10.000 Commercial Motorbike Riders March to The Presidency

Okada riders marching to the Presidency

 For over three hours, movement in the capital city Yaounde came to a standstill. It was preferable to trek than by car. Friday March 1, 2013 entered into the annals of history as the day thousands of commercial motorbike riders from the national territory staged a march in support of President Paul Biya. The “okada” riders as they are commonly known expressed their gratitude to the head of state for mentioning them in his last February speech to the youths. The 20th May Avenue in Yaounde to Carrefour du palaise (entrance to the Presidency) were received upon arrival by the Secretary General at the Presidency of the Republic Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh. Their messages to President could be seen on some of the placards they carried along with them. The most interesting thing is that the messages were written in some local dialects from the ten regions of Cameroon. The national President of commercial motorbike riders in Cameroon René Ntonefor K. Nguimo read a motion of support to President Biya in which the riders expressed their support to Biya for recognizing their efforts in facilitating the movement of people from one destination to another especially in enclaved areas with no roads. The commercial motorbike sector it should be recalled employs millions of Cameroonian youths ranging from university graduates to secondary and primary school drop-outs. These young men quite often are victimized by corrupted traffic police and Gendarmes. Notwithstanding, the commercial motorbike sector is also floated by thieves who snatch women handbags during late hours, aggresses passengers and some of them are suspected to have been involved in ritual killings in Yaounde.  However, as the sector is gradually giving attention, and the riders are grouping themselves into professional groups, they will help the police to fish out the bad grains among them. Especially as President Biya in his speech instructed the Ministries of Youth Affairs and Vocational training to submit proposals to inprove the welfare of commercial motorbike riders, prospects are high.

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Senatorial Challenges: ELECAM’s Fonkam Azu’u Advocates for Women

Dr. Fonkam Azu'u: President of Elections Cameroon

As latest date for submission of candidatures for April 14, 2013 Senatorial Elections in Cameroon approaches, the President of ELECAM has declared that any list without a female candidate will be disqualified. Dr. Fonkam Azu’u made the statement of radio while assessing the preparedness of Elections Cameroon for the upcoming senatorial elections. According to ELECAM boss, each region must portray gender sensitivity by including a female candidate on the list of candidates for Senatorial election.  Although the law does not mention the percentage, Dr. Fonkam Azu’u says “a list of only seven men is not gender sensitive so any of those lists which does not have a woman cannot be accepted because the law makes it obligatory that the list should be gender sensitive.”  Notwithstanding, it is feared that women will be reduced to the position of alternates due to the greediness of their male counterparts. Since Dr. Fonkam Azu’u never made it clear that at least a female substantive candidate is expected on each list, confidential sources hinted that plans are underway to deprive women by putting them on the various regional lists as alternate members on basis that much money will be needed for campaigns.  With such diabolic plans already in action, all eyes are towards President Biya who by the law has the prerogative to appoint 3 senators from each region. President Biya’s signature could bring the female folk to lime-light by appointing them as senators.

Yet he was unable to tell Cameroonians the exact number of identified number of voters. Since there are 360 councils in the country, the total number of councilors is estimated at 10,632 per the 2007 municipal polls. As per the result of the 2007 municipal election results, the CPDM party won the highest number of seats totaling 9,032, the SDF came second with 801 councilors, NUDP with 364 seats, CDU with 244, MDR with 128, UPC with 26, ADD with only 6 councilors and AFP with 01 Councilor.
ELECAM, Fonkam Azu’u said is still processing the data collected from the field given that some councilors died, some were arrested etc… Public opinion is question why it has taken that much for ELECAM to release the right and actual figures of the Electoral College. 
Not only is it a legitimate right for women to take part in decisions, President Biya himself is also making sure that women have a say at all levels. Of late, President Biya also appointed the first female to the position of Senior Divisional Officer. 

But who are actually some of the women who can make good senators? 

Yaou Aissatou (Northern Regions)
Formerly Minister of Women's Affairs. She hails from the Northern Region of Cameroon and a household name in the CPDM. She has alot of experience in politics and she is also a member of the Central Committee of the CPDM or something like that. In the North West Region for example, Patience Tamfu one of those political dynamos whose devotion, patriotism and attachment to republican institutions would make her a good senator. 

Patience Tamfu (North West Region)

Patience Tamfu hails from Donga Mantung Division in the North West Region. She is a member of the National Bureau of the Women's Wing of the CPDM and the President of WCPDM in the United States of America. If during the 2011 Presidential Elections the CPDM emerged victorious it is thanks to her efforts. She does not only coordinate the activities of the CPDM in the Diasporas but constantly travels back home to chip her contribution. She would certainly make a very good senator not only because she is a woman but because she has the capabilities. Public opinion holds that she is the best female senator from the North West Region. She knows the suffering of the masses and would represent the interest of the women in villages as well as the interest of the Diasporas.

Foning Francios (Littoral Region)

She is the mayor of Douala (5) and a prominent militant of the CPDM. Before the 2007 Municipal and Legislative elections, she was formerly Member of Parliament and Mayor, but the ax of the law on accumulation of positions came, she went in only as mayor. Foning is a vibrant militant of the CPDM. She would certainly represent the interest of women entrepreneurs as a senator. She is likely to make a good senator for the Littoral region. 

