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Political leadership & mobilization:

Victor Mengot gets popular endorsement in Manyu

-The Minister of Special duties at the Presidency last weekend summoned the cream of Manyu intelligentsia and other elite and exhorted them to take their individual and collective responsibilities to ensure that children go back to school in the division. Commentators said it was a landmark victory for Victor Mengot as the political leader of Manyu, especially considering the number and quality of persons who responded to the invitation.

By Ojong Steven Ayukogem Back from Mamfe

H.E. Victor Mengot Arrey Nkongho welcomed at the Manyu Hall, Mamfe

At least two-dozen University Professors, over five General Managers of public and para-public institutions, countless directors, regional and divisional delegates of different public and private services, lawyers, magistrates, medical doctors, school principals, head teachers and people excelling in virtually all works of life, trooped into the Mamfe town hall Saturday to join their voices with that of CPDM party leaders and local chiefs and call for parents to send their children to school when schools reopen for the new academic year on 4 September 2017.

                That the elite responded promptly and massively to the invitation of the head of the ruling CPDM party’s permanent delegation to Manyu, was indicative of the popular acknowledgement and support that Victor Mengot enjoys as the political leader of Manyu, commentators remarked.

                And no opportunity could present itself better for such a reunion, than the CPDM Joint Sections Conference and Seminar that had been convened to take place in Mamfe town, on Saturday.

                Commentators at the conference wasted no time to note the impressive turnout and especially the quality of the attendees at the conference, saying it marked a major victory for Victor Mengot Arrey Nkongho as political leader and mobilizer of the otherwise exigent Manyu people.

                And Minister Mengot could not conceal his joy for this mark of popular endorsement.

                 “I feel honored as personal representative of the S.G. of the CPDM Central Committee, Jean Kuete, and as the head of the Central committee permanent delegation for Manyu, to have you here in these numbers today. I am particularly elated because your massive presence not only portrays the importance you attach to the issues of the day, but it speaks to the support and acknowledgement you have for me as your political leader,” remarked Victor Mengot, who also noted that the joint sections conference which is the highest authority of the party at divisional level, had to be convened because of the exceptional circumstances prevailing in the two Anglophone regions marked by ghost towns, schools boycott and vandalism.

                Harping on the theme for the deliberations; “Facing Future Challenges and Promoting education, Development and National Unity in Manyu,” Victor Mengot seized the opportunity to underscore the utmost importance the Manyu man attaches to education, also noting that education being the only surviving industry in Manyu, it must not and cannot be allowed to be toyed with by whosoever.

                He exhorted his hearers therefore not to fold their arms and watch others toy with the future of Manyu children.

                “What we have we have; education is our identity in Manyu; it is the only surviving industry in our division; so we will not sit and watch faceless people destroy it with impunity. Reason why we are sending a grim message to the unknown persons who have been intimidating our children from going to school… To them we are saying enough is enough,” Victor Mengot hammered, noting that apart from the security measures already taken by government to ensure a safe, hitch-free back to school, more vigilante groups have been created and energized in all the villages to track down any trouble makers.

Back to school in Kupe Muanenguba:

Elung Paul rekindles hope, enthusiasm among youths in Tombel

The Minister Delegate to the Ministry of Finance was in his native Tombel metropolis Friday to close free catch up classes he organized for pupils and students. He also donated consignments of didactic materials to the students,as part of his back to school rhapsody

By Doh Bertrand Nua on Special Assignment to Tombel

Minister Elung Paul Awards Prize to outstanding Nursery School Kid

The Minister Delegate to the Minister of Finance, Elung Paul Che, who doubles as the General Manager of the Hydrocarbons Prices Stabilization Fund (CSPH) has once more demonstrated his love and concern for his people and his unflinching resolve to fight poverty and social exclusion among the populations of his native Tombel metropolis in the Kupe Muanenguba Division. This was during a trip he made to Tombel on Friday last week to preside over the closing ceremony of free catch up classes he patronized, and also donate books, pens and other didactic materials to all the pupils and students who participated in the holiday classes.

                The solo initiative of Minister Elung Paul was in continuation of a campaign for schools resumption that he had started since several months ago, when Anglophone teachers dropped the chalk and embarked on a sit-in strike, in October 2016.

                Addressing the huge crowd that had gathered on the occasion, the characteristically soft spoken and level-headed Elung first thanked the team of coordinators and the teachers who volunteered to help their younger ones to redeem what they lost during the long months of schools boycott. Elung would later turn and thank the parents, who, not only saw the imperative need and importance to allow their children to attend the two-month catch up classes in July and August, but also took time off to massively attend the closing ceremony of the holiday school. 

                To the happy laureates of the day- the students and pupils, who massively turned out for the classes, the Minister hailed them for the enthusiasm and seriousness they demonstrated during the two months.

                “Your massive turnout and participation in the holiday classes speaks to the fact that you value your future and that you are enthusiastic about improving and integrating yourselves into active life through sound education, which is the only sure route to a better life especially for those of us from the rural enclaves of the country,” Elung enthused, reminding his hearers that as a rural boy, he too went to the same primary school that the bulk of Tombel pupils are attending today and which incidentally, is the venue for the closing ceremony of the holiday classes.

                Literally enjoining the youths of Tombel to draw inspiration from him, Elung first paid tribute to his alma mater, GS Tombel that laid a good foundation for him, before he reminisced how thanks to education he has moved from very humble beginnings to become Minister and General Manager in almighty Yaounde today.

                Regretting the seemingly irreparable damage already done to the lives of some Anglophone students and pupils due the long months of schools boycott, Elung wondered aloud if it is right to use children’s education as sacrifice for a far reaching war of independence and/or whether it makes sense to use children’s education as ransom to a pretentious liberation movement.

NW and SW regions:

Nigerians told to shun secessionist activities

By a correspondent in Bamenda

H. E. Ambassador Mallam Arzika (R) Nigerian Consul General to the SW & NW of Cameroon welcomed by the Nigerian Community in Mamfe

Nigerian residents in the Southwest and Northwest Regions of Cameroon have been told to avoid associating themselves with secessionist movements in Cameroon and Nigeria. The Nigerian Consul General to the Southwest and Northwest Regions of Cameroon, Ambassador Mallam Muhamed Arzika told the Nigerian community in Bamenda recently as he met with them in his maiden outing.

