Coordination of Councilors and Mayors of Cameroon Writes to President Biya

 Press Release

Coordination of Councilors and Mayors of Cameroon on Pending Salaries for Mayors

The Coordination met in Yaoundé this 18^th Day of November with close to sixteen Mayors, 38 Deputy Mayors and thirty-eight municipal councilors assembled from all the ten Regions of the Republic.

They evaluated the state of issues surrounding the September 16 Presidential decree harping on the allowances, emoluments and salaries of municipal councilors and mayors:

            Considering that Municipal Councilors are dully elected on the same tickets like the (s)elected mayors and their deputies;

            Mindful of the fact that Government Delegates and their Deputies are appointees of the head of State and are on very huge allowances already;

            Given that the task of running the day to day affairs of the municipalities are more arduous and tasking at the local level, reflecting the decentralization spirit;

            In view of the fact that the Minister of territorial Administration and Decentralization as well as the prime minister had severally assured these Municipal officials that the budgets from 2013 had been taking care of the envisaged salaries, voted by the representatives of the people since 2010.

The Coordination notes:

            That it is unfair and dangerous in an evolving Cameroon to have councilors depend only on sitting allowances which have even been taxed up to 16.5%.

            That the huge salaries allocated to Government Delegates who are simply doubling for Sub Divisional Councils and holding down their efforts to work independently, is a big smack on the faces of the elected Mayors;

            That the arithmetic and formulae for the allocation of allowances as per classes is unfair, given that the idea encourages rural exodus, as those who are swelling our cities and towns all come from these so-called smaller councils;

            That the delay of payment even after the Presidential Text of Application of September 16, 2015 is an indicator that work is being done to calculate the arrears from 2013 till date.

The Coordination therefore resolves as follows:

            Thanks the Head of state for finally signing the September 16 2015 Presidential Decree, allocating allowances, emoluments and salaries accordingly;

            That in a subsequent circumstance, what is being allocated to appointed Government Delegates and their deputies be rather directed to mayors and their deputies;

            That the so-called smaller councils with very low Administrative Accounts, especially falling on classes three and four are there not because of any cause of theirs, but simply because the citizens are all exuding to towns and cities because of the hardship in the rural country. It will be sensible for the state to empower these poorer councils to encourage the youths to remain in the villages and get employed by their councils;

            That the Government ensures that all the arrears for mayors and their deputies be calculated as from their being installed into office in October 2013 till date. This is not only being prudent but being just and fair.

The Coordination of Councilors and Mayors of Cameroon look forward to a presidential Decree allocating full salary to the elected municipal councilors who are doing a tremendous work at the base. Anything can happen if these many Cameroonian elected representatives of the people are not taken seriously.

We count on the continuous understanding, clairvoyance and fatherly approach of the head of State, president of the Republic of Cameroon.

DONE IN YAOUNDE, THIS SEVENTEEENTH DAY OF NOVEMBER 2015

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Tribute: In Memory of DR. FRANCIS KEVIN NGWANG GUMNE NATIONAL CHAIRMAN OF SCAPO

BY THE DEPUTY NATIONAL CHAIRMAN OF SCAPO MR AUGUSTINE F. NDANGAM

ON THE OCCASION OF LAYING DR. GUMNE TO REST

Tabeken, Donga Mantung Division, November 21^st, 2015.

Rev. Fathers,

Family members,

Political and Opinion Leaders,

Sympathizers,

Fellow mourners,

The Southern Cameroons People’s Organization (SCAPO) wishes first of all, to convey their condolences to the family of Dr. Francis Kevin Ngwang Gumne on this sad and unexpected event of their National Chairman’s departure home. Dr. Gumne was the National Chairman of The Southern Cameroons People’s Organization (SCAPO) and those who knew him well know that when by the Grace of God he drew his last breath on Saturday 3^rd November 2015, Dr. Gumne did so right in the trenches as a national leader and as a general commanding at the war-front. SCAPO believes that when both the battle and war which Dr. Gumne died fighting in are over, his name will have a well-deserved place on the annals of his country whose freedom and right of self-determination he worked with every ounce of his energy to bring about and did so to the last seconds of this transient life here on earth.

