Hon Lifaka drums up CPDM participation at May 20th festivities

 By AminatehNkemngu

HonourableLifaka, Fako CPDM leader

As the count down to the National Day festivities on 20 May narrowed, the Vice President of the National Assembly and CPDM Permanent Delegate for Fako division has been drumming up participation of the militants in Fako at the event.

                This was during a mobilization and fundraising meeting of CPDM top notches as well as party leaders in the division that took place at the Limbe City Council on Thursday 11 May 2017.The CPDM leader told participants at the conclave that the meeting had been convened within the context of the Fako Development Fund, which is geared at mobilizing financial resources from party militants to support party activities in the division.

                In this vein, Lifaka revealed that the objective of the day’s meeting was to rise the sum of FCFA 10 million to mobilize militants to take part in this year’s 20 May activities. The Vice President of the National Assembly was very blunt when she told militants that very soon elections will be called and only militants who have demonstrated unalloyed commitment to the party will be selected to run for elective offices .In this regard, she said particular attention will be paid to those who take part in this year’s 20th May festivities which is holding against a backdrop of upheavals in the North West and South West Regions of the country.

                HonourableLifaka thundered that gone are the days when opportunist militants will wait until election time to come and manoeuver for their names to be entered on the list of councilors. She said this time around people will only reap from where they have sown.

                As regards the day’s business, various actors and militants present at the conclave took turns to chip in their contributions for the 20th May. Close to FCFA 6 Million was raised on the spot while firm commitments were taken to top the amount to FCFA 10 million before Tuesday 16 May 2017.

                The meeting was also an opportunity to review the amount of money that was collected in 2016 within the context of the Fako Development Fund. In all, it was revealed FCFA 48 Million was collected from militants of the party in the division .This money was used to organize and mobilize militants for major public events like the youth day, CPDM anniversary on 24TH March ,20TH May, and President the anniversary of President Biya’s ascension to power on 6 November.

                Principal contributors to these fund included Peter MafanyMusonge,The Government Delegate to the Limbe City Council, Andrew MotangaMonjimba, the General Manager of CDC,the General Manger of SONARA, Senator Dima Gabriel, and a host of others who all doled out between FCFA 2.5 Million and FCFA 4 Million. Closely following were mayors and some senators as well as parliamentarians who contributed about FCFA 1 Million each amongst others.

                However, the committee expressed shock and consternation that ever since its inception the Mayor of Buea, Patrick EkemaEsunge has refused to contribute a dime. A levy of FCFA 500,000 was imposed on all Municipal Treasurers in Fako who will henceforth have to contribute to this CPDM fund in their names, and not offices.

                Meantime the annual levy for municipal councilors was also raised from FCFA 10,000 to FCFA 25,000 each.

                At the end of the day it was estimated that if every structure of the party from the branch to the Section mobilize their Executive members and one other person only, more than 5,000 CPDM militants will answer present for the 20TH May March pass .This, Lifaka noted is the moment when CPDM must demonstrate their attachment to the party or get elbowed especially when it comes to choosing persons to run for elective office in elections which she said would be called any time soon.