Kumba CPDM gasping for momentum at Biya's anniversary

Celebrations marking the 32nd anniversary of President Biya at the helm of the State are apparently low-keyed in Kumba given the half-hearted level of mobilisation across the CPDM sections.

Anniversary activities in Kumba took even less ambiance compared to 2013 when the party was still bleeding from the wounds of the September 30 elections.

In all the three sections namely; Meme IA, IB IC representing Kumba I, II and III respectively, the party seems to be non-existent as preparations to the build-up to the event remained unimpressive.

Financial contributions from members have remained all time low. According one party bigwig who elected for anonymity, his contribution to the anniversary celebration will not exceed FCFA 3,000.The party baron told reporters in an off-record discussion that the days when he used to spend between FCFA 1 and 1.5 million for such party events have expired.

With all the challenges facing the party in Kumba, Section Presidents; Prince Ekale Mukete, Jocab Kay Mbatchou and Isaac Mukwelle Nguba, remain bogged down with handling recalcitrant militants and possible challengers in case the party announces reorganisation of its basic organs.

In Kumba I, Ekale Mukete is guarding against the likes of Lawson Tabot who challenged him in the last municipal elections.

The Meme IA Section launched an inter-section football tournament to celebrate the event. This, so far, has remained the only visible activity for today’s event in the entire metropolis.

At the level of Kumba II which is an SDF stronghold, internal wrangling on the eve of the event saw the suspension of some militants, including a Subsection President, Suleman Mohammed. Mohammed, The Post learnt, has been temporarily suspended by Section President, Jacod Kay, for repeatedly running down the party’s' image on radio and for irregular attendance of party meetings.

The Kumba III Section remains fragmented as it was during the last party anniversary, when the Section President, Isaac Mukwelle, and his Women’s Wing President, Rose Masama, organised two separate gatherings.

The ruling CPDM Party in Kumba is apparently wanting in human and material resources. Most of those who used to bankroll party activities seem to have given up as a result of the defeat suffered in the last elections in the hands of the SDF.

The Post also learnt that the relationship between the Senators has not been the best, reason why they are yet to make any public gesture in the over one year in office, unlike their colleagues elsewhere.

John Kingue, of the Meme IA Section, however, told The Post that the ambiance of the party towards political events has not changed. Kingue said militants have been mobilised, especially youths, across all the sections to make the event befitting.

Beyond Kumba, the Konye and Mbonge Sections appear livelier, given that the party remains in control of the Parliamentary seat and Councils, but for Mbonge that was recently hit by the loss of the CPDM Youth President, Mbonda Motia.