Secondary Education Minister Angrily Quits Bamenda after Today's "Bad Market"

Disappointed Jean Ernest Massena

 The Minister of Secondary Education, Jean Ernest Massena Ngalle Bihehe has angrily left Bamenda for Yaounde after attempts to persuade school reopening in North West and South West Regions flopped woefully. Surprisingly, Jean Ernest Massena who announced a six day stay in Bamenda has spent just three days. Initially, he had planned to visit some schools in Mezam, Ngoketunjia, Bui and Momo, Tuesday and Wednesday before taking off for Yaounde.

However, the fact that schools were deserted pushed the two ministers to abort their trip in the region. The most pathetic of all is that they angrily left Bamenda without inaugurating some structures earlier programmed. It is clear that the  minister did their best but failed to convince teachers and parents to send their kids to schools. Schools in the North West and South West Regions were deserted, reports say. The ministers who brought promises were shocked that even the chiefs who had promised to transform selves into teachers were not in schools. Secondary Education Communication officer who was heard boosting over the phone to his colleagues in Yaounde how they have solved all the problems almost collapsed at Ayaba Hotel. He was even unable to pick calls from Yaounde cronies who were calling to find out the situation in the field.  Streets in the city of Bamenda have been deserted to the point that some now serve as soccer play grounds for children. It is alleged that the Minister of Basic Education also arrived Bamenda yesterday night and allegations are rife at that the Minister of Basic Education also vamoosed by mid day without visiting a school after having a test of the realities of Bamenda.

Release issued by the Minister after consultative talks with stakeholders

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Press Release: Hon. Fobi Nchinda Visits 14 Arrested in Bamenda at Kondegui Prison

Posted as Received 

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

Anglophone Problem: Statement by South West Chiefs

 Posted as Received

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Why Eating Catfish is Very Dangerous for Your Health - Medical Expert Makes Revelations

A practitioner at the Federal Medical Centre in Abuja, has warned the general public of the life-threatening repercussions of excessive consumption of catfish.

Catfish peper soup (Photo: Sisi Yemmie)

 

Speaking in an interview with newsmen on Thursday in Abuja, a medical practitioner, Dr Arikawe Adeolu, revealed that excessive consumption of catfish could increase the chances of developing cardiovascular diseases. 

 According to Vanguard, the practitioner at the Federal Medical Centre, Jabi, Abuja, who gave the warning, said that catfish contained omega-6 fatty acids, which could increase the level of inflammation in the body. 

 He added that inflammation was the underlying cause of cardiovascular diseases, certain cancers and diabetes. He said that although catfish also contained omega-3 fatty acids, which had a lot of health benefits, the ratio of omega-6 was far greater than omega-3 fatty acids. 

 While explaining further, Adeolu said that this made it necessary for the fish to be consumed in moderation to prevent health complications. “Catfish is rich in two fatty acids – omega-3 fatty acids and the omega-6 fatty acids. 

 “The omega-3 fatty acids help reduce the concentration of bad cholesterol in the blood stream and increase the concentration of good cholesterol in the blood stream. 

“It also helps protect the heart and the cardiovascular system from any form of disease, prevents inflammation within the body and helps reduce the quantity or concentration of inflammatory substances in the body. 

“The underlining basis for most cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer, Alzheimer disease and many other diseases that we know today, is chronic inflammation, which signifies a long standing inflammation in the body. 

“This is where the catfish controversy comes in. A lot of reports have advised against eating it and this is because although it contains omega-3 fatty acids, which have many health benefits, it contains more omega-6 fatty acids. 

“Omega-6 fatty acids are pro-inflammatory in the sense that they increase the level of inflammation within the body and make one more predisposed to any kind of disease. 

“When catfish features a lot in your diet, you consume more omega-6 fatty acids in your diet than the protective omega-3 fatty acids. 

“Therefore, you are more predisposed to diseases if you consume a lot of catfish. The optimal ratio of omega-6 fatty acids to omega-3 fatty acids is supposed to be four to one, but because the catfish is reared artificially and is fed with synthesized food, the ratio can be up to ten to one,’’ he said. 

 Adeolu also said even though there were a lot of controversies surrounding the consumption of catfish, it still held some advantages over most fishes consumed today, adding that catfish was a good source of protein, rich in essential amino acids needed to build muscles, bones and different tissues in the body. 

