SDO DISASSOCIATE SELF FROM A SEX-SCANDAL

 

    BY WAMEY PANKY.

The Senior Divisional Officer for Donga-Mantung, Bermard Ndode Ngone Mesape has categorically disassociated himself from a scabrous scandal he considered a schemed ploy to damage his reputation.

    The SDO as rumours were rife shortly after the 2013women’s day celebration that on the said day, the SDO was spotted in an open love spry with one Fon’s wives (name withheld). The rumour held that the Divisional Boss had sneaked himself out of the gala-hall, and was later found at a tight corner with a Fon’s wife.

 A security official who was tantalized by this rumour hinted this Reporter he sat on the same table with the SDO, and was so keen but could not remember when the Prefect even went out. The officer baffled at it all, vowed to trail such a slander which he considered a gross defamation.

Talking with the SDO in his office, he was incandescent with rage about such a slander to tarnish his personality. He described it as a fluster to soil his hard-earned reputation and to chill him against his well designed road-map for the Division. Nevertheless, he said with his clear conscience, he would not allow it disturb his activities the least. The SDO observed that the rumour was surely sponsored by some egoistic individual for their own whims and caprices. He expressed surprise that just for few days in the Sub-division, he had already had such detractors.he revealed that a keen investigation had been opened to trace the source and bring the faces behind the rumour to book not for himself but to teach rumour-authors a bitter lesson to desist from such society-damaging activities. The same rumour mongers in Nkambe according to what we gathered have aired that the SDO was nick-named as SDO 11 because he gives out 10.000 FCFA to every girl that he invites and an additional 1.000 FCFA to pay the achaba. Yet all these rumours we gathered are unfounded.

  The SDO expressed total disappointment with some Pressmen who on “I hear-say” chose to facilitate the spread of the scandal. He said, he had often been so opened to the Press but wondered why they could not bring the story to him for his own story. He blamed them for allowing themselves so cheap to be used by overzealous and egoistic individuals. He criticized such Pressmen for taunting professional ethics. He said he had no skeletons in the cupboard and so was not afraid of the Press but that he loved them for their vital role in society building. He promised never to leave himself to such distraction. It should be noted that the SDO has a history of good relationship with the Press.

  Most personalities have been disturbed about such a rumour especially those who spent that day with their boss and saw him off to bed. It should be remembered that the duty-conscious Bernard Ngone Ndode Mesape recently received a prestigious Press award from the WatchDOG Newspaper as the best SDO for 2012.

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

15 STUDENTS DISMISSED FOR PRACTISING INTOXICATING RELIGION ON CAMPUS.

   By a Correspondent.

            Some 15 students of Government Bilingual High School ( GBHS) MISAJE, Donga-Mantung Division of the North West Region have of recent been slammed an indefinite suspension by the school’s Disciplinary Council that was unusually attended by parents to these students.

            Following a succinct report presented to the parents and the council, where some prominent clergymen were invited, the Principal, Mrs. Monica Nchuwa Yuki disclosed that the said students had been caught in a web of gross indiscipline that destabilized the smooth functioning of the school in the name of religion. She said some senior students led by Divine Lukong Bongajum, Daniel Tatu and Cosmas Nfor ( Upper sixth students) had been derailing students especially students of junior classes and causing them obstinate in what rather seemed occultism practices.

            The Principal who was corroborated by the Senior Master Of Discipline, Godlove Ndoumba narrated that the concerned students had recorded notorious absenteeism; gross insolence, and outright disrespect of teachers and members of administration. “The students for the past few weeks had openly taunted the school Rules and Regulations with dumfounding quotations from the Bible, a situation that must be nibbed in the bud” exposed by the Principal.

            The Senior Master of Discipline, Mr. Godlove Ndoumba revealed that the outburst of the unusual religious practices on campus was the several complains lodged by parents on the sudden negative behavioural change in the children. He said, for the past few days, parents had wept profusely in his office on the account of this. He added that the students had transferred religious fanatism to school.

            Then rose Mrs. Roseline Ande, mother to one of the victims, Lista Ande. She revealed that from birth her son had been too obedient and respectful until two weeks ago that he suddenly became too obstinate. “he refuses to carry the ‘shaa’(cornbeer) to the market as usual, describing me as evil and agent of the devil. He has hardly been at home again on time;…” she could not conclude when she burst into tears.

            In the same vein, the mother to another veronica Tata who had earlier on detained her daughter and her leader Divine Lukong in the Misaje Gendarmarie, narrated the same ordeal. She said, amidst tears, a lot of public humiliation from her daughter who addressed her names. The said daughter had recently moved up to the school administration and insolently told them she would no longer write the GCE Ordinary Level she had registered because she frauded her birth certificate. She told the Master of Discipline “ I can loose my education and even my parents to gain salvation.”