When we describe Dr Gumne as a “General” commanding at the war front and dying in the trenches let no cynic try to misrepresent either Dr. Gumne or SCAPO; and let us be clear: In the war we have been engaged in, we have fired not from the barrel, but from the lips and SCAPO’s battle-field has been the Law courts, both domestic and international. Apart from cynics, there are those who either do not know (or understand) what the Southern Cameroon struggle is all about. There are those who fear because they have been told that it is secession and no one has helped them to know that it is not   secession. Some, even among Southern Cameroonians themselves have characterized it as marginalization and discrimination, watering down a problem of mountain proportion to mole-hills. Dr Gumne has left us but the struggle continues and it will do so along the peaceful and along the lawful approaches which he charted. His death in the trenches with sweat and dust on his face is indeed a source of inspiration and encouragement for us to continue the struggle until the Statehood of Southern Cameroons is restored and freedom for our country is achieved.

On this somber occasion of laying Dr Gumne to rest our reflections turn naturally, not only on Dr. Gumne and his untimely departure from this world, but also on life itself:

-        What is life all about?

     -     Why is it so short?

     -      Is there another life beyond the grave?

The reason we ask these and a similar question is because the one thing which all of us are absolutely certain about life here on earth, is that we must leave it one day. Death is inevitable. A striking tomb stone in a cemetery in Indiana carries this Epitaph: 

“Pause Stranger, when you pass me by,

 As you are now, so once was I.

  As I am now, so you will be,

 So prepare for death and follow me,”

An unknown passer-by read those words and underneath scratched the following two lines:                

    “To follow you I’m not content

    Until I know which way you went.”

The words of this passer-by remind us Christians of the words of Thomas to our Lord Jesus Christ in John 14: 5: “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”  and the reply of Jesus to Thomas was, “I am the way, the truth and the life.”  Dr. Gumne was a committed Christian and Christian faith is anchored on these words by Jesus and though Dr. Gumne has left us we know that he is right now somewhere where Jesus is.

From his deep faith and commitment to God we also know that Dr Gumne would say the same words of faith as those attributed to an ancient and aged astronomer:

         “Though my soul may set in darkness, it will rise in perfect light;

           I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night.”

I worked closely with Dr. Gumne here at home both in the Social Democratic Front (SDF) Party and in the de-annexation struggle of our country the Southern Cameroons. He and I worked closely in the group led by Dr Foncha that founded the Bamenda University of Science and Technology (BUST). He and I travelled together in foreign lands: in Nigeria in the United Kingdom and in the United States of America. The second thing I can say about Dr. Gumne from my closeness to him is that he was a courageous leader and a peaceful man. The peaceful approach which SCAPO has taken in the Southern Cameroons struggle draws from this natural disposition of Dr. Gumne which underscored his good leadership.

On this sad occasion, members of the Southern Cameroons People’s Organization (SCAPO) have asked that I convey to you: Mrs. Roswita Gumne, and the entire Gumne family the fact that they share in your grief and they mourn with you. Henry Longfellow says in one of his memorable poems:

“There is no flock, however watched and tended,

But one dead lamb is there!

There is no fireside, howso’er defended,

But has one vacant chair! …

We see but dimly through the mists and vapours;

Amid these earthly damps,

What seems to us but sad, funeral tappers

May be heaven’s distant lamps.”

While we separate physically with Dr. Gumne, we also recall the words of Rabindranath Tagore: “Death is not extinguishing the light; it is only putting out the lamp because the dawn has come.” May God send out a band of angels to welcome home Dr. Francis Kevin Ngwang Gumne.

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

Drama as Catholic Priest Slumps and Dies During Church Service

Many people were shocked beyond belief when a catholic priest slumped and died on the altar while celebrating mass.

