off his eyes with growing evidence that Fru Ndi and his myrmidons didn’t appreciate the sacrifices he was making on their behalf, he decided to choose the side of journalism as opposed to partisan politics. He decided to publish a new paper called Chronicle under the franchise of The Socialist Chronicle. With the change came the change of editorial policy. Motomu underestimated the level of the risk he had taken. Fru Ndi and his cohorts came up in arms against him and Chronicle. He began by pronouncing the doom of the paper. He gave the paper a life span of one month if it didn’t stop publishing stories that discredited him and the SDF. The SDF national chairman erroneously thought that newspapers survive on sales and that the failure to praise the SDF was the beginning of journalistic waterloo.

When it became evident that the paper was no more in a hurry to die than a gigantic river (the Sanaga, for instance) drying up, he resorted to the meanest of all acts- vandalizing the paper. The immediate victim of this vandalism was Ngwa Emma, a popular vendor in Bamenda. He seized a copy of Chronicle from him at his residence and tore it to shreds pouring venom on the vendor at the same time. In his fit of anger obviously because of critical remarks on him, Fru Ndi told late Charles Ande Ngi, a newspaper publisher that he was prepared to kill a journalist. To him all Anglophone journalists were ‘jabu’ meaning counterfeit.

Journalists’ Legal Hangman

There is nothing that kills a news organ faster than a legal suit. In a country whose government dreads the private press taxes news printer and gives little or no subvention to the private media, dragging a private newspaper to court is taking that paper and its publisher to the guillotine. That is exactly what Fru Ndi did when he dragged Chroncile and Life Time magazine to court for defamation. But what was more scandalous is the boast by the SDF national chairman on Cameroon Calling that he must jail the publishers of the two news organs.

But Fru Ndi’s ability to commit mischief was not as great as his desire. In other words, he underestimated the two publishers. The cases were thrown out of court after a desperate attempt by Fru Ndi to execute his evil design. Even before the Bamenda magistrate court took its very mature and highly applauded decision, Fru Ndi had resorted to the means he knows best to seek revenge. During a rally in Fundong, his thugs, with Fru Ndi gleefully looking beat the publisher of Chronicle, to near death during a rally in Fundong. They later conveyed him to hospital. Many of Fru Ndi’s opponents advised Motomu to take the SDF chairman thugs to court, but he decided not to pursue the matter, perceiving it as the price he is bound to pay for choosing journalism as a profession.

Fru Ndi Shifts Battle Field To NEC

Having failed to destroy Chronicle through legal means and campaigns of lies and calumny in the public arena, the SDF chairman has finally shifted the battle field to the structures of his party, accusing his subordinates of conspiracy with the paper against him and the party.

The attack was launched during the last NEC meeting during which Fru Ndi said some SDF mayors and MPs for leaking party secrets to the press. The fact that these elected SDF officials are projected in the paper Fru Ndi said, means two things: they support its editorial policy and sponsor the paper. In what many perceive as the worst outrage against freedom of expression and association, Fru Ndi warned that any SDF official dealing with Chronicle and its publisher is doing so at his own risk.

Press Freedom: Fru Ndi As The Very Counterfeit of Biya

From the above account, it can be seen that not everyone who shouts “press freedom!” “free the press” is an advocate of free speech and expression. Fru Ndi has proven that if he became Cameroon’s president, most journalists would either be dead, in prison or in exile.

Paul Biya is the contrary. The 1990 liberty laws gave the press in Cameroon more freedom than in the majority of African countries. Newspapers have printed the unprintable against him, but he has not personally taken action against them. Outrage against the press is committed by some of his overzealous collaborators.

But it is not any of Fru Ndi’s collaborators who try to muzzle the press. It is Fru Ndi himself doing it. Anybody SDF official who points an accusing finger at the press is doing so either at his instigation or following his example. Cameroonians lovers of press freedom are fortunate that Fru Ndi never became president. He would be worse than Gaddafi or Theodoro Obiang Nguema of Equatorial Guinea.