                According to the Nigerian Diplomat, the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Republic of Cameroon are one and must be united. He entreated all Nigerians in his area of jurisdiction; the Northwest and the Southwest Regions of Cameroon to extend a hand of fellowship and harmony to each other, indicating that Cameroon and Nigeria are fighting security challenges, so they should remain peaceful all the time and work with the leaderships of the aforementioned regions and Cameroon in general.

                In his maiden stop-overs in Kumba, Mamfe, Kumbo, Nkambe and Bamenda, the Nigerian Diplomat invited all the Nigerians to come and register with the Consulate in Buea so that the Nigerian government will always stand by them.

                He expressed disgust with some of the Nigerian citizens who are in some prisons in the Southwest and Northwest Regions of Cameroon, challenging them to ask themselves why they are in prison. He blamed some of them for being ignorant of the laws governing their stay in Cameroon, while enjoining them to prepare and concert with their respective families back home before they embark on a journey out of Nigeria.

It never rains, it pours:

Marafa’s wife dies, buried in Paris, France

Marafa Yaya and his wife Jeannette Marafa

Jeannette Marafa, the wife of Marafa Hamidou Yaya, jailed former Secretary General at the Presidency of the Republic who died on Friday 25 August in Paris has been buried in France, The Median has learnt from usually reliable sources.

                A relative of the late Jeannette Marafa quoted by our sources as admitting that she consented to the idea of Mrs Marafa being interred in a cemetery in Paris, France according to Muslim tradition.

                The sources also indicated that in her will, Jeannette Marafa reportedly ordered that in the event of her death she be buried in Paris, France and that “When my husband gets out of prison he will exhume my body and bury me in Garoua in northern Cameroon.”

Ahead of Schools resumption:

Gov’t reinforces security in NW & SW

The Yaounde regime has deployed troops to Southern Cameroons as part of a special operation to secure the start of the so-called new academic year. Cameroon Concord News gathered that the operation, which has a 128 days duration is already costing nearly 500 million CFA francs. Our chief correspondent in Yaounde noted that the deployment was carried out in accordance with standing instructions from the French Cameroun dictator, President Paul Biya.

                The latest contingent involving 400 gendamerie officers from La Republque du Cameroun, it is said, will add to the 959 men already deployed in all the Southern Cameroons counties to protect schools and the oil refinery in Limbe.

                According to a security source, the Francophone measures are precautionary and seem to be reinforced by the discovery in early May of a bunker in the Mbengwi County, which the government claimed was constructed with the support of the Southern Cameroons Governing Council to perpetrate attacks against La Republique’s defense and security forces.

Judicial Bench of Supreme court:

Justice Epuli Mathias Commissioned

The first ever Anglophone to be appointed as President of the Judicial Bench of the Supreme Court has been commissioned into his functions. Chief Justice Epuli Mathias was installed on Wednesday 30 August 2017.

For the first time in the history of Cameroon, an Anglophone Judge with a common law background will preside over the judicial bench of the Supreme Court.

                Super-scale magistrate of the first category, Epuli Mathias Aloh was appointed to this coveted position by President Paul Biya, following the last session of the higher judicial council on 7 June 2017.

                The Anglophone legal luminary will therefore be presiding at the highest technical bench of the Supreme Court. The judicial bench entertains matters of substantive law of both the common law as well as civil law origins.

                Commentators say the appointment of an English speaking judge to head this very important bench is without gainsaying, a major political milestone in Cameroon; for, it shows that the powers that be have finally recognized the importance and especially the competence of common law judges in Cameroon. It also shows that the authorities now give equal status to English and French.

Mile 29, Muyuka:

Memorial service for accident victims

By Boris Esono in Buea

Following the fatal accident that occurred at the mile 29 hill on August 19 and other recent accidents in the country, the Buea and Muyuka councils together with the Presidents of the Buea and Muyuka Chiefs conferences will organize a cleansing ceremony at the dreaded Mile 29 hill to be attended by denizens of the two municipalities.

                The announcement was made public through a communiqué co-signed by the mayors of Buea and Muyuka, and the presidents of the two chiefs conferences.

                Ahead of the event that is scheduled to take place on 1st September 2017, the Mayors of both councils, Patrick Ekema and Nkeng Michael respectively, have taken measures to ensure a popular memorial. 

Our children must go to school – NW parents

Parents and other education stakeholders in the NW region have vowed that nothing will stop their children from going to school this academic year. They took the firm commitment in Bamenda, during separate audiences they had with the visiting minister of secondary education, Jean Ernest Massena Ngalle Bibehe.

                The minister reportedly met with representatives of PTAs, proprietors of denominational and lay private institutions, council chairpersons of schools, traditional authorities, opinion leaders and representatives of teachers’ trade unions.

                After the discussions the representatives of parents said publicly that nothing will stop the resumption of schools in the NW regions.

“We the parents of children studying in the NW region are waiting for the D-day Monday 4 September to take our children to school unconditionally. This is because we have endured a lot and can no longer support the weight of keeping our children at home when other children are going to school. Our children cannot lose two academic years; it is unacceptable, the education of our children cannot be compromised,” said Ndikum Peter, representative of the association of parents of students in NW.

Darkness, drought in Mamfe

Engineer Ebot David Oballe, regional director of Camwater for the SW and Littoral

If there was one request that the population of Mamfe presented to its visiting elite and political leaders, it was that they are in dire need of regular supply of electricity and drinking water.

                The 2nd deputy mayor of Mamfe, Ashu Princely Ojong, made the solemn request to the elite, during his scripted welcome remarks at the CPDM joint sections conference.

                Mayor Princely Ojong told his guests the ordeal that denizens of Mamfe are going through because of ghost towns has been made worse by the epileptic electricity supply and almost permanent lack of pipe borne water.

                Praying the elites to use their positions to lobby the authorities of Eneo and Camwater to urgently restore water and light to Mamfe, he noted that if electricity comes on intermittently, the water taps have remained permanently dry for over 2 months now.

NW and SW regions:

Gov’t blamed of stalling school resumption

By Doh Bertrand Nua in Kumba

Tabot Lawson Bakia, Meme 1A section President

The Section President of the ruling CPDM party for Meme 1A, Tabot Lawson Bakia fondly called Njalla has blamed the government for retarding moves towards the effective resumption of the new school year in the crisis hit Anglophone regions.

