Tribute to Fon Martin Yembe, The Journalist I knew

Here lies A True born Journalist

On October 14, 2017, thousands of people from all walks of life gathered at the Ndu Council premises to pay their last respect to Fon Martin Yembe, 1^st Deputy Mayor of Ndu Council who had left the scene on October 2, 2017. The body of Martin Luther Jr', as commonly called, was kept at the Ndu council for the population of Ndu town to pay their last respect. Just the fact that as the crowd moved towards the council to view the departed soul, a colony of bees wept in the sky, an indication that “a great man is gone”. In fact a man whose dexterousness won him several traditional titles in Mbum land ( Shey Lontum, Shey Witang). A sea of humanity-from newspaper vendors to reporters, buyam-sellams to traders, commoners to political leaders, bike riders to vehicle owners, trade unionists to teachers, editors to publishers. Lawyers to farmers etc wanted to pay homage to a renowned politician, freedom fighter, teaching teacher and communicator. Both the readers of Political Punch and The Frontier Telegraph, friends, and family friends, were weighed down senselessly as tears keep running on the faces of everyone. Those who did not want to be noticed weared dark glasses as the uncountable number of people, including quite a good number who came from far distances could not hold back tears.

Fru Ndi addressing the crowd at Ndu council premise

SDF National Chairman Ni John Fru Ndi, SDF National 1^st Vice Hon. Osih Joshua, the MP for Nkambe cum Quaestor at the National Assembly Hon. Hon. Awudu, about 20 mayors (deputy mayors) as well as other prominent politicians and business leaders who were buried in the crowd traveled to Ndu to pay their last homage to the departed politician, human rights defender, jpurnalist, Fon Martin Yembe. Addressing the crowd at Ndu Council, SDF Chieftain Ni John Fru Ndi lamented the departure of Martin. He said God knows why and called on the population of Ndu municipality to pray for the departed soul. To Ni John Fru Ndi, death is evitable. He told his own life story and how he lost his first wife and even the second wife to the cold hands of death. He concluded his address to the people of Ndu by asking God to bring forth comfort in a special way to their hearts. To Martin’s family Fru Ndi said “Please accept our heartfelt sympathies on the very sad demise of Mr. Martin. We will always remember him and his heroism”.

As the corpse left Ndu town for Ngarum, thousands trooped in. Emotions went high when the hearse approached his village. From the young to the old, everyone was shading tears of agony. The St. Peter and Paul Catholic church was full to capacity.  Speaker after speaker described Martin as a great man. To the mayor of Ndu Council, Martin was a hunting dog and a strategist for the Ndu council. He described his departure as a big blow to humanity.  In his homily the Reverend Father presented a vivid biography of the departed hero. He went further to reveal that he was Martin’s spiritual father before his departure.

Fon Martin was born at BBH Kumbo on March 4, 1968 into the family of Pa Simon Yembe Njobara  ( Njiyong) in Ngarum village.  He attended primary school at GS Sabongari where he obtained the Fisrt School Leaving Certificate and moved to Mankon where he obtained the GCE Ordinary Level. He enrolled at the then GHS Nkambe where he obtained the GCE A Level in flying colours. After he acquired the required certifications that facilitated his desire for further education (FSLC, GCE “O” Levels and Advanced levels respectively), Martin got admission into the then University of Yaounde where he graduated with a degree in linguistics (English and French). While in the University of Yaounde, he became a member for the famous “Parlement”. When he graduated in 1990, he joined politics and he became a very strong militant of the SDF.  

The strong desire for him to articulate on issues made him to occupy several positions in the SDF party, ranging from District secretary to Provincial chairman.  At the time many thought he was at the peak of his political career, he made a u-turn to step down from the prestigious position of Provincial chairman of the SDF. When he stepped down from the position of Provincial chairman, he moved to Nigeria where he studied political science and journalism

Martin’s life as a politician was as controversial as the controversies that surrounded the formation of the Social Democratic Front-SDF party on May 26, 1990. As a social and political scientist, he emerged Fon Martin Yembe became a visionary leader of the Mbum people, a dream of his aspirations and expectations. As the 1^st Deputy Mayor of Ndu, his contributions are immense. He lived and died as a strong advocate of decentralization and democracy.

