Senatorial: Who Replaces Late Senator Jikong Stephen in Donga Mantung?

President Paul Biya on Wednesday February 7^th signed the Presidential decree announcing senatorial elections. The decree signed yesterday by the Head of State summoning the Electoral College indicated that senatorial elections will take place on March 25, 2018.

Speculations are high at who will replace late Senator Jikong Stephen Yeriwa as senator for Donga Mantung Division.

Senator Njikong as he was fondly called hailed from Nwa sub division and was among the 70 senators that were elected into Cameroons Upper House of assembly through the ballot box. Having served this country in various capacities starting from a classroom teacher to University don, technical adviser to the Prime Minister, it was painless for him to influence the self-confidence of big wigs of the CPDM party. When his candidature was endorsed to contest for the first ever senatorial elections in the history of Cameroon, everyone was sure he would make a good senator. But God decided otherwise and after his dead, the billion dollar question that occupies the minds of political analysts and politicians especially those of Donga Mantung extraction now is; who will wear the shoes of the late Senator Njikong Stephen Yeriwa as elections have been summoned for March 25, 2018.  Several political parties are likely to present candidates for the elections in Donga Mantung Division.

However, since only councilors are legible for voting, the electoral tussle will likely be between the CPDM and the SDF parties. The Nkambe, Nwa and Misaje councils are managed by the CPDM while the Ako and Ndu councils are managed by the SDF. It should be recalled that in the last senatorial elections only two political parties contested in Donga Mantung Division. The CPDM list headed by late Jikong Stephen won while SDF list that had as substantive late Cheka Gladys lost. With the two substantive candidates now of late, pundits have been wondering on the pedigree of the candidates that the two political parties will enlist at the forthcoming senatorial slated for March 25, 2018.

(UP NEXT: Pedigree of the candidates who will enter into Senator Jikong’s Shoes?)

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Senatorial Elections Slated for March 25, 2018

President Paul Biya

Senatorial elections will take place in Cameroon on March 25, 2018. The Head of state President Paul Biya in a Presidential decree signed on Wednesday February 7, 2018 summoned the Electoral College for March 25^th. The Presidential decree further specifies that voters will convene to the polling stations at 8am and voting shall close at 6pm. This is the second senatorial poll in the history of Cameroon, after the first one that took place in 2013.

 A total number of 70 senators shall be elected while 30 others will be appointed by the head of state. During the last elections the ruling CPDM got 80 senatorial seats of 100 senators against 20 seats for the other four political parties represented at the senate.

Political pundits say except the head of state decides to extend the mandate of members of Parliament and municipal councilors as provided by law, this year 2018, the electoral calendar provides for atleast four elections: the senatorial elections, the legislative and municipal elections and the presidential election. Prospects are high that with the putting in place of the Constitutional Council, the President may also decide to convene the electorate to vote regional representatives. This will be the first time in the history of Cameroon.

 



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Nkambe Town Cooperative Credit Union Takes Stock at 49th AGM

Tarlishi Oliver: President of NKaTCCUL

With a membership of 4,269 as at the day of the Annual General Meeting, the Nkambe Town Cooperative Credit Union LTD (NKaTCCUL) is one of the vibrant microfinance in Donga Mantung Division. The 49^th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Saturday February 3, 2018 was an opportunity for members to take stock, evaluate and make better projections for a fruitful 2018. Addressing members at the Nkambe Community hall, NKaTCCUL President Tarlishi Oliver Yinyu said that the year 2017 just ebbed out ushering another promising financial year for the microfinance. According to Tarlishi Oliver the socio political situation in the North West and South West Regions hampered the credit very negatively as loan payment has dropped and savings have recorded a geometric decrease. This he reiterated has also rendered most of the loans delinquent. “We pray for stability in our region/Cameroon at large this year 2018 so that we record a positive result at the end of the financial year”, he continued.  He however ended with a note of hope when he emphasized that the year 2018 is the third year of NKaTCCUL’s five year strategic development plan which will enable the microfinance to annul all losses incurred since 1968. He used the opportunity to dough a hat to members who save regularly, borrow wisely and repay promptly as well as the administration of of Donga Mantung Division for the enormous contribution to support NKaTCCUL in its strive to alleviate poverty in rural areas.

“I have a dream, I dream that come 2018, NKaTCCUL will stand on her feet and pay a better interest on members’ savings, increase membership, better living standards for her members by alleviating poverty and why not own a building that reflects our standard”.

Matters Arising

 By December 31, 2017 the total amount for shares stood at FCFA 99.387.000 as opposed to FCFA 94.423.000 for 2016 representing an increasing of FCFA 4.964.000 corresponding to 6.6% in relative terms.

On the other hand, Savings stood at FCFA 1.049.686.000 as against FCFA 1.057.763.000 indicating a decrease of FCFA 7.895.000. This is however very critical given that the growth of any microfinance depends on the saving habits of members. Though the delinquency rate and rate of loan payment was not mentioned, the report indicated that loan portfolio dropped from FCFA 756. 570.000 to FCFA 693.636.000. One of the major achievements revealed to members was the acquisition a building known as Fantasia located opposite Guarantee Express in Nkambe.

 



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Miracle! Woman Who Experienced Menopause At Age 11, Gets Pregnant At 30...See How She Did It

 A woman who went through menopause when she was just eleven years old, has finally taken in at the age of 30.

Amanda Lewis

A woman who feared she would never carry a child after going through the menopause aged 11 has revealed she is three months pregnant. 

Amanda Lewis, now 30, is expecting her first child after having IVF treatment using a donor egg and her partner's sperm. 

 The dance teacher, who lives in Nuneaton, revealed her happy news during an appearance on ITV daytime show Lorraine on Wednesday, having previously appeared on the show back in 2009 to talk about her early menopause. 

