Ta Nformi Dr. Christopher Fomunyoh Speaks out on the Art of Giving and Sharing (A Must Read Speech)

December 22, 2015. Keynote address at the Special Thanksgiving Celebration in Guzang-Batibo, Presided over by the Rt. Rev. Fonki Samuel, Moderator of the Presbyterian Church  

Dear brothers, friends of the Fongang Family, friends of Guzang of Moghamo, and of our country Cameroon.

This is a unique occurrence-a one in lifetime opportunity-to have the moderator of the PCC decent to us lowly ordinary people, at the level of the village or other rural entity, to chair a thanksgiving celebration.

We are so honoured, more than ever the tongue can tell or words can say. We see in your exemplary action an epitome of what it is that our brother Moses Fongang, the organizer and the brain behind this wonderful initiative had in mind. Nothing could be more humbling and yet uplifting and inspiring, than the image of you breaking bread with us commoners, for by so doing, the Rt. Rev. Moderator, his entourage, you all VIPs, elites and higher ups on the social strata are living embodiments of the art of giving and of sharing generously with the less fortunate, the needy, and the less endowed. It is an art because it is intuitive. It comes from within which means that each one of us can make it happen.

Yes, the art of giving and sharing is that which the organizers summoned us today-not in the limited sense of the one day event; not on the routine of a once a year ritual; but as a lifetime commitment that brings out the best in us and highlights the most positive contribution we could ever make to humanity.

As the famous Poet John Holmes stated “there is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up”. And yes it is not just about material. It is also about sharing, giving, demonstrating love, compassion and understanding to the distress and the distrait. It is about reaching out to the young orphans, perhaps a little confused by the challenging circumstances into which he or has now been thrust by event which they have no control. But yes, the same orphan whose future your generosity of heart and your tenderness of soul could touch and transform once and for all.

And yes, it is about reaching out, giving and sharing with that widow or widower impacted by the sudden and inexplicable parting of a love one, but whose own humanity could blossom afresh by your kind hearted actions that allow her to revive her sense of being and regain her pride and dignity as a full fledged member of our global community.

There is no greater joy in my mind than reinforcing the message to you all good people, that we become a great people when we reach out and become each other’s keeper, especially for those that need an extra hand and /or an extra shoulder on which to lean. Kindness, philanthropy, generosity of the purse and of the heart are virtues that lift up humanity. Like a rising tide, they lift up all the boats. So let us pledge, each and every one of us, from this day forward, to transform the exuberance, the brightness, the kind heartedness, the joy and exorbitant generosity exhibited here today into a moment of daily occurrence, each day of our lives, till eternity. And let us be driven by the words or one of the world’s greatest philanthropists Mother Teresa who said and I quote, “it is not how much we give but how much love we put in giving”.

Thank you immensely for your physical presence here today, and your extraordinary support to this wonderful initiative. May we collectively share the joy and the sense of accomplishment in knowing that we go forth with a vision and a mission, and the zeal to meet this self imposed goal by heeding the call when the voice call from within our inner selves or from the society that we strive to serve.

Thank you very much for your time and attention, and we wish you a safe return to your respective destination after the end of all phases of the ceremony.

Ta Nformi Dr. Christopher Fomunyoh


When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Tempting Moment as Xmas is Around the Corner #writtampen

 Writtam-pen

Country people, permit me pass my warm and special message to all of you who have been reading this column the world over. In fact my profound message on this particular day goes to all the children who are anxiously waiting for Father Christmas to bring home all the goodies. In fact Christmas is just the best thing the world of Christianity has offered to humanity. This is just to say that Christmas precious but it comes with a lot of temptation.

Nobody ever becomes left handed in old age. Do you hear me? I say, nobody becomes left handed in old age. I am sure those who followed me on Facebook should know why I am insisting on this statement. You know, young men and women nowadays are very funny. Some of them think that spending Christmas in the village is an achievement. Do you know the transport from Bamenda to Nkambe, Wum, Fundong and Kumbo? It has doubled. Others think that spending it in the city makes them supper humans. The other day, I even organized a family reunion with my kids in an attempt to postpone Xmas but they all resisted.

Can you imagine that some people who have not called me throughout the year have starting running down my battery? They would ask for air time credit and when you send, they confirm it by beeping. One whose name I have just forgotten asked your Writtam-pen what he has that she can even scam.  This self proclaimed sophisticated young Christmas time achiever told me she is bronze. Journaliste competente et engager de mon etate? Just imagine? I just thought of this song that a woman is a woman, no matter the colour, she can do and she can undo.

