Meet Ngum Jerome The Award Winning Mayor of Elak-Oku

 By Fai Cassian

Ngum Jerome: The Award Winning Mayor

 One of the major challenges and  debate nationwide has been the  capability of some elected officials to tackle development process in their sphere of influence. The mayor of Elak-Oku Council, Ngum Jerome has been able to delineate that politics is development and that alleviating poverty and miseries in rural areas is precedence of priority that makes politics and development bedmates.
Life, they say is a combination of trials and tribulations but great people look beyond trials and tribulations. They look beyond the horizon that appears to be the end of the world and see other opportunities that nobody imagines can exist. And their interested act of dreaming, acting and realizing the dreams have positive multiplier effect on society. This is because they are born with talent and to make things happen, they combine talent with hard work and determination. The very essence rural development is that you need to have vision since you can’t blow an uncertain trumpet. Nevertheless, innovation distinguishes between a great politician and a charlatan.
Ngum Jerome is the Mayor of Elak-Oku in Bui Division. For the past six years, he has taken the development to the doorsteps of his people. But unlike ordinary visionaries who see far and remain on their original position, Ngum Jerome did wait for things to happen for his municipality. As a great lobbyist, he lobbied and obtained financial support from FEICOM, PNDP, GP DERUDEP and other partners in development to achieve his vision. The most interesting thing about this innovation mayor who was voted by readers of The Eye Newspaper as the Best of the Best in Bui Division has rumbles of serious innovative ideas that have kept afloat all development initiatives. For these reasons, Ngum Jerome is succeeding where others have fumbled, stumbled and tumbled over.
Rudyard Kipling, one of the finest English writers once said that “if you can keep your head when all around you are losing theirs and if you can meet with triumph and disaster and treat the two the same, yours is earth and everything that is in it”. This is a straightforward reality and in fact there is no doubt that Rudyard Kipling had this inspiration from the obstacles and barriers we often crush to get to prominence. In our contemporary society this statement could only be referred to one person, Ngum Jerome Njiloh, the Mayor of Elak Oku.
What is important about this award winning mayor is that he is innovative, down to earth and fertile in expedients. He falls within the ranks of the new breed of politicians born with extra abilities to surmount all sorts of barrier to emerge successful. If we go by Albert Einstein who declared that genius is 1/10 inspiration and 9/10 perspiration, Ngum Jerome is a genius. This means that for somebody to be termed a genius that person must be a workaholic. In this light, Ngum Jerome Njiloh merits to be mentioned first among development luminaries if not the story of North West politicians will remain unfinished. What is so interesting about this pragmatic mayor is that he has done extraordinary things in a very common way.
 If has  become a celebrity it is because he is doing extraordinary things and he is entering history books in great names: Meet him for a discussion then you will discover you have met an honest intellectual. The courage and the frankness he expresses tell you that he was naturally born a workaholic. It is this frankness, hard work and determination that have made him the most admired man of all men in action.

The Great Politician
John Quincy Adams says that if your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader. Ngum Jerome is a politician with exceptional leadership qualities. Being a great support of President Biya and the CPDM, his actions are litmus test of what a politician ought to be. He is a shoulder on whom Prime Minister Yang Philemon would lean to pass the ideologies of the CPDM to his Constituency given that he masters grassroots politics and is constantly in the field. And since the final test of a politician is that he/she leads the young as their role model. Ngum Jerome is actually the role model who doesn’t talk about development politics in speeches but puts them into practice. In getting to where he is today and especially excelling in local politics, he toiled labourously to transform President Biya’s vision into concrete reality. That is why today he is building common frontiers for all segments of society. In doing this, he followed the principle outlined by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow that ‘heights by great “men” reached and kept were not obtained by sudden flight but, while their companies slept, they were toiling upward in the night’. As the CPDM Mayor elected in 2007, he could have decided like others to do the simple things, but because he believes like Lance Armstrong that ‘greatness is not a measure of how great you are but of how great others came to be because of you’, he decided embark on the disenclavement of his municipality using politics as a tool. Putting politics and development in one basket to sermonize the ideologies of the CPDM has put him into the minds of all and sundry. That is why as a pragmatic politician he is loved, admired and cherished by the poor and lowly in the municipality, the middle class and the rich without any barriers. Today, he is scoring high for the CPDM because of that firm choice.
 What makes him the shinning political icon in the eyes of his people is that he is a politician with a vision who acts promptly. Vision and action are two cardinal ingredients for success and as the Japanese proverb hold: ‘vision without action is daydream; Action without vision is nightmare’. He neither daydreams nor entertains nightmares. This is because of his zeal to recreate passing through politics and knowing like Abraham Lincoln who once said that ‘the best way to predict the future is to create it’; Ngum Jerome puts into CPDM vision the necessary ingredients that make him to succeed.