When Frustration Breeds Criminality: The Case Of Mochiggle Vanigansen, Judith Awondo Lum Tamukong And Awah Cletus Fobuzi alias AC Risky

The North West Region stands out in Cameroon. Its people constantly and persistently clamour for their rights. North Westerner would hardly compromise their rights for anything else. Nevertheless, they are noted for their hospitality, collaboration and peaceful coexistence. They are development oriented and administrators that have tried to toy with their rights have very sad stories to tell. The people would always bond together to ward off strangers for their collective interest. This solidarity is gradually being eroded by some individuals who out of frustration are conniving with unscrupulous administrators and hoodlums to compromise the wellbeing of the North West population.

  CAMCCUL network is and remains the life wire of the people of the NW in particular and most Cameroonians in general. Reason why Abakar Ahamat, former NW governor faced heavy criticism when he suspended the activities of CAMCCUL and its affiliates. Although the supervisory ministries of CAMCCUL rushed in to salvage the situation, Abakar Ahamat and his cronies were put to shame and ridicule. The unexpected news is the fact that Abakar Ahamat acted with disguised support from some Northwesterners who since then, instead of hiding in shame are multiplying intrigues to destabilize CAMCCUL for their selfish aims. Chronicle has taken the pains to identify some of these enemies of the NW and the reasons behind their nefarious acts. Leaders of this group are Mochiggle Vanigansen, SDF Shadow Cabinet Minister for Press and Information, Judith Awondo Lum Tamukong, Coordinator of WA Cameroon who doubles as Ntarikon Cooperative Credit Union Deputy President and Awah Cletus Fobuzi, alias AC Risky, of the AC Risky Group. This trio consist the front liners, yet Chronicle is abundantly aware that they are merely birds dancing in the middle of the road with their drummers in nearby bushes. They are being used because they have become frustrated and thus very gullible, especially at the mention of money as reward.

To facilitate analysis we begin by defining our terms. Frustration is defined here as the feeling of being upset or annoyed, especially because of the inability to change or achieve something. Crime is an action or omission that constitutes an offense that may be prosecuted by the state and is punishable by law. Awah Cletus Fobuzi alias AC Risky was picked up by gendarmes on July 3, 2012 while Mochiggle and Awondo Judith wiggled through the dragnet. It is alleged that the trio had hired more than two scores of blood thirsty hoodlums to disrupt the 44^th Annual General Meeting of CAMCCUL that held in AZAM Hotel Bamenda on June 30, 2012. Unconfirmed reports hold that AC Risky was picked up on more than two counts. It is alleged that he was arrested for financial impropriety and duplicity. Althouh released on bail on caution, news made rounds that he was picked for not paying back Njangi money that he ‘chopped.’ The veracity of the story is of no importance. What matters is the part played by AC Risky, Mochiggle and Awondo Judith in the recent past to disrupt public order. The CAMCCUL saga has exposed them as the real enemies of the NW.

Howard Scott defined a criminal as a person with predatory instincts who has not sufficient capital to form a corporation, while David Abrahansen stated that frustration is the wet nurse of violence. There is no gainsaying that Awah Cletus, Mochiggle Vanigansen and Awondo Judith are frustrated because of their inability to succeed where others have and have resorted to violence to purge themselves of their emotions. Sophocles opined that, “All men make mistakes, but a good man yields when he knows his course is wrong, and repairs the evil. The only crime is pride.” Yet Mochiggle, Awah Cletus and Judith Awondo glide from one ignominy to another with neither shame nor remorse. Birds of a feather flock together. Mochiggle, Awondo Judith and AC Risky have a common denominator which is poverty and frustration. After the suspension of the activities of CAMCCUL by Abakar Ahamat, John Fru Ndi, SDF chieftain attended the AGM of Azire Cooperative Credit Union and unwittingly led the cat out of the bag by alluding that he and some SDF cronies were behind the governor’s action. His ranting that poured invectives on Musa Shey Nfor, CAMCCUL President and some North West CPDM ministers attracted the wrath of the press, the teachers that he insulted and the Civil Society. In order to exonerate Fru Ndi, Mochiggle organised a press briefing on March 6, 2012 where he instead further implicated the SDF in the CAMCCUL saga. It was same Mochiggle that was spotted on June 30, 2012 in the company of Awondo Judith and hoodlums carrying placards that wanted to disrupt the CAMCCUL meeting at AZAM hotel. What is the cause of the frustration of Mochiggle, AC Risky and Awondo Judith?

