BY TALLA AGHAA CHRISTOPHER
It was under tight security that militants and sympathisers of the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement, CPDM of all the sections of the party in Meme Division celebrated the 34th birthday of the party of President Paul Biya.
At the Kumba City Council Hall on Sunday March 24, 2019 the celebrations unfolded under the theme, “let us strengthen our mobilisation behind the President of the Republic, His Excellency Paul Biya for the consolidation of peace throughout the national territory and further the harmonious implementation of the program of great opportunities.”
In the presence of the first Assistant SDO for Meme, Nguime Joseph, the huge CPDM central committee delegation headed by Hon Justice Benjamin Itoe, accompanied by Ndoh Bertha Bakata Board Chair of SONARA, Dr Ebongo Zaches Nanje, the Government Delegate to the Kumba City Council Ngoh Nkelle Victor, the respective section presidents including Tabot Lawson of Meme 1 A, Senator Otte Andrew Mofa of Meme II in Mbonge, and others hailed the militants for making it to the ceremony despite the security challenges.
Welcoming the militants, the host President Tabot Lawson Bakia, while calling for a minute of silence in memory of those who passed on during and after the presidential elections which Meme secured a resounding victory and those who passed on during the burning of the Kumba District Hospital early this year disclosed that the Head of State is going and has done much to better the condition of Anglophones.
He launched a clarion call for the CPDM National Chairman to visit the two Anglophone regions so as to witness and see for himself the suffering of the people in these regions.
Dr Ebongo Zachs Nanje in his capacity as Meme Central Committee “charge des missions” took time off to read the Central Committee circular letter designed for the celebration of this year’s party anniversary.
For the Section president of the YCPDM for Meme IC Section, Comrade Songo narrated the achievements of the party’s National Chairman especially to the benefit of the youth.
He called on those in the bushes to regain their homes, and those who have taken up arms against the state to lay down same for they have been “manipulated”. He summoned them to come out of the bushes so as to help build the nation and to register massively ahead of local elections.
The Meme CPDM Divisional Coordinator, Hon Chief Justice Benjamin Itoe Mutanga disclosed that the party was created on the platform of unity and since then has remained a party of unity and inclusion.
Commenting on the current socio economic impasse in Anglophone Cameroon, he opined that many souls have been lost, houses burnt, and “many of our children in the bushes for reasons best known to them”.
He called on those in the bushes to come out of the bushes and lay down their arms. He assured them that nothing will happen to them.
Security challenges, it should be recalled, forced the 34th anniversary of the CPDM in Meme to be transformed into a joined celebration.
All the five sections that make up Meme CPDM that is Meme I-III in Kumba, Meme II in Mbonge and Meme III in Konye jointly celebrated in Kumba.
The celebration ended with the reading of a motion of support addressed to the Party hierarchy read by Senator Otte Andrew Mofa, Section President of Meme II CPDM in Mbonge.