Youth Day: UNDP makes unprecedented comeback, SDF boycotts

Youth Day:

UNDP makes unprecedented comeback, SDF boycotts

BY ATIA TILARIOUS AZOHNWI

The National Union for Democracy and Progress, UNDP, has again been seen in action in Buea after the party went comatose for over two decades.

The Youth Movement for Democracy and Progress of the party in Buea, backed by its National President, Ndansi Elvis benefitted from the boycott of the Socialist Youths of the Social Democratic Front to make an imposing comeback during February 11 – Youth Day celebrations.

Close to 500 youths turn out for the match-past, marching in UNDP T-shirts and chanting messages of patriotism.

The UNDP National Youth President, Ndansi Elvis said it was time he left the comfort of celebrating in Yaoundé and move down to the grassroots to mobilise support for his party.

“This year, I decided that this was the best moment for me to be in Buea. For over two decades now, as you rightly observed, the party has not matched in Buea. It is very timely, given that we are coming from an election year, but we still have another five years for elections to come. But if we are here today, it is to send signals that the UNDP is out to re-conquer lost territories,” Ndansi said.

He regretted that since 1992 when the party made great strides in the South West, the party suddenly went comatose.

“UNDP is a political party that has seen ups and downs. For the past years, the party has not been active in the South West Region because those who were at the helm left the party. But we have come to re-energise the party,” he added.

UNDP National Youth President, Ndansi Elvis

Coming to Buea at the eve of celebrations to mark the fiftieth anniversary of Cameroon’s Reunification previewed for Buea, Ndansi Elvis said it was an opportunity for him to tie the loose ends, so that the party participates in the celebrations in grand style.

SDF boycotts

The Youths of the Social Democratic Front, SDF in Buea boycotted the Youth Day match-past at the Bongo Square ceremonial ground in Buea.

The party left the CPDM Youths and those of the UNDP to gain political capital out of the SDF absence.

Since getting a defeat from the CPDM at the last twin elections in Buea, the SDF seems to have withdrawn into its shell.

The organising Secretary of the SDF Buea Electoral District, Marshall Atebili said the SDF in Buea hasn’t a vibrant youth wing and so have never taken part in Youth Day celebrations.

Senator Mbella Moki buries 97-year-old mother

Senator Mbella Moki buries 97-year-old mother

-         - As PCC Moderator elevates her to sainthood

BY ATIA TILARIOUS AZOHNWI

Mama Elizabeth Nalowa Mbella nee Mwambo, mother to Senator Mbella Moki Charles has been interred at their family home at Likoko-Membea Village in Buea.

She was buried last Saturday, February 1, shortly after a divine funeral service said in her honour by a college of clergy at Presbyterian Church Likoko-Membea, led by The Very Rev. Dr. Nyansako-Ni-Nku, retired moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon, the PCC.

In his sermon delivered at the Funeral Service, The Very Rev. Dr. Nyansako-Ni-Nku drew inspiration from Job 19:25 to comfort the family.

He said bereavement is a permanent factor of life and that death remains a puzzle yet unraveled, stating that the aim of the funeral service was to mourn the demise of a great soul and celebrate the life of a child of God.

“...the death of a child of God is always an investment in heaven,” the Very Rev. Dr. Nyansako-Ni-Nku said, but highlighted that “the death of a mother is a very devastating experience. Mother is not just a person you lean on, but one who makes leaning necessary.”

The Very Rev. Dr. Nyansako-Ni-Nku told the mourners, whom he rather referred to as ‘celebrants’, that they should not give up because of the sadists of this world, but to make an effort to be holy and closer to God.

Rev. Nyansako described the 97 years spent by Mama Elizabeth Nalowa Mbella nee Mwambo on earth as a gift from God, stressing that “a long life is a gift from God, but a long and fruitful life is what you do to life.”

“Our redeemer lives and at the end, we shall see God. Christ my glory, Christ my all,” he concluded.

Mama Elizabeth Nalowa elevated to sainthood

The Moderator of the PCC, Rt. Rev. Dr. Festus Asana in a tribute states that “...the Church has lost a pillar of faith but heaven has received a saint.”

“Who says that the era of biblical women of faith like Serah, Rebecca, Miriam, Deborah, Ruth, Esther, Mary, Priscillia, Lydia, etc is gone? Certainly not! The likes of Mama Elizabeth Mbella constitute today’s women of faith and ripple effects of their faith remain positively contagious...even as Moderator of the PCC, I continued to learn from the faith of women like Mama Elizabeth Nalowa Mbella...,” an extract of the tribute from the PCC Chief Shephered reads.

Tributes

Senator Mbella Moki Charles in an emotion-jammed eulogy said their mother “...gave us strength in times of trouble, taught us to share in times of happiness and love and forgiveness in times of trials and challenges...She was so much a model of modesty.”

While PC Likoko-Membea Christians could only wish Mama Elizabeth Nalowa goodbye, members of the Restoration Choirs Association described her as one who put in her all to the service of God.

Mama Elizabeth Nalowa was born in 1917, baptised in 1918 and died on January 13, 2014 in the quietude of her Likoko-Membea home. She got married to Bernard Mbella Woka, a union that lasted for 77 years, when her husband died in1999.