                Tabot Lawson dished out his dissatisfaction on the sluggish steps taken by Ministers of Basics and Secondary Education one month towards the effective resumption of the 2017/2018 academic year come September 4, 2017 on the sideline of a joint CPDM Section conference for Meme Division geared towards effective school reopening under the theme Peace and Dialogue at the Kumba Grandstand.

                The courageous and no nonsense section president revealed that he is against the Minister of secondary education, Jean Ernest NgaleBibehe for his sluggishness few weeks to school resumption. Hear him “I am even against the Minister. For fifteen days to school reopening there has been no transfers” he explained adding that “the Minister is aware that the Head Teachers and Principals of some schools and colleges are the cause of the delays for teachers to not go to school” Tabot Lawson explained.

                The CPDM Meme 1A section president also categorically blamed Minister NgaleBibehe for failing to do transfers of school officials as well as publish the official booklist for the next academic year a month before the reopening of the new school year. He explained that “We are fifteen days to the reopening of the new school year and the booklist has just been published yesterday. When will parents rush to buy the books for their children, when will economic operators who buy these books and sell to people in the hinterlands do so?” adding that the government in itself is retarding the reopening of the school year.

Meme CPDM Joint sections conference:

Sen. Otte Andrew champions schools resumption campaign

By Doh Bertrand Nua in Kumba

Senator Otte Andrew preaching back-to-school

The Section President of the ruling CPDM party for Meme II, Mbonge, Senator Otte Andrew Mofa, who doubles as questor of the Senate, has once more demonstrated his fearlessness and love for his people by standing out tall to champion calls for parents to send their children back to school come 4 September for the beginning of the academic year 2017/2018.

                Hon. Otte used the occasion of the CPDM Meme Joint section conference on august 19, 2017 at the Kumba Grand Stand to re-echo his plea on parents in the division to send their children in school in other not to violate the fundamental right of the children and put to jeopardy their future. 

                Harping on the theme for the conference - “Peace and Dialogue”, Otte revealed to the population that the issue of back-to-school was debated upon within the party and resolutions were taken for all children to resume school come September. The Senator revealed that it is time for the various chiefs, youths and different villages in the division to assume their responsibility for self-defence by shunning fear while waiting to government as a last resort in the impasse.

Dept. of Journalism, JMC, UB:

Dr. Kingsley Ngange is new HOD

By Boris Esono in Buea

After the shakeup of Pro-chancellors and Vice chancellors of state Universities, new persons have also been appointed to head Academic Departments. In the department of journalism and mass communication of JMC, UB, Dr. Kingsley Lyonga Ngange was appointed as the new Head of Department, HOD. The appointment was made public on Monday August 21, 2017.

                Reacting after the appointment, the new HOD said he was thrilled to have been given the opportunity to head the leading Journalism and Mass Communication training institution in Cameroon.

                Recognizing the enormous challenges in the job especially considering the limited human and technological resources in the department, Ngange said he counts on the support of the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ngomo Horace to succeed.

                Talking about reforms in the department, he said he is coming in with a lot of experience from the field to lift the department to its rightful place in UB.

                “There is always room for improvement in whatever we do such as bringing in more people from the field in training the students and improving on their competences,” he enthused.

For disrespecting ghost towns:

Anglophone activists promise hell to K’ba radio journalists

By Doh Bertrand Nua in Kumba

Panic and consternation has gripped the staff and management the Lake Site Radio in Kumba following acts of arson promised on them through texts messages send on their phones by persons for not respecting the ghost town days.

                As narrated by the station manager of the radio, Sir Nyambot Divine, death threatening messages and other messages promising to set ablaze the entire establishment hosting the Lake Site radio Kumba has been send to the Proprietor, staff and management of the radio by unknown persons stating that the establishment does not respect the days allocated for observation and respect of ghost towns or better still “country Sunday” in the two English speaking regions of the country.

                The manager revealed that the content of the text messages from anonymous sources threatens that the “vipers” will visit the establishment and the staff if they continue broadcasting and not respecting ghost town days.

Back To School:

100 % - Sensible. 0 % -Surrender

Mathew Fobete Gwannulla

Ordinarily such would be a period of positive emotions and enthusiasm for parents, guardians, teachers and school goers alike. A time when wishes, dreams, hopes, desires, apprehension become competing sentiments, despite the financial burden involved. But these are no ordinary times. This school year (2017-2018) does not present the customary atmosphere in the Southwest and Northwest Regions of Cameroon. Things are different, eerily different. Emotions are charged. Enthusiasm is tepid. Wishes, dreams, hopes and desires fading, the usual anxietyladen apprehension often displayed by school goers is now exhibited by parents and has transformed to stark fear, and in spite they remain willing to make the financial sacrifice.

                The write-up comes on the heels of the release of the GCE results. My other paper; Where Is Dialogue (published in The Median newspaper in March of this year under a different caption) was written after the 11th of February. These two events are significant timelines in the context of the ongoing Anglophone issue, particularly concerning the youth and school-going group. I urge the reader to go through that publication in order to connect the dots and have a solid perspective of my opinion(s).

                It is worth noting that the “stay at home” situation did not occur by design, but by default. It was inadvertent. When teachers opted to join striking lawyers last November 2016, to call for reforms in their sector too, school-goers had no option than to stay at home. Therefore what was an unavoidable accident became a national incident which morphed into the strongest ammunition thus far, a weapon tight-fistedly clutched by multi groups. Unfortunately that which may be the most potent tool against your opponent can also be the biggest destructive force against you. This mighty weapon has a simple name: Education.

                Mr. Nelson Mandela said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”. Absolutely true! I dare state that the lack of it too has similar power, but unfortunately dissimilar effect. Mandela must know, h3e led a great struggle, a viciously protracted, inhumane and deadly one, yet in the face of human indignity he discovered the profound force of education. He got an education and encouraged his people to get one too.

                That’s leadership! The kind that recognized succession, understood the need to equip the next generation of leaders to guarantee take-over by a qualified and empowered lot. By all accounts this analogy cannot be made for the ongoing imbroglio here, because the one here is a situational crisis which has chosen to place education front and dead-centre.

                Back track a few months, when the teachers’ strike took effect; the impact was immediately far- reaching. Confusion ensued, some parents scurried over to other regions where schools were ongoing for slots for their children and quickly ferried them across as soon as they got them. Others deferred to home teachers, while some took on the teaching themselves. A few defiant and brave parents championed reopening of certain schools albeit on a low key basis.

