BY NDIMUH B. SHANCHO
As shocking waves continue to flow down the spines of Buea inhabitants and Cameroonians at home and abroad following the sudden death of the Mayor of Buea Council, Ekema Patrick Esunge, in Douala, Sunday October 27, 2019, one question, which roams around the Municipality and the entire country hunting for an answer is who succeeds him as Interim Mayor?
In line with the demise of the fire-brand mayor, the Senior Divisional Officer, SDO, of Fako Division, Engamba Emmanuel Ledoux, organised a meeting at his office, Tuesday, October 29, 2019, involving the Divisional Officer, DO, of Buea, all deputy mayors, the Secretary General and Municipal Treasurer of Buea Council. This meeting, which was regarded by many as a veritable platform from which the gap created at the Buea Council was going to be filled, was adjourned.
Though no information filtered about what was discussed, and as to why the meeting was adjourned, there were unconfirmed speculations by some councillors that plans were being hatched to force in Ikome Williams Lifange, who was unilaterally appointed 4th Deputy Mayor by late mayor Ekema, after the controversial sacking of the 1st Deputy Mayor, Motombi Mbome Emmanuel.
Mr. Motombi, who is constitutionally supposed to take over as Mayor, following the death of Ekema, was relieved of his duties by the late Mayor and his councillors, July 17, 2019, during the Buea council’s first ordinary session for excess absences and inconsistency in office. The “sacked” Deputy Mayor, who said he “cannot and would never fight over earthly things”, didn’t feature at the meeting by the SDO, supposedly to choose the Interim Mayor of the Council, a move many interpreted as his refusal to take up the vacant position.
At press time, The SUN gathered that, Mr. Motombi had made up his mind to attend a subsequent meeting on this issue, possibly after pressure and persuasion from his party barons. This change of mind is arguably interpreted as Motombi’s apparent consent to take over as Interim Mayor, as the case may be.
Expert gives legal provisions
Speaking to The SUN, October 29, 2019, an expert in Decentralization, Local Governance and Development, Mr. Simon Sona Makia, who doubles as Municipal Treasurer for Nguti Council gave the legal provisions for the replacement of a mayor in case of death: “Section 70 of 2004/018 Law of 22 July 2004 says that in the case of death or resignation or dismissal of a mayor, the Municipal Council is convened to elect the new mayor within the next 60 days. Within that period, section 70 sub 2 says that the interim is ensured by the 1st Deputy Mayor or in case there is no 1st Deputy Mayor, they can choose the eldest councilor but it becomes automatic if the 1st Deputy Mayor has to take over,” he explained.
As to what obtains in the case where there is no 1st Deputy Mayor, he stated that “the law requires that if there is a vacancy for the first deputy mayor, it has to be filled. In the case of Buea, there is a 1stDeputy Mayor. If by the time the Mayor is dying, the 1st Deputy is incapacitated, then it becomes automatic that it’s the 2nd Deputy Mayor”.
Meantime, the office of the late Mayor remains sealed in accordance with national regulations.