According to Aristotle, poverty is the parent of revolution and crime. Mochiggle, Awah Cletus and Awondo Judith are wallowing in poverty and feel strongly that they can become rich by toppling the present management of CAMCCUL and replacing it with their lackeys to obtain free loans and annulled their financial delinquency in the credit unions. This action is not strange because when life demands more of people than they demand of life - as is ordinarily the case - what results is a resentment of life almost as deep-seated as the fear of death. The trio are oblivious that life is not an easy matter... You cannot live through it without falling into frustration and cynicism unless you have before you a great idea which raises you above personal misery, above weakness, above all kinds of perfidy and baseness. The trio want to reap where they did not sow.

Mochiggle Vanigansen

Mochiggle can easily pass for a gentleman, yet his acts are not gentlemanly. This trained communicator was part of the founding of the CPDM in Bamenda in 1985 as he was part of the organisation. He executed some public contacts thereafter and unable to obtain payment jumped into the SDF. He tried his hands in business by exporting fresh garlic and ginger, yet the business collapsed for lack of adequate funds and managerial skills. His first attempt to enter parliament flopped when after winning primaries, his constituency was fractioned leaving him with no constituency. Mochiggle became frustrated and repudiated all his gentlemanly behaviour. Those who wanted to topple the CAMCCUL hierarchy found an easy ally in him as he became a schemer.

 Awah Cletus Fobuzi

A fool and his money soon parts. AC Risky, an upstart barber photographer turned businessman sprang to prominence through MTN. His short-lived prominence was a product of duplicity as he outsmarted his unsuspecting closest business partners. His purported wealth went into his head and he became arrogant, challenging even his elders in business and his fathers back home. Instead of seeking the blessings of his fon and his elite, he insulted them. He became a tax evader, yet blamed everybody for his economic demise and backstabbed everybody. Unable to compete fairly in business, he found solace in recruiting hoodlums to disrupt successful ventures. When Minister Atanga Nji held a CPDM meeting in the Bamenda congress hall, AC Risky rallied youths in Chomba and shared FCFA 500 to deter them from attending. He multiplied intrigues, holding illegal meetings with ruffians in old town Bamenda that were ever ready to disrupt meaningful venture that were not of his interest. He wants to boost his fast declining popularity through criminal activities. While taxation officers have vowed to close his businesses for accrued dues, law enforcement officers are keeping a prying eye on him.

 Awondo Judith

This trained biology teacher is a bunch of contradiction. Dissent is her stock in trade. She is Coordinator of Women in Action against Gender Based Violence (WA Cameroon), and vice president of Ntarikon Cooperative Credit Union. It is highly alleged that she is being manipulated by the President of Azire Cooperative Credit Union, Bih Judith to stir trouble in CAMCCUL and pave her way to be elected as CAMCCUL president. Awondo has always wanted to rise to the top and sees a golden opportunity in the CAMCCUL crises.

Their collective efforts to disrupt CAMCCUL flopped. The unwavering arm of the law should fall on them as criminals should be punished and not fed pastries. Chronicle promises to revisit this trio and expose the politicians behind them. Our next is the shady deal between the SDF and Azire Cooperative Credit Union that has given out is building to host the SDF Secretariat. Manawa is preparing its venom for another sting, so be aware.

Awudu Mbaya Resurrects Abandoned Projects in Nkambe Fear of CONAC, Supreme State Audit Or Electorate?

Hon. Awudu Mbaya Cyprian, SDF MP for Nkambe Central constituency who doubles as Questor in the Cameroon National Assembly, and is also Chairman of the follow up committee for Public Investment Budget for the NW, has unexpectedly metamorphosed and in an unprecedented move resurrecting all projects he abandoned in Donga Mantung Division in general and Nkambe central in particular. In what most consider as feeding chickens on the day of the market, Hon Awudu Mbaya who is variously accused by most villages of his constituency of neglect in the execution of micro-projects has suddenly become Father Christmas in his Nkambe Central Constituency. What is interesting is that Hon Awudu has embarked on completing abandoned jobs on the heels of recent moves by Operation Epervier indicting some vote holders to cough out what they have unduly robbed the state and the people of. Hon Awudu Mbaya as Questor is supposed to follow up and ensure that the micro grants dished out to MPs are properly used for the upliftment of the population of their constituencies. Equally as chairman of the follow up committee for the execution of the public investment budget, PIB in the North West, Hon Awudu is also supposed to ensure the strict execution of the PIB and call delinquent contractors to order. By all indications Hon Awudu Mbaya is himself a living example of what he has been mandated to fight. He seems to have an unpalatable legend of uncompleted and abandoned contracts in his own constituency.