                There were yet others who sent their off-springs abroad and then of course the majority who could not afford to do any of the above. The latter suffered the multiple brunt of the strike.

                The impact of the strike was no less kind to the children, even to the ones who were lucky to continue in education. The poor results of the GCE, is testament to this. Worse-off though, are those who could not, and have fallen on the wayside. Some are trying to pick up the pieces by taking on informal jobs and training. Others have resorted to begging, prostituting and deplorable vices, sadly engaging in misdemeanor and felony acts. Many unwanted or unplanned pregnancies have also been recorded.

                The teachers’ reaction was and has been somewhat convoluted. The powerful resolve displayed in the wake of the strike was followed in the beginning of this year by a quiet return to the class room, mostly by government employees allegedly on threatening orders. A few continued to maintain a defiant stance refusing to teach. Many however offered private lessons at their homes, the homes of students and at little publicized public venues. Then droves reported to the GCE centres to administer the writing and examining of papers. The majority of whom, having gone 10 months without pay, cannot wait for the return to school.

Bamenda, NW region:

Population-based HIV impact assessment launched

By Francis Nzante in B’da

NW Secretary General in Keynote address

The Cameroon population-based HIV Impact Assessment, CAMPHIA has been launched in Bamenda. This took place on Thursday 17 August 2017 at the Bamenda Regional Hospital, under the auspices of the Governor of the North West Region represented at the event by Harry Lanyuy, Secretary General at the NW Governor’s Office.

                Speaking on behalf of Governor Adolfe Lele L’Afrique the Secretary General said the fight against HIV AIDS was of top priority in Government Policy. Latest data which dates way back in 2011 was becoming out dated and needed updating he said adding that this was indispensable for the regulation of policy at the Ministry of Public Health.

                Harry Lanyuy further said that the initiative was being carried out by the National Institute of Statistics and the Ministry of Public Health. Results of the survey he said would help to ascertain progress made and reference indicators. The Secretary General said by 2020, 90% of people living with HIV should have known their status.

                The North West Regional Delegate of Public Health, Dr. Matilda Manjo, stated that the Regional launch of CAMPHIA was geared towards filling information gaps that were needed to help policy on HIV. She said it would help direct resources to effectively fight the spread of HIV.

NW Region is 2nd in beef Production

By Francis Ekongang Nzante in B’da

Dr. Atanga Heinendez, the Regional Delegate for Livestock and Fisheries in the North West has said the Region now occupies the second position in Cameroon in the domain of Beef Cattle. He made the revelation recently in a press briefing in his Bamenda office in the wake of the launch of the annual mass vaccination program for cattle in the Region.

                The Region he said has over 500.000 cattle and that thanks to the Heifer project the Region now boasts of the highest daily production.

                Atanga further said that in Poultry production the NW Region was second only to the West Region which occupies first position in the country. Every Division in the Region has its own specifics, he said.

                 “When you talk of cattle then its Donga Mantung, Bui and Boyo Divisions.When it comes to poultry and pig farming then its Mezam and Ngoketunjia. In Aqua culture we are a little behind but we are doing well and this activity is concentrated around Mezam, Boyo and Ngoketunjia. When we talk of fish harvest it is of course Ngoketunjia with the Bambalang fish,” he noted.

Buea & Bamenda:

By Boris Esono in Buea3-day ghost towns

The populations of North West and South West regions are again adjusting their schedules to suit the whims and caprices of leaders of the on-going Anglophone uprising that started way back in October 2016. This is because of the extension of ghost towns from the former one day (Mondays), to full three days (Mondays to Wednesdays).

                The 3-day ghost towns went operational since 14 August, following a decree signed by the exiled leaders of the outlawed Consortium. 

According to the decree co-signed by Tassang Wilfried and Barrister Eyambe the 3-day ghost towns will be observed each week until after 1st October, when according to them, Southern Cameroonians are expected to reclaim their independence.

                The extension of ghost town days is intended to botch schools resumption on 4 September.

                The development is a bitter pill for both the authorities and the populations to swallow especially given the already grave consequences of the initial one-day ghost towns.

Buea Central Zonal Championships:

Rich Gang FC emerge Champions

The 2017 Buea council inter-quarter football competition for the Bueacentral zone ended last Tuesday August 22, 2017 at the P&T school field where Rich Gang of Buea Town beat Fan Club Eto’o of Bakweri Town 1 goal to zero to be crowned champions.

                The goal for Rich Gang FC was scored by Nkembo Oscar at the 7 minutes of play thanks to a terrific strike.

                It should be recalled that the Buea council inter-quarter football cup competition involved 4 zones. The Muea court Area, Bojongo, Buea central and Bonavada court Area. Fair play FC was crowned champions of the Bonavada zone. The final of the Muea court area will take place this Sunday August 27, 2017.

                To the captain of Rich Gang FC, LumaAmbe, it is a magnificent day to win such a trophy as we were considered as the under dogs since from day one, but the under dogs are now the champions. “With the super cup coming in the days ahead, we are going back to the drawing board to make sure that we are more ready for the task ahead because we know it is not going to be easy but we expect to the champions again”. 

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Keeping Expectations alive:

Biya consults with PM Yang over cabinet reshuffle

Reports say the president of the republic has received the sitting PM in audience at least two times within the past week in view of forming a new government

By Tanyi Kenneth Musa in Yaounde

President Biya

If press reports are anything to go by, then President Paul Biya will be announcing a new government in the days ahead. President Biya has received his Prime Minister, Philemon Yunji Yang, on at least two occasions in the last few weeks to discuss the configuration of the new government that he intends to to form anytime sooner than later, according to reports in both the local as well as the foreign press.

                Though Paul Biya told the Prime Minister during the audience that he may no longer keep him in his post, the president at once asked Yang to propose some names of persons he would want in the new government.

                Biya also thanked the PM for his unalloyed loyalty, and for the good job he has so far done as the head of government business. He reaffirmed his confidence and trust in Yang but said he would assign him this time to other duties.

                Though it is not immediately known where Biya will assign Yang after dropping him as PM, speculations are that he would make him either the Grand Chancellor of National Orders in replacement of MafanyMusonge or make him the pioneer president of the constitutional council that is yet to be constituted.

                For his part, Philemon Yang also thanked Biya for the high confidence and trust he placed on him by keeping him as PM for nearly a decade. He pledged his continued and total loyalty to the President even after he would have left the star building.

