Politics

Three Ministers and a Special Advisor are still living at Hôtel Mont Febe in Yaounde, 11 months after President Biya appointed them.

Biya appointed the officials on October 11, 2015 through Decree No. 2015/434 of October 2, 2015; they are the Minister of External Relations, Lejeune Mbella Mbella, the Minister of Secondary Education, Jean Ernest Massena Ngalle Bibehe, and the Minister Delegate at the Presidency in charge of the Supreme State Control, Mrs. Rose Mbah Acha.

Also still lodging at Hotel Mont Febe is the Former Government Delegate to Bertoua Urban Council, Dieudonné Samba, who was appointed as Special Adviser to the President.

The Post learnt that the four dignitaries are still cooped at Hôtel Mont Febe because the Minister of State Property and Land Tenure, Mrs. Jacqueline Koung à Bessike, has not allocated to them state-owned houses.

We gathered that the Minister has not been able to find suitable houses for these personalities because Government lacks houses to lodge its members. Tutu Muna Refuses To Quit

In a related story, The Post learnt that Mrs. Koung à Bessike allocated to the new Minister of External Relations the mansion where ex-Minister of Arts and Culture, Ama Tutu Muna, was lodged at Bastos.

But Muna reportedly refused to leave, claiming that she had made arrangements to buy the house.

According to reports, Tutu Muna reportedly said she had already started paying for the house hence; it had become her private property.

When the Minister tried to mount pressure for Muna to quit the house, Muna reportedly wrote a complaint to the Presidency where she ‘has a powerful contact’, forcing the Minister of State Property and Land Tenure to drop the issue.

Meanwhile, the four senior state officials had been living outside Yaounde before their appointment.

Mbella Mbella who was Cameroon’s Ambassador to France, was living in Paris; Ngalle Bibehe was based in Douala as an economic operator; Mrs. Rose Mbah Acha was the President of the Regional Administrative Court of the Northwest, living in Bamenda and Dieudonne’ Samba was part based in Bertoua.

These officials are said to be going through tough times, living in the hotel. For one thing, they have been separated from their families for 11 months now.

On the other hand, Hôtel Mont Febe is not lodging the dignitaries for free. A suit at the hotel costs over FCFA 150.000.

Even if the hotel has to make a reduction for long stay, it would not bill the Government less than FCFA 500,000 a day for the foursome.

Gov’t Houses For Grabs

Some years ago, Government constructed many houses in Yaounde at high-class quarters like Bastos, Mballa 11 and ‘Quartier Generale’, among others.

But it turned out that Government officials lodged in these houses later grabbed the facilities with the complicity of some corrupt officials in the Ministry of State Property and Land Tenure.

These dubious tenants-turned-landlords claim that they bought those state owned houses, even though officially, those houses were not constructed for sale.

It has in fact been a big racket in high places, by which some senior state officials share to themselves state properties. They allegedly bought some of the houses for as cheap as FCFA 10 million.

Marafa’s Case

The Government, for example, reportedly spent over FCFA 100 million to build a mansion close to the Gendarmerie Headquarters (SED) in Yaounde.

That house was allocated to the former Secretary General at the Presidency and former Minister of State for Territorial Administration, Marafa Hamidou Yaya.

The former Minister, who jailed at SED for embezzlement of funds, ‘bought’ that mansion.

Some sources claim that Marafa bought the house for a meager FCFA 10 million. This kind of mafia goes for Government vehicles.

For instance, it may buy a brand new Land Cruiser for a Ministry at over FCFA 50 million. But after barely two or three years, a Minister will compensate one of his loyal collaborators by ‘dashing’ him the vehicle for a small amount of FCFA 5 million or even FCFA 3 million.

Source:Cameroonpost

Details

Rita Akana

10.Sep.2016

Hits: 5200

On Sunday, September 4, SDF National Chairman, Ni John Fru Ndi, received some 800 new converts who decamped from the CPDM and the National Union for Democracy and Progress, NUDP.

The leader of the CPDM from Batibo, Mrs. Justine Atud, UNDP leader from Batibo, Edwin Keyaka and the CPDM team leader from Nwa, Elhajid Usmanu Magaji, said they decided to join the SDF because it has a bright future including the achievements registered this far both in parliament and councils.

The CPDM delegation from Nwa in Donga-Matung said deceit, lies telling, blackmail and neglect pushed them to decamp to the SDF.

“For over 30 years, CPDM top notches have been telling us President Biya will pay us a visit in Nwa. This has never happened.

Biya is growing too old to brave it to Nwa before God calls him home; but his opponent, Fru Ndi, has been to Nwa several times, slept there, ate and drank with his militants and he knows what we are going through. So, if we have turned our backs on the CPDM, nobody should blame us,” Usmanu Magaji said.

