CPDM MP from Donga-Mantung Calls for Scrapping of 20th May Celebrations, Opposed to the Appellation of “Republic of Cameroun”

The Frontier Telegraph met and chatted with the long time MP from the Ako-Misaje constituency in Donga-Mantung division, Honourable Joseph Ntoi.

Honourable Ntoi was a member of parliament in Yaoundé for nine years, from 1988-1992, and again from 1992-1997. Hon Ntoi was categorical that CPDM has always been popular and won elections in his constituency. He returns to parliament in Yaoundé by virtue of the fact that he was the alternate of Dr. Carlistus Fuh Gentry who was appointed into the Executive as a Minister.

The Frontier Telegraph:First of all, accept our congratulations for the wonderful victory your list scored in Ako-Misaje. Also, we find it very honourable of you to have humbled yourself to be the alternate to your junior brother from Misaje, Dr. Carlistus Fuh Gentry having been in parliament before. Many hold that it is that humility and a sense of understanding that played in favour of your victory. We want to know what other role you played in the victory of the CPDM in Ako-Misaje.

Hon. Ntoi: Let me take this opportunity to also congratulate The Frontier Telegraph. I should state here that even in the time of Hon. Chemo (R.I.P), the SDF always lost in Ako-Misaje, and it was thanks to the votes from other sub-divisions that carried him along. I always won. This time around, I had to give the chance to a young man, Carlistus, who is a square peg in a square hole. I didn’t so much want to raise the problem of experience. I wanted to use his youthfulness with my experience to galvanize victory for the CPDM, knowing that in the event of victory, he will be named Minister, if that did not happen, no problem, we still made a good team. However, the Head of State has demonstrated full confidence in him as he is a real technician in the field of mining. He deserves the confidence.

TFT:Hon., are you insinuating that if Ako-Misaje had had the single constituency long ago, the SDF would never have had an MP from the area?

Hon. Ntoi: Absolutely.

TFT:Now, Hon. Every political individual has his own political priorities. Your priorities must be different from those of the Minister. You will be validated next November. What do you have as priorities for Ako-Misaje.

Hon. Ntoi: Even before validation takes place, I’ve already started work. That is why I am heading for Yaoundé to concert with the young Minister, so we can put in place a plan of action, of course. Our major preoccupation is roads. We don’t have electricity and water. We will handle issues of infrastructure like classrooms. We also don’t also have teachers in the schools.

TFT:You sound like there is going to be a lot of collaboration between you and the Minister.

Hon. Ntoi: Yes. We’re working together. Even during the campaigns, we came up with what we had to do in case of victory. We are sure to deliver the goods.

TFT:Hon. We learnt that you had a bit of health malaise, yet you have returned to the vibrant old Ntoi. What is your secret?

Hon. Ntoi: Well, there’s nothing like a secret. The trust which the people have in me played a good deal in giving the party the victory.

TFT:There were rumours at the time of the elections that the ruling party was registering foreigners in the Ako-Misaje area. Is that true?

Hon. Ntoi: I don’t know. Mr. Tuka (SDF Chair for Ako-Misaje) came up with that. You know people had the problem of I.D. cards, and when the government said people could go and vote without the I.D. cards, the population of an area like Buku, for instance has five Class Seven Schools. So, you cannot say that 2000 people shouldn’t register there. Then, Abafum has three Class Seven Schools, and even the SDF stronghold, Akwaja (where we never succeeded) the SDF Chairman still fumbled there – not knowing what to do.

TFT: Hon., one national issue you are reputed to have strongly opposed was the change of name from the United Republic of Cameroun to La République du Cameroun (Cameroun Republic). Do you regret having expressed that strong opposition at the time?

Hon. Ntoi: Not at all. I still hold firm to my point we have the United States of America, the United Kingdom, what is wrong with the case of Cameroon. And that is why I told the former Prime Minister that they should stop the celebration of 20th of May, because that was when we had the United Republic. So, with no United Republic, there is no need for celebrating May 20th. We should scrap it. I made it very clear, and I cannot change my position.

TFT:Hon., as an MP, you are a lawmaker for the entire country, and coming particularly from Donga-Mantung, what is your opinion on the sacking of an elected Mayor who has not yet been installed?