"We Don't Need Your Rice. We Want Security and a Doctor" Angry Woman Tells Momo East M.P in Acha-Tugi

In the midst of the ongoing Anglophone Crisis in the two English speaking regions of Cameroon, politicians, most especially those of the ruling Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (C.P.D.M) party have remained targets for Non State Armed Fighters (N.S.A.Fs) who always do all, at times with the sponsorship of Ambazonia activists abroard to thwart or disrupt their activities on the field and if possible, arrest them for ransoms, negotiations or kill. Just like the saying goes, "As birds have learnt to fly without perching, so too have hunters learnt to shoot without missing". Threats and all other risks involved have however not really stopped these politicians from descending to the field to carry out their planned activities when need be especially as it is believed the state has all what it takes to enforce its agenda. 

Cameroon's Minister Delegate at the Presidency in Charge of Supreme State Control, Mbah Acha née Fomundam Rose on Friday April 29th 2022 sent Honourable Injoh Foo Ngang Prodencia Foriben, Member of Parliament for Momo East Constituency, Mbengwi to the Gutah zone of the Meta Clan. This was the first time the M.P ever ventured going to such an outskirt area from Mbengwi central town since she was elected in February 2020. It was at the once  famous but now little known Presbyterian General Hospital, Acha-Tugi that hundreds of villagers drawn mostly from Njaah, Ngwokwong, Tugi and Sanyere rallied to receive the visiting delegation. 

Visiting Delegation with Items for Donation & Beneficiaries

Hon. Injoh Foo Ngang Prodencia Foriben, M.P Momo East - Mbengwi, Minister Mbah Acha's Representative

The M.P was accompanied on the visit by the Mayor of the Mbengwi Council Ndangsa Kennedy Akam and his Second Deputy Amadu Kadiri. While addressing the population, the mayor began by first welcoming the M.P, doubling as Minister's representative before proceeding to explain the purpose of the visit which he said is to appreciate the people for the intervention they made to rescue the medical doctor and administrator of Acha-Tugi hospital when they were kidnapped in February 2022. 

Coincidentally, apart from the donation by the visiting delegation, the staff of Acha-Tugi hospital had planned to also donate 5 new benches to Presbyterian Primary School Acha-Tugi which we learnt has over 200 kids studying under deplorable conditions. Consequently, a special request was made to the M.P to channel to the minister so that any subsequent intervention from the duo and others could be in relation to supporting education in the area. While all attendees were seemingly happy with the gesture from the politicians, one woman stood out from the crowd, staging a one man protest while the speeches were going on. Still not satisfied that she hasn't been heard, she stepped out of the crowd, raising her hand in request to be given the floor to speak and finally got it. 

Lady Protesting that Security & a Doctor is their Need, Not Rice

"We thank our mother and brother that have come and for the things you've brought" she began. "We like what you've brought. They're pleasing to us" she continued. "But we have one problem here. This is a whole hospital without a doctor. If you and your brother can make an effort to see that we have security and a doctor, we will be grateful. That is our main cry." A thunderous round of applause insinuating she spoke the people's minds ended her brief appeal.

The hospital superintendent on her part also took to the floor to address the population during which she pleaded with them to make use of the facility. In her words, "We came here as strangers and had taken an oath to save lives. I'm surprised to see this population gathered here when on a normal working day, I consult just about two patients." She further castigated the wrong information some natives of the area spread, that there's no nurse in the hospital, that the hospital only keeps referring patients to other hospitals, that the hospital has been closed and that the hospital is too expensive.

M.P Singing & Dancing with the Population

Donation of Benches by Hospital Staff to P.S Acha

As if foreseeing looming danger she warned that "If you people cannot change and use this hospital, we have a maximum of two months, this place may be closed and you'll have yourselves to blame."  On the issue of referrals, she clarified that it is a common practice within the medical field based on the strengths and weaknesses of every hospital, that just as they refer patients to other hospitals, so too do there receive patients referred from elsewhere to them.

The items brought by the M.P on behalf of Minister Mbah Acha will then be distributed to the beneciary population, both Mbororos and Meta natives that rallied at the hospital. The items were made up of 22 bags of rice, 20 bags of fertilizer, 20 bags of salt, 250kg of maize seeds, 100 packets of tea leaves, 50 packets of sugar, 40 plastic kettles, 2 cartons of vegetable oil and sachet tomatoes, all of these amounting to the sum of about 1.5 million Francs according to the parliamentarian. A vote of thanks in appreciation of the gesture was given to the M.P to channel to the minister.

Distribution of Items 

Symbolic Handing Over

Talking to Mbengwi Online at the close of the ceremony, Hon. Injoh Foo Ngang Prodencia Foriben said "Today is a great day. I am here on behalf of my humble self and that of Her Excellency Minister Mbah Acha Fomundam who is a daughter from Meta to come and support the community of Acha because we want to encourage them to know that they've not been abandoned, they've not been left by themselves." In continuation, she said "We were very impressed with the action they took when the doctor and administrator were kidnapped. The community came out as one man, conquered fear, went into the bush with courage and at the end they were released." Foo Ngang Prodencia added that "We have also come here to encourage the Muslim community who at this time are fasting and praying for the nation of Cameroon, their community. We have come here to encourage them know that they're not left alone, that even though they are of the minority, they should know that one with God is a majority."

Before evaluating the turn out and response from the beneficiaries, she furthered that "We have come here to encourage the people to live together in a brotherly way, being one another's keeper and again, let them live in peace and harmony. We actually came here to promote economic development in my constituency taking into consideration Acha, Tugi, Njaah and Ngwokwong." 

The Muslim Community Receiving Their Own Gifts

The Momo East people's representative in parliament in her interview with Mbengwi Online also said "We encouraged them to use this medical facility that made its name since time immemorial when it used to attract people and patients from all over the republic and out of the country but because of the crisis, structures are deploring."  She appreciated the church for not relenting their efforts while calling on them to send in a doctor and fortify the man power on the ground. "We encourage the community to use this facility because it is for their own benefit and their own interest" she ended. 

From the hospital, the delegation made a stop over at Sanyere, a famous road junction area where passengers travelling to and from Njikwa and Ngie usually alight from their cars to make purchases. Sanyere used to be to the Acha people as Melon and Kem-Kem are to those travelling to Douala and Yaoundé. Surprised to see such personalities in their area, some locals rushed to greet them and present their problems. The politicians on their part encouraged the economic growth of the area by making purchases from especially beef vendors at Sanyere.

The M.P & Mayor Buying Beef at Sanyere

Sanyere Square

It should be noted that Acha Tugi used to be a strong battle ground between state forces and Amba boys in 2018, 2019 and 2020. The Sanyere junction had been deserted not till of recent that the inhabitants have started returning from where they were seeking refuge. This was the first time for the Member of Parliament to reach the area and the second for the mayor. They went and returned without any military officers behind them for security. How did the people of Acha Tugi soften the grounds for the mayor and M.P to come in, boldly putting on her sash remains the million dollar question.