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| Senator Jikong Deserves a State Burial |
The mortal remains of HRH, Prof. Senator
Jikong Stephen Yeriwa who passed on at the Yaounde General Hospital on
Thursday, November 13, 2014 will be laid to rest in Jato-Gwembo village (Nwa
sub Division in Donga Mantung Division of the North West Region) next week. According
to classified sources, corps removal has been billed for December 11, state
honours at the senate on December 12, and burial on December 13, 2014. It should be recalled that he died, after a protracted illness. Yet it is not clear whether Senator Jikong Stephen
Yeriwa who served this country in various capacities would be given a state or
an official burial. A school of state holds that HRH, Prof. Senator Jikong
deserves to be honoured given that he spent his entire life working for the
nation. Born on February 2, 1949 in Mbem village, Nwa Subdivision,
Donga-Mantung Division of the North West Region, Stephen Jikong was among the
first Anglophones who were transferred to the then East Cameroon to teach
English Language. If there is anything paramount in the mind of the people of
Donga Mantung Division, it is how HRH, Prof. Senator Jikong Stephen should be
given a state or official burial by the Government. An influential Northwest
elite is of the opinion that if there is “one thing that I am asking for is that HRH Prof.
Senator Jikong should be given a befitting burial, for having contributed to the
survival of Cameroon as an educationist, university don, adviser to the Prime
Minister, politician and even as a traditional ruler. In fact, he should be
given a state burial. This is my own humble plea”, he concluded.
Youths are also of the opinion that the head of State should do something to
honour the man who worked hard for the country. “I believe the President I do
something” says Nfor Kingsley Mama. To Comfort Nye, a state or official burial is a logical thing to do for such
a rare character in the Cameroonian society. As all eyes are looking towards
Yaounde, it is hoped that the head of state will do something to honour the
fallen hero.
Who
is HRH Prof. Senator Jikong Stephen
HRH Prof. Jikong Stephen Yeriwa was an influential Member of the Central Committee of the
CPDM and one of the CPDM diehearts who in the 90s was the Charge de mission of the party to the Northwest region alongside Senator Francis Nkwain. He is a traditional ruler (Fon of Jato-Gwembo village in Nwa Sub
Division). He was a senior citizen who has served the country in various
capacities. He started his professional career as a teacher, to a University
don and Special Adviser in the Prime Minister's office. He is widely read,
published many books, calm and soft-spoken too. His political abilities are
also an added value.
Before late Senator Jikong was elected
into senate in November 2013, he had served as Secretary General in the
Ministry of Public Service and Administrative Reforms from 1992-1994, and then
Technical Adviser in the Prime Minister’s office 1996-2012. He was also board
member of State corporations such as SCDP, ENAM, INJS and recently CRTV. He
retired from the public service in 2008 as lecturer at the University of Yaounde I.
When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)
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