Unbelievably Hon Awudu Mbaya is upbeat about resurrecting all abandoned contracts and completing them. Political analysts are quick to point out that Hon Awudu’s move to resurrect abandoned contracts has serious hidden ramifications. People are asking whether he is doing so because he has been tipped off that CONAC or the Supreme State Audit will descend to his constituency or because he is afraid of a sanction vote from his electorate who may vote him out and quash his dream of picking a fourth mandate as MP for Nkambe Central? Others are questioning where he who has always been complaining about poverty has suddenly taken money to execute projects he abandoned on the pretext of lack of adequate funds to complete them.

It appears that Hon Awudu Mbaya is cornered and is either caught up or being haunted by his past misdeeds and the embezzlement of micro project funds meant for his constituency and the Ako Constituency after the death of Hon. Chemo Sama. However, Hon Awudu has always dismissed all embezzlement accusations on grounds that they are attempts by his political adversaries to soil his image. What is pellucid is what has certainly come over him to resurrect abandoned projects and make much noise about them.

It is on record that the people of Tabenken Vilage, one of the most populated in Hon Awudu’s Constituency at one time rose up like one man and sent a strong constituted delegation to Fru Ndi to complain about Hon Awudu whom they said nonchalantly neglected Tabenken, the most populated and strongest hold of the SDF in Nkambe Central. The complaint by the people of Tabenken like other numerous complaints from other villages of Nkambe Central Constituency did not mean anything to Hon. Awudu Mbaya Cyprian until recently. Precisely on February 24, 2012, Hon Awudu Mbaya in a highly mediatised event invited Fru Ndi to Tabenken Village to witness the official handing over of two bridges he constructed there. The event boomeranged as even bike riders known for their generosity in escorting convoys out of excitement refused to escort Fru Ndi and Awudu Mbaya to Tabenken. To add salt to injury, the population of Tabenken on their part instead of expressing joy lamented that the two bridges being handed over though seriously belated were still uncompleted. They did not hide their anger about Hon Awudu Mbaya who they claimed for 15 years has been able to construct only two uncompleted bridges and an uncompleted market stall in Tabenken Village. If Hon Awudu’s aim was to win the hearts of the population of Tabenken, then he greatly missed the mark as open annoyance was exhibited by the population of Tabenken towards Fru Ndi and his entourage, who they claim has been pocketed by Awudu Mbaya. Yet, it is alleged by Awudu’s supporters that Tabenken Village alone has benefited more than 60% of Hon Awudu’s micro-project grants for 15 years. “If two bridges and an open market shed for the past 15 years constitute 60% of Hon Awudu’s micro projects then the other villages must have been crying in the wilderness” an analyst quipped.

If the youths in Nkambe Central are seriously aghast with Hon Awudu Mbaya, it is because of the Nkambe Sports Complex that Awudu Mbaya coerced Mayor Mangoh Jones Tankoh to give him as a contract. The Sports Complex has been abandoned and both Mayor Mangoh Jones and Hon Awudu Mbaya have maintained sealed lips on repeated questions to explain the whereabouts of funds voted for the Nkambe Municipal sports complex. The youths are equally annoyed that Hon Awudu Mbaya does not follow through with his political promises. Most of the youths consider him as a bare face liar and schemer promising that they cannot be fooled again by him this time around.