The Result-oriented Mayor
As September 30 approaches, one of the major challenges that some elected official will face will be to present their stewardship to the population. But Ngum Jerome on the contrary would be hailed for being result oriented at the helm of Elak-Oku Council. From Mbam to Jikijem, down to Ebai, every community in the municipal has something to be proud of.  For being a mark of difference in the fight against poverty, Ngum Jerome’s legacies ranges from the provision of potable water to construction of classrooms, market sheds, slaughter houses, community halls, health centers, farms to market roads, etc. In fact Ngum Jerome has proven exceptionally that his being there at the helm of the Elak Oku Council was by merit and not a favour. He established a program aimed at supporting local initiatives and projects that are geared towards sustainable development. From all practical demonstrations, he is going into history books in big names: the development luminary, promoter of sustainable development, Best Mayor etc…Ever since he became mayor, the administrative account of the council has registered sanity and has also risen. Elak council area is the largest and most populated as per the last census, yet Ngum Jerome has generated the best results in the region.

Infrastructure Development: Priority of Priorities
Developing farms to market roads and linking villages to villages was one of the major axes of the Elak Council under Ngum Jerome from 2007. In collaboration with GP DERUDEP and FEICOM has been able to develop and open the highest number of earth roads in the North West Region. The council also adopted an approach to stimulate community work by villages on road maintenance. This new approach ignited the council to empower road maintenance committees of some with basic road maintenance tools made up of spades, wheelbarrows, digging axes etc we learnt from a young man along the Oku-Noni Road. The construction of the Tolon-Balu road from HIPC Funds as well as the bridge over river Mii.
In order to restyle Oku town, the council also carried out maintenance and rehabilitation work on a number of streets. Taking into consideration the construction of the Elak Council Chamber at the old market, there was the need to give the site more visibility.
Ngum Jerome Njiloh, the council lobbied and obtained funds from FEICOM for the construction of a Council Chamber to accommodate all the council services. Elak Council became the first in Bui Division to put up a befitting Council Chamber which enabled council services to move from the old building to a befitting structure. The Council Chamber is one of the numerous legacies of Ngum Jerome at the helm of the Elak Oku Council that always attracts the admiration. Moving the council from an obscured location to it present site according to Ngum Jerome has helped to bring municipal services closer to the population. Oku council under Ngum Jerome also embarked on providing marketing avenues in the municipality. The construction of sales points and market sheds in the have been cited among some of the projects whose impact is tremendous on the population.
The construction of bridges and culverts were also part of Elak Council’s priorities, such as the bridge over Ketume have disenclaved the municipality. The construction of classrooms through FEICOM, PNDP and GP DERUDEP support has resulted to an improvement in pupils and students performances. Under Ngum Jerome, every village and quarter has a good testimony of his work.

Improving Access to Potable Water
Before taking over the council, one of the major problems in the municipality was the scarcity of water. To Ngum Jerome, keeping the population without potable water was not safe at all especially at a point in time much is being talked about cholera.
With the collaboration of the government and development partners some giant water schemes were constructed to serve three communities in the municipality.

