When we live in a community and choose to make ourselves items in the market of popularity, no matter how much sacrifices and efforts we put for community development ,they remains less impactful. Because we make ourselves instruments and not the guides of all the common men...Then Seeking the opportunity to serve your own people does not entail doing everything to emerge as that servant even when its affects the same people you intend to serve. It about thinking the right thing, saying the right thing and doing the right thing on behalf of everyone present or absent. Treating them like you will love them treat you. The 34th Annual Convention of the Wimbum Students, it goes without saying ‘’ woe betides the host (Village) of any WISU General Annual convention when she does so in the same year when we have Elections into the WISU General Bureau and again when there are very high political temperatures (Elections period) in National Territory of Cameroon. The 34th Annual Convention of the Wimbum Students opens the eyes of many to see how malicious our political elites and other aspirants can be at times. It was so glaring from Sunday the 18 that the 34th Annual Convention was going to be marked by some unprecedented political developments. The suspension of the music show (at Santana Clara Inn Ndu Night Club)of some Wimbum Student Artist by the Brigade Commander of Ndu terming it a political gathering was not the beginning but the beginning ...of a convention caught up in the midst of parliamentary elections and elections into the WISU General bureau.
The passing by of Donga Mantung avid
C.P.D.M campaigners in the name of the Elites that Tueday evening clearly
proved how much politics was going to be involved not only in WISU this year
but in every part, organisation and institution of the Mbumland. The first time
a full flesh cow was slaughtered in a WISU General convention .The cow handed
by H. Awudu Mbaya, the S.D.F Parliamentarian for the Nkambe Central
constituency was like hot coal placed in the hands of an old man dying of cold
during the winter season .The taking of the Nfuh title ‘’Nformi WISU’’ by the
3th Deputy Vice President of WISU General Mr Ngwang Ernest ,when many thought
he didn’t deserve that reward and title was seen as a clear indication of his
ambitions to lead WISU AT ALL COST. The Cameroon National Youth Council
President Mr J.T NFOR otherwise known as the environmentalist , what has been
his role in the failure of Taku 2013?...The ideas ,strategies and moves of the
Donga Mantung political elites and of aspirants into the WISU General Executive
Bureau for 2013-2015 executive how did these contribute to the downfall of Taku
in the political domain.? “.... You have to be burning with an idea, or a
problem, or a wrong that you want to right .If you're not passionate enough
from the start, you'll never stick it out.” Steve Jobs.
On Sunday 19th of August Ndu was
congested by Students..The suspension of the Wimbum Student Artists Music show
in Ndu that night by the Brigade Commander was a signal that this years WISU
General Convention was going to be a very challenging one. It was until
everybody was expecting the main artists to come on stage that the brigade
commander appeared from no way .’’Arrete... ‘’..The D.J killed the music immediately
and everyone was asked to leave the club. We agitated to no avail . The
Commander seeming drunk but strong was so serious in his words and actions.
Everyone left Santana Inn Clara Night Club to Dallas. It was until 1am in the
morning that the Brigade Commander granted us the right to continue the
show...this was already too late .The show was a failure .Every sacrifice made
by these young talented students artist to satisfy their fans and raise some
money was crippled ...
We all went to bed .Got up in the
morning (that was Monday the 19th the official date marking the beginning of
the Convention ) and about 2pm we were in Taku .On Tuesday about 5:45pm a covey
of C.P.D.M avid campaigners surrounded the convention premises. The team made
up of Mr Tamfu Simon , Dr Nick Ngwanyam , the C.P.D.M candidates for Nkambe
Central Mr Ngala Gerard and the C.PD.M candidates for Ndu were after some
hesitations ushered into the hall by the president General of WISU.Mr Tamfu
taking the microphone apologised for entering the convention Hall with a party
regalia. Saying he was just passing by and as a father knowing the children
were gathered in could not just pass by...Mr Nick in his usual loudness took
the time to talk about St Luis Institute of Learning and the scholarships he
offers. After that they all stood up and walk out with the General president
behind them to say goodbye .It is important here to note that this was the only
occasion the C.P.D.M officials were seen in during this convention. None of
them did not again show up any day or any where...even Mr Tamfu Simon who
claimed to be a father is said to have been in Taku all through the Convention
period yet did not come around even once to once more salute the the ones he
earlier described as his children...
.On that Tuesday night Like always
we started with Branch Presidents meeting. The Meeting was chaired by Mr
Rodoulf Bantar , the Secretary General of WISU General. All the different
Branches represented by their Branch Presidents tabled in their different proposals
for a successful convention. The issue of elections as an important part of the
agenda was brought up. We all agreed that an electoral body be formed the
following day to bring up modalities for the elections and to start collecting
files.