The Vice President of the National Assembly, Hon. Joseph Mbah Ndan, described the new SDF recruits as the finest and most reliable militants who are out for real political business.

“In the SDF, we debate, quarrel and remain focused always. This is where democracy triumphs. You are on the right path,” Hon. Mbah Ndam said.

The new SDF District Chairman for Batibo, Maurice Woriwum Mbah, expressed joy that the party is growing in leaps and bounds in Batibo.

“We have integrated all of you today, and there is still enough space for Doubting Thomases,” said Woriwum Mbah.

Earlier while welcoming the converts at his Ntarinkon residence in Bamenda, Fru Ndi praised them for their courage as he preached discipline.

“We are a people with a vision to build this country when we take over power. As such, we cannot afford to be unruly.

In the SDF, which you have willingly, from the bottom of your hearts, come to join, indiscipline is not tolerated.

You came on your own and we have opened our doors and arms so that we progress in nation building,” Fru Ndi noted and invited the leaders who resigned to attend upcoming NEC meeting as observers.

Cameroonpost

Details

Rita Akana

09.Sep.2016

Hits: 2721

Details

Rita Akana

07.Sep.2016

Hits: 4134

The dust is yet to settle on the much talk about disputed presidential election in Gabon. The election did not only attract international observers, it was closely monitored by Cameroonians who took keen interest in the pre elections, elections and post elections. In fact Gabon is the second country after Cote d’Ivoire (2010-2011) whose presidential elections kept Cameroonians divided over who becomes the next president.

Gabon and Cameroon: Two Countries, same culture

A number of factors including geopolitical, linguistic and socio-economic aspects played a major role in the attention. Geographically Gabon is located just south of Cameroon, hence making movement to and from Gabon very easy. Many Cameroonian businessmen sell their goods in Gabon; several others live there and have established empires.
The people speak one language and have almost same way of life, even though many have been quick to say Gabonese are lazy.

Ali Bongo Ondimba, son of late president, Omar Bongo whose stay in power and long standing friendship with Paul Biya, made them birds of the same feathers. Paul Biya is seen as the political god father to Ali Bongo whom his father before dying is said to have told Mr Biya that he should take care of his son.

Cameroonian media also played a huge role in the elections, reporting live and setting the agenda, giving rendezvous to homes .Elections in Gabon now became a must watch event thanks to the afore mentioned aspects.

But Cameroon Concord noticed that away from these aspects, they were more issues that made the elections unprecedented in the history of Gabon’s presidential polls.

Enter Ping and The Ping Pong Game

Perhaps what made the elections more interesting were the men who stood as candidates. The fact that Jean Ping, former AU chairman had succeeded to bring closer to him former prime minister , Casmir Oye Mba and former National Assembly Speaker, Guy Nzouba who are forces to reckon with. Jean Ping was seen as the man who will put an end to the Bongo dynasty by stopping Ali Bongo from winning a second term. Majority of Gabonese therefore paid less attention to the Chinese origin of Mr Ping to give a sanction vote against Bongo, whom they think incarnates the Bongo dynasty, a name they want to erase from their dictionary. The opposition coalition led by Ping brought fears within the PDG of Mr Bongo who was forced to cancel the Franksville campaign.

But Ping began his Ping-Pong game when he unilaterally announced his victory even before official results from CENAP, the country’s electoral commission. Ping will the next day explain to the press what he meant by his declaration which was already seen as a speech geared at fuelling violence.

The attempt by Ping to also bring foreign forces into Gabon to make him win by hook or crook shows how desperate he was to have power at 73, his telephone discussion with Ivorian adviser at the presidency, MAMADI Diane, has widely gained him the title, Sellout Even if Mr Ping had won the elections, his call on the international community and his allegiance towards France goes without saying that he is the candidate of the international community.

Mr Ping was equally caught in his own cobweb when he was reminded how in 2011 when he was still the AU Chairman, he refused a recount of the Ivorian polls despite calls from Gbagbo, saying it will be injustice to Ouattara who according to him had won.
This international community, especially France which has been at the origin of several presidential choices has gone into work since the results were disputed. French Television have been shamelessly portraying Gabon as a failed state and going as far as saying Ali Bongo is not from Gabon, that he stole the polls. What power does France have to ask for a recount of votes in Gabon or any other African Country?

Even though it is very evident that Ali Bongo might have rigged the elections in his favour, especially in his home city Haut Ougue, with startling results of 99.98% of participation, only compared to North Korean elections, the fact that the dynamic president whose 7 year development program has beaten the over 40 years spent by his father, did not or not openly solicited help from France gives him more support than someone who has put Gabon on Sale.

