South West SDF in turmoil

Accusations and counter accusations of indiscipline among Executive George Ngeke Likiye, South West Regional Chairman of the opposition Social Democratic Front (SDF) party has said the party in Kumba is in turmoil and if care is not taken, it may spill over.

His remark was contained in an opening speech during a Regional Executive Committee meeting of the party held in Limbe, Saturday, February 7.

The meeting that was put together to review the 2014 action plan of the party, map out plans to reorganise the basic structures of the party in the region and to discipline erring members soon turned into a battle ground, with the Mayor of Kumba III, John Kona Makia making the meeting “uncontrollable”.

“Many are disappointed, disgruntled and dissatisfied with the SDF. Many are those who think they have given in too much to the party and have gotten too little in return. But I’m telling them to remain strong because the SDF is still in a struggle to make things better for all Cameroonians,” Likiye said. He added that looking at the year 2014; the SDF had lots of problems in the South West.

“We had moments of turbulence fuelled by those who want to spoil the party. Kumba has been boiling and we struggled to foster peace to no avail. The SDF is higher than us all and the decisions taken by the party is not aimed at hurting anybody. We have to shelve our greedy tendencies,” he appealed.

Likiye said tensions within Kumba SDF reached a head in April 2014 and on April 17, 2014, he organised a retreat for them at the Presbyterian Church Centre in Kumba because he could not afford to see Kumba in turmoil. He hinted that after the retreat, he knew that the ‘wall of hatred’ had been broken.

“We had a reconciliatory meeting in Kumba. Since then, Kumba has not been in peace. Unfortunately, indiscipline still reigns supreme in the party. You cannot give me the mandate to serve you and then throw banana peelings on my way,” Likiye said. Likiye had barely finished his speech as voices of discontent sounded from the people in the hall.

As if to confirm the indiscipline that he referred to, John Kona Makia, Mayor and SDF District Chairman for Kumba III who is also Secretary of the Regional Executive Committee described the statements made by Likiye as “lies.”

But that didn’t stopped Likiye from lamenting; “The Secretary and the chairman have not talked for a long time. He doesn’t take my calls. I want to tell you how frustrated I’ve been.

Even a copy of the minutes of the meeting we held on December 27, 2014 has not been sent to me. I received a shabby treatment in Kumba III at the end of the meeting. I was abandoned in Kumba. I wonder what my crime is.”

When Makia was ushered in to read the minutes of the December 27 meeting, he started by unleashing political missiles at the Regional Chairman, stating that, “all what Likiye has said here is full of lies.” It didn’t take long before the meeting came to an abrupt end.

Cornered by The Cameroon Journal, Makia said, “I’m the Secretary of the Region and District Chairman of Kumba III, as well as mayor of Kumba III.

Kumba has no problems. We went into the elections as one man, we came out victorious and it is shocking to hear the Regional Chairman say that we have problems in Kumba. We expect him to come and show us the problems.

When we were going in for elections in Kumba, he termed us a bunch of rascals. But the party can be proud of us because of our actions. We think that the region can copy the example of Kumba. He took 30 minutes of his introduction to tell us how Kumba has problems. We don’t have problems. He says, I don’t take his calls. That is not true. We don’t have a personal problem.”

Cletus Ayaba, Vice Secretary of the region described the meeting as childish adding that Likiye has failed as regional chairman.

“I think it was a childish meeting because the regional chairman was not chairing the meeting. He was struggling to protect incompetency. When we tried to expose his incompetency, he did everything to stop us from doing it.

The SDF is not a storage facility for incompetent leaders. When you are incompetent, we’ll kick you out. The SDF now exists only in Fako and Meme Divisions,” Ayaba said.

“Likiye must be given a vote of no confidence,” Ayaba said. Kona Makia and Ayaba are said to be siding with the ousted District Chairman of Muyuka, Barrister Peter Nankwah Ataba.

Even when Likiye said the issues in Muyuka are behind them, the duo did not heed to his advice. They went on to fuel tensions, especially with the presence of Ataba and the new District Chair for Muyuka, Philip Ndoke.

Likiye told The Cameroon Journal that the SDF will not tolerate anti-party activities, hinting that all those fuelling discord in the party will be sanctioned.

He said he adjourned the meeting abruptly because the key actors at the meeting became uncontrollable.

The meeting was attended by the SDF National Organising Secretary, Ferdinand Asapngu, and Hon. Bolevie Mbanya, Member of Parliament for Kumba Urban.

A powerful delegation from Manyu, Ndian, Kupe-Muanenguba attended the meeting together with party officials from Fako and Meme.