Another school of thought holds that if Hon. Awudu Mbaya is resurrecting abandoned projects, it is perhaps because of the drastic decisions taken by the Budgetary and Financial Disciplinary Council of the Supreme State Audit to descend to all sectors of public spending and fish out embezzlers. The same school of thought adds that this is more so as CONAC recently held a workshop to update the skills of officials of the Supreme State Audit, the Ministry of Justice, Public Contracts, Gendarmerie, Police and the Public Contract Regulatory Board, ARMP on methods of tracking down those who have unduly defrauded the state and the population. This school of thought holds strongly that Awudu’s belated move is to preempt what happened to some elected officials like the Government Delegate to the Limbe City council who was ordered alongside some of his collaborators to cough out what they took from the Limbe City Council coffers. And that he is afraid that his name would be read over the radio thus exposing him to public disgrace like the names of those found guilty of financial impropriety by the Supreme State Audit.

Nevertheless, others are of the opinion that Hon. Awudu Mbaya like a Spartan that dies but never surrenders wants to woo the population on the eve of legislative election by resurrecting abandoned projects and constantly being in the field to show that he is working for their interest. And that this has become very imperative given that the monopoly he had over the Nkambe Central Constituency where no serious challenger within the SDF or the CPDM emerged to challenge him is gradually fading away with new aspirants combing the field on daily basis. The media outings of Bang Bullet and the philanthropic trappings of Gerard Ngala, who not yet an MP is doing more than Awudu is said to be sending hot sweat running down the spine of Awudu Mbaya and his supporters, especially as the youths have fallen behind Bang Bullet and Gerard Ngala. That apart, Tabenken is threatening to put up a candidate just like other villages who rightly or wrongly argue that the seats of MP and Mayor were not made for particular people. It is alleged that these other external forces coupled with the strained relationship between Hon Awudu and Mayor Mangoh is giving Awudu sleepless nights and he is bent on doing everything to go back to parliament, reason he has resurrected his abandoned projects.

Whether to woo the electorate or escape arrest by the Supreme State Audit by resurrecting abandoned projects, Awudu Mbaya has a battle on many fronts to fight. The Supreme State Audit can still charge him whether elected MP or not if they descend to Nkambe and found him wanting in the execution of contracts tendered for and won by him. This is becoming more apparent as the lies Hon Awudu Mbaya told the people of Donga Mantung that he personally fought for the Rural Electrification scheme for the division have started collapsing under startling revelations by some village development associations like that of Mbipgo. Hon Awudu lobbied for the electrification projects and won the contracts but has failed in a greater part to realise the contracts through his CAMITEX Company. Chances are that the Supreme State Audit acting in tip offs like that from Mbipgo village may descend to Nkambe and Hon Awudu Mbaya may be found wanting. If that were to happen what a dishonourable way to exit from parliament after 15 years?

Stop Peter Alange Abety Before He Destroys UBa

Dr. Abety

His full names are Peter Alange Abety. Physically, he is a handsome man. Intellectually, he is quite sound. Morally, he is greatly handicapped. Let the facts first be stated, then examined.

Abety was seemingly a harmless personality until the early 90s when his appointment as Minister for Special Duties at the Presidency catapulted him into the limelight with his vices. His notoriety became glaring in 1994 when he recruited a group of thugs to terrorize Takumbeng women in Bambili triggering a march of the women to Bafut in protest. The thugs were led by a certain Martin Chop D’or, proprietor of St. Martin square, a drinking sport in Bambili.

Ingratitude is one of his outstanding vices. Simon Achidi Achu in his then capacity as PM undoubtedly recommended Abety’s appointment and gave him all the protection he needed as a godson. But when the political pilot was dropped by Biya, Abety was the first to treat him with scorn and derision. Celebrating the fact that he had been maintained in government, an elated Abety announced to his Bambili country people that the plane crash, the pilot (Achici Achu) died and he (Abety) one of the crew on board survived.

As he spoke in the Bambili vernacular Abety didn’t expect to be quoted outside the confines of Bambili village. He was genuinely embarrassed when he saw the story in The Post newspaper. He went on his knees before Achidi Achu saying he was misquoted. Achidi Achu accepted his apology for the purpose of CPDM party harmony, but certainly did not believe him.

