Buea Mayor: Victim of Social Disapprobation Or Of Political Distraction

BY KINGSLEY AKO

Certain facts type of history orient very sound minds towards some type of ideal picture about human life. The case of President Bill Clinton, the  former head of state of the U.S.A readily comes to mind. A stage – managed war of calumny was waged against him as to his flirtatious life before this post of responsibility. A few journalists had been motivated by his political detractors to interview his former girl friend in order to put his overwhelming dignity into disrepute, thus throwing his private and emotional life into the political bonfire.

This hitherto unknown lady, all of a sudden emerged from the blues to attract public attention across the national territory and international media. Indeed, the matter was blown out of proportion with an aim at unhorsing Mr. Clinton from the saddle of power. These detractors totally ignored what havoc this overdeveloped scandal would cost his marital life. Fortunately for him, Madam Clinton is a level-headed and emotionally time-tested wife who rather scornfully ridiculed journalists when they accosted her over the issue. She simply responded that she had all along loved her husband because of this flirtatious nature in him. This closed the matter in its entirety, with shame hovering on detractors.

However, one pertinent point became note-worthy. Like the adage goes,  ̋However the bush rages with fire, the chameleon does not change its strides”. So it is that Mr. Bill Clinton braved all the waves of socio-political attack in complete taciturnity. Political strategists, albeit rivals in the Republican Party, who had hoped to take advantage of any lapses in his responses to the press, felt seriously disappointed and frustrated. All this while, Bill Clinton remained unperturbed whatsoever, a proof of the stolid and confident mind of true leaders. He had abided to the popular adage: ‘’ Only hold your tongue and you can hold anything else.”  Eventually he campaigned for his second tenure of office as President and won with a clear majority. And the Republicans who had stage – managed this scandal sank even farther into oblivion.

So it is that, for quite sometime now, ever since the 50^th anniversary celebration of the reunification, the Mayor of the Buea Municipal Council, Mr. Patrick Ekema Esunge, has been the real target of misguided criticism. And off course, a big head, more often than not, receives unexpected blows. The truth remains clear that, Buea is the historically recognized political capital of German Kamerun, the Southern Cameroons during the Nigeria epoch, West Cameroon in the Federal Republic and the South West Region today. The Mayor of Buea therefore automatically assumes the powers of this region particularly.  Like before him, many expected the mayor to address the Anglophone problem during this celebration.

However, nobody ever knows what discussion the mushroom holds with the hard soil before sticking out its tender head. In occasion such as this, speeches seem regulated and it calls for extra tact to make speeches which matter to the general public. In this particular case, Mr. Nkemayang Paul of The Star Newspapers reported ‘‘Contrary to popular expectations, Senator Peter Mafanyi Musonge disclosed that, the Mayor did not have the mandate to speak on behalf of the region. He was limited to Buea, and that no one should blame him’’. This disclosure by itself spoke volumes. It is an apt explanation why Mayor EKema should not be condemned for limiting his speech to the Buea Municipality where he is the landlord.

Weeks have passed by, even months as well, but the reminiscences of this occasion have not died down as the ‘‘political rivals’’ of the Buea mayor have gone to work, manipulating the press for selfish reasons. In short, the progressively unfriendly and critical stance of certain media practitioners instead point to the fact that the mayor’s speech is no more the matter. From their utterances on paper, one readily goes with the feeling that they have nursed a very strong disaffection against him with the backing of his political adversaries. And in reality, no other mayor in this region has been so persistently attached over the papers as Ekema who has been in office for less than one year. In the past or even now, when mayors or public office holders loot and share the crumbs with the press there is no reason for an alarm.In the case of Buea, it has even reached the point whereby, his private life has been mistaken for his public.

Mayor Patrick Ekema Esunge is a public figure, one readily agrees, and he should be seen as such. But does he not as well possess some quiet moments of his private life? Is it proper for the press to expose everything about a public figure? Would it make sense to tell the public that President Biya querried with his wife on such and such a day? Must the public know whether the President of the senate drinks a beer or two before going to work? Should the masses be informed that our administrators are permitted to hold fire-arms for their self-protection? These are commonplace issues that are taken for granted. Unfortunately, this is not the same for all public figure according to our social critics. To them, these issues constitute some social disapprobation. Oh! How chicken – minded our men of the press can be at times!

The truth should be said that, even though these are some seasoned, dedicated and professionally upright journalists in our country, the vast majority possess the contrary spirit of sycophants and prophets of doom. They can turn vice into virtue for a piece of cake, and virtue into pitch for just a slight inattention. But the word of our Lord reminds us: ‘’ Beware, you who lead my people astray; who, when your teeth have something to bite, announce peace; but when one fails to put something in your mouth, you proclaim war ‘’ indeed, one easily understands the conditions under which most of our pen-men work in the country, especially the Anglophone reporters; but this is no ample reason for one to lose conscience and ignore the ethics of one’s profession. Gombo and other negative vices has destroyed the profession, leaving most practioners at the beck and call of some politicians.

Mayor Ekema had never claimed to be saintly. He might not be an equal to other personalities, but he has done a lot within his few months at the Buea council  to give a better face-light to the Buea Municipality. He still has much in stock for his community. The press has been wrong at trying to judge a cattle shepherd from his shoes. Methinks this tantamounts to political detraction and distraction. Thank God, the mayor has kept his tongue holy by sealing his lips.