Bafanji Elite in the Diasporas Discards Fon's Clearance over Mismanagement, Opens Can of Worms

We recently published an article about the Fon of Bafanji in which he cleared the air on mismanagement allegations, thus pointing accusing fingers at the elite(s) in the Diasporas for instilling disorder. A Bafanji Elite based in the Diasporas has opened a can of worms on the obnoxious practices that is hindering development efforts in the village. The Eye's Fai Cassian Ndi met one of the foremost development luminaries of Bafanji Village to throw more light on their grievances against the Fon of Bafanji, FASDA and the Task. Excerpts....

 We published an article in which your name was mentioned as one of the many in the Diaspora who have incessantly  raised  the dust in the air about management of Fanji Development funds and have pointed fingers to the Fon of Bafanji and the Former president of FADCA  Mr Pezumbia Philip for mismanagement whereas some of you have contributed little or nothing for development. What is your say about this?

 Nchichupa Luke: Determined to promote Governance

Thank you Sir, I will begin by introducing myself to you. I am Nchichupa Luke, an adult Cameroonian, origin of Bafanji Village, age 30, and a Legal Resident of Denmark. I have a diverse background, exposure and have dwelt in many works of life including farming, teaching, activism, human rights defence, a peace ambassador, a social justice fighter, contributor to different blogs and presently a content developer. I have lived over 26 years in Cameroon of which at least 20 saw my being involved in my native land of Bafanji. I was once an elected Vice President of Bafanji Students Union (FASCA) between 2007 and 2009 and contributed greatly to restructuring the student union and cleaning the image of the students during my mandate. So somehow, I know what management is all about.

It is alleged that some of you want to create confusion in Bafanji by raising baseless accusations about mismanagement whereas you people have never contributed for village development. Is this true?

Sir, permit me say that people get confuse between the words Mismanagement, Embezzlement, Accountability and transparency to mean the same. I will begin by stating that between February 2012 and August 2012, there was a lot write ups on “Bafanji Community” a face book group as well as private correspondences related to issues concerning the management of Funds raised during the reign of HRH Ngwefuon II. I contributed greatly in most of these writes up and together with other elites in the Diaspora criticised the manner in which affairs of finances were being handled by those concerned. I called regularly for accountability from members of the TASK FORCE, as well as FADCA officials over how they were to spend the 31.6 millions because they had promised the public through written statements that they will publish the account as they did with the car project. I personally drew the attention of the fon to these issues in a letter dated 20^th June 2012 addressed to the fon in which I tabled a six point suggestion to the Fon  asking him to request FADCA and TASK FORCE EXCO members to produce a statement of account  between February 2011 and April 2012.So when the fon said we accused him of mismanagement, he should refer to this letter, which the Eye Newspaper is here presented with a copy.

It surprises me greatly that the fon in his press interview made false statements that  we want to set confusion in Bafanji, when it is actually his poor handling of issues on the ground   most especially his handling of accountability that have degenerated into the  confusion which he perceives in his mind. Actually the fon made it difficult during the AGM that held from 25-26 May 2012 for the TASKFORCE to present a detailed account of how the 31.6 million was spent. The fon cannot accuse the Diaspora including myself for setting confusion, when he rightfully knows that there was great conflict of managing the 31.6 million between TASK FORCE and FADCA and a kind of infighting between the two that led to the then National Treasurer of FADCA withdrawing her services in the management of TASKFORCE Expenses of the 31.6 million in a letter dated 1^st June 2012 to the fon. And during the failed AGM that held on 25-26 May 2012, Mr Pezumbia out of frustration resigned in his welcome speech. Talking about Mr Pezumbia, it would be worth mentioning that his financial secretary in the person of Ndoke Benjamin resigned on 27^th June 2012 over a number of allegations against the President ( Pezumbia) including spending the 31.6 million and misinforming the public about who spent the money, lack of invitation during preparation of financial statements, being presented with pre-prepared statements to read. The press can get a copy and read for more insight. Mr Pezumbia himself should know that he contributed greatly to the shady nature in which the 31.6 million was spent because he and the fon created the coordination committee that squandered the money whereas he refused taking part during the collection of this money.   

Despite these points you raised, the fon noted that you in the Diaspora have never contributed   for village development projects but make the greatest noise.  What can you make of this?

