The Member of Parliament for Donga Mantung Central, and Questor of the National Assembly, Hon Cyprian Awudu Mbaya, recently rendered an account of his Parliamentary stewardship to the members of the Wimbum Cultural and Development Association, WICUDA, resident in the United States of America, USA.
According to Hon Mbaya, before becoming MP in 1997, he had always been committed to the ideals of unity and development of his people.
“In 1989, I felt the need to train our youths in the various disciplines needed in a modern society and so I put in place the National Institute of Arts, Science and Technology through which some of you present here in USA were able to pursue your post-primary education,” Mbaya stated.
According to Hon Mbaya, after becoming MP; “I have continuously tried to unite the people for the purpose of development.”
Hon. Mbaya was addressing the WICUDA Diaspora in Washington DC, during the WICUDA Annual Convention organised by WICUDA-USA.
He said, during 15 years of his stewardship, he has succeeded in positively impacting the lives of the people in his constituency, through the construction of roads, bridges, schools and the provision of potable water, medical equipment, scholarships and electricity, among other social amenities from the meagre FCFA 8 million which the Government gives annually as grant for MPs to develop their constituencies.
Hon Mbaya said his determination to change the lives of the people in his constituency has earned him some distinctions from both the State and the press in and out of Cameroon. Such as; Knight of Cameroon Order of Merit, Knight of the Cameroon Order of Valour, Officer of the Cameroon Order of Valour, Golden Labour Medal for Hard Work in the Private Sector, Climate Change Campaigner, among others.
Hon Mbaya then urged Cameroonians abroad to invest in Cameroon.
“You live in a challenging society and you are very knowledgeable. We want that knowledge to be transferred back home. Everywhere in the world, the Diaspora is the development model.
My colleagues at the National Assembly share your concerns, irrespective of their political leanings and I have pledged to stand by you to fight for your dual nationality. This, of course, will enable you not only to participate fully in the economic development of our nation, but also in its political life,” Mbaya stated.
He equally urged them to live in peace.
“Brothers and sisters, I urge you to continue to be your brother’s keeper in this challenging society and keep in touch with your respective families at home. Do not hesitate in helping when and wherever need arises. This may be the only price for being a Mbum man or woman,” he said.
Earlier in his welcome address, the President of WICUDA-USA, Oliver Tangiri, thanked delegates to the convention for sacrificing their time and resources to make the Mbum Land a place to be. Remarking that WICUDA-USA is apolitical, he stressed that the organisation is always ready to support development ideas back at home.
“WICUDA-USA has only one political party that is, the Do What Is Right Party.” He, however, thanked Hon Awudu and the Fon of Mbot who flew in from Cameroon to attend the convention and encouraged them to work together with other elite for the development of Mbum Land.
The Spokesperson for WICUDA-USA, Emmanuel Nformi, promised WICUDA-USA unflinching support to all those who stand for the development of the Mbum Land.
He advised politicians to be transparent in their activities in order to gain the support and confidence of their electorates. He reminded them that WICUDA-USA only supports development and not partisan politics.”
The convention ended with a fundraising intended to acquire standby generators for hospitals and health centres in Wimbum Land.