Perfect Schemer

As a literary scholar, Abety is masters Nicola Machiavelli as well as other writers who uphold the view that the end always justifies the means. At a time when North West had only three members of government, Lucy Gwanmesia as at the helm of supreme state control, Shey Jones Yembe as Secretary of State for Public Works, Abety considered himself the most senior member of government in the province (we had provinces then). To hoodwink Biya into believing that he was the true leader of the North West, Abety assembled a few business men and some journalists at the Bamenda congress hall and floated an organization called North West Development Association, NOWEDA. He immediately imposed himself as the President of the said association and finally went back to Yaounde in that capacity, enumerating the achievements of Peter Ngufor and other entrepreneurs of the North West as those of his association. NOWEDA died with Abety’s ministerial portfolio; a clear indication that it was a one-man-show.

Alhadji Baba Danpullo is a success by every definition of the word. He is committed to the welfare of the Mbororo community in Cameroon. Alhadji Baba is too strong for any member of government to fight, let alone a minister without a portfolio. But as a saying goes, fools rush in where angels fear to tread. Peter Abety is not a fool, to be fair to him. But he behaved like one when he decided to engage in a sliding tackle game with Baba Danpullo over the issue of Mbororo welfare. Abety thought that because he worked at the Presidency he could intimidate Baba. He was sadly mistaken. He never knew what hit him. Just at a time he felt he was poised to crime he came crashing like a confident boxer knocked down by a sucker punch.

Abety The Ungenuine Intellectual

A genuine intellectual is one who calls things by their true names. The opposite is a person with a bag of degrees, but who cannot be relied upon to get facts about a situation. A genuine intellectual has truth as his cardinal principle. But the ungenuine intellectual is a ‘useful idiot’ who blindly defends the system in place.

Peter Abety sees things through distorted binoculars. If something cannot bring him political or economic gain that thing is not worth pursuing. Abety has succeeded to send sons and daughters of Bambili to higher institutions of learning, ENS for instance. But because he did so in anticipation of profit most beneficiaries from his interventions owe him little or no gratitude.

Tubah, Abety’s sub division and Bambili, his village have remained in the firm grip of the SDF not because Fru Ndi’s party has achieved anything significant or is a better campaigner but because Abety is not liked. Abety knows that as long as the SDF takes part in national elections, the CPDM can never win in Tubah with him as the CPDM kingpin of that subdivision. This explains why during the last national day celebration in Tubah, he prayed for the SDF to boycott future elections.

Abety And The University Of Bamenda

The Anglo-Saxon University of Bamenda is the fruit of the collective effort of North Westerners and Cameroonians who believe in quality education. It is neither the property of Bambili people, nor Tubah nor CPDM. But Peter Abety thinks it belongs to Bambili people with him as custodian. This explains why as soon as UBa was created by presidential decree, Abety reportedly zoomed abroad and assembled all the materials  and the encouragement to become a professor. He either forgot or deliberately overlooked the fact that Vincent Titanji, UB Vice Chancellor, is a North Westerner and that from the viewpoint of regional balance, another North Westerner cannot head a university.

People with vaulting ambition most often ignore reality. When Professor Tafah Edokat was appointed Vice Chancellor instead, Abety felt as if his world was crumbling. He has since been doing all in his power to make the pioneer VC of UBa fail in his mission to make the idea academic citadel that lovers of sound education want it to be. His constant intervention where his attention was not needed pushed Professor Edokat to address him in very unflattering terms.

Despite the fact that he is Board Chairman of the Cameroon GCE Board, Abety is not satisfied. His preoccupation remains how he can take over UBa. He has refused to buy the idea that UBa is University of Bamenda and not University of Bambili. For this reason, he is championing a campaign to convince government that Bambili has enough land to contain all the faculties of UBa. This campaign is aimed at fighting against the idea of decentralization of the university.

People want development, but few persons are ready to sacrifice for it. Claiming that Bambili has enough land to host all the faculties of UBa means many Bambili natives will be asked to quit their land to provide the necessary space. Such persons are sure to require compensation which the government will be unwilling to pay since it stands for decentralization and there are several parts, virtually all divisions of the North West whose inhabitants are ready to cede land for any of the faculties of UBa to be constructed. Thus Abety by lobbying for Bambili to host all UB structures is actually fomenting trouble for himself.

