Supporters of the ruling CPDM party in Meme Division, Southwest Region June 12, failed to massively turn up to welcome Agriculture and Rural Development Minister, Lazare Esimi Menye, in Kumba as hopes of lobbying in the long-awaited new Government progressively fade out.
The supporters, unusually, could not be spotted at the premises of the Southwest Farmers Cooperative Union SOWEFCU, except the section president of Meme I, Prince Ekale Mukete and his Youth Wing president John Kingue.
CPDM party barons across the Division, The Post learnt, have become docile about mobilising militants to welcome top Government officials whom they see as possible links to the Presidency because appointments are not forthcoming.
In the face of all uncertainties, they are reported to be taking a political recourse as some are reported to have requested for private audiences with brown envelops stating their case to the Ministers.
Others, The Post observes, are now focused on their private businesses as the heightened expectations of a supposed new Government and appointments to other posts of responsibility die out gradually.
The turn out of supporters at the Minister’s visit, The Post learnt, depends on how influential and powerful that personality is perceived to be within the Biya regime.
After the September 30, 2013 twin elections, Youth Affairs Minister, Ismael Bidoung Mkpatt, appears to be the highest puller of a CPDM crowd, given that, many CDPM barons in Meme sees him as one of those Ministers so closed to the President who can easily carry their message directly to him.
Thus, when he came to launch the 42 edition of the National Youth Day at the Kumba grandstand last May, the turnout and animation from the CDPM party surpassed public expectation.
Another visit of a top Government functionary to town that provoked underground meetings was that of Minister Peter Agbor Tabi, Deputy Secretary General at the Presidency. When Minister Agbor Tabi visited Kumba on instructions of the Head of State to organise a church service in honour of former Minister Henry Namata Elangwe, CPDM militants could be spotted during the church service dressed in their party regalia.
Meantime, political observers hold that party barons perceive Ministers Bidoung Mkpatt and Agbor Tabi can readily help them achieve their lobby for promotions and appointments than Esimi Menye.
Beyond the polemics, there are people who have given up every hope for an appointment of a Meme son or daughter on grounds that they, CPDM militants, blundered collectively and individually to cripple the party in Kumba the heart of the Southwest Region.
A president of a cooperative who refused to be named told The Post that, before the Minister of Agriculture visited Kumba, a dispute almost broke out between CPDM party barons and other organisers of the event over the location. The farmer said politicians were opting for the chemicals to be shared at the Kumba City Council, but the organisers protested stating that the meeting was apolitical.
