Commentary:
Getting Real Leaders In NW, SW AS Early Elections Mooted:
Time To Replace Absentee MPs, Mayors
Despite the sustained efforts which government has taken in recent times that have resulted in an improvement in peace across communities in the North West and South West regions, some municipal authorities have continued to live in self-denial.
These category of mayors and Members of Parliament, MPs are those who continue to portray the image that, there is unbearable insecurity in the North West and South Wes regions. They in turn, use this as a premise to stay out of their municipalities and constituencies for years, not bothering about the same people they had professed coming to office to serve in 2020.
When the twin polls took place February 9, 2020 with the subsequent election of mayors in March of that year, many staged deadly protests and battles, arguing that they had what it takes to revive their communities. Sadly enough, we are more than three years gone into the current mandate and such persons are still jumping from one town to another, from hotel to hotel, claiming that just nothing can work.
There are reports of mayors and MPS in the English-speaking regions who have not realised even one project under the guise that there is insecurity. With such an attitude, many have now been arguing amid reports that there may be anticipated twin polls in 2024 that, such persons should be flushed out of the political system.
Analysts say the drastic action is mostly needed within the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement, CPDM party that controls almost all the councils in the two regions. To start with, many say, the Central Committee of the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement, CPDM, party must without delay, make an inventory of mayors, their deputies and MPs who have since gone on ‘exile’ from their municipalities and constituencies under the guise of insecurity and bar such from dreaming of contesting for such positions again.
Such party activities, many say, should be corroborated with secret administrative reports of the activities of such mayors who have turned out to be rascally, painting the party in power black and making nonsense of government’s peace efforts.
Given the amount of money and attention being pumped into councils in recent times, observers say, there is no need pampering people who want to be leaders but don’t have the courage to face obstacles headlong to contribute for the return to peace.
Many More persons say, it is even sickening that at a time when President Paul Biya is bent on implementing the Presidential Plan for the Reconstruction and Development of the North West and South West regions, PPRD-NW/SW, some mayors are still dodgy. Others it is also said stay even out of the country, engaging in their private businesses, leaving budgets for development projects in local communities unexecuted.
The ruling party, It is also said must treat the matter as urgent as it should be given that, at a time the State is grappling with increasing demand for resources and more powers to meet local development needs, mayors can’t be allowed to be acting as though their council areas are autonomous countries within Cameroon.
Pressure by all means, it is being said must be brought to bear on those who man councils to adjust even for the months left for the current mandate to expire. But if at all early twin elections are announced, lazy and unproductive mayors must be replaced by candidates that are willing to stay in their communities and work for the development of their people.
