The CPDM ten-man delegation that was mandated by the central committee to pay last respect to the departed national president of the youth wing of the ruling party, Mbonda Stephen Motia, abandoned the corpse last Saturday in Mbonge and drove back to their cushy homes in Yaounde.

A communiqué that was signed on October 6, had indicated that Yaou Aissatou, Talba Malla Ibrahim, Bidoung Mkpatt, Monkam Nitcheu, Jean Fabien, Ndembiyembe Paul Celestin, Fru Jonathan, Enanga Kebbi, Tagnin Tchidzem Andre and Tono Ebode Claude, will accompany the CPDM secretary general, Jean Nkuete, to Bai Sombe in Mbonge sub-division for Motia’s burial.

But Nkuete and some of his delegation members could only make it to Mbonge and did not bother to nurse the courage to embark on the second lap of the final journey to Bai Sombe, apparently because of the deplorable road network.

After the funeral ceremony that was staged at the Mbonge municipal grandstand, the CPDM bigwigs who were delegated to pay tributes to the devoted militant started disappearing one after another.

While in Bai Sombe after braving the bad roads that had caused the Land Cruiser transporting Motia’s corpse to break down, no CPDM bigwig could be spotted; even YCPDM section and sub-section executives.

We were reliably informed that the CPDM delegation had returned to Kumba to spend the night in comfortable hotels. The only officials we could spot, though not part of the delegation, were Meme alternate senator, Njikam Richard, Senator Otte Andrew Mofa, Tabot Lawson alias Njalla and the DO for Mbonge.

In the meantime, Mbonda’s father, John Mbonda Besasi vowed during the Mbonge lap of the funeral ceremony that he will alongside his family members find out what killed his son. Pa Besasi who suspects that his son was a victim of political witch-hunting stated that his family will go to any length to get to the root cause of Motia’s death.

While addressing mourners during a funeral service, the deceased’s father pleaded with CPDM officials to at least do something for the tender children Motia has left behind.

Last respect for YCPDM national president After Mbonda’s corpse was removed from the Kumba district hospital mortuary, it was conveyed to Mbonge for a funeral service which was attended by five CPDM central committee delegation members: Jean Nkuete, Ibrahim Talba Malla, Victor Arrey Mengot, Yaou Aissatou and Fru Jonathan.

Paying tribute to the departed YCPDM president, Jean Nkuete described him as somebody who rekindled the hopes of youths in the party, reason why he said his death has left a vacuum within the ruling party that would hardly be filled.

He called on the youths not to relent their hopes on the party; reassuring that everything will continue as planned. Nkuete went further to describe Motia as a role model for youths in Africa.

According to Motia’s friend, Senator Otte Andrew, he was there to bury a friend, brother and political mate. Otte elaborated: “…I met Motia Stephen in 1990 when the country was boiling with multi party politics. I noticed he was a very good follower from whom youths emulate. He had late Namata Henry, Namata Ewanga and Prof. Ebanja as his mentors.”

Mbonda Stephen Motia died on August 6, 2014 while being rushed to Limbe for medical attention. He had just returned from Brazil for the 2014 World Cup expedition when he fell ill and was admitted at the Kumba district hospital.

The late Motia Stephen died at the age of 45 leaving behind five children.