Buea-Cameroon: Mayor Ekema hatched plans to frustrated Ghost Towns fails bigly

With the economic loses of the Ghost Town Operations currently observed every Monday and Tuesdays in the North West and South West Regions estimated at Billions of FCFA, the municipal commander of the Buea council, Mayor Ekema Patrick Esunge had outline his strategic plan aim at disrupting the planned Ghost Town Operations for today Monday and tomorrow Teusday, 31.January 2017.

Besides the holding of public meetings and media outings to dissuade the people of his Municipality from involving in this civil disobedience, Ekema Patrick had  sealed shops of business structures within the Municipal markets as well as structures within the Build Operate Transfer, BOT, scheme of the Buea Council that are closed during the Ghost Town days.

With intra and inter-city transport being an important asset that aids massively in fueling up the Ghost Town Operation and in a bid to further compound the moves of the protesters, the Mayor swung into action last Tuesday after authorization from his supervisory authority to purchase 100 township taxis, twelve of which have already been acquired.The taxi deal became a big failure as Buea denisends all stayed at home today.The Anglophone consortium as well sent out warnings for the public to distance themselves from the cabs which were suspected of being wiretaped to arrest those discussing the crisis while onboard

The original plans were for the Buea Council – owned taxis to function during subsequent ghost town operations, previous occasions of which have had the city of Buea like others in the Anglophone Regions totally grounded forces denizens of the town to go on foot.
During the shop sealing operation in the Buea Town market, at the peak of the ghost town on Tuesday 24th January 2017, Ekema Patrick and the Divisional Officer of Buea, Kouam Wokam Paul, accompanied by a crack team of the Municipal Police and agents of the national security, sealed every stall that was found closed.

The Municipal Administrator vouched to only open the shop when the ghost town is brought to a definitive end. He promised to extend the operation to all markets within the municipality including structures within the Build-Operate-Transfer scheme, which he said ought to ensure the economic boom of the Buea Municipality for which it was intended.

The Mayor frowned at the reluctance of such business operators despite the reassurance given by the state on the firm security measures taken to safeguard all persons and their property during this time of upheaval. He vowed that the Council is now taking its responsibility to ensure order and cause business persons to go about their day to day activities normally, already tagging future defiant individuals as accomplices in the civil disobedience.

For the 100 township taxis some of which have already been acquired, Mayor Ekema told the press Wednesday that the venture was in response to the fervent plea of a faction of the population of Buea has lodged to him, expressing their ardent desire to re-kick their day to day activities normally but are prevented from doing so by the absence of circulation during ghost towns and threats from some faceless hoodlums.

Concortium leader mark Bareta in regards to the Taxi deal posted this on his Facebook wall ON mONDAY; 30.01.2017;

Of Colonial Mayor Ekema.

We have given him enough attention already. Just so you know, his so called 20 taxis were circulating empty in Buea. Those driving it are becoming bored because our people in Buea are indoors. Buea Denizens say they will stay indoors and not board any taxis. I think we have given this nonentity enough attention. As far as we are concerned from today, he is a persona non grata. He is not a threat because no one can be a threat against the people. Let us allow Ekema to the forces and gods to deal with him. He is history to this struggle henceforth. Forget him.

Ekema revealed that all attempts he and higher authorities have taken to dialogue with township taxis syndicates for their activities to regain steam have failed woefully, reason for which the Council has resorted to acquiring 100 taxis. Besides the intent to handle the present crisis, Mayor Ekema also proffered as a rationale for the purchase of 100 taxis the need to boost the collection of revenue of the Buea Council as well as create employment opportunities for the denizens of Buea.

The Guardian Post learnt that the current moves of the Mayor of Buea have been saluted by the administration of Fako, that of the South West Region as well as Yaounde authorities who see this as a major step to ending the crisis.