                But Yang also suggested to his boss and mentor that giving the present agitations by Anglophones it would make sense if the President could consider also handing some sovereign ministerial portfolios to Anglophones.

Horrible, Horrible!

23 perish at Mile 29 ‘death trap’ in Muyuka

Corpses of victims covered with banana leaves

A ghastly road accident has killed 23 persons and left several others seriously wounded at the notorious mile 29 hill near Muyuka in the South West region. This was in the early morning hours of Saturday 17 August 2017.

                According to reports from the scene of the accident, a truck carrying merchandize lost its breaks as it descended the very steep hill from Ekona; it lost control, left its own side of the road and bashed into two vehicles that were going in the reverse direction. The two cars – a 20-seater transport bus carrying 18 passengers and a private car.

                Official sources say at least 20 persons died on the spot, while two others were seriously hurt. The 18 persons in the bus were returning to Buea from a funeral in Muyuka.

Informed of the ghastly accident, the SG of the South West Governor’s office immediately got to the scene to see for himself the situation on ground.

Solution to Anglophone Crisis:

Kamto suggests creation of PEACE and Compassion Commission

Prof. Maurice KAMTO

Since the launching of the Cameroon Renaissance Movement (CRM) in 2012, the party had announced that there exist an Anglophone Problem in Cameroon (it is found in CRM’s party manifesto published on its website: www.mrcparty.org) and the party proposed that the said problem can be solved through dialogue.

                The National President of CRM, Prof. Maurice KAMTO did re-echo the same message during CRM party’s public meeting that held in Commercial Avenue Bamenda, on the 25th of June 2016.  Prof. Maurice KAMTO in his speech insisted, to the hearing of the population that gathered that, there is the necessity to solve the Anglophone Problem through dialogue.

                Unfortunately, the Government of President Paul Biya decided to give deaf ears to this strong positive signal from the CRM leader and in November of 2016, the Anglophone Problem burst out.  Since the outburst of the Anglophone problem, the President of the Republic, whom following the Constitution, is the one to incarnate national unity, ensures the respect of the Constitution, guarantee territorial integrity, and to secure permanently and continually the State, would have gone to these two regions concerned (Northwest and Southwest) meet and assure the population, that he has come himself, to directly listen to their grievances so as to finally provide appropriate solutions to their wellbeing within the Cameroon Nation.  Such moves imperatively inscribed in our country’s Constitution above cited, having not been respected, even when there is a serious crisis, the President of the Cameroon Renaissance Movement did proposed a solution grounded on two points to wit:

POINT ONE:

                The putting in place by the Head of State a POLITICAL DELEGATION comprised of:

•             Religious Leaders

•             Traditional Rulers (01 each from the 10 regions of Cameroon)

•             Representatives of Political Parties represented in Parliament

                This Political Delegation shall be bearer of a message of PEACE and COMPASSION to their fellow brothers and sisters of these two Anglophone Regions of our country.  The Political Delegation, as a point of duty, shall go to the Northwest and Southwest regions to make the population understand that we are all one and that they have heard their cries and have come to wipe their tears.

                This shall show good faith on the part of Government in resolving peacefully these problems, the Political Delegation have to carry with them accompanying measures to pacify, give confidence notably the immediate and unconditional release of all those arrested in Northwest and Southwest Regions during the Anglophone crisis.

                On the basis of this political move and the above measures, the CRM party think that parents of these Regions will sent their children back to school in order not to further compromise their children’s future.

Anglophone crisis:

SWELA against Southern Cameroons secession

By Johnson Batuo in Kumba

The assistant Secretary General of the South West elite association SWELA in charge of Meme has castigated those who want to divide Cameroon.

                Prince Nasako Daniel Molondo was speaking to The Median on Thursday august, 17, 2017 in kumba, where he said ‘SWELA cannot be part and will never be in support of those who are clamouring for secession”.

                Prince Nasako Daniel Molondo described those who are preaching secession as devils who want to destroy Cameroon that the president of the Republic Paul Biya has taken many years to build.

                He said Cameroon is one and indivisible, and those clamouring for separation will not succeed.

                Nasako added that instead of preaching separation, people should be talking about the regional councils that the President of the Republic can put in place very soon.

Prince Nasako Daniel Molondo who was speaking against the backdrop of the Anglophone crises, said the people of the south west region will never and cannot support the idea of separating the country.

                He challenged those in the Diaspora whom he accused of fanning the crisis in Cameroon that has plunged the country into chaos and the continuous ghost town that has caused economic hardship to the people of the south west and North West Regions.

                Nasako challenged Anglophones living abroad who want to divide the country to resign from their jobs and stay at home so that, they will know how the people back home are feeling when they observe ghost towns without going about their businesses.

                On the issues of school boycott, the Assistant Secretary General of SWELA in charge of Meme said the education of children cannot be sacrificed because of some misguided individuals.

                Hear him “our children cannot be sacrificed because of those who want to achieve their political aim and want to stop our children from going to school”.

Poverty alleviation policy:

CSPH builds first ever petrol station in Nguti

-Nguti Populations extol Minister Elung Paul’s dev’t vision

By Doh Bertrand Nua Just Back From Nguti

Ongoing works at newly constructed Petrol station in Nguti

The populations of Nguti Sub Division in KupeMuanenguba Division of the southwest region will soon heave a sigh of relief with assurances that their first ever petrol filling station presently under construction, will go operational by the end of September 2017.

                Mayor Tong George Enoh, revealed the information Friday 4 August 2017 during the first ordinary session of the council devoted to reviewing and adopting the administrative, management and stores accounts of the council for the year 2016.

With unconcealed joy and happiness Mayor Tong announced to the councilors and the administrative officials present at the session that Nguti municipality will by the end of the month of September begin making use of the petrol station under construction. He said the project was a gift from the Hydrocarbons Prices Stabilization Fund (CSPH) and falls within the framework of the petroleum company’s determination to accompany president Biya and his poverty alleviation policy.

                “By the end of August or September, the new petrol station constructed by the Petroleum Prices Stabilization Fund will go operational,” Mayor Tong assured Nguti councilors with visible excitement.

                He used the occasion to extol Minister Elung Paul Che, Minister Delegate to the Minister of Finance, who doubles as the General Manager of the Hydrocarbons Prices Stabilization Fund (CSPH), for his development vision.

                Discernibly overwhelmed with joy, the Mayor noted; ”i want to register here my profound gratitude to the management of the CSPH, which is headed by our own illustrious son of KupeMuanenguba, His Excellency Minister Elung Paul Che.”

