Political leadership of Manyu:

I am for unity and remobilization - Victor Mengot

Engr.VictorMengotArrey, the sole political boss of Manyu

Breaking the phoney silence that has characterized the political landscape in Manyu division since the death in April 2016 of Prof. AgborTabi, Minister Mengot last week presided over a meeting of Manyu elements in Yaounde and presented his action plan for the division. The minister said the thrust of his action will be the consolidation of unity and the political remobilization of the people of Manyu

By Ojong Steven Ayukogem in Yaounde

Amid talk of the existence of a leadership vacuum in Manyu Division following the untimely death of Prof. Peter AgborTabi, the man who had literally imposed himself as the undisputed leader of the division, the people of Manyu have finally been reassured that there is no power vacuum and that the political life of the division will continue as usual.

                This was the take home message from a recent general assembly meeting of Manyu sons and daughters that took place at the Manyu Cultural Centre at Carrefour Cornier in down town Yaounde.

                Presiding over the meeting, the Minister of Special Duties at the Presidency, Victor MengotArreyNkongho, who following his appointment as head of the CPDM party’s permanent coordination committee for Manyu, is now the undisputed torch-bearer and political boss of Manyu, told his hearers that Manyu people should be thankful to God that the death of their emblematic ‘political general’ and leader, Prof.PeterAgborTabi has not created a power vacuum in the division.

                Victor Mengot explained that if Manyu has remained politically silent for all this while it was only natural; it was because no son of Manyu could afford to be indifferent to the devastating blow visited on the division by the untimely death of ‘our big brother Prof. AgborTabi’. 

                “It was only normal and natural that we had to mourn our big brother for this length of time; we could not afford to be indifferent to such a big loss,” Minister Victor Mengot opined, noting that Prof. AgborTabi’s death has done a terrible blow not only to Manyu Division but the entire South West region and Cameroon at large.

                But the Minister at once noted that the long silence did not mean that things had come to a standstill in Manyu. He said consultations and cocus meetings have been holding behind the scenes.

                However, Victor Mengot said because important political events are upcoming including notably the anniversary of President Biya’s ascension to power on 6 November and of course preparations for different elections in 2018, there is  absolute need for the population to be remobilized and galvanized to action once again. That was perhaps why he said he would put the thrust of his action on reinforcing the unity among the people of Manyu and remobilizing them for political action.

                Announcing his tentative political calendar for Manyu, Victor Mengot said a brainstorming meeting will be held in Mamfe in the days ahead between the permanent coordination committee and the militants and executives of the different CPDM sections in Manyu.

                He said the Mamfe meeting will have as main objective to adopt a concrete program for the way forward for Manyu with regard to the socio-political, cultural and economic life of the division. The meeting will culminate in celebrations to mark the anniversary of the head of state’s coming to power on 6 November.

                Commentators at the meeting said Victor Mengot’s outing was opportune, because not only has it put and end to the phoney silence that has characterized the political landscape in Manyu for almost five months now, it has also helped in no small measure to rubbish opinions expressed by some skeptics that there is a power vacuum in the division after the passing of Minister AgborTabi.

                Other political watchers said it was a blessing that destiny gave Manyu division two ministers in the same government and that the ministers agreed to work together as co-pilots of the division. The observers said it was a glaring and an exemplary demonstration of the political maturity of Manyu Division that the two ministers submerged their personal egos and accepted to work in frank collaboration for the general interest of their division.

                “Given the known political weight of Manyu and the strategic position it holds in the political landscape of the South West region and Cameroon at large, we should only be thankful to God that our two ministers agreed to look in the same direction on many issues of interest to our division. Their concerted efforts not only provided effective leadership for the division, it as well, also helped to bring back many political gains for the Manyu people. This is evidenced especially in the empowerment of the inexhaustible human resources of the division and the execution of important road projects among others,” said one of the very knowledgeable and informed elite of Manyu, who opted not to be named here. The elite added that the fact that the two ministers worked together in mutual respect and collaboration is what has spared Manyu the embarrassment of a power vacuum and has made for easy continuity after the exit of AgborTabi. 

                However, other political commentators have expressed fears that Minister Mengot might not possess AgborTabi’s force of character and his cocksure disposition that were the veritable weapons which he used to easily grab things for Manyu.

                They said even as Minister Mengot has given the impression that with him around there is no cause for alarm, it behooves him to also prove to the usually controversial and very inquisitive and exigent Manyu public that he is not the ‘political weakling’ that many conceive him to be, and that he can as an individual, put his act together and rise to the standards that he and Prof. AgborTabi jointly set for future political leaders of Manyu.

                But as it is often said, leaders will come and go, but communities will always exist. So, whether or not Victor Mengot will live up to his billing as political leader of Manyu should not be the subject of debate at this time; that should be left perhaps for some time in the future. For now, all that Manyu sons and daughters need do is to give their new leader their total support and allegiance, especially at this time when talk is already making the rounds about  plans by some AgborTabi loyalists to boycott activities organized by the Mengot-led coordination committee.