Nchichupa Luke encouraging community development spirit

When we talk of contribution towards village development project, what do we mean here? It baffles me that as an administrator to be, he fails to understand that all stake holders in the construction and development of a village must not be financial contributors. That is why in a country, you may have the people, the government, intellectuals and the civil society. Should he have understood these roles, he won’t say we should tell him how much we have contributed. So far during his reign, he has never contacted his elites in the Diaspora as a right thinking leader is supposed to do. Instead he sent threatening mails like the one on February 3^rd in which he said criticises the Diaspora, give them a deadline to contribute  for 2011, insulted the Diaspora as “feet dragging educated elites with no development consciousness”, and yet he expects a positive reaction from them. The fon as a person does not even know all of his elites in the Diaspora, and even if he does, it is worth mentioning that some of  the  elites in the Diaspora  today were once great  contributors at home. But lack of transparency that existed at every level of financial management discouraged many from contributing even including elites at home. That gave us the justification to ask the fon to reform the system and ensure its transparency so that people can have the trust in their leaders before contributions. Unfortunately this did not go well with the fon who had a protected interest in deciding how accountability was rendered to the people. It is also a blatant lie on the part of the fon to claim that people in the Diaspora do not contribute. To contradict the accusations of the fon and Mr Pezumbia, there was a car committee which convinced the public in the way they presented accounts of how they spent the close to 10 million francs which was collected. The Diaspora contributed towards the purchase of his car. Nobody raised an eyebrow as to how they spent the money, because a detailed account was presented to the public. It thus encouraged the elites to contribute towards the 31.6 million. But in the case of the 31.6 million, those who managed the money were forced to give an account including the fon who received some of this money. That is why he came out in defence of mismanagement.

From your explanations, you seem to speak a lot of general issues without addressing specific issues. Considering that you were one of the few persons who protested and requested that accountability and transparency must go hand in hand with expenditures, what is your contribution to Bafanji Development projects that can convince the public and the fon?

I would like to state that there are different contribution types, and elites must not necessarily   go with the annual financial contributions for the fon to acknowledge that they are contributing for development. It is also worth mentioning that students generally do not contribute financially towards annual village development except otherwise. But the fact people do not contribute do not DENY them the rights to question how money collected are spent. Though here in the diaspora, we have families back home who make these contributions and some of their contributions comes from some of us. Again I was a student until august 2011 may not have contributed much but have read about development and know how and why accountability is important. However I have a few contributions which can buttress my points against the fon. I can outline some contributions towards Fanji over the the years.

As Student Union Leader

-         In 2008, I was the first student who out of my pocket contributed 50.000frs on behalf of my brother Peter in the USA when electricity was launched in Bafanji.

-        I equally bought the AES Sonel meter which is presently in the palace today for late Ngwefuni II, and paid the electrician’s transport to go install it from Ndop.

-        In 2007, I tabled the health situation of his father, and lobbied from my siblings in the USA over 200.000 FRS which I travelled to Bafoussam and handed to his late father who was hospitalised there in the presence of Mr Tiengieng. This happened on two occasions.

-        In 2008 while a student in yaounde, I occasionally food p money to the present fon whom by then was just a prince and a student like myself.

-        October 2008, I left Cameroon for the United Kingdom, one week after arriving  in the UK, I sent over 100.000frs to then Prince François who is today the fon to enable him process and dispatch by DHL his documents to Chalmers University, I equally sat down and wrote two recommendations letter for him to enable him secure a Scholarship. Unfortunately he did not get the offer.

-        August 2009, I together with  Tiapo Neville in the  Cardiff UK, Alima Isaac in London Uk, sponsored a trophy for the students  at 200.000frs.

-        I went further to contribute financially for the erection of two metal football poles which are still standing today at GS Mbangang as my legacy for the students to use due to the wanton destruction of the old poles ( by palace Children).

-        I supported financially other small student’s activities, not worth mentioning.

-        In august 2010, I still sponsored now from Denmark students activities in Bafanji with a trophy offer of 100.000frs.

-         In March 2011, his father disappeared as it is said, and I immediately dispatched 100.000 frs to the palace on behalf of all my siblings to the condolence book to enable them feed the population who were streaming into the palace.

-        April ending 2011,  5 members of the Nchichupa’s in the Diaspora contributed 465.700frs for the fon’s car. Of this amount, I contributed 115.700 FRS.