A Political Nonstarter

Politicians are born as well as made. We have already hinted at the fact that Abety’s hopes for CPDM victories in upcoming elections lies in SDF boycotting. Even if this is a fact, did Abety need to voice it? A true politician keeps his strategy to himself. If he were politically sound-minded, he would rather have put in place agents to persuade the SDF to stay away from future elections. John B. Ndeh told an English language newspaper that the CPDM tricked the SDF to boycott the 1992 parliamentary election, reason why the ruling party swept all twenty in that crucial election. But Ndeh made the disclosure only after the CPDM had secured the seats.

Another example: The CPDM controls the Bali council following SDF’s disqualification on the eve of the 2007 polls. The party’s topnotch exploited an anomally in the SDF council list and took advantage of it. Even if it were a well-orchestrated plot, it would have been unwise for Bali CPDM barons to voice it.

A good politician shuns overzealousness. Abety in his over enthusiasm for the ruling party confronts even the Catholic Church to which he belongs or purportedly does so. During his early years as minister of special duties, he got into a scrape with the Catholic Church in Bambili simply because during a sermon, extremities on the part of the CPDM regime were pointed out. In a bid to show how much love he had for the ruling party, Abety declared such criticisms as campaigns fro the SDF and announced that if ever such critical remarks were made during a sermon he too would mount the pulpit and campaign for the CPDM. The overzealous politician forgot that the congregation where such a sermon was preached belonged to the Catholic Church. He should assemble his own crowd and preach his own political sermon there. Christ pulled crowds because of his eloquence and charisma. Rev J.C Jackson and John Fru Ndi did same for the same reason. Abety cannot pull mammoth crowds because he lacks both eloquence and charisma. Nobody ever becomes a true politician by decree.

Still on his war with the catholic church, Abety caused most catholics in the Bamenda Archdiocese to boycott The Herald newspaper following his declaration that the Bishop’s house at Big Mankon was running a bank. That was uncommonly dishonest of him because he knew that it simply carried out money exchange which is to help people who receive foreign currency. Bishop’s house doesn’t do that for the sake of interest.

Unless he mends his way, Abety should consider himself unqualified to ever speak on political and educational matters either for the North West Region or even his Bambili village.

It should be noted as a concluding remark that Abety’s embarrassing conduct caused his adversaries to dig into his past and the conclusion as far back as 1994 was that his father hailed from Awing. In most cultures, a child belongs to the area his father hails from. If that is the case, then Abety hasn’t the right to speak for Bambili people with the vehemence he is doing: let him mend his ways, sit up or shut up.

Crucifixion Of Issa Tchiroma: Why It couldn’t Go anywhere

The unnecessary euphoric anxiety and interest raised by the opposition SDF Parliamentarians in the minds of Cameroonians by tabling a bill in the National Assembly pressing for a commission of inquiry to be formed in a bid to probe former Minister of Transport who is present Minister of Communication Issa Tchiroma Bakary flopped. The proposed bill which had as principal aim the indictment of Issa Tchiroma on the embezzlement of the compensation of the victims of the Boeing 737 crash in Douala on December 3, 1995 has crumbled like a pack of very loose cards. The bill that was declared admissible by the Chairmen’s Committee, giving the impression that it was to go through, thus giving reason for the SDF party to start thumbing their chests for causing another parliamentary earthquake has been thrown out of parliament by the Committee on Resolutions and Petitions that voted 16 against 4 to reject the bill for lack of substance and supporting documents.

According to Nji Fidelis Muh-Ziah, CPDM MP for Menchum North, Fungom, Questor and Member of Committee on Resolutions and Petitions in the National Assembly, the SDF tabled bill was thrown out principally on three grounds. He said parliament does not entertain cases that are already being handled by the judiciary and even if Parliament constitutes a Commission of Inquiry on a matter and the matter goes to the judiciary, Parliament has to drop the matter. The plane crash issue he said had already been to couts and parliament could not deliberate on such an issue. Secondly, Nji Fidelis talking to the media after the SDF bill was rejected said another thing that militated in favour of the rejection of the bill was the fact that those who brought it to the Glass house acted on mere hearsay stories propagated in a greater proportion by the local media and had no substantial documents to prove the allegations. Hon Nji intimated that the tabled bill did not have originals of supportive documents that could buttress the arguments raised in the bill, thus parliament had to throw it out for lack of substantive evidence. And that the third element was the fact that the allegations were being propagated by a top government functionary who had served in several positions in the administration and had decided to rebel against the system. To him and most of his colleagues MPs, allegations from such a personality could not be taken seriously by the National Assembly that works for the interest of the population.