 I reminded her time and again that she is holding fire in his left hand and gas in the other, and that when it will generate into a spark, she will not be able to control. But she laughed and said “Na wa for you”.

Country people, this incident reminded me of what my father told me. He said you can only know the rage of a lion when you step into his den. Christmas has landed me in the lion’s den.

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Ethiopia Arrests Journalist after Channel Reports on Protests

 Source: CPJ

Nairobi, December 22, 2015--The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on authorities in Ethiopia to release news anchor Fikadu Mirkana. Fikadu, who works for the state-run broadcaster Oromia Radio and TV, was arrested at his Addis Ababa home on Saturday morning, according to news reports.

CPJ could not determine the reason for Fikadu's arrest. It comes as Oromia Radio and TV has, in recent weeks, covered protests against a plan to expand the Ethiopian capital, in a move that campaigners say would displace hundreds of thousands of farmers, according to news reports. Dozens of protesters have been killed during clashes with police during the unrest in the regional state of Oromia, according to a Human Rights Watch report.

"Journalists have a vital role to play in ensuring the flow of information, both from the Ethiopian government and also, critically, from those who will be affected by its decisions," said CPJ Africa Program Coordinator Sue Valentine in New York. "We call on authorities to release Fikadu Mirkana immediately."

It is not clear where Fikadu is being held and neither his family nor his lawyers have been allowed access to him, an Addis Ababa-based journalist, who has spoken with Fikadu's family and who requested anonymity for fear of retribution, told CPJ.

The Ethiopian authorities in Addis Ababa and the Ethiopian embassy in Nairobi did not immediately respond to CPJ's request for details about Fikadu's arrest.

In recent weeks, the Ethiopian government has used anti-terror rhetoric against campaigners, with the communications minister, Getachew Reda, branding them "terrorists" and "demonic," according to a column by Awol Allo, a fellow in human rights at the London School of Economics and Political Science, published Saturday on Al-Jazeera's website. This language usually presages a crackdown on dissenters, the column said. Protests in Oromia, a region that stretches across central Ethiopia and is home to a third of the country's population, have affected at least 30 towns and prompted the arrest of more than 500 people since mid-November, according to news reports.

Ethiopia is the third largest jailer of journalists on the African continent, with at least 10 behind bars on December 1, CPJ's 2015 prison census shows.

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Mayweather Gives Fans Image of His Luxurious Lifestyle (See him Sleeping on US Dollar Notes)

 American boxing champion, Mayweather has given his fans an imagination of his highly luxurious lifestyle with a photo on the social media.

Mayweather on the wads of dollar notes

 The retired boxing champion shared a photo of him lying on a pile of cash with the caption:

"They go to the strip club. I bring the strip club to me wherever whenever"

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Zimbabwe to Make Chinese Yuan its Legal Currency After Beijing Cancelled $40 Million Debt

Zimbabwe has announced that it will make the Chinese yuan its official legal tender after Beijing confirmed it would cancel $40 million in debts.

President Xi Jinping visited Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe

 

Zimbabwe plans to make the Chinese yuan legal tender in a deal that will result in $S40 million ($55 million) of debt being cancelled.

 The southern African nation abandoned its own dollar in 2009 after hyperinflation which peaked at around 500 billion% rendered it unusable. It then started using a slew of foreign currencies, including the US dollar and the South African rand.

 The yuan was later added, but its use had not been approved yet for public transactions in the market dominated by the US dollar.

 The country's Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa said the use of the yuan "will be a function of trade between China and Zimbabwe and acceptability with customers in Zimbabwe.

They (China) said they are cancelling our debts that are maturing this year and we are in the process of finalising the debt instruments and calculating the debts."

 Zimbabwe's central bank chief, John Mangudya was in negotiations with the People's Bank of China "to see whether we can enhance its usage here", the Minister said.

 China is Zimbabwe's biggest trading partner following Zimbabwe's isolation by its former Western trading partners over Harare's human rights record.

 In reaction veteran President, Robert Mugabe adopted a "look East policy", forging new alliances with eastern Asian countries and buttressing existing ones.

 In early December, Chinese President Xi Jinping stopped over in Zimbabwe in a rare trip by a world leader to the country, and presided over the signing of various agreements, mainly to upgrade and rebuild Zimbabwe's infrastructure such as power stations.