-        In March 2012, The fon needed a secured place where his wife and newborn baby could leave in Bamenda before they could find suitable place, and despite the arguments about his administration, his handling of financial issues, and the  verbal threats which he had given me, I was still compassionate to allow his wife sleep in the house which I rented for my mother and in my mother’s bed for close to 3 months at Foncha Street without him having to pay rents for that.

-        Still in march I was able to send contribution for the late fon’s crydie through my mother.

-        In april 2013, I was in bafanji to bury my uncle Feko Vincent despite being bereaved, I was still able  to offer a few containers of tablets to the health centre in Bafanji and had asked the chief of health to distribute to patients free of charge.( something which i hear the fon disputes) It doesn’t matter if it was small.

-        In May 2013, I pledge 10 benches to GBS Ekwo Bafanji and two Blackboards to the tone of 150.000frs, I sent in an advanced amount of 85.600frs on  29/05/13 to Mr Clement Nosimbang and promised to complete the rest by July 2013.I was not alone, others members of the Diaspora have contributed towards the bench project including Lienghotue Gideon whom you have mentioned in your article.

If after these recollection of facts, the fon and Mr Pezumbia still think, development of a village is only to contribute at the end of the year, then I wonder what they understand as development. There are still many in the Diaspora who have contributed in many different ways probably not known to me which the fon failed to acknowledged which is disturbing. For example, I know from the final report published by the car committee, the Fanji Diaspora contributed about 1.3 millions in 2011 towards the purchase of a car for the fon. The fon should have been honest to recognise this. Others contributed financially directly to the fon during the “ final celeberation of Late Ngwefuni “ which he has not acknowledged.

So after reading the fon state that the 31.6 was well spent, and accounted for , would you withdraw your scepticism about this accountability issues.

NO ! What was done, was done. The Diaspora have a  copy of the reports presented  by all those included in the management of  the money, and a lot of unanswered issues still remain there which nobody really wants to question now.The people gave their verdict in December 2012 and will still give their verdict at the end of the year if they were satisfied or not with how the money in 2011 was spent. The people demanded a statement of account continuously, and the fon was even coerced into asking the Taskforce members   present this account in Limbe during a reconciliation meeting between all factions in the village over the alleged sum of money.

 If the fon claims all went well with the 31.6 million, and that all is well now, He would not have called for a reconciliatory Meeting in Limbe where FADCA officials and TASKFORCE pledged to work for the good of the village, The AGM for 2012 would not have been postponed twice over disagreement over account balance, the Fon’s 50million target for 2012 as stated in his mail dated 3^rd February 2012 would have been met. But to show the disapproval of the population, The Annual development fund could not amount to 10 million francs as opposed to 2011 when they gathered 31.6 million. If the fon was wise enough, he will understand, the failure of accountability, and his poor handling of the issue penalised FADCA.

You claimed that you were banned from the village by the fon. But Mr Pezumbia denied that, and even explained that you were home to bury your uncle Vincent Feko. How  will you explain that?

I will begin by asking you, if you had questioned the fon about that? If You did not,  then it will be good to ask him. But before he start denying that, i will like to draw your attention to the fact that, the fon has issued many of these excommunication orders.

The first incident pitting the fon and an  elite of the Diaspora  over excommunication orders occurred in March 2012 when the  fon called the DO of Oku Mr Lienghotue Patrick informing him that  Lienghotue Gideon of Ireland was banned from Bafanji for allege  criticisms of  the fon. He was asked not to accompany his Dad’s casket to the Village and to remain at the Mortuary. It took some diplomatic cables and secret security intervention that he got home. The day after burial , the fon sent some  punishment messengers from the “ ngumba”  with instructions that  the family should punish Gideon  and bring back a report to him. These messengers came, unable to answer a lot questions, collected a bribe of 10.000frs and left. One year after, the fon still  bent on his excommunication decision, as he sent out a restriction order last weekend refusing the holding of the memorial services for Gideon parents (Lienghotue Peter, and Theresia of late) to the DO of Oku without due justification. This order came despite the fact that the programming was done since January 2013 by his traditional prime minister.

Last may 19^th 2013, the fon on phone to my cousin Mbiojing Isaac and George also instructed them to inform me of my excommunication from Bafanji. What were the reasons, because we in the Diaspora have been informing the public through Bafanji facebook group about his activities as a leader in bafanji in the last 26 months’ Some of these exaggerated activities of the fon known to us include:

·         Meddling in the affairs of FADCA and prevention of accountability

·         The setting up of a village militia style group called BIR who go around beating and rubbing villagers in mud.