 He explained that catfish contained a moderate amount of calories per serving or per gram, hence, was an ideal choice for those watching their body weight.

 According to him, catfish is rich in phosphorus and magnesium, which are essential micro-nutrients that play a significant role in a lot of biochemical processes in the body. 

 “Catfish has a very low amount of mercury, which is very toxic to the human body and can, when consumed in large quantities, damage the nervous system,“ Adeolu said.

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Barack Obama Breaks Down in Tears as He Recounts His 'Worst Day as US President'

The outgoing president of the United States, Barack Obama, has spoken about his worst moments as America's Commander-in-Chief.

Barack Obama

Outgoing U.S. President, Barack Obama broke down in tears recently while recalling one of his worst days while serving his 8 year tenure which ends January 20.

 While reflecting on his legacies in a series of exit interviews, he said that the day he met with the parents of victims of the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012 the toughest day of his presidency.

 “I still consider the day I traveled up to Newtown to meet with parents and address that community as the toughest day of my presidency.

“It’s the only time I ever saw Secret Service cry at an event. So it was brutal.”

 Obama said in an interview which will be aired on January 15.

 On other occasions while recalling the incidence which climed 20 children and 6 others, Obama himself have been moved to tears Obama cried while delivering a statement the day of the massacre, at an interfaith vigil in Newtown.

 He also cried at the White House last January while announcing executive actions designed to curb gun deaths.

 “Every time I think about those kids, it makes me mad,” Obama said Jan. 5, 2016.

 He said that meeting with the grieving parents of the dead children continue to haunt him.

 “It wasn’t just the parents,” he told Anderson Cooper. “You had siblings, you know — 10-year-olds, 8-year-olds, 3-year-olds who in some cases didn’t even understand that their brother or sister weren’t going to be coming home.”

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Who is an Elite in West Cameroon today? Time to Stop Them

Opinion 

by Martin Fon Yembe (Coordinator, Global Information Network..GLOBINET)

In  Cameroon, politicians of the CPDM regime have gratuitously allocated to themselves the label  of elite, and use it as a passport to speak for and on behalf of an oppressed and silenced people, especially in West Cameroon…NW and SW.  I began taking interest in this until last week when a list of so-called ELITE came up with a communiqué calling on teachers and students/pupils to go back to school and ignore the ongoing strike!! My first worry was to find out who an elite is and what role can an elite play in the community.

The conventional definition puts it that Elite (from late 18th century French élite), is a term that originates from Latin eligere (“to choose, elect”). In political and sociological theory for a small group of powerful people that controls a disproportionate amount of wealth, privilege or political power in a society. In Great Britain, and elite is a select part of a group that is superior to the rest in terms of ability or quality. The political elite are the most informed, educated and politically active people who have a strong influence on public officials. Thus the elite or e·lites or élite or é·lites.  Refers to a group or class of persons considered to be superior to others because of their intelligence, social standing…entailing that the elite is something prestigious or the best of the best.

From these definitions, are those who signed or purportedly signed the controversial and ludicrous communiqué elite?

In a recent publication in Le Messager and other French language newspapers, these supposed signatories of the communiqué are described as “dupes”! These are persons who, by dint of the fact that they have been able to please the Central Committee of RDPC, they find themselves in the corridors of the dirty powers in Yaounde. They are hostages who will accept to bear the brunt of the diabolic acts and schemes of the regime against their people. Once you are out of government, you are no more an elite…meaning that those supposed superior qualities and abilities wane  immediately you are not in the favour books of the diabolic regime.

Imagine this scenario going on currently in West Cameroon. None of these supposed elite has gone to their home community to sample the opinions of their people they purport to represent…yet, they sit in some air-conditioned luxurious rooms in Yaounde and issue communiqués calling on parents to send their kids to school and for teachers to resume classes!!! Elite indeed!

What does it take for our supposed Prime Minister to use all the billions of Francs cfa they are using now to buy Fons and press men, to rather dispatch teams of “elite” say from Menji, Ndu, Wum, Tombel etc to actually get the true feelings of these people who have suddenly gone into alliance with the Trade Unionists and Federalists?! Instead, hey are resorting to what we know best of them…threats, intimidation, buying of consciences and communiqués!!  