Promoting Sustainable Development through Mini Agro-pastoral shows
Elak Council generates more than 75% of its revenue from the buying and selling of agricultural and livestock produce as well as Non Timber Forest Products-NTFPs (honey). The most interesting thing about Elak Council is that with Ngum Jerome, the promotion of agricultural, forestry and livestock produce is primordial. This could not leave the council indifference in promoting these activities. Since 2007, the Elak Council has made the farmer’s jamboree a yearly event. It council sponsors the show every year as a way for farmers to share ideas, knowledge and experiences.  And at the end, distinguished farmers are awarded prizes and certificates as a way to stimulate growth and perfection. To the mayor, the best way to go industrial is to promote the agro-pastoral and apicultural sectors. Through the show, the best speculations in the municipality are promoted and awarded compensation for hard work.
The scope of intervention of the Elak Council in the fight against poverty and promoting sustainable development, the mayor acknowledges that in providing assistance to beneficiaries as indicated above, “ we take into consideration the needs of the concerned and it should be an ongoing project that it impact will reach the entire community or village”.

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Assault on Hon. Awudu's Wife and Market Master: Fru Ndi Petitions to Biya on Terror in Nkambe

 FC Junior

Ndi John Fru Ndi, SDF National Chairman is alleged to have written to President Paul Biya informing him of the political anarchy that reigns in Nkambe. Classified sources hinted that the decision was endorsed by Members of the National Executive Council of the Social Democratic Front in Bamenda a forth night ago. The petition we gathered is already on President Biya’s table. The Eye is aware that MINATD boss Rene Sadi is conversant with the havoc caused by CPDM party militia in Nkambe. MINATD boss we gathered has requested for a complete report on the incident of Wat where Hon. Awudu Mbaya and the market master for Wat were assaulted by CPDM militants.
Donga Mantung SDO Puts Promoters of Party Militia to Task, Warns
The Senior Divisional for Donga Mantung Division in the North West Region has warned against the creation of party militia in the Division. Addressing political stakeholders against the backdrop of the Wat incident where Mary Awudu Ngayi, (wife of Hon. Awudu) and the market master for Wat (Ngwayi Ivo alias Ajento Baba) were assaulted by CPDM militants, Ngone Ndodemesape Bernard made it clear that Donga Mantung is not fertile ground for party militias. He warned that anyone who takes the law into his/her hands or carries out jungle justice like was the case in Wat will have to be punished accordingly in conformity with the regulations in force. Harping on the Wat incident where some individual took the law into their hands, Donga Mantung SDO warned that Nkambe is already having a bad image because of that incident. On the security measures, the SDO revealed that all drinking spots (beer parlours, sha houses and fiang drinking spots) shall be closed at certain hours of the night adding that routine patrols shall ensure it strict respect. He emphasized that peace must reign in Donga Mantung before, during and after the September 30, Municipal and Legislative Elections reechoed the need for peaceful co-existence and political tolerance.  He catapulted the media for it role in sensitizing the population on the distribution of voters’ cards. Responsible journalism, the SDO observed should be the menu of media practitioners in Donga Mantung Division. He also warned that political parties shouldn’t us traditional rulers as political tools. As September 30, approaches, he ordered that all the political parties must obtained a declaration from the competent authorities before organizing any rally.
Of Political Gangsterism and Party Militia
 A Joint Sub Section Conference of the CPDM which took place Wat Market Square has entered into records as the darkness corner in politics in Nkambe Central. This is so because it was transformed into a boxing ring. The story goes that CPDM militants had chosen the market shed constructed by Hon. Awudu Mbaya and handed to the council as the avenue of the meeting without permission from neither the mayor nor the market master. Early that morning, CPDM militants transformed the market shed into a grandstand, upon getting the information that the beans market has been transformed into a political rally ground, the mayor of Nkambe Mangoh Jones Tanko stormed the market. He was accompanied by the wife of the Member of Parliament and four others. When Mangoh Jones Tanko , Mary Awudu and four others stormed the market arguing that the market shed is not a grandstand, CPDM militants resisted, brandishing a declaration with two round stamps that the document was signed by the supervisory authority. In the course of the arguments, Chifu David Ngenge alias Simple DNC, intervened and it degenerated to him slapping Mary Awudu. Tempers are said to have flared after the incident. Upon arrival on the scene the 2nd Assistant SDO for Donga Mantung Div. called on Musa Shey Nfor, aspiring CPDM councilor for Ngwanri village and Waka Emmanuel, CPDM aspiring councilor for Mbaah, who allegedly refused that they were not the ones who selected neither the avenue nor those who declared the rally to the administration. It is even alleged that the declaration that was brandished was fake given that in no circumstance should such a document carry two round stamps. Manshang Nicholas immediately ordered the CPDM to quit the market shed given that they were disturbing public peace as well as the market women who were selling beans. Ajento Baba, the market master for Wat told this reporter that the incident has disturbed him from collecting revenue. Mami Brigette Yaah from Mbanka said she brought 10 buckets of beans, but could only sell 2. Mariama Mbibu says she sold only 1 bucket out of 3 buckets she brought to the market. Mary Awudu said that she was annoyed because the market shed was constructed for women to sell beans and not to host political rallies. It should be noted that it is thanks to that market shed that a beans market was created in Wat.  According to what we gathered, buyers who usually come from far off areas like Bamenda, Kumbo and Douala were scared. Talking to this reporter, Musa Shey Nfor said that the incident took place when he had left the market.  Many have been questioning the lesson that some of these politicians are passing to the youths as politics has been transformed into a sinkhole. Majority of the CPDM militants who spoke to this reporter condemned the act of slapping somebody’s wife and a mother for that matter. However, Barr. Chifu Ngenge David is quoted to have told Radio Danbaturi that he was provoked by Mary Awudu who gave him the first slap, held him by the tie and that for the past years he had received insults from her. Moreso, he also said that Mary Awudu once said that he (Chifu Ngenge David) was dismissed from the police because he was a bad element.
Ngwayi Ivo alias Ajento Baba is on hospital bed given that he almost gave off the ghost after receiving a snake beating from two CPDM militants. Ngwayi Ivo told this reporter that while at the toll gate, he was approach by Tangong Oliver alias young mayor; he accused him of having informed the mayor on the rally that was planned in the market. According to what Ngwayi Ivo told this on hospital bed, he said when he responded that he only did his job as a market master, one young man who was driving the car by name Nfor Awoh alias Nfor Jekaje came out of the car and gave him a dirty slap that landed him on the floor. He said he only recalled that Tangong Oliver kicked him on the head. “As for what happened to me, I cannot remember because I only discovered myself in a house lying”, he said.  It is even alleged that Ngwayi Ivo may be transferred to Bafoussam hospital for the scanning of the head. Even though classified sources say the matter has been taken to court, public opinion in Nkambe is aghast with the laxity that the SDF party is handling the issue and many have questioned whether the law courts have closed. Anembom Munjo, SDF communication Secretary told journalists last weekend at the NEC meeting that the party has taken it stand on the issue and that SDF will make sure that justice prevail. “If you slap Hon. Awudu’s wife, then you have equally slapped him. This is not a joking matter”, Anembom reiterated. It is this act that the SDO for Donga Mantung has condemned as party militia, saying it won’t be tolerated.