·         The forceful collection of 500frs from villagers for traditional rites

·         Collection of 100.000frs for attending occasions out of the village

·         Threatening elites with forceful contribution of annual development money.

·         Harassing of families during mourning periods or during memorial services

·         Being inconsiderate about the plight of the poor villagers working okro on mashy lands at Tangwang,

·         A huge appetite for money

·         Excommunications orders including the recent one whereby by he sent away a man  from another village out of Bafanji over a menial incident

·         Involvement in land issues and its sales and much more.

These vices to us have greatly damaged his reputation reason why during the meeting last Sunday the 2^nd of June, some prominent elites cautioned him about using military training style acquired from ENAM and attempting to use it in ruling the people. For Mr Pezumbia to say we were not banned is wrong because he has no knowledge about the actions of the fon.

With all the issued raised here, In your opinion what do you think can make Bafanji village move forward whereby the Diaspora and the elites back home can work together?

·         First of all, the fon must renounce his threatening attitude towards his subjects and know that he is a fon because  of the people.

·         The fon must comply with basic correcting mechanisms to all defaulters in the village.

·         He must stop meddling in the affairs and decisions of FADCA especially finance.

·         He must reach out to his people and seek their face in an apologetic manner ( Even though the fon never say sorry).He must know he is not infallible.

·         The  fon must stop exploiting the poor villagers working either in swaps or the rice farm.

·         The fon must know that even his late father who was slapped by an elite did not excommunicate the said individual from Bafanji.

·         He must recognise that when a love one dies, it’s not an opportunity for him to extort money from family members in the name of village development.

·         The fon must ensure that transparency is his watch word to build trust in his people.

·         The fon must withdraw his order banning all individuals from the village and  also avoid creating a scandal for himself by refusing the holding of the memorial services of the above mentioned people.

·         Most importantly the fon must set up a team of good and frank advisers who can counsel him on decision taking.

·         Also important he must set up a reconciliation team to identify all mistakes made from his side and all other elites and give a window of opportunity for reform.

·         Those managing village funds must be accountable, and accountability should be an obligation to the people, and not a favour.

·         Finally he must REFORM his attitude towards his people, BACK OUT of the Press and stop making his administration and village come under unnecessary focus.

As for the Diaspora,

·         While criticising the authorities, they must also start thinking alternative ways of getting involved in small affordable projects meanwhile still watching the activities of the leaders and their attitudes towards the voiceless population.

·         They must recognise that if the fon changes his attitude towards the people, the Diaspora’s presence must be felt in the village, and we can also write praises for the fon.

·         But if the  fon or those managing village affairs fail to  meet up to the expectations of the population, then the Diaspora must continue with revolutionary ideas that can reform the system in the village and  use every necessary means to bring the leaders to oder.

·         All antagonising parties must learn to accept criticisms, then we shall see bafanji move forward.

Thank You.

 


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

Cutting Food Loss and Waste will Benefit People and the Environment, Says New Study on World Environment Day

 rom Australia to Afghanistan, New Research Spotlights Low-Cost Actions for Delivering Major Benefits for Development, Environment and Livelihoods

Washington DC / Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia) / Portland / Nairobi, 5 June 2013 – One out of every four calories produced by the global agricultural system is being lost or wasted, according to new analysis. This poses a serious challenge to the planet’s ability to reduce hunger and meet the food needs of a rapidly-expanding global population.

Released on World Environment Day (WED), which this year carries the theme ‘Think.Eat.Save - Reduce Your Foodprint’, the new working paper,  Reducing Food Loss and Waste, shows that more than half of the food lost and wasted in Europe, the United States, Canada, and Australia occurs close to the fork—at the consumption stage. By contrast, in developing countries, about two-thirds of the food lost and wasted occurs close to the farm—after harvest and storage.

Reducing Food Loss and Waste was produced by the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and draws on research from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

It makes a range of recommendations including the development of a “food loss and waste protocol” - a global standard for how to measure, monitor, and report food loss and waste.  If what gets measured gets managed, then such a protocol could go a long way toward helping governments and companies implement targeted efforts to reduce food loss and waste.  

According to the study, which was released today in Mongolia, global host of WED 2013,  the world will need about 60 percent more food calories in 2050 compared to 2006 if global demand continues on its current trajectory.