On that Tuesday evening the congress
with the right to nominate electoral body as per article XII /2 of the
constitution nominated, Mr Tambang Terence, Mr Ali Melvin Ngala , Miss Dianna
Tamfuh ,the outgoing 1st Deputy WISU General Vice President , Mr Nfor Dieudonne
Nkeh,the outgoing WISU General President and the outgoing WISU General
Financial secretary .They were expected to hold a meeting that night and come
up with modalities early Wednesday morning for the elections that were
programmed for Thursday. On wednessday evening after a sportive day marking the
disqualification of WISU Yaounde from Mr Zito WISU UNITY CUP, we were seated in
the hall in evening expecting ELECSU to come up to the congress with the
modalities for the elections. Unfortunately the ELECSU Did not show up. Too the
General President had left for Yaoundé to collect trophies and medals for WISU
football competition, It became so obvious that elections were not going to
hold the following, Thursday as earlier scheduled. I believe everyone
understood that even as much as the modalities were suppose to be table soonest
,for transitional reasons ,the elections could not have taken place in the
absence of the incumbent president, Mr Nfor Deiudonne Nkeh. And that is why
most people did not take serious failure of ELECSU to provide a road map for
the elections soonest as they were expected to do.
Thursdays another new day marking
the playing of the semi finals matches of the WISU football competition and
great social evening was also to be the beginning of what the 2nd Deputity Vice
President of WISU General Termed ‘’WISU in deep crisis’’ .During that great
social evening that was massively attended by almost all delegates. And which
to many if had continued could have ended as the best social evenings in the History
of WISU General conventions,The 2nd Deputy Vice President of WISU General Mr
Ernest Ngwang insistently called up ELECSU to make a comment to the Congress
about the elections.Considering that the elections were suppose to hold that
Thursday but didn’t take place. The 2nd Deputy WISU General Vice President in
his usual voice and loudness did not stop calling ELECSU to the table until Mr
Ali Melvin and Mr Tambang Terence representing ELECSU stepped up to present
what ELECSU came up with. They were so open and direct in their declaration
:‘’we sat down and have decided nothing as per this year’s elections or it
modalities. We saw that the present system is not productive and cannot foster
our development that much and far. And Considering the state of affairs
presently in WISU, we thought that the list system could better foster our
growth. So it is our proposals that we should give this present regime another
year to hold office while we look into our constitution for the list system to
be brought forward. But if you think otherwise we are not going to be
maintaining this office (ELECSU OFFICIALS) for elections base on the present
system...”
For those who were aspiring for
posts, this to them came as the most shocking and stupid thing they had ever
heard. To those who were just concerned, it seemed to be something to reason on
but to those who felt the General ECXO was not fair to them by letting
political matters come on to interrupt their social evenings, everything to
them was just nonsense and disturbance. The 2nd Deputy Vice Presidents feelings
about this report were so visible .I saw Mr Ernest Ngwang who speaks louder and
clearly struggling with his voice at this present juncture. Thank God for a
bottle of Tangui water that was standing by...he begged the congress to clear
his throat...Then opened the floor for reactions .Most of the delegates
agitated as to why political matters which were not part of the program of the
evening were gaining the floor over the social night that was rightfully going
on. The 2nd Deputy Vice President less attentive and watchful thought the
congress grumbling, was so interested in reacting on the report .And He became
more confident in his observations and move when the SOA Brach president took
the microphone and blastfully cried out that ,’’ there is corruption in
WISU’’.It was at this juncture that i realise that the emotions had taken over
some individuals and they were not only going to spoil others but the social
evening in particular and WISU in general. I and my president Miss Yah Tangiri
were sitting right at the floor. We did not use the seats reserved for Branch
Presidents as it was a social evening and nothing official was expected of us.
The agitations in the hall only increased. I left my floor seat to the Branch
president seats and Called outside for a brief meeting, the WISU General
Education coordinator Mr Massa Ernest Massa , someone i know was more closer
and mature to advice the president that very moment on this particular
situation. I told Mr Massa to ask him to:
(1) Suspend all reactions
(2) Call back order into the Hall
and
(3) Announce the continuation of the
social evening program.
He respected the first one yet
rejected the 2nd and 3th.When he in a bit to close the social evening announced
that ‘’WISU is in deep crisis’’ it was in rejection of the second. And when he
finally closed the social evening and called for an enlarged general exco
meeting, it was in rejection of the third advice. All the delegates and the
invitees left the hall highly unsatisfied and annoyed with the decision
dismissing the social evening.