'I knew I wanted to try the treatment [IVF] but the odds of it not working were very high,' Amanda told Lorraine Kelly.

 'I was very lucky that it worked first time.'   Most women start the menopause between the ages of 45 and 55, but in rare cases it can occur prematurely without an explanation. 

 Amanda explained how, when she met her other half, Tom, she told him 'straight away by text' about her condition.

 'He was fine about it - the way I was building it up he thought it was something a lot more serious,' she told Lorraine.

 Amanda said that he was understanding when she told him they might never be able to conceive a child naturally, adding: 'He said "we can look into it when the time comes", and [told me] not to worry".'

 When the couple decided they were ready to have children, they looked into the possibility of IVF treatment using a donor egg and Tom's sperm. 

'It was on the first attempt - we're very lucky,' Amanda said.

 Amanda said of her first trimester: 'I'm a little bit tired, but everything is okay.

'I knew I wanted to try the treatment but the odds of it not working were very high. I was very lucky that it worked first time.'

 To prepare to carry her child, Amanda had to take hormones to increase the size of her uterus.

 'It was only 2mm thick and it should have been 8mm. But we got it there in a month. [The doctors] were quite surprised.'

 The mother-to-be, who will be monitored closely throughout the duration of her pregnancy, and will continue to take hormones, said that after giving birth she will go through the experience of the menopause all over again. 

 Amanda was just 11 when her weight spiralled and she began to experience extreme mood swings - something that was put down to the onset of puberty at the time. 

 'It was very difficult,' she told Lorraine.

'The biggest thing was the weight gain and my mood swings. I went from a size 8 to 18 in a matter of months and then I just started getting down.'

 It was six months before doctors - alerted by erratic hormone levels evident in Amanda's blood tests - realised she was going through premature menopause - decades before most women start experiencing symptoms. 

 'I went on a mixture of HRT and the pill, they chopped and changed me because I had side effects on one then the other, and that has been on and off since basically,' Amanda said of her years on medication.

After giving birth Amanda will go back on HRT to manage her menopausal symptoms, and will be tested to check the impact pregnancy has had on her bone density. 

 Despite her condition, Amanda is hoping to continue growing her family: 'We have three top-grade embryos in the freezer, so they're all ready to go if we want any more.'

 She joked: 'Maybe not three more but we'll see!' 

 Lorraine added: 'That is incredible what science can do, in the relatively short time since you were diagnosed. You must feel so happy and so blessed despite everything you have gone through?'

 'Yes I do,' Amanda said.

 'It was quite hard to believe it was real until about a month ago but I've just got to try and enjoy it now and not feel stressed about it.'

Source: Daily Mail UK

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Alexis Sanchez Gets 16-Month Prison Sentence

 Spanish law states that the 29-year-old will not have to spend any time in jail and he has agreed to pay the money he owes with interest.

 

Alexis Sanchez

Alexis Sanchez has accepted a 16-month prison sentence for committing tax fraud during his time at Barcelona, although he will not spend time in jail.

The Manchester United forward was accused of defrauding the treasury of €1 million between 2012 and 2013, relating to income from his image rights.

Sanchez has, however, reached an agreement with the prosecutor to pay the money he owes with interest.

Despite the verdict, the Chilean will not spend time in prison as he is a first offender and the sentence is less than two years - which crucially, in Spanish law, prohibits jail time.

The ex-Arsenal star is the latest football figure to be punished by Spanish prosecutors for an apparent dodging of taxes. 

Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Jose Mourinho and Ricardo Carvalho have all been pursued by the authorities recently.

Barcelona star Messi was handed a 21-month jail term in 2016, but managed to exchange it for a €250,000 fine last year, while Mourinho paid to settle his and Carvalho was given a fine and a seven-month sentence.

Real Madrid forward Ronaldo, meanwhile, was accused of owing €14.7m but has protested his innocence in an ongoing case.

 Alexis joined Barcelona from Udinese in 2011 and spent three years with the Catalan side, winning a Liga title as well as the Club World Cup under the guidance of Pep Guardiola.

He left to join Arsenal in 2014 and starred for Arsene Wenger's team until making the shock move to Old Trafford in January in a swap deal for Henrikh Mkhitaryan, despite it having appeared he would be joining Manchester City.

The 29-year-old has made three appearances for Mourinho's side so far, scoring his first goal for his new club in Saturday's 2-0 win over Huddersfield Town.

The Red Devils are currently 13 points behind leaders City after 26 matches and return to action on Sunday when they visit Newcastle United.

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Biya Appoints 11 Members into the Constitutional Council

 President Paul Biya has signed a decree appointing 11 members of the constitutional council. Another decree appoints Atangana Clement, retired Supreme Court judge as President of the Constitutional council. Those appointed to serve as pioneer members for a period of six years include: Emmanuel Mbonde, Joseph Marie Bipoun Woum,  Madame Florence Rita Arrey, Emile Essombe, Paul Nkwi, Jean Baptiste Baskouda, Oumarou Sanda, Lekene Donfack, Akame Foumane and Amadou Tijani

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

Biya Appoints 11 Members into the Constitutional Council

 President Paul Biya has signed a decree appointing 11 members of the constitutional council. Another decree appoints Atangana Clement, retired Supreme Court judge as President of the Constitutional council. Those appointed to serve as pioneer members for a period of six years include: Emmanuel Mbonde, Joseph Marie Bipoun Woum,  Madame Florence Rita Arrey, Emile Essombe, Paul Nkwi, Jean Baptiste Baskouda, Oumarou Sanda, Lekene Donfack, Akame Foumane and Amadou Tijani

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