Mbengwi: Mayors Take Oath of Office

Mbengwi: Mayors Take Oath of Office

Some newly elected mayors and their deputies in Momo division were on Tuesday March 17 2020 sworn into office. The oath taking ceremony took place at the Momo High Court in Mbengwi following legal proceedings. The councils concerned were Andek, Njikwa and Mbengwi. Since Batibo sub division has a court of first instance, a similar exercise had been conducted there, merging with Widikum.

New Mayors & Deputies, Administration, Magistrates

For the case of Mbengwi whose mayor is still missing ever since he was kidnapped barely two days after his election, only the two deputies; Doreen Fonjong and Kadiri Amadu took the oath. "I swear on my honour and pledge to conduct the affairs of the council and serve the the interest of all its inhabitants without discrimination or favouritism and to discharge in all loyalty and faithfulness my duties as civil statues registration officer in compliance with the laws and in accordance with the values and principles of democracy, national unity and the integrity of the republic" was the oath all the concerned officials swore before the people of Cameroon.

The oath taking session was preceded by educating the mayors on their duties as clearly spelt out in Section 2061 of the 2019 law as read with those in the 1981 Ordinance as Civil Statues Registrars.

Doreen Fonjong, 1st Deputy Mayor, Mbengwi Council

An oath taking ceremony as such away from being  compulsory is also an occasion to sensitise the applicant on their responsibility in the daunting task that awaits them. These prescriptions were laid down by Magistrate Tita Ernestine who added that it's a new era, a new dawn as these fortunate  mayors are privileged to be the first officials to preside over the destiny of the people in their respective councils in this new trend and orientation of decentralisation by the state. It's not a time for you and members of your family to rejoice and say "Mon frére est en haut, ma vie va changer" she warned.

Emphasis were laid on the effective presence of the authorities in their municipalities so as to better serve the population. Before making her submission, she advised the applicants that, "Carry on your duties with honour and probity, only then can you escape the frowning face of the law. Stay free from corruption, embezzlement of public funds and properties,  fraud, fake documents because when next we meet under these circumstances, be sure we shall bring you to book wherein we will not hesitate to submit against you and not for you as is the case now."

Magistrate Tita Ernestine

Magistrate Wirngo Tobias

After taking their oaths, the presiding magistrate, Wirngo Tobias corroborated the cautionary submissions of his colleague by telling the mayors that "In the context of the present law, there is no bail for embezzlement of public funds" He called on them to watch out against their families, friends and council workers because these are those who may influence them indulge into wrong doings for the sake of familiarity.

Ubangoh Helley (popularly known as UB Relax) is the new mayor of Andek. Before now, he was section president of the CPDM, Momo II. Talking to Mbengwi Online at the end of the ceremony, he said "Andek has been deserted and so my preoccupation now is to see that the population returns and life resumes." He went ahead to invite all his children and brothers in the bushes to join hands with him so that together, they can exploit the new dispensations given by the new decentralisation laws to bring development to their municipality. "You know the kind of developer I am, you know what I've been doing for the Ngie people using my own personal means. Now that the government has given me the opportunity to serve the people in an official capacity, I am pleading on every Ngie elite, every Ngie "Ambas", every Ngie person to come on board, to join me and my deputies, my councillors so that together we can bring life back to Ngie and take Ngie to the level it deserves" Helley ended.

Ubangoh Helley, Mayor, Andek Council

Now that the mayor of Mbengwi, Mr. Ndangsa Kennedy is still missing, what becomes of his office? This was a questioned Mbengwi Online posed to one of the legal minds at the event. In response, it was explained that the law gives a period of grace from the date of oath taking for the concerned to show up and if upon expiration of the period he or she is not found, a new mayor will be elected to fill the vacuum.

Momo Administration

Never has Mbengwi ever experienced such political turbulence. Some media outlets had reported that the mayor had been killed. Other rumours have it that the mayor is still alive as his captors await the demanded ransom yet no image or voice of the mayor has been seen or heard, dead or alive. The mayor's Mile 20 residence has remained deserted as most of his family members have escaped. At the Mbengwi council, most offices like that of the municipal treasurer, the council secretary general, the mayor's office and others are hardly open. Just few council workers go there daily just for few hours and later disappear.