Hon. Arthur Ekeke Lisenge forever:

Befitting funeral for an iconic ‘home boy’

Crowds of mourners turned out in Buea Saturday 25 November for the funeral of the MP for Buea urban, Hon Arthur Ekeke Lisinge, who died on 10 October 2017

By Boris Esono in Buea

It was a sad but memorable moment on Saturday 25 November 2017, as huge crowds converged on Bonalyonga, Buea, to pay their last homage and bid farewell to Hon. Arthur Ekeke Lisenge, the MP for Buea Urban, who died on 10 October 2017 in Buea.

                The number and caliber of mourners at the funeral ceremonies spoke volumes of the life Hon. Lisinge led whilst he was alife, and the rapport and esteem he enjoyed from those around him.

                All speakers at the funeral service in the Presbyterian Church Mokunda, Buea town, and at the grave side, at Bonalyonga, Buea town, spoke of a veritable socialite, a man of the people and a development-oriented public servant and politician, who exits the stage head high, living behind his home town, Buea, as one of the fastest growing cities in Cameroon, with a growth rate that is arguably second to none in the whole of Cameroon.

                The Vice President of the Cameroon National Assembly and current Chairperson of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, CPA, Hon Emilia Monjowa Lifaka, who led the delegation of Parliamentarians to the funeral, described Hon. Ekeke as a man who served his people with all his heart and who left nothing to chance in matters concerning his people. Hon. Lifaka said Hon. Lisinge’s death was a bitter pill to swallow for his constituents and the national assembly especially.

                "Every death is a new lesson and we must learn that lesson. It is a very sad moment for me, the people of Fako Division and the entire SW region. It is even more so for the national assembly which is losing the 6th MP in a row in this 9th legislature," Hon. Lifaka regretted, recalling how Hon. Ekeke Lisinge was one of those MPs whose knowledgeable interventions helped to quell tensions during some of the very heated debates in the National Assembly. 

                For the Vice Chancellor of the Buea University, Prof. Horace Ngomo Manga, the University is still to come to terms with the sudden death of Hon. Lisenge, who was member of the university’s council.

                "Since 13 November 2013 when Hon. Lisenge became a member of the UB Council, he has always marked his presence physically and also through his objective assessment of the issues tabled for discussion during Council sessions,” Prof. Ngomo noted, recalling that Hon. Lisinge was co-opted to the Council four (4) years ago, to fill the vacancy that was created by the passing of another Buea MP, Hon. Ngale Monono.

                Ngomo said UB will remain ever grateful for Lisinge’s contributions in making it “the place to be".

                Presiding at the funeral service, the PCC Moderator Emeritus, the Rt. Rev. Nyansako-ni-Nku, hinging his sermon on the theme "Counting your days", exhorted Christians to always do correctly whatever they are called upon to do because man’s days are numbered on earth. He prayed Christians to be kind to their fellow man so that when they die they will be remembered for good and not for bad.

                Using a stone to shoot two birds, Rev. Nku delved into the present situation in the Anglophone regions of Cameroon, regretting that if the country is suffering today it is because the powers that be lack the requisite wisdom to make the right decisions.

                "Knowledge and education abound in the land, but wisdom is lacking,” Regretted Rev. Nku, advising: “Where there's conflict, we must seek resolution".

                The Pastor emeritus exhorted Fako elite not to disconnect with Hon. Lisinge’s family, especially at these very trying moments. 

                Larry, as Hon. Arthur Lisinge was fondly called by his peers and contemporaries, was born on the 7th of January 1962 in Buea. His 26 years in the public service saw him becoming the provincial chief of service of Land Transport and later the provincial delegate of transport for the SWR (1998 to 3013).

                A staunch CPDM supporter, Larry was one-time President of CPDM Fako III section.

                He is survived by his wife, his three children and family and friends.

                Among those present at the funeral was the former PM and Pioneer President of the National Bilingualism and Multiculturalism Commission, Rt. Hon. Peter Mafany Musonge, the Minister Delegate at the MINREX, Chief Dr. Joseph Dion Ngute, who was personal representative of the CPDM Central Committee scribe, Senators, MPs, local traditional chiefs, CPDM supporters and a huge crowd of friends and sympathizers.

Eulogies

He died for the CPDM

-Chief Dr. Dion Ngute, Representative of the CPDM SG

                We are here to bear testimony of a man who worked tirelessly for the CPDM and to stand shoulder to shoulder with the family and sympathise for the loss. Hon. Lisinge stood for and by the party even during the most difficult moments. For the people of Buea, we hope the spirit he exemplified, that of standing firm at all times, will continue to reign.

A father is lost to Buea

Hon. Fritz Etoke, CPDM MP for Fako East

                He was not only an MP but was somewhat of a father to the Buea people. He has sown a lot in the CPDM party but dies only when he was supposed to start reaping the fruits. His passing has created a vacuum in the CPDM in Buea and Fako. He was a colleague we all looked up to for advise during challenging times, but now he is gone, leaving us to face the challenges by ourselves.