We have every reason to celebrate Biya's 32 yrs- Motanga Andrew Monjimba

The ruling CPDM’s Fako I Section President cum Government Delegate to the Limbe City Council Motanga Andrew Monjimba, has urged all to celebrate with much happiness the 32 anniversary of President Paul at the helm of the nation, as Diplomacy, Success, Security, Development and Priceless Peace has been the benefits of the years.

Motanga Andrew Monjimba says much has been achieved within these years, and Limbe especially, has not been left out. He throws more light on the development strides in Limbe and the imminent major events, the annual cultural festival and efforts to save the lone first division team. He spoke to The Sun’s Editor TARHYANG ENOWBIKAH TABE and NOELA BISONG

You are Government Delegate to the Limbe City Council; the head of state is celebrating 32 years as president, what is Limbe celebrating 32 years under President Paul Biya?

Thank you very much. Limbe in particular and Cameroon as a whole has every reason to celebrate the 32 years in power of His Excellency President Paul Biya. You will agree with me that peace is not bought with money, and if at all you have to buy peace, I don’t know how much it can cost, so peace is priceless as I will like to put it.

For 32 years, in spite of the ups and downs that we have been recording internally and externally, the Head of State President Paul Biya has been able to brave the situation in his usual diplomatic manner for us to solve our problems peacefully.

This is what the entire nation must first of all celebrate! In Limbe, in addition to this peace, we have a lot to celebrate; the list is too long to mention all that Limbe has gained under the leadership of President Biya for the past 32 years.

First and foremost, we have to thank him for upgrading this town from an ordinary urban council to a city council. We are privileged to have Limbe as one of the 14 towns with a city council in the entire nation. Our roads are maintained thanks to the CPDM government, and we can freely move from one corner to another at any time.

We also have the SONARA Extension Project, the Shipyard, and the Omnisport Stadium which especially, is a wonderful landmark gift of President Biya to the people of Limbe.

The Vocational Training School at Moliwe, the Handicraft village just to name a few, so, Limbe celebrating is on course, we have every reason to celebrate because we have a part of the national cake and just to crown it all, in 32 years of president Biya’s reign we have had back to back, two prime ministers and two General Managers of the second largest state employer, the CDC; what else do we need before we celebrate?

You are also Section President of the CPDM in Fako I; this anniversary is taking place when there seems to be disunity, backbiting, backstabbing and mudslinging in the party, what is the exact state of the CPDM in Fako I?

The results of elections are there for everyone to see; we have always won our elections and no party in shambles will ever win an election, so as at now, I will tell you that the party is waxing strong. Of course there are problems, just like in any other house and family, its normal.

But these problems seem to be getting to the level where some militants are clamouring for a split of the Fako I Section, how good or bad is this for the party?

It is unfortunate that it is not me who has the ability to either split or not split a section; it’s a decision taken by the national chairman of the party, and when he does so, it will be welcomed, but for now, he has not yet decided to split it, so we will continue functioning as such. If this actually pricks some individuals, they should just wait patiently because you can never have night in the place of day and vice versa.

Limbe will be in the forefront of the organisation of the Female and Male African Nations Cup in 2016 and 2019; as Government Delegate to the Limbe City Council, you should be a very happy man especially since you are a member of the National Organising Committee.

Yes, why not? If you put yourself in my place you will be happier than I am even, because being chosen at the national committee to organise two major events is not a chicken feed. The Head of State thought it wise that a government delegate of one of the host towns should be part of the organising team, and there I am, and I thank him immensely because it is going to enable us table the problems that the town is facing so that these problems are attended to before the events.

What are some of these problems?

The problems are many, I won’t have time to mention them right now, but there are things the town needs to add to its splendour for it to be able to host events of that magnitude

What new projects are we expecting as a build up to these competitions in Limbe?

It goes without saying that planning for an event of 2016; we should be doing some serious work in 2014. We have projects in the pipe line, if not materialising immediately, they will do so in the months and years ahead.

Little has been heard about the Left Bank Maritime Project and the fire fighting brigade, don’t you think it might just be the right time for these projects?

The Left Bank Maritime Project is underway and heavily advanced. I want to say here that between now and in twelve months; this project should take-off, ceteris paribus. All those to be relocated are aware and are just waiting for the place to be relocated to. We also have to pay-off some of them, but for those whose lands and properties have been evaluated for compensation, do they also have to be relocated? For the fire fighting brigade, it’s already in town, but the building has to be completed and it is in progress.

The memories of the first edition of the Limbe Festival of Arts and Culture, FESTAC is still fresh in our minds, you promised that it will be a yearly event, can we be hinted on when and innovations if any planned for the next festival?

Yes I remember stating that it is going to be a yearly event, and I am keeping to my words. The next edition will hold from April 4-11 2015, same periodas last year which ran from April 5-12. There are a number of innovations, like the Miss FESTAC, Fashion Parade and many others.

Our lone First Division Team in the Region, NQSA seems to be moving towards relegation and recently you rallied support to save the team, how far have you gone?

As far as am concerned, am still optimistic, because I have played my part and you can understand that I alone cannot do it all; so we have done our part to support the team, it’s now left for the management of the team to see how they can judiciously use the money for the maintenance of the team. We cannot hit the drums and dance at the same time.

Any message to your militants as you celebrate the 32nd anniversary of your party’s national chairman at the helm of the nation?

This time I will not only address the militants, but will like to talk in my capacity as government delegate because I represent everyone. I call on all Cameroonians to get up and celebrate because we have a visionary and a great leader.

For me, he is a God-given one. We are in Central Africa where there is turmoil all around us, but we are in the middle as if nothing is happening, so we should thank God. Everyone has been witnessing apparent problems, but all of it is being well managed, because of the expertise of our Head of State.

So I urge all and sundry in Limbe to get up and celebrate 32 years of success, power, diplomacy, development that President Paul Biya has been piloting. Nobody can pretend to say that this is how Cameroon or Limbe was, 32 years ago!