They were blessed with 12 children, the last of them, Senator Mbella Moki.

Mama Elizabeth Nalowa leaves behind 200 members of her direct linage to mourn her, as she rested at the ripe age of 97.

Dignitaries galore

Several high profile personalities attended both the wake and the funeral of Mama Elizabeth Nalowa. For reasons of space, we may only list a few.

South West Governor, Okalia Bilai Bernard; Fako SDO, Georges Zang III; Limbe Government Delegate, Motanga Andrew Monjimba were some of the personalities at the wake.

The Divisional Officer for Buea, Paul Kouam Wokam; Senator Otte Andrew Mofa; Member of Parliament for Fako East, Hon. Etomby Ikome Gladys; PAMOL Board Chairman, Chief Esoh Itoh; PAMOL Interim General Manager, Chief Mekanya Charles Okon; and the Paramount Chief of Buea, Chief EML Endeley were present both at the wake and the funeral service.

Those who also answered present at the funeral service included (we apologise for lapses in protocol): SDF 1^st Vice National Chairman, Hon Joshua Osih; Peace Crusader, Ntumfor Barrister Nico Halle; The General Manager of CSPH, Elung Paul Che; the General Manager of the Cameroon Development Corporation, Franklin Ngoni Njie; the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Buea, Prof. Nalova Lyonga; UB Deputy Vice Chancellor, Prof. Joyce Endeley; UB Registrar, Chief Prof. Samson Abangma; the President of the South West Chief’s Conference, Senator Fon Fontem Njifua Lucas; GCE Board Registrar, Sir Humphrey Ekema Monono; South West Court of Appeal President, Justice Lucy Asuagbor; President Fako High Court, Justice Charles Menyoli; ex-Fako SDO, Bona Ebengue Francois; YCPDM National President, Stephen Mbonda Motia; President of Fako Chief’s Conference, Chief Epupa Samuel Ekum; Limbe I Mayor, Mbua Rodanny; Limbe II Mayor, Duncan Molindo; South West SDF Chairman, George Ngeke Likiye; ex-Kumba Government Delegate, Calvin Nnoko Mbelle; Senator Matute Daniel, Hon. Meoto Paul Njie, Hon. Enoh Tanjong and Chief DR. Atem Ebako.

Presidency delegation holds security meeting in Buea

Reunification celebrations:

Presidency delegation holds security meeting in Buea

BY ATIA TILARIOUS AZOHNWI

The Chairman of the National Organising Committee for the Celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of Cameroon’s Reunification, the Director of the Civil Cabinet at the Presidency of the Republic, Martin Belinga Eboutou has chaired a crucial security meeting in Buea ahead of the event.

The meeting held at the Presidential Palace in Buea adjacent the office of the South West Governor, was attended by officials from the presidency of the Republic including the Chief of State Protocol, Simon Pierre Bikele and the Deputy Director of the Civil Cabinet at the Presidency of the Republic, Joseph Anderson Le.

Security officials from the presidency of the republic, local security and administrative officials were privileged to attend the in-camera meeting.

When Belinga Eboutou and his team touched on Buea last Friday, January 24, his mood proved that they had come for strict business, signalling that the date for the celebrations is at hand.

Though they did not attend the security meeting, the Minister of Communication, Issa Tchiroma Bakary; Minister of Urban Development and Housing, Jean Claude Mbwencho; the Minister of Arts and Culture, Ama Tutu Muna, the Deputy Director General of the Cameroon Radio Television, Francis Wate and the boss of the News and Publishing Agency, Marie Claire Nana were also part of the high-profile delegation from Yaoundé to Buea.

The delegation received breakfast at the Buea Mountain Hotel, to make assurance double sure that the infrastructure is ready, before proceeding to the two presidential palaces in Buea.

They paid a brief stop at Bongo’s Square to evaluate work done on the Presidential Tribune and later zoomed off to the University of Buea were works to rehabilitate and extend the university’s open-air amphitheatre ahead of the august feast had been completed.

The delegation seemed satisfied, particularly with the reunification monument that had reached an advanced stage but disappointed with the Regional Open-Air Amphitheatre at Bongo’s Square whose execution rate has remained worrisome.

On Tuesday, January 28, it was the turn of the Minister of Transport, Robert Nkili to visit transport projects ahead of the reunification celebrations; notably the heliport at the presidential palace and the Tiko Airport.

Minister Nkili accompanied by the Governor of the South West. Okalia Bilai Bernard and the Regional Delegate for Transport, Vivanje Ivo and other members of his entourage were denied access into the Presidential Palace where the minister had wished to inspect the heliport found within the precincts of the structure.

After struggling to convince the fierce-looking security officials at the palace to let him inspect the project, he was told that everything at the heliport was set and ready for the visit of the President.

At the Tiko Airport, the minister rather approved the renovation of a small portion of the airport into a heliport.

Technicians argue that the two weeks it will take them to do the job would have been more and costlier if the entire airport is to be rehabilitated. Also, most of the airport land is occupied by members of the pubic who have either constructed living houses or transformed the land into farms.

Even though the date for the celebrations is kept in the breast pocket of the Head of State, the people are waiting.