By
Macdonald Ayang Okumb
Buea Mayor, Patrick Ekema Esunge, is certainly not a
chicken-hearted politician like some thought he was.
 |
| Ekema Poised For Fako III CPDM Section Presidency |
He demonstrated unmitigated effrontery Monday 28
September 2015 by officially declaring his intention to run for the office of
section president of the Fako III section of the ruling Cameroon People’s
Democratic Movement, CPDM in Buea. More than 1,000 persons attended the rally.
Although Ekema’s declaration is at variance with the
wish of some highly placed Fako political elite who have been pushing for a ‘consensus
arrangement’ in the reorganisation exercise in the Division, supporters of the Mayor
have however brushed such consensus talks aside, maintaining that the circular
of the party chairman laying out guidelines for the reorganisation exercise
didn’t talk of such an arrangement.
Such proponents hold that the circular clearly
states the eligibility criteria for the elections, which Ekema meets. Thus, to
them, he has all the political acumen to run for the office, further arguing
that the reorganisation activity is a grassroots exercise which must not be dictated
by the influence of Elite in Yaoundé who also have their own selfish political
interests.
“…Be very vigilant! don’t allow what happened in
2002 in Fako III to repeat itself again. When the time comes, vote for the
person you like…Is Yaoundé Buea?” the second deputy mayor of the Buea council, Lyonga
John Efande, charged, as a mammoth crowd at the CBC field in Mile 16, Bolifamba,
where Ekema officially declared his candidature, responded with deafening
applause.
Several other speakers, most of them sub-section
presidents within the section, then took turns to read out motions of support,
expressing their unwavering support to Ekema. All of them substantiated their
motions calling on Ekema to run for the section presidency with what they said
were the enormous development strides that he has embarked on within the
municipality since he became Mayor.
Representatives of the Buea as well as the Fako
chiefs’ conferences also spoke at the event, promising to throw their unalloyed
support behind Ekema. “…Our son Mayor Ekema has washed his hands clean, so he
can dine with the elders…” Buea Chiefs’ Conference president, His Royal Majesty
Chief Johnson Njoke Njombe, who’s also a councilor of the Buea council, stated.
The about 15 Chiefs who attended the event had poured libations at its start.
Mayor Ekema, who was the last person to speak, said
it was with delight that he decided to respond to the call from militants of
the 30 sub-sections of the party in Buea, calling on him to put forward his
candidature. He expressed his readiness to go in and work for the good of the
people and the party. As to why he chose mile 16 to declare, he simply quipped:
“This is my political base.” He then urged the people to stay calm and be
vigilant given the current trends of insecurity in the country, adding that
whenever party boss, Paul Biya, would give the green light for campaigns, he’ll
be back to do so.
Ekema’s declaration now means there are two
contenders; himself and one David Mafany Namange; given that incumbent, Senator
Mbella Moki, had long stepped aside.
Going by the consensus arrangement piloted by the
“big Fako Elite”, the likes of incumbent section president, Senator Charles
Mbella Moki as well as Mayor Patrick Ekema, who are all elected officials,
shouldn’t have postulated for the position.
To them, the consensus ought to have settled on Mafany
Namange, whom they believe, has enough party experience, coupled with his
youthful dynamism. But this latest trend of events means there’ll be a
veritable political match to watch. Let the kick-off begin.
No comments:
Post a Comment