How Mbella Moki Played His Way To Retain SW Fecafoot Presidency

By Macdonald Ayang Okumb

      The road was long, tension was high, the battle was fierce, but finally the outcome is known. Senator Charles Mbella Moki would steer South West football until 2019.

Senator  Charles Mbella Moki: Until 2019

      This, as he emerged victorious in the regional Fecafoot elections of Monday 14 September in Buea, shrugging off somewhat stiff competition from challenger, Barrister Nkongho Felix, known by the sobriquet as Agbor Balla. The incumbent secured six of the 10 available votes which were just enough to give him victory.

The genesis

      The race began just shortly after the regional elections of 7 November 2014 were annulled by the conciliation and arbitration chamber of the national Olympic and sports committee; a decision that was backed by the Lausanne-based Court of Arbitration for Sports.

     Those elections had Mbella Moki and Agbor Balla as contestants and the Electoral College was 13. Mbella beat Balla by seven votes to six then. And so when the polls were eventually invalidated, ground works immediately began in anticipation of whenever same elections would be conducted again.

Change and how to get it

      While Mbella, who has been at the helm of South West soccer since 2002, continued with his groundwork with the advantage of an insider, other stakeholders were poised to see change. Their plan was to see him voted out.     True it is that wanting change is one thing and knowing how to go about achieving such is a different ball game. Top on the minds of these proponents of change was who would be the most suitable candidate to challenge Mbella.     

       This became an issue because some club presidents posited that Mbella was able to win last year because he never had veritable opposition from Balla who was considered a wet nose in football politics. Some observers however sharply disagree with this assertion laying claims on the results from the ballot box (7-6).

      So the issue this year was to get another candidate other than Balla. And the name that was likely to emerge was that of Little Foot football club president, Protus Nouck. But this dream would not come true as the normalisation committee of Fecafoot in Yaoundé declared him ineligible to vote; not even his appeal to get him self in the Electoral College was considered.  Finally, it had to be the rematch of last year – Mbella Moki vs. Agbor Balla.

On the road to Sept. 14

       The road was a long and slippery one. Evidently, there were schemes, manipulations and several meetings of cliques and factions with both candidates struggling to lure the 10 voters to their side. The underground works went so deep that at some point, the national Fecafoot candidate and former Secretary General of the same body, Tombi A Roko Sidiki was in Buea where he held closed-door meetings with some actors.

       Tombi refused to speak to press men after one of such meetings, but his coming to Buea left the interpretation that he was clearly throwing his weight behind Mbella Moki’s re-election bid so he could secure regional delegates for him (Tombi) during the federal conclave on 28 September in Yaounde.

       Behold, this speculation became true as Tombi was again in Buea on the eve of last Monday’s election where he reportedly influenced some voters to vote for Mbella Moki. According to Agbor Balla who eventually lost, some of the voters had to deal with undue pressure from here and there. He also regretted the fact that there was so much horse-trading.

Election Day and outcome

       The tension around the elections premises (Capitol Hotel Buea) was so perceptible as a huge crowd of observers thronged in to find out for themselves what would happen. Before business began, the two candidates were understandably nervy as each of them moved about the hotel premises fidgeting with their phones. Delegates who were to vote were also spotted chatting in cliques. More than 30 press men who were present were keen on not missing out on even the most infinitesimal of details.

       Members of the electoral commission soon arrived and opened the curtains on the day’s business. Commission chairman, Prof Ephraim Nde Ngwafor, made his opening remarks, in which he called on the two candidates not to see the excercise as some form of war. He said who ever would win would do so for the interest of the game. Observers and press men were then expelled from the auditorium for the election proper.

       A few hours after, thunderous jubilation burst out, after presumably, some one inside the hall texted a friend outside that Mbella Moki had won. Few minutes later, the electoral commission then officially declared the results. When Mbella Moki emerged from the hall, he was greeted with deafening applause as he, in his traditional attitude, intermittently raised his both hands and looked up to the skies. He them granted an interview, promising to take football in the south west to another level.

       Agbor Balla on his part said the voting was free and fair but the entire electoral process was beset with influence peddling, backs-stabbing and horse-trading. He also criticised the heavy presence of the administration, which he said, was intimidating. However, he pledged his readiness to work with the team that won because his interest is the wellbeing of football in the region.

So what next?

     After the regional elections, what football observers now look up to are the federal elections slated for 28 September 2015. However, before then, they will also have to wait for the outcome of a hearing on September 17 bearing on a complaint lodged by Abdouraman Babah at the conciliation and arbitration chamber of the national  Olympic and sports commission asking for the invalidation of the August 5 2015 general assembly that adopted Fecafoot statutes and its electoral code.

