By Mirabel Azangeh Fru.
Prime Minister Ephraim Inoni, was in Buea last May 24, to
chair the highly publicised All South West Development Conference. However, the real motive of the meeting remains shrouded in controversy. The Conference, might have been captioned a 'development and reconciliation' forum, but many think the PM's trip to the South West was to garner the province's support for President Biya and to maintain the PM’s name in President Biya’s “good book”.
At the end of the conference, a motion of support to the Head of State; signed by the South West Chiefs in attendance on behalf of all the elite of the province, was read out. Therein was a recognition of President Biya's concern for the SW and a plea for President Biya to continue to have confidence in the sons and daughters of the province, "since we are all for the CPDM."
Given the intentions of 'motions of support' this implies that the PM had received the support he needs at this time. Another motion congratulating the PM was also read on his leadership qualities was also read.
Inoni's problems with President Biya
After the spectacular comeback of the second phase of the 'Operation Sparrow Hawk' which is geared towards bringing to book all embezzlers of public funds, many past ministers and high-ranking officials have been detained. Police investigations, media reports say, have revealed that Inoni had allegedly soiled his hands in one of the deals. The result is what many persons now refer to as 'Inoni's problems with President Biya'. It is clear that what PM Inoni now fears most, is to be sent parking from the Star Building. Many wonder if the PM’s improvised meeting would cajole the President into pardoning the PM. Only time will tell.
As to whether every South West elite present at the conference or not is for the PM, is another unanswered question because a good number of personalities of the South West extraction were clearly absent at the conference hall of the Pan African Institute for West Africa that hosted day-2 of the Conference. A case in point was the absence of the former PM, Peter Mafany Musonge an emblematic Bakwerian and some former ministers from the South West.
Development, reconciliation issues
In spite of the conference’s real or hidden motives, development and reconciliation issues were discussed.
In his keynote address, Chief Inoni noted with disgust a fact about South westerners: "We react and do not act." He hoped that his words and those of previous presenters at the conference would have a follow-up adjustment reaction.
On the crucial problem of food scarcity and price hikes in basic commodities, he said: "Food prices are likely to rise in the next 15 years and the Southwest Province will surely suffer most though the province is endowed with a fertile soil and other natural resources." He prescribed massive food production; revealing that FCFA 2 billion was set aside during the last cabinet meeting, to boost agriculture nationwide.
He disclosed that the government would soon dispatch a team to Thailand to buy more rice to replenish present stocks expected to finish by the end of June. On road network, the PM repeated the clichéd promise that work would soon begin on the Kumba-Mundemba, Kumba-Mamfe, Mamfe-Ekok roads; the later to be sponsored by the Japanese government. He further revealed that the government is working on a project to begin a cement factory in Limbe and another one in Bimbia to be managed by the Chinese so as to catch up with the high demand of cement. He also touched on the fight against corruption; pleading that the spirit of scores-settling and witch-hunting should not prevail.
He said the dragnet would touch every corrupt person his or her position notwithstanding. Earlier, Chief Esoh Itoh, President of the South West Chiefs' Conference, SWECC, enjoined his colleagues to strive to build rather than destroy potential leaders; avoid any form of calumny, correct each other with love and always appreciate what they have before asking for more. Chief Atem Ebako, who is Chairman of SWEEC’s the Political Committee, in a paper presented on the political way forward for the SW, asked the elite to find ways towards a predictable future for the province. He said this can only be done if all join to lay a solid foundation for a collective mindset. HRH Nfor Tabetando, remarked that the concepts of love and concern of being one's keeper, is fast dying out; giving way to in-house fighting, blackmail and backstabbing.
He enumerated the problems causing animosity among Southwesterners to include the lack of cooperation, division among ethnic groups, lack of will to collaborate with appointed persons, spiteful feelings towards those in positions, power tussle, lobbying for power, internal wrangling, unnecessary petition-writing, dishonest contractors who are protégées of influential personalities, the practice of witchcraft to secure ministerial positions and self-centered attitudes.
The Secretary General of the Southwest Civil Society Network, SWECSON, Charles Mbonte, proposed that a smaller group of people who have the welfare of the province at heart be reconvened in Kumba for frank talk on reconciliation and development. He urged the elite to eschew tribalism in their actions, empower and employ youths and convince International NGOs to open Branch Offices in the SW. Participants split into the following commissions: political, socio-cultural, human and natural resources, economic empowerment, agro-economic, project and communication committees.
After their deliberations and presentation of reports, the congress ended with one main resolution which read thus: "we resolve to sink all differences for better development". This was closely followed by the presentation of motions of support to the Head of State.
By Mirabel Azangeh Tandafor Fru
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