Buea CPDM cracks deepen

Senator Mbella Moki Charles, Section President of Fako III CPDM and Ekema Patrick Esunge, CPDM Mayor of Buea and Vice Secretary of same Fako III Section have seemingly agreed not to agree on putting aside differences that have locked them in a cold war since the elections of 2013.

The differences came to a head during the 30th anniversary celebrations of the CPDM party at the Buea Youth and Animation Centre last Tuesday, March 24. Though both Ekema and Mbella sat on same table during the celebrations, they certainly were not wearing the same thinking cap.

Mbella Moki who also doubles as Senator, started by calling for a united CPDM party and the need for all Cameroonians to rally behind President Paul Biya in the fight against Boko Haram.

“The fight against Boko Haram is a clarion call and at a time of war, it is relevant that the entire nation rallies behind the commander-in-chief of the armed forces…the policies of the CPDM have influenced government action to a large extent. The CPDM is well structured and development oriented,” Moki said.

However, despite the fact that the anniversary celebrations were being managed by Section Presidents across the country, the Mayor, Ekema Patrick told The Cameroon Journal that his “council is the principal organizer of today’s event.”

Ekema said his Council spent FCFA 2.5 million; transported militants, gave all the 30 subsections FCFA 50,000 each and organized a reception worth FCFA 500,000.

“That is what militants expect from their elected officials. We shall be knocking on their doors regularly especially during elections. Nobody has monopoly of militants,” he said.

Then the Mayor went on a bashing session, accusing Senator Moki and the Fako WCPDM President, Hannah Etonde Mbua of hijacking CPDM party cards on sale. He said because there is a circular that only militants with cards will vote, the duo took it for a throng card.

“We sat quiet and developed our own plans. I’m a senior personality in the section,” Ekema said, as he informed The Cameroon Journal that he had bought 10,000 CPDM party cards which he has put at the disposal of the committee in charge of distributing the cards headed by Humphrey Ekema Monono with him as vice.

On the eve of the anniversary celebrations, Monjowa Lifaka Emilia, Member of Parliament and Vice President of the National Assembly, chaired a fundraising meant to boost militants’ access towards affording CPDM party cards. During the meeting held at the Buea Council Hall, CFAF 8 million was raised.

However, Ekema took credit for almost all of the money raised, revealing that out of the FCAF 8 million raised, he contributed FCFA 7 million.

“The councilors raised FCFA 5 million, the business partners of the council who identify with the CPDM raised FCFA 2 million, and so the rest of the officials invited there raised 1 million francs. That is the kind of actions we undertake behind the scenes. We can only express them when we meet people like you,” Ekema said, referring to our reporter.

Suggesting that the CPDM in Buea is hitting the rocks due to infighting within its ranks, Mayor Ekema said “the interest of the party is supreme over individual interest. Despite the numerous huddles we have among ourselves the leaders of the party, when it concerns the party, we come together; even though not on a common table, we ensure that our militants are well taken care of. That is why I disbursed the said amount. But notwithstanding, I hear there is a reception at Capitol Hotel. We definitely are organizing another reception at the council.”

Quizzed if organizing two parallel receptions after the celebration wasn’t enough confirmation that the party is in shreds, Ekema’s answer was in the affirmative.

“Of course, even a set of identical twins do have problems. It is not news that the party has problems. The problems are there, and so nobody should shy away from that. They are there but we ensure that we stand the test of time,” he said.

Teased on why he is spending so much on the party and whether he plans to challenge Mbella Moki for CPDM Section Presidency, he sounded evasive but said: “We are going to cross those bridges when we get there, but it is definite that I cannot be pumping in such money without an interest. I have a political interest.

And what is his interest? “The Central Committee sent cards here since November. The CPDM Section President and WCPDM Section President hijacked the cards. It is only three weeks back that they gave the YCPDM a very small consignment of about 500 cards, but in between, I sacrificed and bought ten thousand cards. I’m surrendering the ten thousand cards to the party and of course a financial contribution of FCFA 5 million which I gave yesterday and my supporters doled out 2 million.” He said.

Given that the YCPDM Section President, Motomby Mbome Emmanuel was spotted with a CPDM muffler and not a YCPDM muffler, it is alleged that he plans to drop the YCPDM office.

Motomby had said sometime in 2013 that it was time to move up to a higher office. But with Mayor Ekema eyeing the Section Presidency, it is unclear how the two will strike a balance.

It is also reported that during the reception hosted by Ekema at the Buea Council Hall, WCPDM President was barred from entering the reception grounds. It is said that the action was because she had connived with Mbella Moki to hijack party cards.

The reorganization of the CPDM basic organs in Buea remains a wait and see affair.