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| Joseph Asanji |
A beautifully handsome couple; Joseph Sanji and wife
Beatrice, clad in auspicious and exceptionally designed traditional gandoras
(outfits) made their presence felt within their locale. Joe Sanji (a cadre at
the National Assembly) and wife Beatrice (another cadre in the ministry of
Culture) were at base last Saturday August 25, 2012 to hobnob with the youths.
The connecting point was the first edition of the “Meta Solidarity Cross
Country Race”. A 10km race that kick-started at the Mbengwi grandstand, was not
only athletics per se, but as Chronicle gathered, a leveler for all and sundry
to hobnob.
“Even in our
differences, let the future of your youths bring us together”, quipped Joe
Sanji, the brain behind the mobilization. He was outspoken tot eh fact that the
race was not a political propagandist affair but “a Meta
solidarity race”.
The presence of
Charles Aminkeng, the dynamic Divisional Officer, DO for Mbengwi Central was a
testimony of the trappings of the initiator of the cross country. The race grouped
some 90 youths from the 29 villages of Meta,
to showcase their athletism and mettle.
Joe Sanji baptized the
event of last Saturday, August 25, 2012 as a memorable date in the life of his
family: “Today is a very, very, very happy day in the life of the Sanji
family”, he opined before reiterating how, when there is something to be done,
let it be done in a special way. He added how that’s why himself and family
thought that at the end of the student’s cultural week, a cross country race be
organized.
Effervescence
It was not an issue of creating or breaking records.
“Let us take our places in society”, Sanji averred, adding that “if your
brother can do better, give him the place’. Accordingly, he posited that Meta youths should grow and love themselves.
It was a day of
ecstasy and fame. No politicking! The Sanji family had reserved some on million
FCFA for the event. The Mbengwi grandstand was a beehive. Some ten (10)
traditional rulers, including the Fons of Kai (Momo Fons President), Kubenyang,
Funang Njinibi, Ngokwong, Tugi, Njimetu amongst others were at hand.
It took the 90
athletes some 2 hours to complete the 10km distance. At the end of the day, the
make champion received a motorcycle (worth nearly 500.000 FCFA) while the
female counterpart received a 31 inches television set. Other prizes extended
to television decoders, mobile phones, rains boats, cutlasses, exercise books
amongst others. Chronicle pegged the prized to some 1 million FCFA.
Philanthropy
or Politics
Sanji has been at the National Assembly for the past
20 years. He has served multiple functions, but as Chronicle is aware he
presently serves Cavaye Yeguie Djibril, the House Speaker in an elevated
function. Joe Sanji does not hide the fact that he works very closely with the
House Speaker.
Reacting to
speculations that he is eyeing a parliamentary seat, reason why he had
descended to make his presence felt, he quipped: “to go to parliament: is it a
bad thing?” To him, God has made each Meta-man and attributed him with special
gift.
Sanji’s belief is that
everyone should take his/her place in society and everyone should recognize
each other’s trappings. He preached on love “Meta
youths should grow and love themselves”, he quipped.
Majority of those
Chronicle spoke to, were of the opinion that Joe Sanji is the man of the
moment. They saw his largesse, not as appropriate, moreso as he openly averred
how Mbengwi people should consider the trappings of their folk: “if your
brother can do better, give him the place’.
Most of those Chronicle
spoke to were frank that Joe Sanji has been a philanthropist without bounds.
They said whatever proposal made to him, he readily embraces without qualms.
Total
Euphoria
The Meta solidarity
cross country race was a novelty in Momo. According to a resident, most elite
have preferred to sponsor football tournaments. Last Saturday’s event was
spiced not only by the arrival of athletes but by the cultural displays. The
Nap dance group of Ngyen-Mbu thrilled electrifyingly, just as individual
artists.
Tifang Symplice of
Njaa-Etu, a 20 year old form 5 student of GBHS Mbengwi was the first female in
the 10km race, clocking 1 hour, 17 minutes. She grabbed a 31 inches television
screen as first prize while Achoanoh Carl Fonguh, a 21 year old student of GTTC
Mbengwi received the ‘grand prix’, the Nan Fang motorcycle
Other key laureates
included: Ngoh Louis (2nd) and Teghen Elvis (3rd) in the
male category; while Ngyen Florence and Lydia Kamsa were second and third in
the female category. All won prizes. Worthy to note, that all 90 athletes
registered were compensated in one way or the other.