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Ntumfor Nico Halle's Message of Peace at The Eye Newspaper

Fai Cassian Ndi

Ntumfor Barrister Nico Halle

Ntumfor Barrister Nico Halle, North West Peace Crusader cum CMF National President’s path to the attainment of the common good and to peace is above all that of respect for human life in all its many aspects, beginning with its conception, through its development and up to its natural end. The true peace crusader recently issued a message of Peace which was presented to Cameroonians in Nkambe during the 6th Anniversary of The Eye Newspaper/ National Award of Excellence. The message which was read to the crowd by Nfor Francis drew the attention of the people with the insinuations that:  those who love defend and promote human life in all its dimensions, personal, communitarian and transcendent are agents of peace. In his message Ntumfor Barr. Nico Hall also urges that life in its fullness is the height of peace. To Ntumfor Barr. Nico Halle the many different efforts at peacemaking which abound testify to mankind’s innate vocation to peace. He called on every person put the desire for peace as an essential aspiration which coincides in a certain way with the desire for a full, happy and successful human life. In other words, the desire for peace corresponds to a fundamental moral principle, namely, the duty and right to an integral social and communitarian development, which is part of God’s plan for mankind. Man is made for the peace which is God’s gift.
All of this, he wrote led him to draw inspiration for the Message from the words of Jesus Christ: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Mt 5:9).
Ntumfor Barr. Nico Halle further emphasized in his message that “peace is the weapon of the strong, whereas violence is the weapon of the weak and stupid”. This statement he noted was coined “more than 20years ago to dissuade Fons and elite who were striving in violence and tribal conflict that had taken the North West Region hostage. You would agree with me that conflict situations have greatly reduced. Also the fight against’ Corruption and moral decadence’ has been for the past years my major focus given that resources that are meant for the common good of all have been systematically looted and plundered by a few unpatriotic Cameroonians. This fight should be by all Cameroonians if we must reverse the trend” he concluded