 

Source: AFP

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

President Buhari Promises Free Education for Nigerian Universities Students

The president of Nigerian, Muhammadu Buhari made a promise to Nigerian youths and students during his 2016 budget presentation as he reveals his plan on education.

President Muhammadu Buhari

The president of Nigeria in his inaugural speech at the joint session of the National Assembly said that soon students in our tertiary institutions especially the science, technology and education students will be enjoying free education at that level as he makes plans for its take off. 

 Buhari said his administration would unveil a conditional cash transfer programme for the poorest and most vulnerable. According to him, the full programme will also cater for the feeding of primary school children.

 "Furthermore, through the office of the Vice President, we are working with various development partners to design an implementable and transparent conditional cash transfer program for the poorest and most vulnerable.

"This program will be implemented in phases. Already, the compilation of registers of the poorest persons is ongoing.

"In the coming weeks, we will present the full programme which will include our home-grown public primary school feeding and free education for science, technology and education students in our tertiary institutions.

"Indeed, this will mark a historic milestone for us as a nation", President Buhari said.

hen News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan Wins 2015 Person of The Year Award

Since he left office, former President Jonathan's profile has risen sharply in the global community. He has been lauded by local and foreign media, as well as the foreign government for that historic phone call that conceded defeat and that would have ensued had he won the election.

Nigeria's online news platform, The Trent, which is one of the most influential online newspapers, has named former President, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan 'Person of the Year 2015.' The newspaper's President and Executive Editor, Ms.Aziza Uko told journalists in Lagos on Monday. "We are delighted to launch our Person of the Year Award with such a deserving statesman.

This marks our second anniversary and our Editorial Board decided to launch this award to celebrate the best among us, to present to the country, especially, the young generation, real symbols of hope."

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Ta Nformi Cameroon Dr. Christopher Fomunyoh Donates to Widows at Thanksgiving

Dr. Christopher Fomunyoh

The year 2015 has been a very eventful for the President of The Fomunyoh Foundation (TFF), Ta Nformi Dr. Christopher Fomunyoh. December 22, 2015 crowned the activities of TFF as the President of TFF donated FCFA 1 million seed money to the widows of Guzang village during a Thanksgiving service organized by the Fongang Family at Presbyterian Church Guzang. The Thanksgiving service was officiated by a college of church ministers led by the Rt. Rev. Fonki Samuel.

As keynote speaker at this Thanksgiving service Dr. Christopher Fomunyoh expressed thanks and gratitude to Fongang Moses, an elite of the area and family for bring together people to share in support of the needy. This service which as earlier hinted was presided over by the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon brought together over 2000 people from home and the Diasporas. Having been nursed by a widowed mother, Fongang Moses created an association to support widows with a starting capital of FCFA 1 million. Touched by this initiative Dr. Christopher Fomunyoh donated an additional CFA 1 million to support the initiative of the widows. In his keynote address, Dr. Fomunyoh said “…we become a great people when we reach out and become each other’s keeper, especially for those that need an extra hand and/or extra shoulder on which to lean.” VIPs at the Thanksgiving service included the Synod Clerk of the PCC Rev, Fochang Babila George, Retired PCC Moderator Emeritus, Rev. Dr. Festus Asana, National Assembly vice president; Hon Joseph Mbah Ndam and the Queen of the Sawas in Douala just to mention the few.

Another high light of the occasion was the decoration and traditional dressing of the PCC Moderator and Synod Clerk, by the Fon of Guzang, His Royal Highness Gwan Mbahnyamsig and the donation of a tricycle to the widows by Fongang Moses.

It should be recalled that Ta Nformi Cameron Dr. Christopher Fomunyoh started the year by visiting the internally displaced persons in the Far North Region, in the Center Region where he donated didactic material and texts books to some government and private secondary schools, the same exercise took place in Monatele. Few months ago, TFF family led by its President was in the East Region where they donated to books and food items to orphanages, secondary schools, the Catholic University and the Cameroon Linguistic Center.

