The Moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon, PCC, Rt. Rev. Fonki Samuel Forba, has called on government to elevate his native Akwaya subdivision in Manyu Division to a Division. He went on to rubbish President Biya’s 33 years power grip as having failed the people.

The chief shepherd of the PCC spoke in Mamfe, Sunday, November 8, on the last lap of his maiden pastoral visit to Manyu Division. The event culminated in a dual ceremony at the Mamfe Town Grandstand – the induction of the Presbyterian Secretary for Mamfe Presbytery, Rev. Assah Peter Ashu and a thanksgiving reception in honour of two Manyu sons; the Rt. Rev. Fonki, himself and Rev. Besong Johnson Tambe, Secretary Committee of the Ministry.

“I grew up from a very poor and difficult setting. I have gone through a lot of huddles in life, coming from a little jungle called Bombe in Akwaya subdivision, a place that is enclaved till date. At one moment, I was at point “A” of my life and for many years going through stormy circumstances. I have now moved to the point “B” of my life and I know that there is much more on the other side.” Rev. Fonki said, referring to conditions in Akwaya.

To get to the other side, he said we must have faith in God and trust that Jesus will accompany us as we journey to the other side. He said crossing over to the other side is sure if Christ is the head of our boats; crossing from nobody to somebody.

Rt. Rev. Fonki on Biya’s power grip

The Moderator referred to President Biya’s accession to power as a crossing to the other side.

“Beloved in the Lord, last Friday, members of the ruling CPDM party were celebrating the accession of President Biya to power. His coming to power was a crossing over in many ways for our country Cameroon. Unfortunately, members of the CPDM have monopolised this anniversary celebration to themselves as if our president is president only for CPDM militants. He is also my president.”

He added, “What I want to state here is that I think that Biya has made some giant strides since he became president. He has done a lot to take Cameroonians to the other side. It was in his regime that the country moved from a one party state to a multi-party democracy. Today, there is party pluralism in Cameroon. Whether President Biya brought it or the forces of change did is a matter of conjecture. But what is clear is that political pluralism came within his reign. People can now express their political views without fear of being molested. That is an achievement as far as the regime is concerned, an achievement that takes Cameroonians to the other side.”

The moderator lamented however, that, “Unfortunately, in the economic domain, from 1987 till date, the country has been going through economic crisis. In fact, Cameroon has been moving through all phases of economic malaise. In January 1994, there was the devaluation of the FCFA that further plunged the country further into economic depression. More so, people’s salaries were slashed making it difficult for them to have their basic needs. The price hikes and taxes have worsened the situation. Cameroon which is an oil producing country is suffering from hikes in prices of hydrocarbon products. The prices of basic commodities are rising and Cameroonians are suffering.”

The other worry he said, is that, of rising unemployment. This has affected the social fabric of our nation. “Our youths have become so confused and have lost their dreams for the future. This is because our history is flawed with discrimination, hatred, oppression, repression and corruption. Today, we have become prisoners of our history; guilty of our past because we have neither been true Africans nor true Cameroonians. We have sat on the fence for too long because we wanted to harvest from the great vine of capital interest and in the process, we have compromised the communal spirit of Cameroonians and Africans, without even gaining the strengths of capitalism.”

“I wonder what the future holds for us as a people and as a nation. If we cannot correct the errors of the past in the training that we give our young people today, by the time they leave school, it is already an established notion that those who can have jobs in Cameroon upon graduation are those who have godfathers or whose parents are well placed in society or those who are ready to give their bodies for jobs,” he bemoaned.

In the midst of all these, the question is: “Who will take us to the other side of the sea? He questioned. “As a post-jubilee nation, we have to stop pretending that all is well and pull our nation to the other side of prosperity, and pull our nation to the other side of more jobs, more quality health care and more good roads.”

Fonki weeps for Akwaya

“Many of you could not join me to Akwaya because you feared the deplorable road network to Akwaya. Akwaya is a subdivision that was created in 1963. It is one of the oldest and largest subdivisions in our country. Yet, we only had a footpath in the name of a road after 50 years in 2013.”

In a fearless tone and amidst deafening plaudits, the Moderator went on: “The truth is that my darling division, Manyu has been and is still outstanding by the calibre of statesmen and stateswomen that have come from this division. Yet, we are still marking time with underdevelopment leading the march. The unfortunate truth is that to come home into Mamfe, you must go through Bamenda. To go to Akwaya, you must go through Bamenda or Nigeria, making it difficult for our people to progress.”

“Who will cross us to the other side? Can you answer that question dear Manyu people? My dear parents, my dear brothers and sisters, there must be a change of mentality and ideology. Time has come for us to make the difference as a people. Time has come for us to drop our political inclinations and sectional interests and regroup ourselves and take our people to the other side of the river,” he advised.

Fonki urged his people to shun greed and work for the common good. “My dear people of Manyu, we have stayed on this side for too long. The glories of our personal achievements have made us to forget the bigger picture as a people. Time has come for us to put our individual influences together for the common good of the Manyu people.”

“Dear brothers and sisters of Manyu who are in influential and high places of power, I challenge you today to take us to the other side of the river. You have the possibilities of making things happen for our people. We have stayed on this side of the river for too long. Time has come for us to ask the state of Cameroon to open secondary schools in every village of Manyu. Go to other parts of our country and you will be shocked to find out that there is a secondary school after every ten kilometres. Whether they are people there or not, we will find a secondary school.”

The Moderator re-echoed calls for Akwaya to be raised to a division. “What is difficult in creating another division in Akwaya, the largest subdivision in all of Cameroon? With a population of over 110,000 people, Akwaya has no hospitals. All Akwaya can boost of are two health posts. Cross your people to the other side of the river.”

Manyu thanks God for Fonki’s life

At the Mamfe Grandstand, speaker after speaker thanked God for turning his face to Manyu people. They congratulated Rev. Fonki for making himself available to be used by God for His service.

The oldest member of Cameroon’s National Assembly, Hon. Enoh Tanjong who doubles as Chairman of the National Organising Committee for the maiden pastoral visit of Rev. Fonki to Manyu thanked God for such a favour shown to the Manyu people – raising their son to the coveted office of PCC Moderator.

The Mayor of Mamfe, Ayuk Takunchong John; the Chairman of the Mamfe town Congregation, Elder Daniel Enow Takor; the Chairman of the Mamfe Presbytery, Elder Oben Michael Oben and Rev. Jones Ebot Ayulk on behalf of the Manyu community heaped praises on Rev. Fonki to have accepted God’s call.

Rev. Fonki was born on November 23, 1965 in his native village of Bombe in Akwaya subdivision. His educational career started at St. Paul Primary School Bombe, culminating with a Masters Degree in Applied Theology at the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom. He has served the church in different capacities ranging from Parish Pastor to Presbyterial Secretary in different presbyteries and also as Direct Partnership Secretary of the PCC.

He is married to Rev. Dr. Perpetua Fonki, a lecturer at the Cameroon Christian University – Kumba Campus and they are blessed with a son, Fonki Samuel Forba Junior.

While in Manyu, he was given several traditional titles to include the “Eyonghomandem” (Voice of God) and decorated as “honorary Seseku”, an equivalent of a chieftaincy title.

The ceremony was attended by among others the following: Victor Mengot Arrey Nkhongho, Minister in charge of Special Duties at the Presidency; Senator Nfor Tabetando; Senator Chief Anja Simon; Chief honourable Igele Elias; Manyu’s 1st assistant Senior Divisional Officer (ASDO), Ekoto Matta and Mamfe’s Assistant Divisional Officer, Aboloa Timothée.