Town Crier

Country People,

Let us start today’s town crying session with a minute of silence for Professor Theodosia whom armed robbers recently murdered, strangulated at church centre, Ntumulung Bamenda belonging to the PCC. Why PCC again after reverend Zephaniah Kenji’s brutal killing . how effective is PCC’s security system. I may dare ask. Rev Kenji at least, controlled substantial sums of money, why does a university lecturer earn that armed robbers should make her their target. The hoodlum, I hear tied her hands and feet before proceeding to murder her. Professor Theodosas family friends and well wishers are not the only ones gnashing their teeth. I hear staff of Eden Newspaper are no longer at ease. I hear Pa Simon is mad that the paper published an interview in which ‘the old fox’ is quoted as nailing Popoul seriously. This is where Pa Simon is dead. Eden is preparing to publish the whole interview unedited. People should take responsibility for their action. Pa Simon granted the interview at Rock Farm. What has been published has been published. Pa should better start writing his memoir instead of starting a war with the press which he can never win. Rex Kodang, his legal hangman is dead. Pa Simon is senile and can’t recall anything. To hell with him. He said it. He said that if Popoul had consulted him he (Pa Simon) would have advised him not to arrest Inoni. There is no gainsaying it. Popoul’s decision to arrest the two personalities just quoted was a mistake. I hear Popoul is mad over Pa Simon’s statement. You know how the regime is panicking over the Marafa letters. He had to boycott Queen Elizabeth II’s 60th (Diamond Jubilee) celebration. He found it safer to send Yang there as his envoy to Buckingham palace and gone to Mvomeka’s where he feels safer. He resurfaced only last Friday to receive guests at Etoudi. But what is Popoul doing at Mvomeka’a? I hear he is preparing another cabinet bombshell to wade off the stress caused by Marafa’s letters. I hear he intends to flush out the likes of Ama Muna, Dion Ngute, Victor Mengot and Hamadou Moustapha. I hear even Tchiroma could lose his job. Issa Tchiroma is really in trouble. After pretending not to be touched by Marafa’s revelations, he organized a press conference to counter Marafa’s declaration that he was involved in the ‘chopping’ of 32 billion FCFA intended to compensate victims of 1995 CAMAIR crash. Tchiroma says Marafa wants to take national and international opinion hostage; regretting that the press is not about Marafa’s letters. I hear the letters about 17 of them, will be released every week. Contrary to what many think, Marafa writes them himself. I wonder how letters can be written without hands. I am saying so because Marafa is watched closely by gendarmes at SED, yet, the letters are still coming out. Magidas are Marabouts, magicians. I hear that very soon newspapers will be barred from publishing them. Any of them which does will not have government gombo (subvention). There is another development in the Marafa case. Those who thought Marafa was infertile because he has no issue with his legally wedded wife were taken aback by the revelations that Marafa has a son called Parfait Mbapou. He told Le Jour newspaper that Marafa started kofnomging his mother in 1979 and he was born in 1950. Prior to Parfait’s emergence, a biological son of Popoul had appeared on the scene with similar declaration.

