By Noela EBOB BISONG
Senator Vanigansen MoChiggle, who has been on the spotlight for weeks now, within the circle of opposition party, Social Democratic Front SDF, has penned down his feelings and observations in a recent Press Release, calling on his comrades not to allow the party to get to ruin.
“So much has been done to build this party and we cannot allow it to be hijacked by a power-hungry and vindictive group of people, who are ruining the legacy of our Founding Fathers”, he states.
The North West Senator who came under fire by party hierarchy following his presence at a programme organised by Territorial Administration Minister, Paul Atanga Nji in Bamenda, last October 3, maintains that he acted in good faith as a Senator of Cameroon, and was embarrased over an action engaged by the Minister to bring him on stage.
However, the Member of Parliament faults his party hierachy for capitalising on the situation to ‘crucify’ him, something he insists is nothing but a calculated move by some within the party whom he describes as enemies.
In the release, the Senator reveals that, “I have been Ostricized for months on end since I won the internal party elections to become vice president against Secretary General Njong, a favourite of Honourable Osih, for the position.”
He furthers that, “I was kept in the dark about issues concerning the party since my election. I have never been officially informed verbally or in writing of any National Executive Committee meeting. .. or the responsibilities assigned to me as 1st Vice National President.”
Detailing his sacrifices for the SDF over the years, MoChiggle says, “Even when the party has found itself in Rocky waters and turbulent skies, I have done my best to transcend personal considerstions, cover its shame and protect the party. It is simply unacceptable to weaponize party statutes to discredit and bully people we disagree with.”
The Senator’s statement followed an October 3 communiqué issued by the Secretary General of the SDF, Njong Donatus, which read in part that, “The SDF did not mandate him to attend any CPDM rally… he is a member of the SDF campaign team and was supposed to be campaigning for the party in the Centre Region for our candidate Hon Joshua Osih…”.
According to Njong Donatus, “The SDF distances itself from the activities of Senator Mochiggle and the utterances of Minister Atanga Nji concerning the SDF during the meeting.”
The said meeting, referred to as a CPDM rally by the SDF, had been announced to be a humanitarian event to bring succour to the suffering masses of the North West.
The party had stated that subsequent action would be taken against MoChiggle. At press time however, nothing had emanated from the SDF.