Courtes Ketch (West Region)

She is the award winning mayor of Bangangte Council in the West Region. A workaholic by nature and a perfectionist by her actions. She is one of the woman emancipators whose political activities have changed the lives of men, women and children. She could equally make a good senator. 

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. Minute by Minute Report on Cameroon and Africa

Bum CPDM Set for Senatorial Showdown

By Marcel Kwallar 

Bum Sub Division has always been described as the bastion of the CPDM party in Boyo Division. Fonfuka Council is the only CPDM run council in Boyo. As Agbor Tabi will be leading a team to the North West Region to invest CPDM list, confidential sources hinted that for sake of justice and merit, the list for Boyo should be headed by a candidate from Bum Sub Division. The mayor of Fonfuka on his part told this reporter that consultations are ongoing for the people of Bum to choose a unique candidate. He added that councilors of Fonfuka jubilated when President Biya announced Senatorial elections for April 14, 2013. Wanlo John Chiamua corroborated that councilors of Fonfuka council are ready for the showdown and that they are looking at the hierarchy of the party for ample information.

Public opinion in Bum holds that since Agbor Tabi has proven that he is transparent and credible, they will rely on him to be objective in selecting candidates as head of the Central Committee delegation to the North West Region. Yet it is feared in Bum that Bochong Francis Nkwain may play the ostrich to deprive the people of Bum from benefiting from what they have stood for, that is their loyalty to the CPDM. Besides, it should be recalled that Bochong Francis Nkwain is head of the Central Committee to the South West Region and he could likely influence Agbor Tabi to select someone from Kom in place of Bum. But since Abgor Tabi knows so well that he plays the wrong game and his decision is reversed by Jean Kwete or Paul Biya, he may likely be putting in danger his Prime ministerial ambitions. Something worse would happen to him because he (Agbor Tabi) would enter President Biya’s Black Book for embarrassing him and the CPDM. If Bum is neglected, an authoritative voice hinted, Agbor Tabi would thus be creating problems than solving them. Knowing fully well that Fru Ndi has been ignored because Biya wanted to compensate his grass root allies, an act that spoils others would be a million times worse. History holds that Bochong Nkwain had always sworn by the words similar to those of King Solomon who took over from his father King David (when Bum is concerned). It would therefore implies that instead of beating the people of Bum with a “whip”, Agbor Tabi would have beaten them with the “scorpion”. But the truth as we gathered is that Agbor Tabi is someone who doesn’t measure administration with a ruler because he doesn’t first of all acts like an administrator who like all the bad judges applies the letter and not the spirit of the laws. Agbor Tabi being the head of the delegation to the North West practices administration with a human face. A fact that can be confirmed by all those who have worked with him, lived with him and have been following him closely in all political assignments.

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Meet Ngenge Augustine Njah: The Rising Humourist, Peace Crusader

 By Ngande Bles

Ngenge Augustine Njah alias Dr. Agus

Laughter they say is as powerful as medicine to human beings. Ngengeh Augustine Njah commonly known as Dr. Agus is a household name in Donga Mantung Division in the North West Region of Cameroon thanks to the Millennium Television, a local television channel in Nkambe. He made his way to fame through a TV show “wipe your eye” which he animates every day. “When I was a child, my friends use to tell me that I am funny. While in Secondary School, I registered as a member of the drama club. That is how even teachers started admiring me and I also developed interest in it”, says Ngengeh Augustine Njah. The day I acted in a drama in church even my parents congratulated me. I remember my father likened me to Jean Michel Kankan”, he continued. If you have never had the opportunity to meet someone who can make you laugh, coming closer to Dr. Agus would make you laugh your tears out.  After the 7:30 pm news on Millennium TV, every little child in Nkambe goes closer to the TV to watch Dr. Agus. What is peculiar about this rising star is that he adds humour to what is in the news, transforms societal ills into laughter and creates awareness on burning issues by reducing them to the understanding of the common man. A regular show on Millennium TV says it all about this young rising humourist of high standing. Those who watch it always appreciate the way the young man treats critical issues that go a long way to sensitize, educate and inform the population of Nkambe and its environ. Dr. Agus’s “Wipe your eye” is eloquent proof that the young and talented humourist knows what society wants and he offers it.

You may disagree with me that laughter is medicine but no one can fail to agree with me that it is one of the best instruments to sensitize and educate the public on critical issues. This is why Dr. Augus has won the hearts of many children in Nkambe. “Every time I am performing any piece, I always like talk about peace, fear of the Lord and patriotism”.   Most of the time, Dr. Agus transforms himself into a peace crusader, because as he says he believes that no nation, no society, no community and no family can become sustainable without peace. “The street teacher” as many call him is very creative and has the God given talent that makes him do what he loves best. 

Gradually, Dr. augus has become the man who would be invited to every marriage ceremony, birthday party, public ceremony, school graduation ceremonies etc. Yet meet him along the street and you would never image because he is calm and very soft-spoken. “My dream is to show to other youths that if you do what you like well, it ends up paying big. Life is full of challenges and determination is one that takes up to higher height”, concluded.

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. Minute by Minute Report on Cameroon and Africa