     If the hearing goes in favour of Abdouraman, then we would be back to square one as all the regional elections of September 14 would have been conducted in vain. If otherwise, then the federal election of the 28 will hold, and which we hear Mbella Moki has great interest in.

    If information we have is anything to go by, then Mbella Moki wants to use the position of South West Regional president only as a bridge to cross over and get himself fitted in the national Fecafoot Bureau, which bookmakers bet would be won by ‘insider’ Tombi A Roko who reportedly backed him at the regional level. Game on, let’s watch!

Fako III YCPDM: 'Strong' Candidate Emerges To Replace Motomby Mbome

/By Macdonald Ayang Okumb/

Mbua Isaac Embola: Poised For A Showdown

     The reorganisation process of basic organs of the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement, the CPDM party, is already gathering steam in the Fako III section of the party in Buea.

     And young people seem to be taking the lead as two candidates have already made public their intentions of running for the YCPDM presidency in the section to replace Emmanuel Motomby Mbome who reportedly is quitting for bigger ambitions.

     First to overtly declare his intention was a young business man, Franklin Njie, who hails from the Lysoka area in Buea; while recently, it was the turn of yet another dynamic young man, Isaac Mbua Embola, from the BONAVADA community, from where erstwhile Prime Minister, Mafany Musonge, hails.

     Mbua Embola stated his intention recently at a heavily-attended ceremony to close a holiday football tournament in the BONAVADA area.  Embola, who works at the Prime Minister’s Office as an Assistant Research Officer (Chargé D’Etudes Assistant) told the mostly youthful crowd about his ambitions.

     “My strength in life has always been to render service to humanity. And I have been doing this in diverse ways; in my community and the country as a whole. At the party level, I’ve been groomed under the hands of so many political leaders. I have been at the sub-section level for 10 years now and I think that it’s time for me to climb up the ladder...” he stated.

     “I have a mastery of the terrain and I think that the team I am coming up with will be one to reckon with” Embola boasted. A reliable source hinted us that he is overwhelmingly backed by some highly placed Fako Elite for the position as he enjoys cordial ties with them as a rising politico. However, the guidelines sanctioning the reorganisation process don't allow the 'big shots' in Yaounde to directly influence the electoral process.

     Addressing the population, Embola also explained that some political Elite in Fako III have greatly influenced him. His words: “I have been involved in offering scholarships, school aid, and other interventions. I have had the opportunity to be with some of the big guns around and I have learnt their patriotic spirit towards community development. It’s something I admire so much and will also like to leave my footprints on the sands of time.”

     On security challenges facing the country, Embola, who recently undertook a course in anti-terrorism strategies in China, said the youth have a crucial role to play. Hear him: “Every youth has to stand firmly behind our Head of State to give him our support. You know that when you have support from young people, you can succeed in any endeavour as a leader. We have to be vigilant and denounce every suspect by collaborating with the forces of law and order.”

     Isaac Mbua has held positions in the CPDM  at the grassroots level since 2000 and has been ‘chargé de mission’ of the party on several occasions for Fako III, namely; during the 2011 presidential elections, 2013 senatorial elections and the twin elections of September 2013, just to mention these.

     Being a Civil Administrator from ENAM, the 33 year-old has also undertaken short courses in India, China and Italy in the domains of employment promotion and economic development, international humanitarian law and anti-terrorism strategies.

Charles Mafany BONAVADA Football Tourney Ends Big

/By Macdonald Ayang Okumb/

     A holiday football tournament sponsored by a 25-year old youth from the BONAVADA area in Buea, south west Cameroon, rounded up in grand style last Sunday. One Love FC thrashed Big Brothers FC 5-2 to lift the blue ribbon.

     A heavily-attended ceremony to officially close the championship took place at the community field in Upper Bokova, the village of ex-Prime Minister, now Senator Peter Mafany Musonge.

Cup Donor Charles Mafany (second from R) Keenly watches Men's Final

     The tournament was worth over FCFA 500, 000 and was aimed at not only unravelling local footballing talents but also gainfully occupied the youths during the just-ended long summer holidays.

     The donor, Charles Mafany, said he was grateful that the football festival successfully unfolded to its logical end. He thanked the youths and entire population of BONAVADA for their support and promised to do more next year.

     Not only were prizes dished out to meritorious players and team officials, school materials as well as scholarships were equally given out to some students and pupils in the area.

