Walter Wilson Nana
Buea, Cameroon
The victory of the CPDM in Buea at the September 30 twin elections has orchestrated another intra-party battle as to who becomes Mayor of that Council.
The battle is so rugged that there are allegations of camps intimidating and threatening each other, even with the use of guns, if a particular Councilor-elect is not voted Mayor.
An atmosphere of uneasiness and mutual suspicion now looms over CPDM militants as they await the election of the Mayor of Buea Council come Tuesday, October 15 2013.
Dr. Amos Namanga Ngongi, Councilor-elect, Buea
The cracks left behind by the party’s Investiture Committee resurfaced after the victory at the twin elections, in spite of the numerous efforts made by the party’s hierarchy to mend the strained relationship between militants.
Trapped in this political miasma, five camps emerged within the party, one led by Patrick Esunge Ekema, another by Hannah Etonde Mbua, Dr. Amos Namanga Ngongi heading one, another led by Evans Evambe and the fifth championed by Chief David Ikome Molinge of Upper Muea, all claiming legitimacy over their candidatures.
Chief Molinge, one of the candidates, affirms that there is tension and that Councilors-elect are living in fear.
“Some Councilors think that the sitting Mayor should be maintained, while others hold that it should be the head of the list,” he stated.
According to Molinge, there is bribery, corruption, blackmail, backstabbing, threat to life and other gimmicks coming from one group to the other.
“Some Councilors-elect say that if people joke with them, they will shoot people on their feet, come Tuesday, October 15. I have never seen where politicians have gone to that extent,” he lamented.
Chief David Ikome Molinge, Councilor elect, Buea
Molinge said he has drawn the attention of the administration in the Southwest Region to the ongoing atmosphere in Buea.
Dr. Amos Namanga Ngongi, another Councilor-elect, said he is looking forward to the October 15 election of the Mayor with optimism, adding that; “We look forward to a credible team to be put together to run the affairs of Buea and in a collective manner.”
He said the 41 Councilors-elect are potential Mayors and deputies, which, according to him, should not be a surprise to anybody.
“People are quarrelling; there are squabbles here and there. To me, that is not the issue. On Tuesday, October 15, these issues will be resolved. There is no need to build on any tension, threats and any disturbance. We should not spoil a rather good election process,” he said.
He declined commenting on allegations that some Councilors-elect and their supporters are said to be carrying guns around and threatening people.
“Buea is a gentleman’s place; those are not issues to bandy around. If there are, then, we have competent security officials to handle the situation,” he said.
Ngongi enjoined the population to be calm and allow the Councilors to do their job.
Meantime, interim Mayor and Councilor-elect, Patrick Ekema, told iCameroon that he is unaware of the allegations being made that there is tension, threat to life, bribery and corruption.
According to Ekema, Tuesday will give everybody the verdict of who becomes the Mayor of Buea and that any person making unfounded allegations on his person and name will face him in court.