Halving current rates of food loss and waste, say the authors, would reduce this gap by a fifth.  This would also result in major savings in water use, energy, pesticides and fertilizers, and would be a boost for global food security.
   
“Beyond all the environmental benefits, reducing food loss and waste will save money for people and companies,” said Craig Hanson, Director of WRI’s People & Ecosystems Program and a co-author of the study. “The world needs urgent solutions to feed its growing population and reducing loss and waste is a critical piece toward a more sustainable food future.”

“It is an extraordinary fact that in the 21^st century, close to 25 per cent of all the calories linked with growing and producing food are lost or wasted between the farm and the fork—food that could feed the hungry, food that has required energy, water and soils in a world of increasing natural resource scarcities and environmental concerns including climate change,” said Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary General and UNEP Executive Director.
“Yet within the challenge of food are the seeds of a more cooperative and sustainable future—in short it is an issue that unites everyone today and generations to come. The menu of case studies and recommendations in this study provide national and community-led solutions that ally smart policies with traditional knowledge, modern science and common sense,” he added.
“Everyone--from farmers and food companies to retailers, shipping lines, packagers, hotels, restaurants and households--has a role to play, and, in doing so, can contribute to maximizing the opportunities of the Millennium Development Goals, eradicating inequalities in rich and poor countries alike and laying the foundations of a more environmentally sustainable pathway for billions of people,” said Mr. Steiner.
From community food banks in Australia, to the use of metal grain silos by farmers in Afghanistan, the WRI and UNEP study showcases simple, low-cost solutions for reducing food loss and waste that are already delivering significant environmental and economic benefits to communities across the globe.
Replicating and expanding these initiatives could significantly reduce the 1.3 billion tons of food lost or discarded worldwide every year, and make major improvements to global resource efficiency.

The report shows, for example, that water used to produce lost or wasted food around the world each year could fill 70 million Olympic-sized swimming pools, while the amount of cropland used to produce wasted food is equivalent to the size of Mexico. Some 28 million tons of fertilizer are used annually to grow this lost and wasted food. The inefficient use of fertilizers is linked to the growth of ‘dead’ coastal zones around the globe and to climate change.

Separate analysis coordinated by the FAO to be published soon indicates that if food loss and waste were a country, it would be the third highest emitter of greenhouse gases after the United States and China.

Case studies highlighted in the report include:
United States: To reduce portion sizes and therefore the amount of food thrown away each day in their cafeterias, some universities have discontinued the use of trays and introduced ‘pay by weight’ schemes and other incentives. One university found that after going ‘trayless’, it discarded almost 13 metric tons less food than in previous years, and conserved over 100,000 litres of water annually. Financial savings amounted to US$79,000 per year.

Afghanistan: Insufficient storage can be a major source of food loss for farmers in developing countries, where structures often do not keep produce in airtight conditions. A FAO project in Afghanistan provided metal silos to 18,000 rural households. Recipients of the silos soon reported higher net incomes due to lower food losses, which decreased from 15 to 20 percent to 1 to 2 percent per year.

Sri Lanka: Introducing studier plastic crates to replace bags or sacks previously used to transport food reduced vegetable losses by weight from 30 percent to 5 percent. A similar project in the Philippines using plastic crates increased the value of a kilogram of fruit and vegetables by 16 per cent.

Australia: The non-profit organization SecondBite collects food from farmers, retailers, and other donors and distributes it to community groups in need. Last year, SecondBite reused and redirected 3,000 tons of fresh food that would otherwise have been discarded.

Nigeria: The ‘zeer’ evaporative cooler system, developed by a teacher in Nigeria, can preserve fruit and vegetables without refrigeration. The system costs less than US $2 and can hold up to 12kg of produce. Tomatoes and guavas, which would last around two days without storage, last up to 20 days in a zeer.

The paper include a number of recommendations, including

•        Developing a common global standard for measuring and reporting food loss and waste by governments and the private sector;
•        Setting global, national, and corporate food loss and waste reduction targets on the order of 50 percent;
•        Doubling investment in reducing post-harvest losses in developing countries; and
•        Establishing agencies and organizations in developed countries tasked with reducing food waste.

UNEP, together with FAO and WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme),  is developing a food waste prevention and reduction tool kit with industry experts, supermarkets, governments and other partners. The initiative will support governments, companies and cities to better assess their own levels of food waste, pinpoint areas in their businesses and communities where food is being needlessly wasted, and devise strategies to reduce this waste. The tool kit is expected to be available for widespread deployment before the end of 2013, and aims to underpin a transition to a less wasteful world.