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NEC Meeting: SDF Advocates for Justice Before, During and After Elections

SDF Shadow Cabinet Minister for Youth and Social Welfare has declared that only justice can save Cameroon from collapsing into the doldrums. Briefing journalists in Bamenda during a meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Social Democratic Front (SDF) Prof. Paul Nkwi said “if Cameroonians, Government, ELECAM and stakeholders are serious” there is nothing that can save Cameroon excerpt justice. According to Prof. Paul Nkwi, it is time for Cameroonians to be allowed to vote their consciences.  He further emphasized that the SDF party is for justice to prevail before, during and after the September 30 Municipal and Legislative Elections in Cameroon. He cited the case of Tiko where a CPDM council list was cooked up and was admitted by the Supreme Court, whereas according to Prof. Nkwi, the CPDM did deposit any council list in Tiko council area for the upcoming municipal elections. “This is unacceptable”, he noted. He observed that it is high time for Cameroonians to be given the chance to elect their leaders. 

It should be recalled that the National Executive Committee of the SDF is meeting after Supreme Court ignored and rejected petitions submitted by the SDF party. Today, August 24, would certainly enter into history books as the day the SDF took a stand on election matters. As Cameroonians await the final resolutions of NEC as to the decisions of the Supreme Court, sources say today's meeting will be stormy. Besides, classified sources also hinted that the assault on Madame Mary Awudu and Ngwayi Ivo by some CPDM militants in Nkambe will be one of the key points to be discussed. Pictures of Mary Awudu and Ngwayi Ivo we gathered were being paraded at NEC Meeting. The issue we have been informed is a hot potato in the hands of the administration as party militia takes Nkambe Central Hostage. 

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Liberian news outlet shut down, publisher jailed

 Abuja, Nigeria, August 23, 2013--The Committee to Protect Journalists today condemns moves by Liberian authorities to shut down FrontPageAfrica and jail its publisher for not paying US$1.5 million in damages related to a libel conviction.

Police shut down the offices citing a court order, pictured on FrontPageAfrica's website, that said the offices would remain closed and publication cease until the damages are paid in full. The website is registered in the United States, not in Liberia, and is still publishing news.

FrontPageAfrica's publisher, Rodney Sieh, was jailed on Wednesday after telling a judge that he was unable to pay the damages owed to Chris Toe, a former government minister who had sued Sieh, FrontPageAfrica, and Samwar Fallah, a reporter for the paper, for libel three years ago. Toe sued them for US$2 million in February 2010 after the paper reported the findings of an official government inquiry that accused Toe of corruption, according to news reports. Toe resigned from his government position and was never charged. In his complaint, he said FrontPageAfrica's reports were libelous because he was never convicted in court. He has denied all of the allegations against him.

In February 2011, a court convicted Sieh, FrontPageAfrica, and Fallah and ordered them to pay a total of US$1.5 million in damages and US$90,000 in court costs, Sieh told CPJ before he was jailed. Sieh told CPJ that FrontPageAfrica could not afford to pay the damages. Local journalists told CPJ that the heavy fine imposed was a deliberate ploy to shut down the critical newspaper. FrontPageAfrica has repeatedly reported on corruption, official misconduct, and human rights abuses.

Information Minister Lewis Brown said that Sieh had chosen to go to jail rather than "abide by the court's ruling to pay," according to news reports. Sieh has refused to eat or drink water since he was jailed, his colleagues told CPJ. He will remain jailed until he pays the damages, according to news reports.