Many were thrown into mourning and confusion in Umuchu town in Aguata local government of Anambra State, southeast Nigeria after their priest slumped on the church altar and died while celebrating mass, PMnews reports.

The priest, Rev Father Emmanuel Idika, slumped at Our Lady of Fatima parish in Umuchu while he was conducting mass. After he slumped, church workers rushed to the altar and took him to a hospital but before doctors could attend to him, he was dead. 

The 82-year-old Idika who hailed from Umunze in Orumba South in Anambra, was posted to the parish after he retired from active priesthood. He volunteered to assist other priests to celebrate mass.

On the day the incident happened, Idika went to the church to conduct mass before he slumped right in front of the congregation.

According to eye witnesses, half way into the service Idika fell down on the altar and became unconscious. The incident threw the congregation into confusion and the mass ended abruptly.

His corpse was later deposited at the Visitation Hospital mortuary in Umuchu. Some of the parishioners who spoke to our correspondent said the late Idika lived a good life throughout the period he was active as a priest. They prayed that God should accept his soul.

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

CPDM Reorganization in Balikumbat: Fuh Calistus Introduces Single Ballot

Balikumbat yesterday November 22, 2015 confirmed its leading position as bastion of the CPDM in the North West Region. This has been proven by the introduction of the single ballot paper at Balikumbat CPDM elections was indicative of the level of maturity of Balikumbat politics. Dr. Fuh Calistus Gentry, Divisional Coordinator of the reorganization process in Ngoketunjia has been applauded for that particular act by militants of the CPDM.

Though allegations were rife at that elections were rigged, classified sources say the single ballot paper prevented voters from taking back waste ballot to exchange for cash. Senator Dingha Ignatius crushed Wasum Augustine to retain the position of Section President for Ngoketunjia III. Madame Cecile, outgoing Section President decried that elections were defranchised to enable Dingha emerged. “Can you imagine my name did not feature on the electoral register”? She wondered aloud. Wasum Augustine’s supporters also decried that the level of intimidation was too high. “They affixed fake names to our names and this is how they succeeded in rigging the votes”, another loyalist to Wasum complained bitterly.

Though Dingha Ignatius got 2228 votes as against 1338 votes for the mayor Wasum, representing 62.5% against 37.5% the battle for the post of Section President was not that easy.

Dingha in one of his joking statements said he is Section President for life and that in the next elections; Wasum could only face one of his sons given that he (Dingha) has proven to be very tough for the later.

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How Councilor Musa Shey Nfor is Impacting Lives with Small Money, Big Change

The Small Money, Big Change initiated by Nkambe council is impacting lives in some constituencies. One of such communities where the project has impacted lives is Nwangri. Thanks to the Small Money, Big Change, Councilor Musa Shey Nfor has been able to construct two bridges and a (road) footpath to ensclave the village. Nchanji Evaristus, said that their councilor has revamped the old days community development spirit which was very instrumental in rural development. “We have two bridges and a road and I think this is laudable”, he said. Popular opinion in Nwangri village holds that the road linking Nchah and Bongenge quarter in Lower Nwangri is a great achievement. Besides, the bridge linking Upper Nwangri to Mbot has been giant step towards the emergence of Nwangri.

However, Musa Shey Nfor, the initiator of the projects says participatory development is what he intends to instill in the community through such projects. To Musa Shey Nfor, participatory development can extensively enhance the efficiency to reduce poverty.  He continued that when citizens develop a sense of ownership of development efforts as a consequence of their engagement in decision making about selecting and executing project activities, results are naturally enhanced and impact more sustainable. “Similarly, when relevant beneficiaries get involved in implementation, the outcomes are usually improved”. Worthy to note through this concept, capacities are built, social capital enhanced, and partnerships between council and villages is improved as people learn by working together in a supportive milieu.

Musa Shey Nfor described Small Money, Big Change as the additional effort geared towards addressing local economic, social, and governance problems that are very significant for each community.

 

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