Amid death threats from ‘Ambazonia Tigers’, Manyu elite led by their patron and torch-bearer, Victor Mengot, Saturday stormed Mamfe and launched with resounding success the “Manyu Solidarity Relief Assistance Initiative for Displaced Populations”. They donated, packaged and distributed bags of food, drugs, clothes etc to Manyu sons and daughters displaced by the ongoing ‘Odeshi war’ in the SW region.
By Ojong Steven Ayuk and Ekum-Tambe Eku in Mamfe
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| Minister Victor Mengot and Chief Oruh handed the aid packages to the representatives of beneficiary communities |
Manyu elites scored a resounding and pace-setting victory Saturday, 20 January 2018, when they successfully launched their “Manyu Solidarity Relief Initiative for Displaced Persons”, in Mamfe, amid death threats from some ‘misguided’ Ambazonia enthusiasts.
Converging on the Mamfe municipal grandstand, Manyu sons and daughters and their friends and well-wishers donated, packaged and distributed food items, drugs, clothing, cash and much more to representatives of Manyu communities displaced by the ongoing hostilities between Ambazonia Tigers and government forces in Manyu in particular and the NW and Sw regions in general.
The initiative championed by the Manyu Economic and Development World Conference, MEDWC, and ably coordinated by the MEDWC President, Chief Oruh Julius Agbor, under the watchful patronage of Manyu torch-bearer and leader, Minister of Special Duties, Victor Mengot Arrey-Nkongho, has as objective to show solidarity with, and loving care for Manyu sons and daughters who have fled their homes and sought safety in distant places because of the casualty-ridden fratricidal gun battles pitting government forces against Ambazonia separatist fighters.
For a start of the project, assistance worth over FCFA 11 million was distributed to the displaced persons. The aid package comprising notably household supplies, consisted of 375 bags of rice, 50 bags of salt, 20 cartons of soap, 10 cartons of Maggi cube, 20 cartons of tomatoes, 10 cartons of sugar, 30 basins of garri, bags of onion, cartons of matches among others.
Speaking at the launching ceremony, MEDWC President, HRH Oruh Julius Agbor, noted that Manyu division has been the hardest hit by the ongoing Anglophone crisis, with heavy loss of lives and property recorded in the division alone and with thousands of Manyu villagers having fled their homes and sought refuge in distant places.
“This very pathetic situation could not leave sons and daughters of Manyu indifferent….Reason why under the umbrella of MEDWC, and galvanized by our patron and leader, Minister Victor Mengot Arrey Nkongho, Manyu sons and daughters have made a tremendous effort and have donated generously to the relief fund created to provide humanitarian assistance in support of these displaced persons,” explained Chief Oruh Julius, who noted that household supplies notably food, drugs, clothing for distribution to some 23 affected villages and quarters were bought using the over Fcfa 11 million donated by Manyu sons and daughters.
Chief Oruh thanked all donors to the solidarity project for the “spontaneous and unprecedented response. He encouraged others who are yet to chip in to do so because much still needs to be done in support of the displaced people.
Ntufam Oruh Julius prayed the distribution committees to, with the help of the local administration ensure that the aid packages reach the affected populations. He asked the emissaries to relay to the displaced persons the message of love, solidarity, compassion, forgiveness and consolation and to plead with them to return home.
“MEDWC has applied for support from the MTN Foundation, SONARA, Limbe Urban Council, CAFECO and SOFOCAM and other partners. Hopefully we will come back with more support in the days ahead,” Ntufam Oruh pledged.
For his part, Manyu patron and leader, Minister Victor Mengot, noted with satisfaction the huge success of the initiative. He noted that the problems faced by Manyu people are many and varied and cannot be solved overnight or with a magic wand, but only through a continuous process.
“I note with satisfaction the resounding success of this initiative. We are going to continue with the initiative, and I can assure you that the best is still to come,” Minister Mengot promised, noting that today it is food and drugs but tomorrow it may be building materials like cement and zinc.