            Despite all the counseling by the school administration, parents and the clergymen, the students vowed to stick to their new found religion. The students were said to have been practicing all these under some three different sects: the Christian Missionary Fellowship International (CMFI); Deeper Life Church and Full Gospel Church , all new arrivals in Misaje town.

            What was disturbing was that their behaviours were far different from those of the followers of the above sects elsewhere. Also surprising to the school administration was that for over two weeks hullabaloo with the students and parents, with some of the parents attacking believers in their churches to rescue their chidren, none of the churches’ leaders or Evangelists came to school to find pout the situation. It is suspected that the leaders used hypnotic means on the children.

            So, quoting article 19/3 of the school rules and regulations that sanctions insolence disobedience to parents and school authorities; occultism and other intoxicating religion in school, and relating to a sometime ministerial text barring unhealthy religious worships in schools, the council adopted the indefinite suspension of the 15 students to spare the rest of the students. Equally, some parents openly denounced their children, promising to officially surrender their children to the various church authorities to continue with their education and welfare.

            Meanwhile, the D.O for Misaje to see the end especially as public peace is threatened. In a follow-up meeting on Saturday, 23^rd March, 2013, the D.O cautioned the men of God to ensure that their religions advocated peace rather incite troubles in homes. He insisted that parents had the right and control over their children until when they are independent. Although the Principal and her collaborators stood their grounds, the men of God were given the opportunity to go and reconcile the children with their parents before pleading with the school to reverse the decision.

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

Marginalization of Anglophones: NW Newspaper Publishers Indict PM Yang

 

After a memorandum by North West journalists to the President of the Republic expressing their grievances on the gross marginalization of Anglophone journalists in Cameroon, North West Newspaper Publishers have written have issued another memo to North West CPDM bigwigs. In the memo, the Newspaper Publishers say, the so-called North West CPDM elite headed by Prime Minister Yang Philemon. Yang Philemon and Co are accused of blocking Anglophone media houses from state subventions. The memo further states that during the celebration marking the 50^th anniversary of the Armed Forces in Bamenda, North West media houses and journalists were reduced to “les journalists locaux” while those imported from Yaounde and Douala were lodged, feed and taken care of by the state. Besides, the publishers during the meeting also noted with dissatisfaction that during the last 2011 Presidential elections, media houses of other regions were each given financial support ranging from 2 to 20 million FCFA, yet when it came to the North West Region, the elite told government they would take care. And in the final analysis, the highest media organ in the North West was given 500.000 FCFA while the least had 25.000 FCFA.

This, the Publishers say is part of the gross marginalization of Anglophones and maltreatment. Some alleged to have vowed that they would rather support the SCNC and not a government that doesn’t take into consideration their existence. They also vowed to turn their backs on government and would stage a demonstration to express their frustration. “If the state is giving funds to x, it should also give to y”, one publisher remarked.

When we recall that Thomas Jefferson in a letters to Edward Carrington on the importance of a free press to keep government in check, he concluded that if he had to choose between “a government without newspapers or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter”. The truth is that the so-called North West elite who camouflage as CPDM militants on the contrary see the press as an enemy when judged from what they say about the press.  It is also alleged that PM Yang Philemon doesn’t see any reason while his Minister of Communication should give government funds to North West Region reasons why he has been mute on the issue.

Sources say tempers flared yesterday March 23, 2013 at the Ayaba Hotel when one CPDM elite (whose name I have just forgotten) made a statement that he hates journalists. “I hate journalists” he is quoted to have told journalists.  This man who has never won any election for the CPDM in his own village, and yet parades self as one of those militants who has more than a million supporters behind him is a good example of the rancorous North West elite that continue to destroy President Biya’s vision for a free media in Cameroon. However, it is a promise that we are not only inside the skeleton cupboard of this man who declared publicly that he hates journalists, but we promise to bring to the public eye some of the items that makes him hates journalists. Notwithstanding, that is not our concern for now. Our concern is that North West Newspaper Publishers did not only promise to turn their backs on Government, CPDM elite but to stage a demonstration. Public opinion in the North West Region from what we gathered is in support of the decision by North West Journalists and Newspaper Publishers. More so, one of publisher name withheld hinted that the North West Newspaper Publishers Association has received motion of supports from colleagues of the Diasporas as well as human Rights organization. (a suivre)

Here below is the memo

Open Letter to North West CPDM Elite

Subject: Marginalisation of North West Print Media

Publishers have noted with dismay the continuous and systematic marginalization of North West newspapers by government and or elite.