The enlarge general EXCO meeting
termed a ‘’crisis meeting’’ took about 2hours. The 2nd Deputy Vice President
like in his style of liking and holding the microphone throughout this 34th
Annual convention held it more this night. He made use of the absence of the
General President and the 1st Deputy Vice President to chair this meeting to
his opinion as an aspirant for the post of President General. It is important
to note that while this meeting was termed a crisis meeting, the General
president absent (in Yaoundé to get trophies and medals for the football and
handball competitions) was not consulted or contacted .And again the 1st Deputy
Vice President Miss Diana Tamfuh who had earlier left the social evening was
sleeping about 150meters from that hall yet she wasn’t contacted nor informed.
It is equally important to note that no attendance or minutes were taken during
this so called crisis meeting. The G.S was present sitting right beside the 2nd
Deputy Vice President Mr Ernest Ngwang .He proved that he was so happy with the
opportunity to address Branch Presidents as the next president. He proved too
again that the minutes and attendance were not that important since the meeting
was not the necessary .Therefore the meeting was just a discussion or to give
it it political name, a campaign forum.
Mr J.T Nfor , the Divisional
President of the Cameroon National Youth Council (CNYC), the Branch Presidents
of SOA , Dchang ,Buea are one of those who staged the highest inability to
communicate matters of general interest while they were communicating. The
meeting ended with a vote of 18 against 5 to ask the general congress to
nominate a new ELECTORAL BODY. It important to note that the ‘’ELECSUANS ‘’ which
was the reason why this meeting was convened was not called upon to attend this
meeting of General Exco and Branch Presidents. Some of them attended the
meeting but in the capacity of the General EXCO .Everyone left the meeting that
night about 12midnight with the conclusion but not a consensus that the earlier
electoral body has been dismissed and the new one was going to be nominated by
congress the following day.
Thank God it was Friday, we got up
prepared and expecting the 2nd Deputy Vice President to come forward with the
decision of the Enlarge General EXCO .But it seemed this morning he had
realised that he singly was gone and going too far...implicating himself since
he was an aspirant...so nothing was said or done about the creation of a new ELECSU
till evening when the President arrived. He was told about the failure of the
ELECTORAL BODY to provide a clear road map for the 2013 WISU General executive
bureau. Most of us expected him to call another enlarge exco meeting but he
refused to be advised. He went ahead on Saturday morning and asked the General
Assembly to provide a new electoral theme since the former had resigned
according to what he was told.I was not in the Hall when this particular
development(the nomination of a new Electoral body )took place. Mr J.T Nfor, Mr
Lahgham Bomsa Nickson, Mr Massa Ernest Massa and Mr Nowel were nominated into
the new electoral Bureau. They were expected to ensure that elections were held
as soon as possible.
The Saturday, parents student
contact, least represented and present went on under light rain. The
representative of the S.D.O of Donga/Mantung seemed to be concerned about the
WISU executive elections. She told the outgoing executive that the
administration was hoping to see a good and peaceful transition. The students
/parents contact ended at about 5pm after launch. The Social Master insisted on
taking over the evening as compensation to her lost Thursday Social evening to
Elections matters. It is important to note that the new ELECSU was expected to
run elections that evening but failed.The social program went on till 11pm when
the General President announced the meeting of Branch presidents and the
general executive. We all assembled in front of the high table not knowing what
else the agenda of this meeting was going o be apart from the failed elections
that evening. The president took over the microphone everyone was quiet with
all attention focused to him. He said ‘’ Considering that the elections which
were suppose to hold this evening did not,i called this meeting so we can find
the way forward and again to look into the position of the former ELECSU
because it seems i was misinformed about their so called resignation’’ Just
before the president brought down the microphone Mr Massa Ernest was up to say
a word. He told the Branch Presidents and General Executives that he was
resigning from the electoral office, an office he was nominated into that early
Saturday morning. He said he could have resigned that very moment in the
morning but for the fact that it was a very special day and the parents were
coming, he did not wish to see the union start that day with frustration. And
so was resigning. Mr Ernest Sat down as some people respected his move. It is
important to note that Mr Nwang Ernest the V.P , Mr J.T Nfor and a handful of
others did not disprove the list system that was proposed .In as much as they
wanted change, they wanted power. So they were caught up in two extreme and
took the later. The president then again took the microphone and called the
former ELECSU to state in his presence and in the presence of the Branch
presidents and General executive what exactly happened that elections did not
take place. Mr Tambang Terence got up expressed their dissatisfaction with the
creation of the new ELECSU without an official respond to the declaration of