To the SDF, a Commission of Inquiry was the right way to crucify Issa Tchiroma who the party considers is becoming very popular in Cameroon after the arrest of Marafa Hamidou Yaya. This was evidently so as the SDF has thrown its weight behind one time SDF enemy Marafa Hamidou Yaya to the point of constituting a legal team to defend him in court. The SDF is equally struggling to reap political capital from Marafa through his nefarious activities of letter writing from his prison cells. Throwing the bill out of the Glass house meant the SDF and Marafa could not crucify Issa Tchiroma. The National Assembly with a CPDM crushing majority could not discuss and cede to a proposal by the opposition, especially as it was going to bring to disrepute a cabinet minister who is serving the supreme interest of the regime.

Issa Tchiroma: Government Defender And Not Sacrificial Lamb

The present Minister of Communication, Issa Tchiroma Bakary doubles as Government Spokesperson. He is the person charged with giving government position on burning issues or charged with the defending of the regime against its detractors. Such defenders can in not circumstances be transformed into sacrificial lambs for the interest of the opposition. Although he was appointed as an opposition leader into the government, his status as Government Spokesperson does not permit him to be against government action. Since his appointment into government, Issa Tchiroma has always stood firm behind the ideals of President Paul Biya and the Greater Realisation programme. He has defended government on several grounds. This is why Parliament could not sacrifice him by accepting the SDF tabled bill that could put him into trouble and public ridicule if found wanting. A commission of Inquiry would have required that he resigns as cabinet minister to give ample latitude to the commission members to probe him and probably propose his prosecution before the law. The CPDM Parliamentarians rejected the bill because they could not allow the SDF to be judges of somebody who was serving the interest of government.

No Credits To Marafa Hamidou Yaya

The idea of tabling a bill for a Commission of Inquiry to be formed by Parliament emanated from one of the open letters of Marafa Hamidou Yaya that he has been writing since his arrest on April 16, 2012. In one of the letters, he cited Minister Issa Tchiroma Bakary as one of the beneficiaries of underground methods that were used to settle the compensation of victims of the plane crash that killed 71 people. Marafa in his letter accused Issa Tchiroma who was Minister of Transport at the time of the plane crash of haven received bribe from South African Airway authorities that were supposed to compensate the victims. The SDF MPs picked up the story and it is alleged that without having any documents to prove the allegations against Tchiroma, hurriedly tabled a bill in parliament to indict him through a Commission of Inquiry.  If parliament granted the SDF request it would have been giving credit to Marafa and thus to his letters that are variously considered by the regime as attempts to divert public opinion on charges of embezzlement that he is being accused of.

Equally granting the SDF wish by forming a Commission of Inquiry would have been like given a gun to an enemy to fire into your head. Legislative and Municipal Elections are forthcoming and each party is struggling to weep political sentiments or use every occasion to reap political capital. The SDF would have used the Commission of Inquiry to their advantage, a thing the ruling CPDM party does not want. Also, the fact that the SDF has constituted a legal team to defend Marafa Hamidou Yaya in court against the regime is clear indication that the SDF wants to use Marafa Hamidou Yaya to fight the regime, thus the regime has to protect those who are doing everything like Issa Tchiroma to defend government.

However, it could be rightly argued that the SDF only wanted to play to the gallery. Over the years the SDF party has tabled numerous proposed bills that have hardly gone anywhere beyond the level of acceptability. Even private member bills tabled have always been rejected by the crushing CPDM majority for one reason or the other. Thus the SDF was quite aware that the bill was not going to go anywhere and their aim of crucifying Issa Tchiroma could not come to fruition, but they just wanted to make some noise and raise the anxiety of the population. Bills tabled by government go through easily since it is through voting. Equally government hates to be dictated to by the opposition. If a Commission of Inquiry was requested by government, it could go through parliament and not by the opposition on a topic government does not want to be dictated to. The SDF should change their tactics because Tchiroma cannot be crucified like Jesus Christ who came to save mankind and instead lost his own life.