Popoul is indeed a lucky man. At the time the Marafa revelations are coming out, the European cup is underway. He knows that Cameroonians are easily intoxicated by football. So instead of Marafa and his letters, we would be discussing football. We are indeed, naïve. Another interesting development is Popoul’s salary revelation. Popoul earns less than all other African presidents but his allowances are hair splitting. The revelation is surely embarrassing but no so much as the reaction of Northerners when a ‘C’ delegation visited Garoua. Marafa’s supporters almost lynched Yao Aissatou, ‘W’ national president. She was taken to task over her detention and lately Marafa. Marafa is another John Ntarinkon in the making. The Marafa declarations are the hottest in Cameroon today. ‘S’ MPs are calling that Popoul immunity be lifted so he faces trial for 32 billion FCFA money to have been doled out to compensate the victims swindled after the South African company that accepted to service CAMAIR planes, which money was swindled by top government officials. Joseph Banadzem, SDF parliamentary group leader calls for the setting up of a commission of inquiry to investigate the 32 billion scam. Tchiroma is in real trouble. He held a press conference to react to the issue and to bar journalists from publishing Marafa’s letters. The letters caused newspapers to sell like hot cake. I pity private newspapers because they sold like hot cake because of the letters but what audacity for Cavaye to castigate Marafa? After failing to effect Iya Mohamed’s arrest, he should have been quiet. He must not speak simply because others have done so. Popoul’s strategy to isolate Marafa seems to be working. Country people, let none of you ever doubt it, Popoul has been devastated by the letters. Capitalizing on the Marafa controversy to call on Popoul to resign as if he himself can do that. Marafa is indeed a great man. He has succeeded in sowing seeds of confusion not only within the ranks of the CPDM, but also in the opposition. Mayor Donatus Njong is being castigated and to be tagged Marafa’s men. Yang wants Kumbo lifted to city council. I hear Mbella’s Buea is also earmarked. Njong’s position could jeopardize this mission.

Farewell to arm, Titus Edzoa. The former secretary general has gone completely grey. After serving 15 years in jail, Popoul is not letting him off the hook. Another case file is awaiting him. From all indications, he will only leave jail if Popoul resigns or dies. He is a political prisoner, take or leave it. Nkwen Fon has not been jailed but he seems to be as worried as Titus Edzoa over the ceding of village land to serve as industrial zone. Nkwen youths have vowed to kill if the land goes. Geny awaited to refund 10 million. Nkwenti Mayor Fonguh Cletus has already handed his. That of Nkwen Fonis still awaited. In life errors can’t be avoided. PCC Moderator took a decision just like that of Nkwen authorities dismissing Pastor Wara. I only hope the Bame Bame phenomenon doesn’t repeat itself. Equally erroneous was the ‘S’ decision to boycott May 20 celebration. The whole issue was largely disrespected by ‘S’ mayors and MPs. This is what happen when a leader does not adapt to changing times. The policy of boycott is outmoded and ‘S’ should know that. Hail Dr. Samuel Fonkam Azu’u you are a very levelheaded person. Unfortunately, the system in place does not collaborate with you. Or is it you collaborators who fail to collaborate. How come you produce a 500 page report, I mean ELECAM when everybody has virtually forgotten about the October 9 polls? Like NEO. Retirement, time is when people rest. In advanced countries government workers want it early. Not like here where retirement is regarded a punishment. That is why the French have not gone on rampage to protest against Francois Hollande’s decision to limit retirement age limit to 60. But that affects only those who haven’t gone to university. That of graduates remains 62.

Egyptians are protesting the freeing of Mubarack’s two sons although welcoming the verdict giving Hosni Mubarack life jail. They went to the streets again. I beg you, Egyptians. Stop behaving like a vehicle without brakes. Be patient until the military panel drafting your constitution completes its work. Meanwhile I call on the former Egyptian leader to accept his fate. His health has deteriorated especially after the sentence. He has been sent back to the prison where he spent the last 10 months. It is payback time. Take it easy. For want of time permit me to give you the gists in brief. President Goodluck Jonathan has granted 3 days of national mourning following a plane crash. I am absolutely sure that the family of the victims will be compensated, unlike what happened with that of those 71 who were killed in Le Nyong, a CAMAIR plane in 1995. Another Al Qaeda terrorist has been killed by the Yankees says the Yankees. In Syria. In wonder why the Oyibos are unable to agree on Syria where the situation is aggravating. Western diplomats not favoured by the Syrian government have been declared personae non grata. I hate the Chinese for continuing to support the Assad regime. But I am more angry with Russia Vladimir Putin who pretends to be a democrat.

Country people, do you know Russia is a third world first world country? Russia is not different from Venezuela whose Hugo Chaves was finally registered to contest the next presidential election, though suffering from chronic cancer. Happy birthday, Queen Elizabeth II. Only that your 90 years old husband was absent because of ill health. I have only one thing to tell you about sports. Denis Lavagne has signed a contract as coach for the Lion.