the first ELECSU. They proposed the list system and asked the congress to
decide whether to work toward that because they were not ready to conduct
elections under the present system. And expected the congress to give them an
official respond. Not only to call a meeting that was not official and decide
to form another ELECSU. The 2nd Deputy Vice President taking the Microphone
declared at the top of his voice that he does not regret calling that meeting
in the absence of superiors without informing them. Mr J.T Nfor stood up to say
the General President was betraying the 2nd Deputy Vice President by calling
another meeting to handle the same crisis he (2nd V.P) had already solve. As
someone who attended the so called crisis meeting and got the tune of the 2nd
V.P General, I begged to say a word and was given the chance .From my
experience I know acting as the vice president can be very challenging because
at times you are faced with issues that need prompt actions and reactions in
the absence of the president. But effective leadership entails that in whatever
case one must be responsible to operates as ‘’we’’ not as ‘’ I ‘’. It is to
understand that ones job in this case is to make the team function...acting and
reacting always in such a way that the whole team will take the credit. This is
what creates trust and enables us to get the task done even in the absence of
our superiors. So i asked the presidents seated what will be their respond or
reaction if their Vices take some strong decisions or actions on behalf of the
union without consulting them.?..So i don’t really agree with Mr J.T that the
president is betraying his subordinates. To it was the reverse.
The president took back floor and
drew us back to the agenda. Responding to Tambang Terence representing the
Former ELECSU, he them that the congress was not ready for their proposals and
asked them to decide whether to resign. They walked at the back of the hall and
held a one minute meeting, came back and announced their resignation. The other
agenda was brought forward. Elections not held because of different views on
what should constitute the system of government. So we were expected to vote
whether elections should go on base on the current system or be postponed .Room
was given for a vote to be conducted on this two options, 16persons (i suppose
representing their Branches ) voted against 13persons (representing their
Branches ) in favour of those who wanted elections to hold under the current system.
So it was agreed that the elections will take place on Sunday at 1pm after
church service. The meeting then closed. The time was around 1am in the
morning.
On Sunday we all were expected to
attend the Presbyterian Church, Taku. As i went down the market square to get
more clarifications about the service and it location to prepare my members for
the service, i met Mr Ngwang Ernest ,the 2nd V.P on the way. I greeted him by
offering a hand shake. He held my hand; looking to my face told me he was so disappointed
in WISU Yaounde and particularly me. He asked me and i quote ‘’why did you
choose to expose me in that manner.I believe that as a member of Yaounde Branch
if you find me doing something wrong you will come closer to me and advice me.
Not stand in the midst of people and speak the way you did last night about
me...’’my respond was immediate too...’’i personally is very disappointed in
you and if you will like to know the whole Yaounde Branch too. You came for
this convention under our banner and decided to go in for a post of
responsibility without asking for our support. So what do you take us for? ‘’At
this juncture someone stepped in between us to greet him so i left. It is
important to note here that application if Mr Ngwang Ernest was signed on
Saturday Evening by the Yaounde Branch president as part of the formalities of
the elections .Early that evening to the signing of Mr Ernest Form ,My
president was not in the Hall, as the vice in the Hall Mr Ernest invited me to
put the branch president’s signature and remark on his form. I told him that i
don’t have such powers especially when my president is still active. I only
promised to help get the president into the Hall to sign and remark. That i did
.And handed the form to her. And she signed immediately .It seems she did not
notice the space for Branch president remark. Going through the form again she
invited me asking what was meant Branch president remark and what was she
suppose to put there. I responded smiling please a ‘remark ‘’Prezzy’’ .she
replied i ‘’don’t know what to remark ‘’and said then leave the space blank.
She then forwarded the form to the table .Just before she sat down the form
came back to her.You have to put a remark on this space Miss President. So she
wrote ok.
That was Saturday... Lets come back
to Sunday , Most delegates could not locate the church and ended up in other
churches, others in the Taku market square and majority at home. After service
the different delegates took off different directions. Some to the hall, some
to the field and others to their ‘’convention homes’’. ELECSU was still hoping
and making arrangement to conduct elections that afternoon. As time went on the
population continue to converge in Taku but toward the field, the weather not
promising, the representative of the cup donor and match officials present, the
decision to usher everyone to the field was welcomed even by ELECSU. Elecsu
thus again failed to run elections that afternoon. After the football match,
most people assembled in and around the hall for launch and for the gala night.
