By Tah Terence
As the race to the senate gets tougher, opposition parties in the North West (NW) region have rubbished efforts by the CPDM to canvass senatorial seats.
This on-going NW CPDM Senatorial campaign headed by Prime Minister, Philemon Yang has met with stiff opposition from councillors of other political parties, as they question the success story of the CPDM senators of the past mandate.
The PM and his team was in Menchum and Boyo divisions on Saturday 17thMarch,and proceeded to Ndonga Mantung and Bui as well as Ngoketunjia divisions on Sunday, and will be in Mezam and Momo divisions today, March 19th2018.
Many people, especially opposition councillors are asking why the PM thinks it is this move that will change things, after many of such ‘campaigns’ to resolve the Anglophone crisis failed.
It is even alleged that when the PM left Boyo after allegedly sharing money to councillors and compelling them to vote the CPDM list, most of the councillors were actually mocking him, and resolved not to vote even after taking the money,as they hold that they cannot be bribed, and as a matter of fact, the said money is money meant for them, that was not used during the past five years.
Talking with El-hadj Lawan Bako, National Chair for UDP, he said it was funny for PM Yang to go round at this time again, and try canvass for votes,when he is supposed to have known that none of these ‘conscience buying tricks’ are working, because the people are totally dissatisfied with the output of all the seven CPDM senators who, all through their mandate, could only manage to buy a few motorcycles that are all wrecked now.
The UDP National Chair said if only the PM knew that people are actually laughing at his efforts and that the CPDM is wasting its money, he would be doing something more reasonable. He went on to say he has cautioned his supporters to damn what the CPDM calls party discipline, and vote with a free conscience, taking into consideration that as councillors, they do not represent a party, but people,and as such accountable to the populace that voted them.
Buh Suhle Tegha, SDF senatorial candidate for Menchum says it is rather unfortunate that all the CPDM senators for the North West came all the way to Menchum to donate only 10 motorcycles that could cost at most 5million out of 175Million yearly funds.
He also said the former Senator, Walang David from Menchum, seemed not to have had any of the major concerns of the Division at heart and that he cannot account for the total FCFA 75million funds he received during his five year Mandate.
Some Councillors in Menchum said they do not even know Walang David and had never met him, and that he never even showed up in some council areas all through his mandate.
The Situation in Boyo division is not different,as Councillors cannot remember any concrete thing done by the incumbent Senator, Wanlo John. To them voting Wanlo John again into office is dashing the hopes of the people.
Talking with Barrister Kinyang, SDF candidate for Bui division, he was bitter at the manipulations of the CPDM regime and said people have every right to receive money and not vote the CPDM because the money given to them is part of the 525Million received by senators during the past five year mandate.
It should be noted that the campaign tour through the region is to canvass for votes and also stress the respect for party discipline which requires militant of the party not to cast a vote for the opposition.