"The excessive damages levied against FrontPageAfrica have all along been a transparent ploy to shut down a newspaper that has gained international acclaim for exposing corruption and official misconduct at the highest levels of the Liberian government," said Peter Nkanga, CPJ's West Africa Consultant. "Rodney Sieh does not deserve to spend a moment in prison, but if authorities would concentrate on investigating and prosecuting corruption allegations, they might find someone who does."

In 2011, the court denied FrontPageAfrica's motion for retrial despite reports of the jury being bribed. Liberia's judiciary ranks as the third most corrupt Liberian government institution, according to Transparency International's 2013 Global Corruption Barometer. Liberia has a history of silencing press critics through libel lawsuits, according to CPJ research.

On July 16, 2013, the Supreme Court upheld the judgment against FrontPageAfrica, saying that the appeal process had not been completed, Koffi Woods, lawyer for FrontPageAfrica, told CPJ. Under Liberian law, an appeal can only be heard after the defendant pays a bond of 2 percent of the total amount, Woods said. The lawyer said Sieh did not have the money for the bond.

Authorities have not been able to find Fallah, who has resigned from FrontPageAfrica.

FrontPageAfrica said the newspaper is appealing the case before the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice. The ECOWAS Community Court, which has jurisdiction to hear individual complaints of alleged human rights violations, is the judicial arm of the Nigeria-based Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The court's decisions are legally binding on ECOWAS member states, which include Liberia.

• For more data and analysis, visit CPJ's Liberia page.

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Ahead September 30, Martin Fon Yembe Speaks Out

 Martin Fon Yembe, former SDF Provincial chairman has made a public declaration ahead of the September 30, 2013 Municipal elections. The award winning political icon who is SDF aspiring councilor for Ndu council in Donga Mantung Division says "one of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics" is that those who refuse to be part " end up being governed by" their inferiors. 

Excerpts

 I write to extend my greetings to all my friends and those who don’t agree with me in one way or the other. I do so at a time my people of Ngarum in the Ndu Local Government Area have chosen me to represent
them at the forth-coming local elections in Ndu. I do so, believing that the prayers of two are better than that of one. I do so, conscious of the task we have to overcome the hurdles placed in our paths by the devil incarnate, the CPDM. I do so, with Psalm 119: vs 105 as my guide, God’s Word being the lamp to my feet and a light to my path. I do so based on Plato’s principle that “ One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.”
I believe that  each person must do their part. If some of us are unwilling to participate in elections, no matter how bad the laws are, all of us are going to suffer. I have the conviction that I too can contribute in the alleviation of the present precarious state of things in my community. Reason why I pray you put me in your prayers as I will be appreciating any ideas from you to help me and my community fly above the mountains
of troubles and tribulations. May God continue to bless and sustain you. To Him alone be the Glory.
MARTIN FON YEMBE

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Donga Mantung SDO Puts Promoters of Party Militias to Task, Warns

 By Haruna Mohammed

The Senior Divisional for Donga Mantung Division in the North West Region of Cameroon has warned against the creation of party militia in the Division. Addressing political stakeholders against the backdrop of the Wat incident where Mary Awudu Ngayi, (wife of Hon. Awudu) and the market master for Wat (Ngwayi Ivo alias Ajento Baba) were assaulted by CPDM militants, Ngone Ndodemesape Bernard made it clear that Donga Mantung is not fertile ground for party militias. He warned that anyone who takes the law into his/her hands or carries out jungle justice like was the case in Wat will have to be punished accordingly and that person will also face the rage of law courts. Harping on the Wat incident where some individual took the law into their hands, Donga Mantung SDO vomitted that Nkambe is already having a bad image because of that incident. On the security measures, the SDO revealed that all drinking spots (beer parlours, sha houses and fiang drinking spots) shall be closed at certain hours of the night adding that routine patrols shall ensure it strict respect. Harping on why peace must reign in Donga Mantung before, during and after the September 30, Municipal and Legislative Elections, Ngone Ndodemesape Bernard reiterated the need for peaceful co-existence and political tolerance.  The media was also catapulted for it role in sensitizing the population on the distribution of voters’ cards. Responsible journalism, the SDO observed should be the menu of media practitioners in Donga Mantung Division. He also warned that political parties shouldn’t us traditional rulers as political tools. As September 30, approaches, security measures we gathered will be intensified with patrols in notorious quarters of Nkambe. 