World Environment Day

From the traditional knowledge of indigenous communities in remote rural areas, to major conferences in the fast-expanding capital Ulaanbaatar, issues around food security and sustainability are featuring high on the agenda for World Environment Day (5 June) in global host country Mongolia.

Events with the country’s ancient herding communities highlighted age-old techniques that have been used for centuries to preserve food and avoid waste.  

In the past, Mongolia’s traditional horsemen frequently relied on ‘borts’ to sustain them over long journeys.   The foodstuff consists of concentrated beef equal to the protein of an entire cow condensed and ground down to the size of a plate. This method of food preservation could produce a meal equivalent to several steaks when the protein was shaved into hot water to make soup.

In the run-up to World Environment Day, internet users have been submitting a host of traditional food-saving ideas and traditions via UNEP’s Facebook page. These include chuño from South America, which involves exposing potatoes to the freezing night air and hot daytime sun for five days, before trampling them to squeeze out any moisture. Chuño can last for several months, or even years.
Beyond Mongolia, thousands of people across the world are taking part in World Environment Day activities to highlight the need to consume and produce food more sustainably.

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the capital city Sarajevo will host environmental experts in a series of events focused on engaging citizens on food waste and its environmental impact.

In China, Shanghai’s International Student Conference on Environment and Sustainability (ISCES) will see hundreds of students debate and discuss the theme of ‘Food, Health and Sustainable Development’.

UNEP’s Geneva-based Regional Office for Europe is running a competition called Love Your Leftovers, where people can submit a recipe that they use to clean out the fridge. The competition will be judged by a top chef at the famous Cafe de la Paix in central Paris.

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

John Tatsa Family Challenges Court Rulings, Decries Attempt to Defraud Family Estate

Co-adminsitrators of the Tatsa Family during Press Briefing

The legal beneficiaries of Late John Tatsa have expressed their grievances over a number of difficulties faced by the Tatsa Estate and the Winter Transport Company LTD since their father died some two and half years ago.

Talking to Press at the Ayaba Hotel in a Press Briefing on May 31, 2013, the family co-administrators told journalists that “the taste and the desire to defraud and liquidate the Tatsa Estate and Winter Transport Company LTD has now reached alarming level”. The family used the opportunity to challenge the Court rulings delivered in suit no. HCB /535/Vol.III and suit no. HCB /353/Vol.III in which the court awarded an exaggerated and undeserving amount of FCFA 88.380.000 and FCFA 298.880.000 to two legal minds which they claimed (they the beneficiaries) never requested for their services. To the Tatsa family these rulings are “unjust, unfair, illegal, fraudulent, corrupt, pure daylight robbery and totally unacceptable”.   “What have they done to be paid even a franc of our money” or “what value did they added to our estate to deserve a penny?” Tatsa Oliver wondered. More so, the Tatsa family also expressed disgust that on January 26, 2011, the Court also delivered a ruling in-camera ordering a total sum of FCFA 106.805.772 to be paid to two bailiffs. Yet Tatsa Eugene says they have never requested the services of these two bailiffs. They also decried that the court unanimously and fraudulently decided to use the names of Tatsa Longlack Berlain, Tatsa Fokwang Norbert and Tatsa Mbikakeu Augustine as applicants in suit no. HCB/PD/LA.148M/2011 to deliver an ill intended ruling ordering the recall and cancellation of the Letter of Administration from the family’s freely chosen administrators who never approached the court for intervention. This, they claim had as intention to create disunity and conflict so as to use it as a passage to defraud the estate. Furthermore, the worst of illegality they said is that “they are even using names deceased family members and names of those who do not exist and some abroad in order to maximize their fraudulent gains”.  

Legal beneficiaries of the Tatsa Estate and WTC LTD

In a Press statement, the family revealed that the amount of money attempted to defraud is estimated at FCFA 1.583.083.788 could weigh down on the Estate and Winter Transport Company LTD. However, those who had the opportunity to read Chaucer Canterbury Tales would recall that even in the medieval period, every with Barrister at Law “was  for a fee” simple. But since in Cameroon, there is no barren for services rendered by lawyers, public opinion is wondering how much is too much given that for every service, the reward is “for a fee”. Notwithstanding, Tatsa family revealed that the above court rulings ordered the payment of 391.541.894 FCFA, 491.541.894 FCFA  to two lawyers and , 350.000.000 FCFA each to two bailiffs.