Elections in Cameroon:

What perspectives for 2018?

In principle, five elections are expected to hold in Cameroon in 2018. Political enthusiasts look at this special election year with mixed feelings. In the following analysis, our political correspondent argues that success in 2018 depends on what preparations will be done in the country in this direction before 2017 runs out.

 By our political analyst

Since the return of political pluralism in Cameroon close to 30 years ago, public speech in the country has been replete with words and expressions such as ‘democracy’, ‘governance’, citizen’, electoral lists’, ‘consensual electoral code’, and especially ‘alternation’. The reason for this is that Cameroonians being more and more citizen-oriented and tired of a deceptive democracy compared to what is observed in countries that are authentically democratic, seem to be waiting impatiently for the 2018 elections in order to be done with inertia, as they say. This, in the hope that the vote will not be hijacked this time around by a hegemonic party and occult groups. 678496194

                For this dream to come true, the 10 to 15 million potential voters have to register on the electoral lists and effectively go and vote, each with the intimate conviction that the vote cast in the ballot box will translate into the expected result. Such result would prevent the maintenance in power of leaders who despise them, sanction them through a blank vote and/or massive abstention or replace the current occupants of the seats of power with those from whom they can expect better governance.

The attainment of this result no doubt requires the prior responsibility of both the government and the opposition. That is why, knowing only too well that as you make your bed so shall you lie on it, it seems timely for us to draw the attention of men and women in politics to the fact that preparations for the 2018 elections must begin today.

Will all five elections hold?

                As a matter of principle, five elections are expected to take place in 2018: a presidential election in which Mr. Biya still seems to be candidate for the CPDM, senatorial, parliamentary and municipal elections, to which are added regional elections, i.e. if the Senate has to be in conformity with the constitution of the republic – that is to say, elected by municipal and regional councillors.

                Will things happen in this way? Nothing can be too sure. When we look at the sociopolitical, economic and security context of the country, we do not need to be religiously pessimistic to doubt the capacity of the government to meet the challenge of such a calendar at the organizational and financial levels as well as in the democratically established norms. The question is therefore not only if 2018 will be a year of alternation but also if all or some of the elections will effectively take place.

Sources at MINATD say that whereas the Constitution obliges the Head of State to respect the programme of holding the presidential and senatorial elections, the electoral law gives him the latitude to either anticipate or postpone the parliamentary and municipal elections. Rumours thus have it that only two elections will take place next year, that is, the presidential and senatorial elections, which Mr. Biya cannot anticipate or postpone without changing the Constitution anew. The postponement of the other elections would easily be justified by the particularly difficult security and economic contexts.

                How then could the President of the Republic go ahead such that the Senate is not elected again only by municipal councillors and himself without part of its electorate (regional councillors who are still non-existent)? It is indeed hard in the near future to envisage the election of regional councillors whose non-existence is tantamount to the strangulation of the decentralization process in Cameroon.

There is no doubt that the absence of an official justification for the non-election of the above-mentioned councillors for 21 years now looks like a systemic rebellion of the government against the Constitution, the electoral code, the law on decentralization and all politico-legal instruments which could make our country resemble a state of law. Simply put, the deliberate refusal by the powers that be to organize the election of municipal councillors reveals the country’s governance as lacking credibility.

2018: A year of hopes and risks

                Coming back to 2018, it should be stated that if Cameroonians talk so much about it, it is because the year promises more to be one of all hopes than one of all risks. Yes, there are hopes and risks. Hopes because from within the country there is a popular clamour for alternation of power, and risks because there is a stubborn resistance to change by the CPDM-led administration, which could lead to post-elections violence whose beginning is known but whose end can never be determined.

                It is therefore proper for us to call on all political actors in Cameroon to do just what is expected of each of them when the time is right. Through a participative and peaceful democratic process, they are expected to make our country one in which common goodwill prevails; one in which everybody’s rights are respected; one in which governance gives every individual the pride of their identity as citizen and the motivation of their patriotism.

                In consonance with the concept of democracy being “government of the people by the people and for the people”, leaders have to accept that in their political parties supporters are not behind them but rather around or beside them, i.e. with them, so that together they can conceive ideas and propagate them. Leaders must bear in mind that the people are not the subject of a government that came from nowhere, but rather its producer (or creator). That is why the government is at the service of the people and not otherwise.

                And if we subscribe to the principle that political parties compete for the expression of universal suffrage, then we have an obligation to:

•             constantly explain to citizens the stakes of their vote and their impact on the quality of governance;

•             present to them well ahead of elections (and not only during the 15 days of elections campaign) a political offer (society project and governance vision) which enable them to see the difference between the candidates;

•             sensitize and accompany them, as the case may be, on their registration on electoral lists and on the defence of their vote.

By leaving the people to slumber behind them, those who want to conquer power in Yaounde are more or less “apprentissorciers”, to borrow the term from Mr. Biya who himself borrowed it from his predecessor, AhmadouAhidjo.

                It would be most unfortunate if Mr. Biya, in 2018, continually pays a deaf ear to the cry of the voiceless through the collective voice of the opposition and the civil society for transparent elections to take place. We can be sure that such an action or inaction would negatively impact the electoral process.

Following satisfactory performance of projects:

ADB to invest another 1.5bn US Dollars in Cameroon in 2018

By Doh Bertrand Nua in Kumba

Officials of the African Development Bank

Officials of the African Development Bank, ADB have brainstormed on the Pan-African Bank’s investment projects in Cameroon. This was during the 41st annual evaluation meeting of ADB projects in which they disclosed that Cameroon will benefit more investment and financing for projects next year at the tune of more than 1.5 billion dollar, more than FCFA 800 billion.

                The information was revealed by the Resident Representative of ADB, Racine Kane during their two day meeting from August 10-11 held in Kumba to brainstorm on ways forward for projects sponsored in the country and Southwest Region in particular.

                The 41st quarterly meeting was chaired by Meme Senior Divisional Officer, SDO, ChamberlainNtou’ouNdong. According to the Resident Representative of ADB in Cameroon, Racine Kane, it is an opportunity to share experiences, examine and evaluate the execution of all projects engaged in the country. He noted that with such colossal sum to be invested in Cameroon they will meet up the objectives of the country.

                The Resident Representative noted that most of the projects are concentrated in the Northwest and Southwest Regions of the country, which they hope to link the two regions through road infrastructures.

