4, June 2016
Cameroon Tribune: GM and Board Chairman at daggers-drawn positions 0
A tug of war has erupted between the general manager of the National Press and Publishing Company, SOPECAM and the chairman of the company’s board of directors. Marie Claire Nnana, by extrapolation the publisher of Cameroon Tribune is no stranger to controversy and has recently hinted that only the head of state, President Biya would be allowed to arbitrate between her and the board chairman Joseph Le, who also moonlights as the Deputy Director of the Civil Cabinet at the Presidency of the Republic. Both CPDM elites have engaged in a remote standoff ever since the Cameroonian dictator traveled to Europe for a private visit.
Cameroon Intelligence Report was reliably informed that the SOPECAM boss reportedly blocked all moves taken by the chairman to convene a board meeting citing a decree that was signed by President Biya on May 2016 ordering a new configuration of the board. Our source at SOPECAM revealed that the all powerful Marie Claire Nnana has regularly argued that the old board has outlived its usefulness. A view not accepted by the Biya acolyte, Joseph Le.
Our informant added that the chairman announced a board meeting on the same day that the general manager was en route to the Republic of South Africa. Madam Marie Claire left standing instructions that the hall reserved for board meetings should remain closed until she returns. She is yet to pay sitting allowance for the last council session that held under very difficult circumstances with some board members observing that her action is complete contempt and insubordination.
The crisis recently took a dramatic u turn when Chairman Joseph Le sacked the Chief Finance Officer, Olinga Biyo’o who refused to pay the sitting allowance on instructions from Marie Claire Nnana and replaced him with Ngane Gustave Leopold, a civil administrator. Cameroon Tribune has blatantly refused to publish the full text signed by the chairman. In its Friday edition, the national daily made public part of the Joseph Le decision on the new appointments of the Technical Director and the Sales and Marketing managers.
Sama Ernest in Yaounde
6, June 2016
Peter Agbor Tabi gets befitting state burial 0
The former Deputy Secretary-General at the Presidency was decorated posthumously with the medal of National Order of Valour before being interred in his native Ndekwai village on June 4, 2016. All roads led to Mamfe, Manyu Division of the South West Region over the weekend as the nation paid last tribute to one of its illustrious sons, Prof. Peter Agbor Tabi who died on 26 April, 2016 in Paris, France. Not even the scorching sun could deter thousands of mourners from all the corners of the country to converge on the ceremonial ground in Mamfe for the official burial of the late Minister, Deputy Secretary-General at the Presidency of the Republic.
Present and former cabinet ministers, members of the Senate and National Assembly, South West Administration, ministers of God, traditional rulers, CERAC women, CPDM party supporters and the general public witnessed the official burial ordered by the Head of State in honour of his former close aide. The official ceremony began with the arrival of the representative of the President of the Republic, Minister, Secretary-General at the Presidency, Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh at the Mamfe ceremonial ground. The casket bearing the mortal remains of Prof. Agbor Tabi was thus brought in by Police officers draped in the national colours amidst solemn music from the military band. A college of clergymen officiated the ecumenical service during which they prayed for the repose of the soul of late Prof.
Agbor Tabi and implored God to comfort the bereaved family. The four eulogies that marked the funeral ceremony delivered by the family head, the South West Chiefs’ Conference, the deceased son and the representative of the Secretary General of the CPDM Central Committee, all attested to the sterling qualities of devotedness, humility, loyalty, hardworking and love for his community.
In a highly emotional speech, the representative of the Head of State described Prof. Agbor Tabi (his former teacher at IRIC) as a man of conviction, values and responsibility who served his nation with diligence and commitment. “In him, we have lost a prominent figure in Cameroon administration, a senior statesman and a patriot,” Ngoh Ngoh stated while adding that the Head of State held Prof. Agbor Tabi in a very high esteem and was deeply touched by his demise. He recounted efforts by the President of the Republic to save his life.
On behalf of the President of the Republic, Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh posthumously decorated the late former Director of IRIC, Rector of University of Yaounde I, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and the Deputy Secretary General at the Presidency with the medal of National Order of Valour. Meanwhile the Head of State’s condolence message was read and handed to the family by the Senior Divisional Officer of Manyu, Peter Tieh Ndeh.
Cameroon Tribune