They complained that the judge handling the matter is bias and has demonstrated to be unfair to the Tatsa Holdings reasons why they requested that she shouldn't handle any of their cases again.

 However, all attempts to get to the legal minds  to get their own version was fruitless.

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

Buea Plebiscite Puts End to CamCCUL Saga

The euphoria that greeted the return of Musa Shey Nfor at the helm of the Cameroon Cooperative Credit Union League-CamCCUL was total. The avenue of the historic Elective Annual General Assembly was the famous King David’s Square in Muea-Buea. The presence of Governor Okalia Bilai was symbiotic that something serious was about to take place. The presence of 154 delegates from the national territory was indicative of the interest they have in the leading Credit Union Movement in Cameroon.  However, since the main business of the day, after all was done and said was the election of a new executive bureau to manage the affairs of CamCCUL, some dynamic members were elected. For the post of President, Musa Shey Nfor got an overwhelming vote as pioneer President of CamCCUL New Look. He was elected amidst an eleven man executive to manage the affairs of the network for a mandate of three years which is renewable twice. To many, CamCCUL Elective General Assembly was more of a plebiscite that puts an end to the CamCCUL saga. But since human beings always resist change, the model credit union model by-laws sparked controversy yet the dust has finally settled as the harmonization process folded up last weekend in Buea.  

Having implemented all of the minister’s directives on reshaping the credit unions league, the network, is now bent on opening up to all those members who felt disgruntled with some contemplating to disaffiliate. Accordingly the President elect says CamCCUL shall use the Alternative Dispute Resolution ADR to reexamine the points raised and equally craft out solutions under the close supervision of the Minister of Finance. To him some measures taken in the course of implementing the new OHADA Uniform Act in the interest of the whole might have displeased some members which of course is common in every democratic institution. When finally the decision is taken using democratic instruments it becomes a role for all to follow. On the question of those opting to disaffiliate from the network, the representative of the minister of Finance, Patrice Lumumba said there is no law barring anybody from disaffiliating but that there is a procedure to follow. He however cautioned that CamCCUL should still call for an on the table talks with those who felt unsatisfied. 

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

Bafanji Fon Cleared over Alleged Mismanagement Saga of Development Fund

By FC Junior



HRH Fon Ngwefuon II of Bafanji



The Fon of Bafanji village in Ngoketunjia of the North West Region has frowned at the manner at which some elite in the Disporas want to set confusion in Bafanji. Talking to this reporter, HRH Fon Ngwefuon II has discarded claims by some elite(s) that funds donated for development projects is baseless and unfounded. Accordingly Fon Ngwefuon II wondered loudly how people who have never contributed for development projects in the village are on tree-tops talking about money they did not contribute a penny.  “Let them tell me how much they contributed? In fact let them even build houses in the village, these are people who cannot even develop themselves”, he added.

  At enthronement, the people of Bafanji saw in him a self-motivated, educated, young and dynamic Fon who could be a friend to the commoners. Yet Fon Ngwefuon II has been able to break from the past and make things to happen positively. The Fon of Bafanji told this reporter that he has been a catalyst of development reasons why recently they lobbied for funding from the African Development Bank-ADB. “How many of them in the Diasporas have lobbied for us to have water, none!” the Fon vomited. He added that all along he has been trying to modernize the village by putting in place structures that would ensure accountability and transparency to help the village forge ahead with development. 

However, to some elite(s) in the Diaspora like Gideon lienghotue and luke Nchinchupa, the Bafanji has been transformed into a sinkhole. According to them, the Fon did not only become highhanded in the management of village affairs but also got entangled with the management of funds contributed by the village development association (FADCA). On the contrary, the Fon said he is not the President of FADCA and not even to talk of knowing how funds donated are managed. FADCA according to some of them is shady and wrapped in an atmosphere of certainty and doubts. They claim that the Fon in complicity with the then President of FADCA, Mr. Pezumbia Philip created a ‘TASKFORCE’ which raked through the village and the whole country and came out with a whooping sum of CFA 31.675 475 between 2011 and 2012. This chunk of money, according to some of the elite, has never been accounted for in clear and detailed records.