                ‘Our main interest in Cameroon is infrastructure especially in the transport sector. More 60% of our portfolio is related to transport then worth sanitation projects as well as agricultural projects’, he noted.

He assured the population that ADB will continue to invest in Cameroon in order to promote governance, to reinforce kits in capacity building particularly at the public finance sectors.

Woman pastor charged with 419

A lady pastor of a born-again church in Yaounde is presently languishing at the Kondengui prison here after she was charged with crockery and abuse of confidence.

                Pastor AndelaAnastasieZogo was brought before the judge of the court of First Instance in Ekounou, Yaounde to defend herself on allegations of defrauding another woman of her Njangi money.

                Pastor Zogo who is also a trader at one of the markets in Yaounde had created a Njangi which she convinced other women to be members.

                But when it was time for one of the women to benefit the njangi, Pastor Zogo told her that her money was not ready because most of the other members had since stopped contributing.       

                The lady in question cried scandal, saying the Pastor had defrauded her of her money.

She said she had contributed money regularly amounting to 1.250.000 fcfa through a weekly contribution of 5000 for each of her two names in the Njangi.

Obala, centre region:

Married Catholic Priest stripped of his cassock

A Roman Catholic Priest in Obala diocese, Rev. Father Leon Magloire Foe has been suspended from carrying out God’s work after it was discovered that he was legally married and had biological children.

                The Bishop of the Obala Diocese, Mgr. Sosthene Leopold BayemiMatjei signed and published the decision suspending Fr. Leon Magloire son 8 July 2017.

                Father Leon Magloire is said to have officially contracted his marriage to AlineSolangeNgono, at the EzezangMendoum civil status registry. They were blessed several children.

                Father Leon’s marriage to Aline came to public notice when he sought court action to gain custody over his children. This was after the marriage had later become unstable.

Santa subdivision:

Will Fru Jonathan’s books & pens woo students back to school!

By Njodzefe Nestor

Fru Jonathan’s books & pens woo students back to school

Parents, Guardians and students in Santa Sub Division of the North West region have been implored to shun all anti school resumption calls and prepare for the next academic year.

                This was during a Back to School campaign championed by some Santa elites led by Fru Jonathan, Inspector General at the Ministry of Public Contracts in charge of Performance and Evaluation on August 18, 2016 in Santa.

                With some few students dressed in their school uniforms and all head teachers and principals of schools within Santa, Fru Jonathan handed over didactic material comprising books, pens and pencils to head teachers and principals on behalf of the students and pupils was an opportunity for the event organizers to call for effective school resumption in Santa come September 4, 2017.

                In his opening remarks, the Mayor OF Santa Council, Moses Khan educated the people on what government has done so far to solve the Anglophone crisis.

                “If you look around, you will see that all the demands made by the lawyers and the teachers have been met so there is no need why schools should not go” he said.

LAGA Yoko court case:

Trafficker in court for selling illegal ivory

The case against an ivory trafficker shall be heard on August 2 at the Ntui Court of First Instance following his arrest early last month during a sting operation carried out in Yoko.

                He had attempted to sell two ivory tusks and was apprehended during the operation that was carried out by the Centre Regional Delegation of Forestry and Wildlife with technical assistance from LAGA, a wildlife law enforcement support body. After his arrest he was immediately driven out to Ntui where the prosecution established a case file.   He was charged with illegal possession, commercialization and circulation of parts of protected wildlife species, according to the 1994 wildlife law governing the sector.

                The matter was forwarded to court and the case opened on July 11, 2017 and during a short session, it was quickly adjourned to the 27th of the same month for presentation of exhibits – that is the two ivory tusks weighing 18kg that was seized during the operation. The trafficker was remanded in custody and the case again adjourned to August 24 for pleadings to commence and for representatives of the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife to appear in court. They are officially designated by the Minister.

                The matter is followed by many in the towns of Yoko and Ntui where the trafficker is very popular. His arrest was received with disbelief as few thought this could happen to a man who enjoyed good connections with some officials in the area. He had used these connections to run an ivory business with impunity for several years and escaped arrest last year when a team that included officials in the locality attempted to apprehend him. It was later discovered that information had been leaked.

Ahead of back-to-school in Meme:

New Army Commander tasked to tighten security

By Doh Bertrand Nua in Kumba

Lt. Colonel Manuel Enye'EMeka

The new commander for the 21st support motorized infantry battalion in Kumba, Lt.Colonel Manuel Enye'EMeka has been called upon to intensify security in Kumba ahead of resumption of schools for the 2017/2018 academic year.

                He was given the challenge during his installation by General MelinguiNoumaDonassien, commander of the 21st Infantry Battalion and Combined Military Brigade for Southwest region, on 11 August, at the Kumba City sGrandstand.

According to General Melingui, the current socio-political situation in the Northwest and Southwest Regions of the country necessitates the reinforcement of security around schools so that students can safely and effectively start classes come September.

                He added that Kumba being a border town, security must be tightened to preempt any invasion by insurgents.

                General Melingui assured the population that the new Commander comestoKumba, the chief town of Meme Division to ensure that the life of peopleand properties are been preserved.

                He however, thanked the outgoing Commander HerveMveBiwole, for the peace he maintained in the town during the period of social unrest in the Kumba.

UB Welcomes registration caravan for Biya’s laptops

-UB students queuing to register for presidential laptops

By Boris Esono in Buea

Students Queue to get themselves registered

The caravan for the much awaited presidential laptops promised University students in Cameroon has last Thursday August 17, 2017 reached the University of Buea. Most students in the University of Buea had speculated fears that the government could leave out the university in the distribution process.

                This resulted from the fact that students in most public universities in the country had already had their students registered for the biometric distribution process.

                Cameroon in general and the Anglophone regions have been plunged in disorder since October 2016 and have affected the smooth running of the University of Buea which finds itself in one of the Anglophone regions.

                Since President Paul Biya made the declaration of offering five hundred (500) thousands laptops, students have expressed skepticism as to whether he will actually fulfill his decision.

                The President is known for making lousy political premises and never fulfilling them. One of such could be his announcement of personally overseeing the tarring of the Ring Road in the North West region.

Students received the message of the biometric registration for the laptop with mixed feelings.

Fire razes six rooms house in Buea

By Boris Esono in Buea

A six room house has been razed by fire in the Molyko checkpoint neighborhood in Buea. The incident which happened on August 16th 2017 was caused by an electrical spark due to high voltage, we learnt.