 

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Edwin Fongod Is New Director of Costumes

Edwin Fongod: Director of Costumes

Edwin Fongod Nuvaga has been appointed as the new Director of customs, following a presidential decree signed on Monday. Edwin Fongod who formerly was the chief IT department in the same administration, takes over from Minette Libom Likeng Li, appointed Minister of Post and Telecommunications since October 2, 2015. Edwin Fongod NuvagaLe the newly promoted, who also is barely in his fifties, inherits a house which public opinions have not stopped decrying several abuses for years in terms of corruption and obnoxious financial racketeering. According to a recent government report, the customs department loses FCFA 200 to 300 billion between 200 and 300 billion FCFA in revenue per year compared to the real potential foreign trade value due to poor practices existing in the  Port Douala, the economic metropolis. Commentators say revenue could rise to more than double if Fongod could try to bridge the gabs by instilling control over the value of goods and eradicate the proliferation of false exemptions, exemptions for large-scale import audit certificates (AVI) and the taxable value of allowances on used vehicles, and other imported goods. It should be noted that Edwin Fongod hails from Bali in the North West Region of Cameroon

 


When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Football Mafia Crumbles as Sepp Blatter, Michel Platini Bag 8 Years Ban

Following an intense investigation into the fraud scandal that rocked the world football governing body, FIFA, two top officials have been banned from all football related activities. 

Michel Platini and Sepp Blatter

 After an investigation by the global body's Ethics Committee, the FIFA and UEFA presidents have bagged lengthy bans, UK Mirror reports.

 The two had been under investigation by the body's Ethics Committee amid the corruption scandal that has shaken up football governance in recent months.

 And now, the adjudicatory arm of the committee has opted to suspend both men from all football-related activity.

 The pair are in the dock over a "disloyal payment" made by Blatter to Platini in February 2011, supposedly for work done in 1999.

 The Ethics Committee deemed that Platini's explanation of that payment was "not convincing". Platini has been fined 80,000 Swiss Francs, and Blatter 50,000.

 The adjudicatory chamber of the Ethics Committee chaired by Mr Hans Joachim Eckert has banned Mr Joseph S. Blatter, President of FIFA, for eight years and Mr Michel Platini, Vice-President and member of the Executive Committee of FIFA and President of UEFA, for eight years from all football-related activities (administrative, sports or any other) on a national and international level. The bans come into force immediately.

 The proceedings against Mr Blatter primarily related to a payment of CHF 2,000,000 transferred in February 2011 from FIFA to Mr Platini. Mr Blatter, in his position as President of FIFA, authorised the payment to Mr Platini which had no legal basis in the written agreement signed between both officials on 25 August 1999. Neither in his written statement nor in his personal hearing was Mr Blatter able to demonstrate another legal basis for this payment. His assertion of an oral agreement was determined as not convincing and was rejected by the chamber.

 The evidence available to the adjudicatory chamber in the present case was not sufficient to establish, to the extent required, that Mr Blatter sought the execution or omission of an official act from Mr Platini within the meaning of article 21 paragraph 1 of the FIFA Code of Ethics (FCE) (Bribery and corruption). However, the conduct of Mr Blatter towards Mr Platini without a legal basis constituted a breach of article 20 paragraph 1 of the FCE (Offering and accepting gifts and other benefits).

 Furthermore, Mr Blatter found himself in a situation of conflict of interest, despite which he continued to perform his related duties, failing to disclose said situation and the existence of personal interests linked to his prospective activities, thus violating article 19 paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of the FCE (Conflicts of interest). By failing to place FIFA’s interests first and abstain from doing anything which could be contrary to FIFA’s interests, Mr Blatter violated his fiduciary duty to FIFA and breached article 15 of the FCE (Loyalty). Mr Blatter’s actions did not show commitment to an ethical attitude, failing to respect all applicable laws and regulations as well as FIFA’s regulatory framework to the extent applicable to him and demonstrating an abusive execution of his position as President of FIFA, hence violating article 13 of the FCE (General rules of conduct).

 In consequence, Mr Blatter has been banned for eight years from all football related activities and fined CHF 50,000.

 The investigation into the case of Mr Blatter was conducted by Mr Robert Torres, member of the investigatory chamber of the Ethics Committee. The investigation resulted in a final report which was submitted to the adjudicatory chamber on 20 November 2015. The adjudicatory chamber opened formal proceedings on 23 November 2015, and the hearing of Mr Blatter took place in Zurich on 17 December 2015.

 The proceedings against Mr Platini primarily related to a payment of CHF 2,000,000 that he received in February 2011 from FIFA. The payment to Mr Platini had no legal basis in the written agreement signed between both officials on 25 August 1999. Mr Platini’s assertion of an oral agreement was determined as not convincing and was rejected by the chamber.