Describing Fon Ngwefuon II reign as “26 months of ungratefulness to Bafanji people at home and abroad,” Gideon lienghotue and luke Nchinchupa, say only the Fon and the President of FADCA know where and when the money was spent. Yet the Fon on the other hand said all the claims were baseless and that the taskforce was initiated with trusted persons at the helm. “I hope they are not raising all the dust to seek asylums” he reiterated.

On the other hand, Mr. Pezumbia Philip when contacted was swift to debunk such accusations as baseless. He said those who are making such allegations have never chipped in a dime for the village development. He revealed that the said sum of money was used judiciously and the records are there to testify. He enumerated the achievements of FADCA which range from the construction of classroom, renovation of the palace, purchase of a service car for the Fon and rural electrification. As to why the afore mentioned persons were banned from the village, Pezumbia referred to them as barefaced liars pointing that one of them was in the village for the burial of a family member of recent.  According to him, the so-called Bafanji Diaspora elite have contributed little or nothing for the village but rather some of them are making things difficult for the village to forge ahead. He said their incessant verbal assail on the Fon was uncalled for and needed no respond from a right thinking person. 

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

Cameroon Risks FIFA Suspension as FECAFOOT Elections Flop

 Sources say FIFA has send a letter to FECAFOOT indicating that elections should be held before 6 June." Yet it is not yet clear when FECAFOOT elections would take place after the decision by the Prime Minister to suspend elections. It is alleged that if Cameroon doesn't compile, FIFA may likely suspend Cameroon. Possibilities of Cameroon not participating in the upcoming world cup are indicative, source hinted.

Biyam added that the Arbitrary and Conciliatory Chamber of the National Olympic and Sports Committee is not mandated to handle election matters. “It is supposed to deal with conflicts only and that all the decisions taken by the body do not stand," Biyam said.

The security concerns arose after several problems during regional football elections in the build up to the main FECAFOOT polls.

The problems were exasperated when the chamber ruled that current FECAFOOT president, Iya Mohammed, was not eligible to stand in the elections.
Mohammed was due to stand against first vice-president John Begheni Ndeh and outsider Marlene Emvoutou, the only female in the race.

Ndeh had argued that Mohammed was not fit to hold public office, given his ongoing problems at the Cameroon Cotton Development Corporation.
Mohamed is currently embroiled in corruption allegations with regards to his management of the corporation.

The Supreme State Audit recently suspended him from holding any managerial position for seven years after millions of dollars went missing from the company.

The elections have been dogged by controversy with sports minister Adoum Garoua forced to back down on his decision to stop the polls in April after FIFA warned that his move was tantamount to government interference.

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

2015 Presidential in Nigeria: PDP Automatic Ticket to Jonathan is Unconstitutional Atiku Abubakar Says

"My position remains that as far as PDP Constitution is concerned, any attempt to change the party's rule to favour the President as a sole candidate in the event of his willingness to re-contest is unconstitutional. The contest should be open to all desiring to pursue an ambition on the platform of the PDP…."

These are my thoughts. What are your feelings about how Nigerian parties should be run? Should the already considerable powers of incumbency be given even more ammunition? I don’t think so.

Meanwhile you can read our official press statement on this issue of an automatic ticket for President Goodluck Jonathan here:

‘2015: PDP automatic ticket to Jonathan unconstitutional – Atiku’

‘Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has restated his rejection of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) policy of “consensus arrangement” and “adoption” rather than transparent elections to produce candidates for all elective offices, including the presidency.’

‘Responding to the proposal by the Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih that the party should give automatic ticket to President Jonathan in 2015, the former Vice President recalled that he was repeatedly in courts to challenge this undemocratic arrangement and that the courts ruled that the policy is alien to the PDP and Nigerian constitutions.’

In a statement by his Media Office in Abuja weekend, the former Vice President said the principle for which he opposes this unjust policy, which he described as a “travesty of democracy” has not changed since then.

"My position remains that as far as PDP Constitution is concerned, any attempt to change the party's rule to favour the President as a sole candidate in the event of his willingness to re-contest is unconstitutional. The contest should be open to all desiring to pursue an ambition on the platform of the PDP," Atiku said.

While acknowledging that President Jonathan is entitled to seek the party ticket in 2015, the former Vice President, however, insisted that Jonathan should submit himself to a transparent and fair process just like any other party member.

By foreclosing free and fair process of selecting its presidential candidate, Atiku said the PDP might be sending the wrong message to Nigerians about its commitment to conduct free and fair elections for the entire country.

 

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