Facing the Reality of the Global Union Against the old “New Order”

The regime is still grabbling with the reality of their being overtaken in their own track by the Global Union of Social Media. These so-called elite had been having it smooth in the days of the New Order where CRTV and Cameroon Tribune could say Martin Fon Yembe is a Gabonese or Ni John Fru Ndi has escaped to Nigeria and people will believe! Today, a Minute by Minute recording and monitoring of developments has caught them pants down. I hear them asking themselves “ What’s going on? What’s happening here? I don’t feel that I’m in control of anything anymore.” There are some that are aware of what's happening, but millions more would be shocked to learn the truth. The answers are slowly emerging. They see people getting the information they had never wanted them to have.

They are being stopped and they will find themselves very soon naked in the middle of the market. But only if everyone works very hard at the solutions, for nothing happens on its own, and apathy is NOT the answer. We all must identify them, name and shame them in public places.

However, violent efforts are inappropriate because: (1) It is wrong to break our laws. (2) Many innocent people will be killed or wounded and their property destroyed. (3) The Elite control our courts…our banks, our offices and worse still our chiefs.

It is my humble opinion that these crooks are aware of the fact that they are losing control…and we must not allow them recover. In the words of  Michael Gove we join to say  I think it's time that we said to people who are incapable of acknowledging that they've ever got anything wrong: 'I'm sorry, you've had your day.' Unelected, unaccountable elites, I'm afraid it's time to say, 'You're fired. We are going to take back control.'



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Press Release: Anglophone Teacher Trade Union Leaders Issue Release after Meeting with Secondary Education Minister

 Posted as Received

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Anglophone Problem: Secondary Education Minister Meets Teachers, Parents, Others in Bamenda

Jean Ernest Massena Ngalle

 Secondary Education Minister Jean Ernest Massena Ngalle Bibehe has called on teachers, parents, principals and school proprietors to make sure that schools reopen on Monday. Talking to the various stakeholders in two separate meetings at the Regional Delegation of Secondary Education yesterday, Minister Jean Ernest Massena Ngalle Bihehe pleaded that if schools don't resume on Monday, UNESCO will declare 2016/2017 academic year, a blank year. He said the social and economic consequences of a blank year could be enormous on the children, community, education family and everyone. To him, principals and teachers should make sure that schools reopen on Monday while the dialogue is going on. He also revealed that the deployment of teachers as requested by the striking teachers. He made the plea to the principals after another unfruitful meeting with Anglophone Teachers Trade union leaders and the national President of the Union of parent teacher associations in a bid to get solutions to the ongoing strike action called by teachers. In a Press Release after meeting the minister, Anglophone Teacher trade union states that that the presidential commission be put in place ro quickly begin serious work that will enhance pacification of the aggrieved populations. Besides, "union leaders also acknowledge and sincerely thank H. E The Minister of Secondary Education whose pro-active approach and practical steps taken have brought about the much demanded redeployment of teachers to classrooms where their competence pre-disposes them to operate.  In the release trade union leaders also prayed that the chairman of the ad-hoc committee to hasten the sitting of this committee so as to pave the way for concrete solutions to the other burning issues raised, so that the ice in place can be broken.

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

President Biya Assigns Garga Haman to Mediate with Anglophone Lawyers, Teachers

Garga Haman

Garga Haman Adji, the President of the Anti corruption commission and chairman of the Alliance for Democracy and Progress-ADP has declared that President Biya has asked him to mediate with the striking Anglophone teachers, lawyers and trade unionists. Garga Haman made the declaration over CRTV today adding that he was confined the mission during new year wishes at the Presidency of the Republic. From that declaration, Garga is expected to meet members of the Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium to better understand the Anglophone problem. He however sounded so optimistic that he will be up to the task. 

It should be noted that Garga has held several high-level administrative posts, working as Sub-Director of National Security, Deputy Director of the Ministry of Finance, Secretary-General of the Ministry of the Civil Service, and Finance Director of the National Electricity Company of Cameroon. He then served as State Inspector and Deputy Director of Inspection and Administrative Reforms. He was latter appointed Minister of Civil Service and Administrative Reforms and he resigned from the government on 27 August 1992.