We were hopeful and ELECSU more hopeful that with that population the elections
were going to record a good participation. The hall was full and Food was
served. The time now was about 8:30pm. Those who came just that day after ‘’
launch ‘’ occupied the hall hoping that the gala which was the official program
on the agenda for that evening was going to commence . Soon ELECSU started
arranging the hall for elections, and about 80percent of those in the hall
left. It is important to note that one could only take part in the voting
process suppose he owned a convention card registered to his name(even without
a seize photo).
The control of convention cards
intensified and more people left the Hall. At the end of the control only about
10percent of registered members were in the Hall. I walk aroud took a few
pictures of the exercise. Mr Ernest called me while i was snapping the angle
where he was seated. When i got closer he said , i quote ‘’what is the meaning
of that , i am warning you’’ .I told him smiling that we just what to ensure
that the number here constitute a quorum for elections. From all indications it
seems elecsu did not realise that the number did not constitute 2/3 according
to article XII ,5(a) of the constitution which states that ,’’ Two-thirds (2/3)
of the registered members for a congress, shall form a quorum for election
‘’.Mr Tambang Terence, Mr Ali Melvin and I walk back into the hall to remind
ELECSU of this part of our constitution. Mr Lagham complained that the
financial secretary was not present to give a record of registered members. We
then questioned the readiness of ELECSU cos they were expected to have all
those statistics .Mr Lagham ignoring that went ahead to read the list of
Candidates and to the greatest surprise not up to 50percent of the posts were
applied for. An indication that many were not ready for elections. It important
to note that no one filed in for the post of SECRETARY GENERAL.And this is
another indication that most of those who insisted on elections were not ready
to work. In this frustration Mr J.T Nfor the President of CNYC then announced
cancellation of the elections .Main reason being that the delegates in the Hall
did not constitute a quorum for elections .so room was given for the Gala to
start. The Gala night started scantily at about 10pm but about 12am the Hall is
was full. This present gala recorded the lowest income ever in WISU Convention
gala nights.
The next morning, Monday morning,
someone was summoning all Branch presidents for a meeting. I was invited to be
part. I got in there and noticed just the ELECSU Officials and about 4 branch
presidents. I asked Mr Lagham and Mr J.T Nfor why the meeting and why it was
taking place out and far from the hall. They told me it was a meeting between
branch presidents and ELECSU to a prepare report about the elections to be
forwarded to the administration. I sat down. As they were phrasing what to
write down, i realise that they were trying to frame suitable information and
sent to the administration since they were frustrated about the failure of the
elections . Realising that there was network in that room , I started
manipulating my phone ,Mr J.T Nfor turning to me warned ,’’ i hope you are not
trying to record what i am saying here’’’? .I responded ‘’me! Why will i do
that and by the way if what you are saying is right why border if i record it
or not.’’? .’’That is true ‘’ he replied turning back to the table. I left and
went to the hall where preparations were being made for the evaluation meeting.
It is important to note that this so called meeting between elecsu and branch
presidents was also attended by the 3th deputy Vice President Mr Ernest Ngwang
,Leaving many of us questioning which branch president he was or representing.
The evaluation meeting started at
10:30am.It went on in lot of clarity, understanding.25 Branches were
represented in the meeting. Few clarifications and corrections were made on
income and expenditure...Proposals made too regarding the future and the
upcoming convention in Bongom.The outgoing regime was accepted as an interim
government. They were called to ensure that elections were held during Bongom
2014 and a peaceful and transparent transition upheld. The meeting ended at
about 12:45pm and we left for Ndu to one of our members, Kwalar Lizettes family
residence where she opted to offer us launch that Monday .At around 5pm most of
us were already gathered there. She served the food and just before we started
eating Mr Tambang Terence phone rang. It was the general president inviting us
for an important meeting following his meeting with the D.O of Ndu sud
Division. We left immediately and met men circled in front of the Santana Clara
Inn Bar ,Hotel. It was The G.P Mr Nfor Dieudonee Nkeh ,Th 3th V.P Mr Ernest
Ngwang, Mr J .T Nfor ,Mr Lagham, the social secretary ,some four branch
representatives. I, Mr Tambang Terence and Mr Ali Melvin all fitted ourselves
on that table and the president opened the chapter. He said administration has
been misinformed about the elections and the D.O has instructed that a care
taker government be formed while elections held next year following the normal
system. And that the D.O told him that the proposal to use the list system was
a violation of the constitution. That if we intend to use the lists system the
constitution must first of all be amended. We all sat quiet and this was
considered an agreement.
SOURCE: WISU FACEBOOK PAGE
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