 

The evidence available to the adjudicatory chamber in the present case was not sufficient to establish, to the extent required, that Mr Platini obtained the payment for the execution or omission of an official act within the meaning of article 21 paragraph 1 of the FCE (Bribery and corruption). Nevertheless, the conduct of Mr Platini without a legal basis constituted a breach of article 20 paragraph 1 of the FCE (Offering and accepting gifts and other benefits). Furthermore, Mr Platini found himself in a situation of conflict of interest, despite which he continued to perform his related duties, failing to disclose said situation and the existence of personal interests linked to his prospective activities in violation of article 19 paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of the FCE (Conflicts of interest).

 By failing to place FIFA’s interests first and abstain from doing anything which could be contrary to FIFA’s interests, Mr Platini also violated his fiduciary duty to FIFA and breached article 15 of the FCE (Loyalty). In addition, Mr Platini failed to act with complete credibility and integrity, showing unawareness of the importance of his duties and concomitant obligations and responsibilities. His actions did not show commitment to an ethical attitude, failing to respect all applicable laws and regulations as well as FIFA’s regulatory framework to the extent applicable to him and demonstrating an abusive execution of his position as Vice-President of FIFA and member of the FIFA Executive Committee, hence violating article 13 of the FCE (General rules of conduct).

 In consequence, Mr Platini has been banned for eight years from all football related activities and fined CHF 80,000.

 The investigation into the case of Mr Platini was conducted by Ms Vanessa Allard, member of the investigatory chamber of the Ethics Committee. The investigation resulted in a final report which was submitted to the adjudicatory chamber on 20 November 2015. The adjudicatory chamber opened formal proceedings on 23 November 2015, and the hearing took place in Zurich on 18 December 2015 in the presence of Mr Platini’s lawyers.

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

No Plea Bargain for Dasuki and Others Involved in $2bn Arms Deal

The federal government has insisted that culprits in the $2billion shady arms deal will not be entitled to any plea bargain. 

Former National Security Adviser, Dasuki Sambo

 According to the Nigerian Federal Government, there would be no need for any plea bargain for those involved in the arms deal scam.

 FG said it’s committed to recovering all the monies stolen by those involved in the now popular scam.

 According to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami, (SAN), those implicated by the arms probe and other scams, that have cost the nation hundreds of billions of Naira, would be made to cough out the money and still pay the price for breaching public trust.

 ”Let me just make it clear to all that under the present administration, it is no longer business-as-usual. As at today, a lot of measures are being put in place to recover the loot which a few privileged Nigerians stole and stashed away.

 “It is an article of obligation under the law of the Federal Government of Nigeria to convict the looters and recover the amount traced to each of them to show the disdain that this government has for corruption and to serve as a warning signal that nobody is authorized to steal the commonwealth of Nigerians under any guise,” Malami said.

 The minister said this on the heels of reports that some top politicians are willing to refund over N650 million which they claimed to have collected from the former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki, for campaign purposes, Vanguard reports.

 According to a media report on Sunday, December 20, the top politicians, who had acknowledged collecting the money for the mobilization of their supporters in the six geo-political zones of the country, were making moves to quietly return the money to the government.

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Appeal Court Declares Mama Taraba the Elected Governor

 Senator Aisha Jummai Alhassan has today in Abuja emerged victorious at an appellate court with her victory upheld.

The Court of Appeal has ruled that Senator Aisha Jummai Alhassan is the duly elected governor of Taraba State and not Darius Ishaku of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The decision was reached by the Appeal Court today, December 21, 2015, in Abuja. The judgment was made in support of a ruling of the state election petitions tribunal which nullified Ishaku’s victory in the April 11 and 25 polls in the state.
The tribunal had held, on Saturday, November 7, 2015, that the PDP did not conduct primaries hence Ishaku was not chosen by delegates of the party to represent it, an action which was in violation of‎ the provisions of the Electoral Act.

 It found therefore that all votes in Ishaku’s favour had been wasted and Alhassan was the rightful winner of the polls. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had, on April 13, declared the governorship election in Taraba inconclusive due to widespread irregularities.
Ishaku was however declared winner after a re-run was held on April 25.
Alhassan is currently the Minister for Women Affairs after being sworn in by President Muhammadu Buhari on November 11.

 

Source: Daily Sun

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)