Simamu Clement, Next CATTU SG? - But Epie To Operate As Interim Until Elections

By Shey Wirba

With the mother tiger gone, its young ones have to fend for themselves for life to continue. Simon Nkwenti, the courageous leader of the Cameroon Teachers’ Trade Unin, CATTU who died last August 21, was buried last Friday September 7, 2012 at his Chomba residence. Nearly 5000 mourners escorted Nkwenti to his final resting place. Yet, one question that bulged majority of the mourners was “who succeeds Nkwenti as the Executive Secretary of CATTU?” To Ntumfor Barrister Nico Halle, the Lord would provide someone who may even become more audacious than Simon Nkwenti. Already with teachers, Chronicle has been told that the one whom Nkwenti was grooming to succeed him had been Clement Simamu. Yet, according to CATTU’s constitution, it is Emmanuel Epie who automatically becomes interim executive secretary.

At Nkwenti’s funeral last Friday, following Chronicle’s sampling, only a courageous teacher an pulsate to the same whims, which Nkwenti was subjected to. A diehard CATTU adherent who voted for anonymity however confided in Chronicle that the man with Nkwenti’s heart is Clement Simamu. Chronicle was told that Simamu had long shown/proved that he can take risks, in several instances. That he had become Nkwenti’s son.

Coincidentally, less than a week before Nkwenti was hospitalized, he visited the symbolic roofing of Simamu’s edifice at Nsongwa. Nkwenti was frail, yet took courage to be there. It was only after his death that Peterkins Manyong, Publisher of The Independent Observer, found meaning out of that rite.

Simamu is presently a principal in one of the colleges within Misaje sub division in Donga/Mantung division, North West Region. A CATTU leader is supposed to be based in Bamenda, the CATTU head office. Like Nkwenti Simon, the next CATTU leader is supposed to resign from his functions and pick-up full fletched CATTU commitments.

It is however expected that an extraordinary session/congress of CATTU would be convened soon. But within the interim, the man to be calling the shots would be Epie Emmanuel, the Vice Executive Secretary of CATTU. The position, Chronicle is aware, was created some 2 years ago, to pulsate to the wishes of Nkwenti that other CATTU members should prepare themselves to take over from him.

Epie who teaches in Buea, South West region had since been criticized for being less enthusiastic and unable to garner teachers even in the South West, where he resides and hails from. Epie was however at Nkwenti’s funeral and presented a tribute, on behalf of CATTU, at the Bamenda congress hall, where academic honours were accorded the fallen hero.

Yet, the man who coordinate the funeral was Simamu, perhaps/moreso because within CATTU, he is the national organizing secretary.

In acknowledging the exceptional trappings of Simon Nkwenti, Chronicle came out with a special edition on the day of his funeral. In our projections as to who could succeed Simon Nkwenti at CATTU, other names like Wilfred Tassang. Irene Gwanyama, Atanga, Fon Constant and even Hyacinth Nchinda were cited.

On his sick bed, Nkwenti made a confession to Stephens, President of the Presbyterian Education Authority Teachers Trade Union, PEATTU. He confided in him that but not the fact that he was not of the public service, he (Nkwenti) would have handed CATTU but to Afu to manage. Nkwenti’s pontification could be understood, given that very few can take the type of risks, which he had gone through. Afu Stephen went through hell, before PEATTU was legalized by the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon, PCC officials. Afu has been consistent and determined to ensure PEATTU to survive. Nkwenti stood by him towards its success and saw in Afu, the same zing, which he (Nkwenti) had for CATTU to land. And before he died, he urged his followers to remain focused. Who therefore succeeds Nkwenti at CATTU? (Affair a suivre…)