                The fire occured at about 12 mid night when the electricity supplier ENEO suddenly reestablished electricity after a power cut.

                Fortunately for the inhabitants of the said house, none was home when the fire started. It was first recognized by neighbors from a two storey building next to the razed plank house.

                However, despite late intervention of neighbors, it was never enough to calm the blazing flames. The neighbors unfortunately strengthened the fire as it blazed more and more.

                On a lighter note, neighbors, friends and loved ones have been able to mobilize and two temporal rooms have been provided to house some of the displaced individuals. Meantime, some who could not take the shock, immediately left Buea. One of such victims an expecting mother had all her baby clothes consumed by fire and had no option but to leave Buea for the moment.

Woman steals 2-week old baby Manengole

By Johnson Batuo

Muajeh Celine with the stolen  baby.

A 30 year old lady, Muje Celine, is under police custody in kumba for allegedly stealing a two weeks old baby in Manengole in the Mungo Division of Litoral Region. The lady who confessed to the police of being guilty was presented to the press on Friday 18 April 2017 by the commissioner of the kumba central police station, Elung Wilson NjumeNjikang.

                According to the grand mother of the stolen child, whose name we could not get, the baby thief visited them in Manengole pretending to be stranded. She begged to live in their house while she looked for the person she had come to visit. And this was after she had lied to the grand mother of the stolen child that her husband with whom they have four children has driven her from the matrimonial home.

                It was at this juncture that the lady felt pity for her and allowed her to stay in her house for 3 days.

                But as the old mother left for her farm behind the house, Muajeh Celine carried the baby and vamoosed into thin air. When the mother of the two weeks old baby could not find her child, she shouted and called her mother. They started a search and also reported the matter to the gendarmes who have opened investigation.

31 years after disaster:

Lake Nyos survivors express desire to return home

By Njodzefe Nestor and Etafor Judith

The 1986 killer lake now free of the Toxic CO2

On the night of Thursday August 21, 1986, Lake Nyos which is found in Menchum Division, North West Region, released a lethal cloud of carbon dioxide that swept through the lower villages of Nyos, Cha Subum, Kam, Munji, and Djingbe killing more than 1700 people and thousands of domestic and wild animals. About 4,000 inhabitants fled the area and many of them developed respiratory problems, burns and paralysis as a result of the gas.

                In a bit to resettle the displaced population, the construction of permanent sites for the survivors by the government commenced immediately after the International Conference on the Lake Nyos gas disaster  which was held in Yaounde from 18 to 20 March 1987.

                Also, the government of Cameroon and the United Nations Development Programme, UNDP initiated a project baptised “Securisation and Socio-economic Reintegration of Lake Nyos Area” aimed at degassing the lake.

                The first degassing pipe was installed in 2001 to send out the excess CO2. Two supplementary degassing pipes; each with the capacity four times more than that of 2001, were installed in the lake in 2010 and 2011.

                In 2016 during the conference dubbed “Lakes Nyos and Monoun gas disasters 30 years after”, the Director of the Cameroon’s Institute of Geological and Mining Research, better known in its French Acronym as IRGM, Dr. Joseph Victor Hell, said the lakes are safe because the degassing projects has reduced the CO2 accumulations in the lakes.

                Although lakeNyos has been declared safe, the victims have not been authorized to return to their villages. Moreover, 31 years after the disaster, life in the resettlement camps have reportedly not the best.

Inhabitants in Upkwa, Buabua, Kimbi 1, Kimbi 2, Esu, Ipalim, KumFutu 1, Kumfutu 2 and Yemnge camps have decried the horrible living conditions and are calling on government to facilitate their reinsertion back to their initial communities.

                “It is 30 years already and the structures are dilapidated.  The small houses are not comfortable. There are no schools for our children and grandchildren in the camps. Those that struggle to attend school do not longer have support from the government. People have to trek long distances to fetch for water. Where we are settled is not as fertile as Nyos; the soil does not yield much crops as in Nyos. Moreover, home is home; I have the nostalgia of going back to my place of origin. It is so many years since the explosion took place but I still have the yearning to go back to my village, ” lamented one of the survivors.

                This was corroborated by Julius Kese a teacher in Wum. “Today, I am a man of 38 and we are not yet authorized to go back to our land of origin. We live like refugees in our own country. Many victims have abandoned the camps because they are old with no electricity and potable water. We used to receive petty state assistance. The government gave us subventions until I finished Class 7. But, since 1990 many of us have received nothing. When we began living in Wum, my elder brother started by selling kerosene. From kerosene, we moved greater to a provision store. I struggled to further my education. Today, I am a teacher. But, what is inappropriate is that victims are no longer receiving state subventions but are highly taxed in the petty businesses they do. In Nyos, we had rich harvests and fed well; the reason I want to go back” he observed.

                Discussing on the plight of victims, a Red Cross worker on disaster management in Wum, PaulycapNdze, said the situation of victims is still at stake:

                “Victims keep on complaining; many have condemned the fact that although the state has not yet authorized them to return, it is no longer giving assistance. The state assisted victims with medication (to the injured), food, soaps, mattresses, blankets and a grinding mill in each camp but stopped 4 years after the calamity. But, even when aid (more of seeds for cropping) was given again during the 21st anniversary of the disaster, many victims complained of not receiving it. Those who accepted to have received the aid complained it was too small. So, I don’t know if the aid was insufficient or it was not well channeled to the victims. Generally, the condition of the victims is still regrettable. Some are still not able to live normal lives. The camps are dilapidated.  Not all children in the camps are schooling. There is a general cry to return because of the fertility of the soil.”

                Pointing out government’s misdirected policy, Madam Siy Joanna one of the survivors regretted that the government has built comfortable inns for tourists around the lake whereas victims are living in dilapidated camps without even water and electricity.

                “The government should have first thought of satisfying the victims before the tourists. Why build good structures for tourists whereas victims are suffering in the poor camps?” she questioned again.

                In addition, she said the government has given more humane treatment to the victims of the Nsam fire disaster; (of February 14, 1998, by not just providing basic humanitarian aid such as school aid, mattresses and food but providing big funds for the construction of comfortable houses in resettled areas.

                 “If it is not misdirected priority, how can government give more humane treatment to people who were out to steal petrol and were affected than to people who were affected by an explosion of a gas? I see this illogical” she added.