-          Considering the role of the print media in the harmonious development of our region which the elite are down playing;

-          Conscious of the fact that our elite are determined to muscle  the press of their own Region;

-          Considering the sidelining of North West Print media organs during major national events like the 2010, 50^th Anniversary of the Armed Forces and the 2011 Presidential election;

-          Conscious of the fact that elite of other Regions are in constant support of their local print press; the elite of the North West Region are rather against their common good. English language are newspapers sidelined in the distribution of insertion from ministries;

-          Aware of the fact that the MINCOM is reportedly disbursing support fund for upcoming Senatorial elections to exclusively French Language newspaper publishers;

-          Considering the fact that President Biya is very committed to make sure that the press in Cameroon is free, vibrant in an advanced democracy where the press must play a role in the drive to an emerging economy in 2035;

We, North West newspaper publishers meeting in Bamenda today 22, March 2013 resolves as follows:

-          To turn our backs on the CPDM / Government

-          To express our grievances and frustration through public demonstration if by Monday, March 25, 2013 nothing is done to redress these grievances;

-          To alert the international community on the unacceptable marginalization of English language newspaper publishers of the North West Region.

Done in Bda, March 22, 2013

Sign:

·         Dotta EZKIEL –Watchdog Tribune

·         Eric Motomu-Chronicle

·         Chifu Edward-The Vanguard

·         Tamukong Roland-World Echoes

·         Fai Cassian-The Eye

·         Tim Finnian-Life Time

·         Akam Eric-The Drum

·         George Chifu-The Website

·         Nde Richard Lanjong-The Herald Tribune

·         Peterkings Manyong-The Independent Observer

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

Northwest Journalists Write to Biya

Journalists of the North West Region have written to the head of state, President Biya decrying the poor treatment and sidelining of journalists of the private media during public manifestations. In a letter signed by over 17 practicing journalists of the private media, the journalists complained bitterly that journalists of the independent media (print and audio visual) were sidelined during the 50^th anniversary celebration of the Armed Forces in Bamenda. Beside, they also mentioned that during the 2011 Presidential elections, Northwest journalists were still sidelined. More so, they say that even when a Minister visits the region, the private press is always treated as if they do not have the right to information. Northwest journalists also observed that 10 million FCFA has been disbursed to other regions to enable journalists cover the upcoming senatorial election, yet they been sidelined. They however observed that few unscrupulous and misguided collaborators of the head of state who are in “government are busy destroying” the good intention of the head of state “in the hope that we will be mute as usual”.

Accordingly, the journalists called on the head of state to look into their worries and that if funds have been allocated to facilitate private media houses do their job during the April 14, 2013, senatorial elections, media houses based in the North West region should as well be given their own share. The journalists further disclosed that if by March 25, 2013, no response have come to them, they will boycott all public manifestations. To some, this was gross marginalization and as such they would not fold their arms and watch at injustice.

Information filtering into our desk also indicates that Newspaper Publishers based in the Northwest Region have convened a crisis meeting in Bamenda tomorrow. According to the hint, newspaper publishers are also expected to take another drastic decision to boost the decision earlier taken by journalists.

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

Senatorial Challenges: ELECAM Rejects 23 Nomination Lists (SDF, CPDM, NUDP,CDU On Board

 

Board members of Elections Cameroon met on March 20, 2013 under the chairmanship its President Dr. Fokam Azu’u to scrutinize nomination lists submitted by various political parties for the first ever senatorial elections in Cameroon. According to a Press Release issued by ELECAM ahead of the April 14, 2013 Senatorial elections, 23 lists have been rejected have been rejected.  The Release further specifies that 23 lists were rejected while 17 lists were accepted. However, the SDF will have chances of winning more seats as expected as the party will contest in 7 regions namely Adamawa, Centre, North, Northwest, South, Southwest and West regions. On the other hand, the ruling CPDM will contest in 6 regions namely Centre, North, South, North-West, South-West and Littoral. UNDP will contest in three regions, that is the Littoral, Adamawa and North regions. UDC will only have to contest in the elections in the West Region. In all, only four political parties will compete in the upcoming April 14, 2013 Senatorial elections in Cameroon. Those who have been knocked out of the race and would have to submitted a protest to the constitutional court include among others the National Alliance for Democracy and Progress-ANDP, FSNC of Issa Tchiroma, MDR and the two factions of UPC. However, political parties whose lists were rejected according to the regulations in force have only two days to submit an appeal to the Supreme Court (constitutional council).

Lists of nominees per political party

Alliance Nationale pour la Démocratie et le Progrès (ANDP) :  03 lists (none accepted)
-Front pour le Salut National du Cameroun (FSNC) 02 lists (none accepted)
-Mouvement Démocratique pour la Défense de la République (MDR) : 01(none)
-Rassemblement Démocratique du Peuple Camerounais (CPDM): 10 lists( 6 accepted)
-Social Democratic Front (SDF) : 08 lists( 07 accepted)
-Union Nationale pour la Démocratie et le Progrès (UNDP): 06 lists (3 accpeted)
-Union Démocratique du Cameroun (UDC): 01 (01 accepted)
-Union des Populations du Cameroun (UPC): (09 lists (none accepted) 

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