Here Are The Six (6) Mayors Caught In Same Web As Tenoh Lawrence

The public Treasury expects some 163.690.000 FCFA to be chipped-in. yet, only 17.3 million FCFA may come-in, following the arrest and incarceration of Lawrence Ndangoh Tenoh. The Batibo Mayor had initially paid-in 700.000 FCFA out of 18 million FCFA, which he was supposed to have paid-in, for communal stamps he collected. Mayor Tenoh was not alone in the deal, wherein allegations are rife that Mayors had exploited to line their pockets. Tenoh too was not the highest debtor, yet, the first to be picked-up. If cognizance was taken as to who had to be picked-up first: according to the amount owed, then Agogho Johnny, CPDM Mayor of Andek would have been the first, with 34 million FCFA; then Amahndong Godwill, CPDM 1^st Deputy Mayor of Njikwa with 32.8 million. Tenoh would have been fifth, after the SDF Babessi Mayor, Tikanjoh Stephen with 21.8 million FCFA and SDF Mbengwi Mayor, Tah George Mbah with 20 million FCFA.

Tenoh could just merely be scape-goated, given his other malfeasances. With indications that Mayor Tenoh would appear in court on Thursday July 2, 2012, the six other Mayors, placed on same list have allegedly been restive. Political commentators however hold that the implication of the Mayors would become a political regress in their varied constituencies/municipalities. What interests did each of them represent? This has been the question.

Political Implications For 6 Mayors

* Mayor Tenoh Lawrence is of the Batibo SDF stronghold; a constituency wherein Hon Joseph Mbahndam, a legal mind/constitutionalist operates. Mbahndam stands for transparency and would not want to back a corrupt Mayor. It is widely held that if SDF caused Mounchipou Seydou to be jailed; attempted to effect arrests of Iya Mohammed and Issa Tchiroma, it cannot therefore preach virtue, yet practice vice. For those who say Tenoh’s arrest is to crush Hon Mbahndam therefore, may score a point given that the CPDM mayor for Andek and North West Regional President of the United Councils and Cities of Cameroon, UCCC is also hooked. According to facts, Tenoh took stamps worth 18 million FCFA, yet paid just 700.000 FCFA. By implication, he has 17.3 million to pay back.

*Agogho Johnny is Mayor of Andek (Ngie). He was supposed to have been the one arrested first to set an example, given that he took stamps worth 34 million FCFA (the highest so far), yet no franc paid back. According to Chronicle’s investigations, the mayors collect the stamps unknown to their municipal treasurers: they auction them at a give-away price in the black market and thereon pocket the money. This had since been unveiled.

*Amahndong Godwill is First (1^st) Deputy Mayor of Njikwa. He received stamps amounting to 33.8 million FCFA and paid-in only a million FCFA. Implicitly, he owes 32.8 million FCFA. Commentators have since questioned how the first deputy could be indulged in financial transactions, a domain reserved only for the mayor. But as Chronicle gathered, Amahndong is a lousy and pompous fellow. It is alleged that he easily swayed the ageing mayor of Njikwa Aziah Venom Smith.

*Tikanjoh Stephen is the SDF Mayor of Babessi council in Ngoketunjia division. This is the heaven of Hon Yoyo Emmanuel, the man expected to stage a come-back into parliament. Tikanjoh took stamps for 22 million but paid-in just 200.000 FCFA. By implications, he still has 21.8 million FCFA to pay-in. Allegations are rife that Tikanjoh’s stamps were stolen while other  sources allege that nothing of that sort happened.

Tikanjoh just recently graduated from ENS Bambili. He is one of the mayors whom Fru Ndi discarded. He survived thanks to Hon Yoyo’s prowess. Yet, with the stamp racket, it is not Tikanjoh but Yoyo’s image in mind. Yoyo is a straight-forward gentleman who will not want a stain on his name. Should Tikanjoh be guilty, Yoyo would distant himself and allow him to face the law.

*Tah George Mbah is the SDF Mayor for Mbengwi. He is supposed to pay-in 20 million FCFA in same stamps deal like Tenoh. It is unclear as to how Mayor Tah George auctioned his own stamps, though allegations are rife that he could have exploited same channel like Mayor Tenoh. The Batibo mayor allegedly auctioned his to a certain Emmanuel Becks. Today, he is said to be in bad shape.

* The Balikumbat and Ndop Mayors respectively are Wasum Augustine and Ntoh Daniel. Each of them collected stamps for 10 million FCFA, paid-in 205.000 FCFA. They are thus expected to pay back 9.795.000 FCFA each.

* Other Casualties include Godlove Awanakam, former SDF mayor of Andek with 4 million FCFA; Mbon Wilfred, former CPDM mayor of Mbiame with 6 million FCFA and Kum Simon Buh, a businessman of the Mbiame council, with 8 million FCFA.