When he returned to Cameroon, he created Global Information Network- Globinet (a media firm that published The Frontier Telegraph and The Political Punch). At same time, he served as the Manager of Millennium TV and Savanah Frontier Radio-Nkambe. Martin also occupied several positions in the journalists associations like CAMASEJ Northwest Chapter, CUJ, Commonwealth Journalists Association, CANPA, DOMAJ etc.

Besides, it should be recalled that having graduated with a degree in linguistics, Martin had acquired enough education and certificates which enabled him to teach in the secondary segment of the education. He taught at NIAST Nkambe, EEC Azire, CHS Akum, GBHS Nkambe and GBHS Ndu.

Many say he was an activist, but rather I would prefer to describe him as a human rights defender. His primary syndrome of defending the rights of others emerged when he became the Secretary General of Southern Cameroon People’s Organization-SCAPO. Martin was one of the few who could articulate on issues about the Anglophones after the All Anglophone Conference II that led the birth of SCAPO. He was passionate about the issue as he could do for Biblical things as well. Furthermore, he was a member of the Martial of West Africa and devoted most of his time fighting articulating on the Southern Cameroons struggle. As Martin was laid to rest, eulogies were pouring in from all direction of the globe. Hon. Esther Ngala Ntala who at the moment was in the USA expressed her heartfelt grief for the great lost. Simon Tamfu who too was out of the country also expressed his deep heartfelt grief for the lost Ndu has recorded. In fact, as someone puts it: God alone is master and Martin went at the time the Fon of Ngarum had disappeared. Fon is he was named, followed the fon.Dessa, in the song "The Man I knew" wrote one of the best lyrics ever and it goes: "I have seen my name in light, I have seen my name in papers". In fact Martin is gone but his name will remain in papers due to his trappings.

How Fon Martin Will be Remembered

The Career Politician

Hon. Awudu representing eulogy before burial

When Martin joined the Social Democratic Front, he was elected District secretary for the Ndu Electoral District. The dexterousness in which he handled party activities attracted a lot of applauds. He was then elected Provincial Organizing Secretary. In 1998, Martin was elected Provincial Chairman, a position which he held until 2003 when he decided to step-down. When he was Provincial chairman, the SDF won the highest number of councils and Parliamentary seats in the North West. In fact, many thought Martin was the next MP for Donga Mantung Centre; given that as Provincial chairman he had an upper. He dropped the idea and invested Tansa Jones candidacy in Ndu.  No other politician would have done that yet Martin did it. Many thought he would resign from the SDF after the incident that led to his stepping down from the prestigious position of Provincial chairman, but being a socialist and democrat by conviction, he preferred to use the experience he had gathered in politics in carrying out political consultancy. Though a political consultant, he did not quit the SDF. Even when rumours made rounds that he had joined JDP, Martin stood his grounds.  He knew the art of politicking to his finger tips. In the 90s and the early 2000, after Fru Ndi, the names that featured on every lip were Fon Martin Yembe, Marget Nyah or Akonteh. Writing the history of the SDF without mentioning Fon Martin Yembe will be tantamount to cooking pepper soup without pepper. When Martin succeeded Madame Nyah Marget as Provincial Chairman, he worked hard for the SDF to win 19 Parliamentary seats and 29 councils in the North West.

In 2013, Martin decided to bounce back into frontline politics again. During the 2013 Municipal and Legislative elections, he was the political strategist for Ndu and at the same time listed on the council SDF Council list (as councilor for Ngarum). When SDF emerged victorious and during the council executive election, he was overwhelmingly voted 1^st Deputy Mayor. During the last reorganization of the basic organs of the party, Martin was elected Donga Mantung Coordinating Secretary. Hon. Awudu Mbaya Cyprian did not hide his feelings when he told thousands at Martin’s burial that he (Martin) would be remembered as “A Great man who committed his life for the service of everyone. He showed what Jesus set an example to us mankind” and compared him to Martin Luther King Jr. to Hon. Njong Evaristus, Martin will be remembered for inspiring leadership, hard work, dedication and pro activism. Martin he said in his eulogy “worked with great faith and hope to implant the cardinal principles of democracy, justice and development”. In 2013, he was voted as the Most Resilient Politician by readers of The Eye Newspaper. 