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

The Euphoria that Saluted Hon. Awudu at the Bfu Bfu of Bondi Sub Palace -Ngarum #PhotoNews 2

 Hon Awudu stormed the Bondi sub palace in Ngarum with a powerful delegation of over 100 men and women to pay his last respect to the departed development luminary, Ndikfusibir. He was welcomed by jujus as well as traditional dance groups including the Nfu. News in pictures  

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

The Euphoria that Saluted Hon. Awudu at the Bfu Bfu of Bondi Sub Palace -Ngarum #PhotoNews 1

 Hon Awudu stormed the Bondi sub palace in Ngarum with a powerful delegation of over 100 men and women to pay his last respect to the departed development luminary, Ndikfusibir. He was welcomed by jujus as well as traditional dance groups including the Nfu. News in pictures 

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

CAF Awards: Riyadh Mahrez is Best African Player of the Year

Midfielder Riyad Mahrez is the best African football player of the year 2016. His election by some football technicians and some well-informed observers was declared yesterday at a Gala night in Abuja, Nigeria. The Algerian international got 361 votes against 313 for Pierre-Emerick Abameyang. Senegalese Sadjo Mané completed the podium with 186 votes. Riyad Mahrez enters history as the second Algerian player to win the prestigious African Best Player of the Year, after the exploits of Rabah Madjer 30 years ago.

"Qualified" magician "by his teammates, he is famous for pure techniques and devastating dribbling. In 2016, his coach Claudio Ranieri said that "Mahrez is the light and when it is lit, the stadium responds beautifully". After losing the titles of "Player of the Year" and "National Women's Team of the Year", the Cameroonian delegation returns to the fold with the Legend Award trophy awarded to Émilienne Mbango, a major figure in the history of women's football in Cameroon. This Trophy of Legend Award is a special award that CAF attributes to people who have particularly marked the history of football on the black continent.

African player of the year

    Riyad MAHREZ (Algeria & Leicester City) - 361 points

    Pierre-Emerick AUBAMEYANG (Gabon & Borussia Dortmund) - 313 points

    Sadio MANE (Senegal/ Liverpool) - 186 points

 

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

CAF Awards: Asisat Oshoala Voted Women's Best African Player

Nigerian Asisat Oshoala is best African female player. She crushed Cameroonian Gabrielle Aboudi Onguene and the Ghanaian Elizabeth Addo to win the prestigious continental title. The Super Falcons scorer, Osisat Oshoala, 22 years old, appears for the second time on the list of the best players. This is following her exploits at the Female AFCON of 2016 organized by Cameroon.

 

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

Tic Tac: Prophet Emmanuel Chukwudi Releases Shocking Prophecies for 2017

A man of God has released what many will call bombshells in his 2017 prophecies as he has predicted the death of the president.

The prophet predicted the release of Nnamdi Kanu and the death of President Muhammadu Buhari

 Prophet Emmanuel Chukwudi of King of Kings Deliverance Church has left many people in shock with his prophecies for 2017. The popular cleric said that leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, IPOB will regain his freedom this year. 

 The prophet released another bombshell by saying President Muhammadu Buhari will die in 2019.

 According to Daily Post, while addressing reporters in Asaba, Delta State, Chukwudi said the release of Kanu will lead to the actualisation of Biafra. Nnamdi Kanu has been in detention since he was arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS, in 2015.

 The clergy man warned that the army would attempt to assume power, but that the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo would “prevail” and lead the country.

 According to Chukwudi, “Tell pro-Biafrans to stop shedding tears. Their lead­er Nnamdi Kanu shall not remain in prison custody for too long again. He is already on his way out. As for their (pro-Biafrans) agitations for Biafra, the Lord says it is already in the horizon. Their day shall come soon”.

“The Lord is also speaking about Nigeria. Nigeria will come out of its current recession before the end of 2019. Oil price will stabilise and hardship shall disappear.

“But towards 2019, the president's health shall fail him, and he shall go the way of all men. But VP Yemi Osinbajo shall wrestle with the soldiers. They shall try to seize power and Osinbajo shall prevail. He shall lead Nigeria into 2019.”

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

Where is Prof. Ghogomu Paul, and the Ad-hoc Committee?