Ali Bongos victory however came to confirm that it is very difficult and will remain difficult to beat an incumbent from the Central African sub region. Sit tight leaders who will use any means to rig elections. Gabon just like Cameroon, Congo, Chad and Equatorial Guinea have beaten records for longest serving presidents in Africa starting from late Omar Bongo to Paul Biya.

Details

Prince Hanson Nfor

06.Sep.2016

Hits: 2948

The 2016 voter registration exercise in Cameroon is now history as it officially wrapped up yesterday August 31, at midnight in all the ELECAM Council Branches in the country as prescribed by Section 74 (1) and (2) of the Electoral Code. Elections Cameroon local branches in Yaounde witnessed unprecedented turnout of last minute electors who thronged registration centres planted in major road junctions in the capital city such as Rondpoint Nlongkak, Carrefour Obili, Terminus Minboman and Omnisport amongst others .

At the Casino Supermarket area of the Central Post Office Roundabout, seven Biometric registration kits were mounted, representing the seven sub-divisions of Mfoundi Division. Apart from the registration pool downtown Yaounde, ELECAM Council branches in the different sub-divisions have all deployed staff to road junctions in their respective areas. In addition to these, the Mfoundi Divisional Branch Head, Florent Léopold Ehongo Bessala, told Cameroon Tribune that a mobile caravan equipped with public address system was also used to attract potential electors in the neighbourhoods. 

The last day’s itinerary, he stated, was communicated through the media, pasted in public administrative buildings and Councils reminding Cameroonians to register before the deadline August 31 midnight. “Turnout in all the registration points was massive”, he noted. Emmanuel Atok, one of the electors who registered yesterday told Cameroon Tribune he did not want to miss the opportunity to enrol on the voters’ list.

In the Yaounde VI Council area, for instance, the Head of the Council Branch told Cameroon Tribune that the turnout had been impressive in makeshift registration centres in Carrefour GP Melen and in Mendong neighbourhoods. By press time, ELECAM Board members in the Centre Region were in the different council areas of Mfoundi to assess voter registration exercise on the last day. Mfoundi Division has registered more than 55,000 new voters since the start of the revision exercise on January 2, 2016.

Cameroon Tribune

Details

Rita Akana

01.Sep.2016

Hits: 5281

 Hundreds, including the 15 Southern Cameroons National Council, SCNC activists, arrested almost two months ago and charged with illegal assembly, protested at the Buea Court of First Instance, South West Region, on August 30 2016.

The protests were sparked off outside the court premises when the judges made what was described by the defense counsels, led by Senior Bar Council member, Barrister Nkea Emmanuel, as attempts at delaying  justice. People identified as family members of the suspected detainees,curious onlookers  and hundreds of activists who reportedly traveled from different parts Cameroon, West of the Mungo, to witness the trial, joined the protests.

With placards, some of which read “Freedom of Association,” Freedom of Speech,” security forces mounted heavy guard around the court premises, as close to 50 lawyers defended the activists. 

The presiding Magistrate, heading a college of three, Mrs Beatrice Nambangi apparently viewing the mounting tension and pressure reportedly upheld the preliminary objection of the defense. She however  put the accused at the disposal of the legal department.

 The lawyers argued that the suspects were charged under the old penal code which had been repealed on the 12 July 2016 ,when the new code was promulgated and was already in force.

Though the State Prosecutor reportedly tried to impress on the Court with the argument that they were not yet in possession of the new code, the Learned Judge sent the accused to the legal department for them to be charged under the new penal code. Lawyers simply stated that it was not the role of the Court to send them back to the legal department as the Court was now acting like a party in the proceedings.

While the activists were reportedly almost threatening not to be taken back to jail, the lawyers put up stiff resistance at the State Counsel’s office, demanding that the matter be simply thrown out of court. One of the respected voices in the clamour for the Independence of Ambazonia (former UN Trust Territory of the British Southern Cameroons under the UK, ) veteran  politician, senior citizen and statesman,  Mola Njoh Litumbe, during the mounting tension was spotted, appealing for calm, confident in the lawyers.

The State Counsel  finally granted bail to all the 15 Southern Cameroons National Council , SCNC activists, and adjourned the matter to September 5, 2016.
According to Cheveing Scholar, Barrister Ajong Stanislus the case has no merit and would have supposed to be dismissed. “The court had ruled that the accused were charged under a non-extant law, the substance of the preliminary objection of the defense. It was simply logical for the matter to be dismissed,” he said.

To many observers present at the Buea Court of First Instance, this August 30 2016, the release of the activists was greatly due to the mobilization of Southern Cameroonians and activists. It is reported that more than 25 of the lawyers traveled from different parts of the country to join those of the South West, to defend the activists.

Details

Solomon Amabo

31.Aug.2016

Hits: 6696