Divided we fall:

Monono’s book launch betrays camps in Fako CPDM

H.E. Churchill Monono and his partisans

Mayor Ekema and Hon. Ikundi Pete

Sen. MafanyMusonge, Emilia Lifaka, MbellaMoki and Humphrey Ekema stayed away from Churchill Ewumbue-Monono’s book launch in Buea, on Friday 6 May 2016. Commentators have interpreted the boycott to mean a betrayal of the division and the camps that now exist in CPDM Fako III, Buea

By Ajongakou Santos in Buea

Latter day standard bearers of the CPDM party in Buea failed to show up at the launching on Friday, of a book authored by an illustrious son of the town.

                Churchill Monono’s book launch attracted all who mattered in Fako except the legendary Fako trio – Musonge – Lifaka – Mbella. GCE board registrar, Sir Humphrey EkemaMonono, whose subservience and allegiance to Musonge needs not be emphasized, also stayed away from the otherwise hugely attended and very successful and edifying book launch.

                Commentators at the event venue wasted no time to interprete the absence of these Fako CPDM heavy-weights to mean that they did not belong to the same camp like the author, and perhaps the other CPDM bigwigs who were present at the event.

                And this could be true, especially when one recalls that the same trio were absent when the  book was first launched in Yaounde, several weeks ago.

                Meanwhile, other prominent figures in Fako CPDM notably the emblematic mayor of Buea, Patrick Ekema and former MP and mayor, Ikundi Peter, took the pain and travelled to Yaounde for the event. And they were also present and active at the Buea launch.

                It should be recalled that in a recent interview in The Guardian Post, Hon. Ikundi accused Musonge and LIfaka of “Killing” the CPDM in Buea and Fako. He told President Biya to hold these people responsible if ever the CPDM is beaten in up-coming elections in 2018.

                However, the impressively attended event witnessed amongst other personalities, the presence of the SG of the South West governor’s office who represented the governor, the Fako SDO, Zang III, Dr. Mrs Dorothy Njeuma, Prof. Titanji, Hon. Gladys Itomby, Hon. Fritz Etoke, all past and present mayors of Buea, university dons, lawyers, students and the hoi-polloi.

                Overrall, it was an impressive crowd comprising Politicians, Human Rights Activists, Government officials, and Students that graced Churchill Ewumbue-Monono’s book launch last Friday, May 6, 2016 at the Buea Council Chambers. 

                Titled; Buea, Capital of the Cameroons: Symbol of the Nation and of Reunification, the 305-page book explores the untold story of Buea.                    Initially published in Buea in 2015, the book that is divided into three parts is drawn from a profound intellect, employed in deep research. It  is replete with cast-iron untold facts with the capacity to frighten those with a propensity to twist the story of Buea for selfish gains. It also meets the needs of probing scholars, its reviewers said.

                To Churchill Monono, “it is the town of legendary hospitality that midwifed Cameroon into modern civilization and nationhood.” Though kept in the back burner of development, the author adds that, “it was until 1983 that President Paul Biya started to restore Buea’s blissful past”.

                While reviewing the book, Distinguished Professor of History, Prof. Victor Julius Ngoh, challenged Cameroonians especially tourists, students, historians, political scientists and persons willing to know the unraveled story of Buea to get copies of the book. He revealed that Churchill’s book contains 63 photographs, and 11 tables; all of which tell a true story and run analytical facts and figures about historical Buea.

Vital Revelations in the Book    

A Buea was an abandoned city since late 1972 after the defeat and ousting of the Germans from Cameroon.

A The Germans bought Buea for 28 pounds and the Basel Mission bought Victoria for 4.000 pounds in February 1887.

A Between 1895 and 1917, the Chief of Soppo was the Paramount Traditional Ruler of Buea; he was made chief by the Germans.

A The first official discussion of late President AmadouAhidjo and John NguFoncha to reaffirm Cameroon’s Reunification on 14-17 June 1960 took place in Buea.

A Buea was host to the first ever travel agency in Cameroon. The travel agency was called; “Simplicity”.

Buea: Capital of the Cameroons: Symbol of the Nation and of Reunification tells the story of Cameroon’s Urbanization, De-urbanization and Re-urbanization and also laments some salient issues about Buea. It bewails and asks questions like why Buea is the only town and Council city in Cameroon that is the Capital of its region (South West), but not the capital of its division (Fako). The construction of the Limbe Stadium, amongst others is in the list of issues that the book says have left Buea at the mercy of messiah officials.

                To many who attended the book launch, Churchill’s book comes to tell The Untold Story of Cameroon’s Reunification, as written by Prof. Ngoh.

                Some have challenged the author to introduce a University course titled; History 201 (History of Buea) that will help educate students on the history of Buea. School proprietors were also urged to introduce it to their syllabuses.

                The Buea Council launched the book with CFAF 2million, Honorable Etoke Fritz launched with 1million, Business mogul BoniDashacko gave FCFA 1m, the SW Governor (50.000F), SDO for Fako (50.000F), KangeWassaloko of Summit Magazine (200.000F), Mr. TambeTiku, member of ELECM (100.000), CharlyNdi Chia, Publisher of The Rambler Newspaper (150.000F), amongst others.

                Sold at CFAF 10.000 a copy, the author says the proceeds from the launch and sales will give room for more copies to be printed in the days ahead to be sold at a more affordable price.

Author’s Unanswered Questions

                Just after Prof. Victor Julius Ngoh had reviewed the book, many questions needing clarifications were posed to the author. Some of the questions sought to know why “Cameroons” is spelt with “C” and not “K”. Intriguingly, all the questions directed to the author were rather answered by the reviewer; Prof. Ngoh. People wondered if the book was co-authored by Churchill Monono and Prof. Ngoh.