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Women Threatening to Go Naked into the Street in Nkambe

The Manjus of Nkambe threatening to move naked to express their grievances to the administration and traditional rulers of Nkambe central. Information filtering into our desk indicates that the women are aghast following an incident that took place yesterday at Wat whereby one CPDM aspiring councilor, by name Barr. Chifu Ngenge David slapped Mary Awudu during a confrontation at Wat market square yesterday. The women about 25 in number are still waiting for their peers from other villages  to stage the protest march. It should be recalled that Mary Awudu is Ma Manju and the fact that she was given a slap by an aspiring councilor is creating sensation and havoc. Nkambe central is actually in a mode of confusion and dark clouds loom large as young men and women are quoted to have vowed that if the administration doesn't take precautions the present stalemate may go out of hand.

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Tempers Flare in Nkambe as CPDM Aspiring Councilor Assaults Mary Awudu

 By FC Ndi

Hatred, bitterness, exchange of blows and revenge are luxuries some politicians of Donga Mantung Division are preparing to offer as September 30, approaches. In Donga Mantung, especially Nkambe central, hatred and bitterness is doing a great deal more damage on the population than good. An incident took place today August 18, 2013 in Wat village in Nkambe Central that has taken the administration of Donga Mantung Division aback. Madame Mary Awudu Mbaya, wife of Hon. Awudu Mbaya received blows from a CPDM aspiring councilor for Bongom by name Chifu Ngenge David alias Simple DNC. The incident almost escalidated into a general fight, thank God Mary Awudu cautioned the population not to interfere. There was commotion and sensation today at Wat market square, infact if not of the timely intervention of the 2^nd Assistant Senior Divisional Officer for Donga Mantung Division, Manshang Nicholas, there would have been chaos as youths trooped into Wat market from other village to defend Mary Awudu. Eyewitnesses say that before youths from other villages started coming in as the news spread, those of Wat and other neigbouring villages were threatening to transform the market into a boxing ring in retaliation but were stopped by the forces of law and order.

Politics they say is a systematic organization of hatred. This statement is not only true to itself in Nkambe and Ndu nowadays but has also demonstrated that it is very precarious for political issues to be trusted in the hands of little school boys who would go round to inflame hatred like wanton boys who kill flies for sports. Those who had the opportunity to read Gulliver’s travels would agree with this reporter that the Lilliputians are men six inches in height but possessing all the pretension and self-importance of full-sized men. They are mean and nasty, vicious, morally corrupt, hypocritical and deceitful, jealous and envious, filled with greed and ingratitude.

The interesting Lilliputian court customs can easily be compared to what is happening in Nkambe right now whereby those seeking political office demonstrate their agility in rope dancing depending on how long and how skillfully a candidate can dance upon a rope. However, it is pathetic that intrigues, blackmail and slanders has now generated into fighting. This is tragic yet but a kind of insane horror. With politics haven transformed into a boxing ring, there is the looming dark cloud which is horrifying. The essence of tragedy is not the doing of evil by evil men but the doing of evil by good men, out of weakness, indecision, sloth, inability to act in accordance with what they know to be right. What some of these overzealous politicians do not understand is that hatred leads to great bitterness, which ends up completely unproductive and especially when it is patronized by people who holding public trust as a shelf or by those who are looking forth at voters to give them their trust through votes. Hatred is gradually becoming a poor travelling companion Nkambe causing imbalance and unhappiness.