Grand sponsor, Joe
Sanji told the over 1000 population present that though it was the star
edition, he will continue to sponsor the cross country. He said in the female
category, instead of a television set, the second edition would witness a
feminine bike for the best competing female athlete.
Awards
& Rhapsody
The confinement of the most outstanding athlete- the
bike award, was the fulcrum of the day. It eclipsed earlier awards of books,
cutlasses, cell phones and other appliances.
Achoanoh Carl Fonguh,
student of GTTC Mbengwi grabbed his bike, with accessory docuemtns and
drove-off. The presentation in itself was landmark. He was handed the keys,
documents then the machine before he drove-off.
Some observers told
Chronicle that the time-liness of the occasion was appropriate. Accordingly,
after the arrest of the Mbengwi SDF mayor, Tah George Mbah for his alleged involvement
in communal stamps racket, Sanji’s inroots was highly applauded. And though he
did not style it as a campaign/mobilization strategy ahead of next year’s
municipal/legislative elections, Mbengwi residents believe that Sanji should
thereon become the one to call the shots.
Last Saturday’s event,
Chronicle has been told, is a leeway to some other political opportunists, who
may not have any thing to offer, yet, would want to hoodwink the Meta people, in a bid to be catapulted to the acme. But
as Chronicle is aware with Joe Sanji, Meta
people would be in fine fettle, given his levelheadedness, dynamism,
pragmatism, savoir faire and acumen. And following Chronicle’s present rating, Sanji stands tall as the best choice
to defend and protect the interest of Meta
(Mbengwi) people, wherever and whenever. (Affair a suivre…)
Reactions
Kodus
To Sanji Family
-
Aminkeng Charles
I sincerely thank the donor, organizer of this
event. Since I arrived here, we have never got such an event. I’m happy to be
part of this event. Together we would continue to see how the youths move ahead.
The administration will not relent our efforts. We will always give him a
helping hand each time he calls on us to come in. we call the youths to
collaborate and make good use of what received.
The first prize (a bike) should be an exemplary bike
in town. It should never be caught for wanting of any document. This bike
should serve as an example. The bike should be the first bike to be controlled
by the gendarmes, and police. Keep on praying for the Sanji family for more to
come
Joe
Sanji is a Pace Setter
-
Jacob Tembi
CPDM
Section President Mbengwi
For once we have had something that has brought all
the youths of Mbengwi together. This time in a sporting event. It was a
welcomed exercise by one of the elite, Joe Sanji. Even the turnout is indicative
of the fact that people want things like this to happen. The youths are
especially very happy and would like to have other donors in other activities.
Joe Sanji’s event is like a pace setter. So we expect many more things to come
next.
Mr. Joe Sanji is a humanitarian. He loves his native
land. Apart from the fact that he works in Yaounde, he comes home very often; he likes
to integrate himself with his people, reason why he has organized this event.
The event has not taken place under the banner of the CPDM. It is for all Meta youths.
Sanji’s
Largesse Has No Bounds
-
Ernest Fonjong
Elite/Educationist
Mr. Joseph Sani has a strong hope and anxiety for
the Meta people. So I think this is just the
beginning. He has limited his largesse to Meta because he has a dream to
promote the Meta child. His largesse has no
bounds. For those who may think he has a political agenda may be deceptive. But
don’t forget that Mr. Joseph Sanji is a dynamic person. Even if he has a
political agenda, I will not be surprised given the love the Meta
people have for him. The turnout for this race is a testimony to the fact that
the Meta people would stand for him when the
time comes.
Sanji
Integrates People
-
Roland Fobang
Meta Elite
Such an event is what we need so that our community
should be inspired. This kind of show-up makes people to belong. The gesture of
Mr. Joe Sanji is appreciated because he has come to see how he can spur-up
sports in Meta. When we talk about
development, this is what we want: it is really a serious matter and not
partisan. We have been able to integrate ourselves, keeping politics aside.
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