Martin Jumbam

Professor Victor Anomah Ngu – In memoriam.

By Martin Jumbam

Cameroon recently lost an academic giant – Professor Victor Anomah Ngu. As I join many Cameroonians in and outside our country to mourn the passing into eternity of this intellectual colossus, I feel a tinge of sadness that he did not deem it necessary to write his life story for posterity. 

 

The SDF Chairman eats 'soya' in the Adamawa

By Martin Jumbam

The Social Democratic Front Chairman, Ni John Fru Ndi, has been on a nation-wide tour to, among other things, urge Cameroonians in the hinterlands to join him to put pressure on his new-found friend, President Paul Biya, to “reform” ELECAM – Elections Cameroon, the body charged with the responsibility of organizing future elections in Cameroon.

Do our youth a favour and retire, Mr. President!

Whenever I feel crushed by the legendary hustle and bustle of the rat race that the life in Douala has become, I always retire to the peaceful surroundings of the Foyer de la Charite in Bonjongo, Buea, for a few days in quest of true peace of soul and mind. The inhabitants of this Catholic retreat house call it "an oasis of peace and prayer"; and they aren't wrong. That is where I was on the eve of February 11 when a journalist from Radio Veritas, the radio of the Catholic Archdiocese of Douala, called to remind me that President Paul Biya would be speaking to the youth of this country that evening. Could I listen to him and give Radio Veritas my reaction to his speech? When you're out in search of peace of soul and mind, President Biya's speeches are far from being one of the ingredients for peace you want to have with you. However, since the young journalist would not take No! for an answer, I said I would and here is what I told him.

 

How I lost respect for the SDF

By Martin Jumbam

 

Let me start by owning up. I have never been a card-carrying member of the SDF, nor of any political party, for that matter, even though I’ve always voted for the SDF in elections they decide not to boycott. But since the SDF is a political party of vacillators, it has never always been clear when it is in or when it is out. Like Shakespeare’s Hamlet, the Chairman and his party are always wondering whether to be or not to be; whether to vote or not to vote. That’s exactly what’s happening at the moment; they don’t know whether to register and vote or to register and boycott or not to register on the voter’s list at all. There was even a time they were wondering whether to be in parliament or out. But when it comes to parliament, their parliamentarians have their eyes glued on the brown envelopes dropping from Cavaye Djibril’s overflowing gandoura. Money has them on a leash tied around Djibril’s waist. No indecency intended.