Genesis

Ahead of September 30, Municipal and Legislative elections, the CPDM bigwigs of Nkambe had planned to organize a Joint Section Conference at Wat Market Square. The only avenue they selected was the market shed constructed by Hon. Awudu Mbaya. When the information reached SDF militants they inquired from the Divisional Officer, the mayor and even the market-master whether they had given permission for market women to quit the shed. According to what we gathered, the answer was negative. Hon. Awudu Mbaya’s wife, Mary Awudu and some local SDF local party officials stormed the market arguing that the market shed is not a grandstand. When she removed the robes that were tied round, Chifu David Ngenge, intervened and it degenerated to him slapping her. Tempers are said to have flared after the incident. Upon arrival on the scene the 2^nd Assistant SDO for Donga Mantung Div. called on Musa Shey Nfor, aspiring CPDM councilor for Ngwanri village and Waka Emmanuel, CPDM aspiring councilor for Mbaah, who allegedly refused that they were not the ones who selected neither the avenue nor those who declared the rally to the administration. It is even alleged that no declaration was obtained from the administration. Manshang Nicholas immediately ordered the CPDM to quit the market shed given that they were disturbing public peace as well as the market. Ajento Baba, the market master for Wat told this reporter that the incident has disturbed him from collecting revenue. Mami Brigette Yaah from Mbanka said she brought 10 buckets of beans, but could only sell 2. Mariama Mbibu says she sold only 1 bucket out of 3 buckets she brought to the market.Mary Awudu said that she was annoyed because the market shed was constructed for women to sell beans and not to host political parties. It should be noted that it is thanks to that market shed that a beans market was created in Wat.  According to what we gathered, buyers who usually come from far off areas like Bamenda, Kumbo and Douala were scared. Talking to this reporter, Musa Shey Nfor said that the incident took place when he had left the market.  Many have been questioning the lesson that some of these politicians are passing to the youths as politics has been transformed into a sinkhole.Majority of the CPDM militants who spoke to this reporter condemned the act of slapping somebody's wife and a mother for that matter. However, Barr. Chifu Ngenge David is quoted to have told Radio Danbaturi that he was provoked by Mary Awudu who gave him the first slap and that for the past years he had received insults from her. Moreso, he also said that Mary Awudu once said that he (Chifu Ngenge David) was dismissed from the police because he was a bad element. 
It has also been confirmed that Ajento Baba, market master for Wat was taken to the Nkambe hospital in a pool of blood after he was allegedly attacked by some CPDM rascals. (we are still investigating into the matter).

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

Land Grab: JB Ndeh Takes on El Hadj Baba Danpoullo

 Fai Cassian Ndi

The General Manager of the North West Development Authority commonly known by its French Acronym as MIDENO has decried attempts by El Hadj Baba Danpoullo (Ndawara) to grap land that owned by the defunct Santa Coffee Estate, which has been placed under the custody of MIDENO. Lamenting that the land has been earmarked for the production of seed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, JB Ndeh called on the Governor of the North West Region to take all necessary measures to make sure that no one trespasses on the said piece of land. He regretted that some administrators who have connived to sell out state lands. It is common that some individuals who think that they can do and undo have gone hell-wire to auction state properties to individuals load their pockets.  Brandishing a copy of a letter signed by the head of state instructing the administration of the North West Region to make sure that the said piece of land is given back to its rightful owner, MIDENO, JB Ndeh continued that state shouldn’t be allowed in the whims and caprices of some individuals because they are wealthy.  It was during the second quarter administrative and security coordination meeting at Fundong in Boyo Division that JB Ndeh vomited the venom on El Hadj Baba. It is even alleged that North West Governor on the spot ordered that the Senior Divisional Officer for Boyo to look into the acquisition of land in that Division.

Also on the firing line was the regional Coordinator of the National Civic Service Agency for Participation in Development. The distribution of grants to volunteers in the region was questioned given that many had suspected foul play. The coordinator it is alleged was instructed to forward to the services of the Governor’s office a complete report on the distribution of grants in the region. More so, it is aired in some areas, beneficiaries received less than 200.000 FCFA while in other places the amount ranged from 250.000 FCFA to 500.000FCFA. Youths of Donga Mantung Division we gathered were also victimized. Sources say that while in other places youths were lodged and fed, in Donga Mantung Division, beneficiaries had only one meal per day and they had to lodge themselves. It is aired that the Regional Delegate pocketed all the money for lodging as well as part of the funds allocated for feeding. Besides, beneficiaries of PART J-U and PIFFMAS have never had access to funds allocated to them. With the closure of FIFFA Bank, the situation has become more complicated as seemingly the money ended in private pockets. It is alleged that CONAC is flying over the General Manager of the National Civic Programme and collaborators. 

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