The Minister thanked all sons and daughters of Manyu who stood up to be counted in the initiative especially those who braved the death threats and made it to Mamfe for the launching.
“From what has been donated you can judge that it is a huge and resounding success. Don’t forget that this is just the launching; it is going to continue because the problems that our people face cannot be solved with a magic wand, they cannot be solved in one day. Today we have addressed basic household issues but don’t be surprised that tomorrow we come with cement and zinc, why not?” Minister Mengot pledged.
He added: “When we announced this project few days ago, some of our misguided brothers for reasons best known to them, called for a total boycott and for us to be attacked and killed if ever we set foot on Mamfe with any donations. But here we are in Mamfe today launching the Manyu Solidarity Assistance Project,” Victor Mengot rejoiced, affirming that death threats from whosoever and for whatever reason should not and cannot deter Manyu sons from doing what is right.
The event was opened with an ecumenical service during which a battery of clergymen preached and prayed for love, peace, justice, forgiveness, reconciliation and living together in harmony.
Commentators at the ceremonial ground expressed the hope that after the resounding success recorded by this first step of the Manyu Solidarity Assistance Initiative, the displaced persons will see reason enough to start returning home.
It must be mentioned that security at the event venue was assured by the presence of armed soldiers and elements of the Rapid Intervention Unit of the Police, ESIR, led by their Commander, Senior Superintendent of Police Mvogo Jean-Marie.
Reactions
My joy is immense
-HRH Chief Orock John Mbi of Okoyong
I am very happy that my village was listed among the beneficiary villages. When sons and daughters of Manyu show this kind of solidarity with their suffering brothers and sisters one cannot afford not to be happy and grateful. And my joy is the more because my village was selected to also benefit this largesse. You know that because of our legendary hospitality, Okoyong is host to people from diverse areas and tribes. Besides, I lost four of my subjects through gun shots. One other was wounded and is still moving with crutches. He needs assistance to go to hospital. I thank very immensely our brothers and sisters who contemplated the initiative
I Am Proud of MEDWC & Manyu
- Hon. Susan Okpu, MP for Eyumojock
I am very happy and proud of Manyu people. Despite the threats from some of our brothers who are not well informed about what is happening in Manyu they feel that they deter Manyu sons and daughters who are willing to help their people. But these misguided trouble shooters forget that our displaced populations are suffering today not because of their undoing but because they are collateral victims of the prevailing situation in the Anglophone regions. So I thank MEDWC and all Manyu sons and daughter who have contributed to the success of this initiative. It is my hope that this initiative is going to help the displaced to return to their homes. I hope that in the next couple of days the populations of Kembong, Akwaya, Eyumojock, Otu etc will start returning to their respective villages and homes.
Akwaya is now a shadow of itself
-Ashu Clement Ezaah, Akwaya elite
I am very happy with this initiative which addresses the plight of our brothers who have been forced to flee from their villages to foreign lands and who are threatened with looming humanitarian crisis. My impressions can only be good. I pray God Almighty to continue to bless Manyu sons and daughters so that they can continue to lend a hand to their suffering siblings. You need to know that Akwaya is today a shadow of itself; most of the inhabitants of the main town and the villages have escaped and sought refuge in Nigeria. The people of Kajifu, Dadi etc are now living as refugees in Nigeria. Most of these people are afraid to come back just because of the hostilities
We are happy, but our ferry should be reinstated
-Obassey Gregory Ojong, from Babong village
I am very thankful for this exercise which will go a long way to bring some relief to our people who have been displaced. You know it is not easy to leave your house and stay in another man’s house against your wish. So I can only be happy for this gesture. But there is one thing I want to ask from the authorities and this is that they should reinstate the ferry that the soldiers have destroyed in Babong village. That ferry is the only means through which people from lower Ejagham can rally with their brothers of Central Ejagham. From Babong to the nearest village in central Ejagham is five miles and the link between the two communities is the ferry. But the ferry has been cut by soldiers. So how do we go to the market in central Ejagham, how do the displaced people cross the huge river and come back to their villages? So my plea is for this ferry to be reinstated.
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