The Rights Defender/Freedom Fighter

view of the cross-section of mourners

Writing about Martin’s views as a fighter or rights defender is like putting down some sensitive phrases of the Satanic verses that would automatically lead to divine sentence. As the Mayor of Ndu, Bunyui Emmanuel puts it; Martin was a “stentoric oracle” and one who believed in himself.  A human rights defender/ fighter, whose traces into activism could be pictured as far back as the early 90s when he was a member of “Parlement” at the University of Yaounde.  When Martin graduated from the University of Yaounde he was elected as Secretary General of the Southern Cameroons People’s Organization-SCAPO. As SG of SCAPO, he was one of the few that would articulate on the Southern Cameroons issues and matters. When SCAPO was fractionalized and transformed into a political party, Martin took his advocacy into the pages of newspapers. Those who have had the opportunity to read The Political Punch or The Frontier Telegraph would agree that Martin was historical book. His activism made him to join the Martial of West African countries and he became one of the influential members. As Secretary General of SCAPO, Martin believed “in a young nation coming soon” and was not indifferent to the socio political upsurge in the North West and South West Regions. When Martin visited TB Joshua, he came back to Cameroon with one item, (the belief in a young state nation). In most of his write-ups, even on facebook, he would keep reminding people of the fact that the pact will expire in 2017. And that was the prophetic message that he brought from TB Joshua.

His activities as human right defender did not only limit at SCAPO and the Anglophone problem, whenever he saw that the rights of someone were dampened on, he would take the issue at heart and follow it without fear or favour.

He fought for salaries for mayors and deputies and like his name Yembe (he saw it approved and did not live to enjoy). Today, mayors and deputies are enjoying thanks to the crusade launched and articulated in the media by courageous men like Martin. As Hon. Njong puts it: Great men like Martin don’t tread the earth for long period. What they do within God’s assigned time remains indelible.

He fought several fights like the privatization of the Ndu Tea plantation and the Ndu incident that has remained memorable in the lives of the people. He was allergic to the word marginalization and would spare no effort to voice it any time. He was the voice of the voiceless. He had the passion to do God’s work reasons why he was always in variance with injustice. Martin could easily be compared to Turpac Shakuh, who many called freedom fighter, and the voice of the community. As a politician, he gave his all to others who gave him little or nothing in return. At one point, when everyone knew he was the sure parliamentary candidate for Donga Mantung Centre (Ndu) he surprisingly decided to remain with the position of Provincial chairman. In fact, it can take days and even weeks to write about Fon Martin Yembe, the politician.

The Journalist

October 14, 2017 will remain a memorable day for journalists of the North West Region. That was the day heaven loosened and descended on media practitioners as they all bit farewell to the man who was popularly known as a media prophet in Cameroon as founded of Global Communication Network-GLOBINET drops his pen to travel to the world beyond. Fon Martin Yembe was a refined writer and would be remembered for his historical write-ups. As CEO of GLOBINET, he was publisher of The Frontier Telegraph and The Political Punch. Many would remember how some years ago, Martin spent most of his time in the courtroom in Nkambe than in the newsroom in Bamenda after he was sued to court by one of his political ally. He was a go-getter and an investigative journalist.

After studying journalism in Nigeria and back to Cameroon, his “magnanimity” in the field of journalism could also be pictured through his contribution as member of various journalism associations. He is former Vice Chapter President of CAMASEJ NW, Vice President of Union of Cameroon Journalists (UCJ), Executive Member of the Commonwealth Journalists Association, Adviser of DOMAJ, Editor of DOMA Forum etc.

The Teaching Teacher

His happiest moments were when he was in the classroom. Fon Martin Yembe was a good teacher and he loved teaching. When he was elected deputy mayor, he decided to offer his skills to some schools free of charge. Hardly in our contemporary society do men of his caliber do offer such favours to their communities but he did it with a lot of dexterity. Besides, it should be recalled that having graduated with a degree in linguistics, Martin had acquired enough education and certificates which enabled him to teach in the secondary segment of the education. He taught at NIAST Nkambe, EEC Azire, CHS Akum, GBHS Nkambe and GBHS Ndu and many other schools in the region.

 Pictures

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