     Next year’s edition is expected in June or July.

    13 villages, it should be noted, constitute the BONAVADA area and they include; Upper Bokova ( Senator Musonge’s village), Bokulu, Bokwai (Village of CDC GM) Bonganjo, Boteva, Bova I, Bova II, Bwiteva, Bwitingi, Ewonda, Mwangai and Upper Bolifamba. 

Buea Varsity VC Says 2015 GCE English Language Results ‘Horrible’

/By Macdonald Ayang Okumb/

      The Vice-Chancellor, VC, of the University of Buea, UB, Prof. Nalova Lyonga, has described as ‘horrible’, the percentage pass of students in English Language both at the Ordinary and Advance Levels of this year’s GCE session.

      She made this remark recently in Buea at a ceremony to launch two literary books written by the Chairman of the GCE Board, Prof. Peter Alange Abety.

What's wrong with English Language at the GCE, Mr. Registrar?

     The percentage pass at the Ordinary Level was 25% while at the Advance Level where English was written for the very first time as an independent subject, the percentage pass of students stood at 9%.

    Prof. Nalova Lyonga, herself boasting a fine mastery of the queen’s language, wondered how the students are able to pass in other subjects when they cannot perform well in English Language which is the communication currency of the exams.

     The VC thus saw Prof. Abety’s books as timely as she believed they’d go along way in helping students improve on their English language performance in the GCE as from next year.

The book Launch proper

     The event took place at the Buea mountain hotel and was an avenue where the literary intelligentsia was rallied. The two books are titled; “The Final First Step” and “An Approach to Poetry Appreciation.”

     The first is a collection of 86 finely written poems constituted into six parts in which the poet lambastes certain societal ills including corruption, moral decay, hypocrisy, laziness, and the vanity of wealth, to name a few.

     The other is a comprehensive guide for Literature and English language students, which according to the author, would assist enormously in leveraging students’ poetry appreciation capabilities.

      UB’s Arts Faculty Dean, Prof. Nol Alembong, who reviewed the books, sustained that the author’s use of variety in his books make for interesting reading.

      The UB VC, who together with Prof. Abety, were mentored by Prof. Bernard Fonlon in their university days in Yaounde, said the literati was excited to get one of the best writers in Prof Abety. She noted that he does fine poetry because his poetry has rhythm.

      To her, the books would not only be useful to GCE candidates but also to university students. That’s why she promised to buy hundreds of copies of the books for the UB library as well as announced her intention to make them Course books in some departments of the institution.

      Earlier, the Deputy Registrar of the GCE Board in charge of Examinations, Denis Ndasi Mofor, had promised to buy several copies of the books for the Board’s library and added that they were also going to look for possibilities of including the books in their prospectus.

      The Secretary General at the South West Governor’s Office, Clement Fon Ndikum presided over the event. And the kernel of his advice was for parents to encourage their children to grow up to be those of a generation that loves to read.

Tons Of Rotten Fish Seized In Buea

/By Macdonald Ayang Okumb/

      Huge crowds gathered at the Great Soppo neighbourhood last Thursday 13 August in Buea when several tons of fish, not deemed fit for human consumption, were seized from two cold store owners in Buea.

      The fish was withdrawn from one of the CONGELCAM sales points as well as a cold store known as the “Mount Cameroon Cold Store.”

      The seizure was effected within the framework of routine visits to such business premises by officials of the Regional Delegation of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Husbandry, MINEPIA.

     The Regional Delegate of MINEPIA, Cecilia Chiawa, the Divisional Officer for Buea, Paul Kouam Wokam, plus security officials constituted the team that cracked down on the unscrupulous frozen foods dealers.

      Officials said the stock of fish that was seize, most of which was already rotten, could pose a huge health risk to consumers if the dealers eventually sold it.

     The seized stock of fish was poisoned and set afire and the remains carefully buried so that no one could surreptitiously lay hands on them for consumption.

      The Delegate also told the press that they had collected photocopies of documents of the defaulters and that warning letters would be served them in the days ahead with he possibility of further sanctions if such an ill-intentioned act repeated itself.

     We gathered that it was the second time this year that such rotten frozen fish was scooped out of the mount Cameroon cold store by MINEPIA officials.

     One of the victims who spoke to media men tried to sink his shame by parrying the blame to the constant electricity power cuts in Buea.  He further justified that his cooler in which the fish was kept developed a fault and it could not be repaired in time because the technician was far way from Buea.

     The population was therefore reminded of the need to be vigilant when purchasing frozen foods.