Prof. Ghogomu chairman of the adhoc committee

Thomas Sowell once said that "some of the biggest cases of mistaken identity are among intellectuals who have trouble remembering that they are not God.” But I will contextualize what Sowell said by adding that Cameroon has a plethora of people who have spent time thinking over nothing yet have assumed too much self importance to the point that they turn to abuse the term “intellectual". Maybe it is their ignorance and prejudices that is allowing false ideas and bad values to work in this country. However, when an intellectual is given the responsibility to do work, many have created the impression that society should not rely on Professors to get things right. I am wondering whether in Cameroon we can rely on some intellectual elite because theirs is to get things wrong.

Nevertheless, what very disturbing is the meaning of what it is to be an intellectual and to do intellectual work. The idea of having some thinkers in Cameroon today, or intellectuals has been proclaimed dead and done away with. So, the beginning of the end of the intellectual as someone puts it is already inhabited in the manner and time Professor Ghogomu Paul, the chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee to look into the grievances of Anglophone teachers,is taking to look into the problems of teachers. At its last meeting that ended in a deadlock, he presented the phenomenal and historic 11 points carved out after leaders of teachers trade unions stormed out of the meeting in Bamenda. He defeated the notion of scientific surveys when he talked about having met students and parents on the prevailing situation. Seemingly, Ad-hoc Committees are now places where opinions go to die.  

Leadership without conformity is very dodgy. After the first meeting in Bamenda, he (Paul Ghogomu) went on the state media to declare that if teachers don’t go back to teach, no meaningful dialogue will take place. Yet few weeks later he and his committee members including Prof. Fame Ndongo hurried to Bamenda without the teachers being in school. As bells ring for the start of second term after an epileptic first term, the need to know how far Prof. Ghogomu, and his adhoc committee have gone with the "frank dialogue" as reiterated by President Biya in his end of year continue to beg for answers. Where is Prof. Ghogomu? 

His crash is all the more incomparable, not just because of its atrociousness, but also for the fact that his two meetings flopped woefully. The most pathetic thing is that having achieved fame as Director of Cabinet (Rank of Minister), Paul Ghogomu should not be the one to ask questions about the Anglophone problem in Cameroon. And whether he did it with purpose and panache or not is not our problem for now.

I once read a book  titled "Think Big And Kick Ass in which the author outlined that “If you believe you can do something, other people will believe it too. Give off the attitude that you are important and worth listening to. If you value yourself, others will respect and value you.”

I am sure the author certainly lived by his own script. But the hard work now begins for Ghogomu to deliver to government the needed results to find lasting solutions to the Anglophone problem that has resulted to the problems of the Anglophones in order to reverse several policies of the Government of Cameroon. As the deadlock persists, Prof. Ghogomu and the adhoc are faced with a multifaceted challenge. The questions many have been asking is whether he has the gargantuan kindheartedness and an enviable tenet to give a listening ear to the fact that teachers want, such as the point that all those arrested and transferred to Yaounde be freed. One point has been met, that is the inclusion of trade union leaders of the South West on the list of Committee members.  Anglophones now look at Ghogomu with diversified views. Some see him as one who could serve as speed break to the Southern Cameroons Cause and to others; he is moving as a snail pace. But one thing is abundantly clear: That he may likely miss the golden opportunity that would have created influence, all his life. Even the most retarded imbecile cannot deny this fact. His failure is incredible in the light of the fact that he might have fallen prey to political manipulations. Teachers’ trade unions leaders recently rejected an invitation from Jacque Fame Ndongo to attend a meeting in Yaounde on December 30, 2016 on grounds that the invitation came late. Could this be emitting end signals for the Ghogomu led Committee?

The Bible teaches us that Prophets were just ordinary and imperfect men that God chose to use and eventually elevated them above the ordinary run of men. The Prophets of old were all involved in the statecraft of Israel; courageously speaking truth to power. A Prophet is a cheerful and powerful giver and God said he is unwillingly to do without such people. Amassing wealth is not part of the Kingdom principle. In Luke 12:33, Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves money belts which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” This is among the hard sayings of Jesus. It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than to hear a pastor preach on this. In another passage of the bible Jesus also told a rich young man, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." He never told him to bring the money to His ministry. When the Apostles recognized the grace that had been given to Paul, James and Cephas and John only advised him to always remember the poor. And Paul said this is the very thing that he was eager to do.  In Ephesians 4:28,Paul admonished Christians that anyone who had been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.

 


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