The Mayor of Bangem Council, Ekungwe Kang Christopher has refused responsibility for the cancellation of the Bangem lap of the just ended International Banana-Plantain Festival.
Bangem was initially programmed for the closing ceremony of the festival on the 2nd of December 2023, after Limbe on November 30th and Buea on the 1st of December. Buea and Bangem were finally canceled from the program.
Mayor Ekungwe said the South West Regional Assembly takes the responsibility. “As organizers, they were to finance many events in Bangem and they had already accepted the items they will sponsor. I was waiting for money from the Regional Assembly which never came.” He lamented.
He said after engaging in some expenditure while waiting on the Regional Assembly, he was told on the 28th of November by the Commissioner of Education at the Regional Assembly that Bangem has been canceled from the program.
“The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Gabriel Mbairobe called on November 28 and told me that he will be in Bangem on the 2nd of December. And I informed the SDO about this.” He added.
“When I was told of Bangem’s cancellation from the programme, I didn’t tell anybody. I kept on calling the Regional Assembly until they sent me a WhatsApp message. To cancel an event that was supposed to take place the next day was worrisome. I got myself highly implicated preparing for the event.” The Mayor continued.
“The disappointment of this festival is not only for the farmers but more of my disappointment because I was more committed than anybody else in planning and everything was already in place. Caterers already bought food items knowing that the Regional Assembly will send money.” He added.
According to Ekungwe, what Bangem stands to benefit is beyond the ceremonial part of the festival. He said the plantain processing unit and getting bulk buyers of plantains is more beneficial and he is already negotiating for this to happen.
Bangem Plantains to Limbe
The Mayor further narrated that the minister called him several times to bring plantains to Limbe on the day of the festival but he told him no farmer is willing to send plantains to Limbe.
“I am a Mayor and the minister was the personal representative of the Head of State. If I refused to go, they will say I am the one who championed the call on farmers not to come to Limbe. It will be on my head. So I decided to go to Limbe.” He added.
He said on the eve of the event in Limbe, the South West Development Authority, SOWEDA sent two vehicles to buy and transport plantains from Bangem to Limbe. He said the vehicles developed faults along the way and didn’t reached Bangem.
The Mayor said another SOWEDA pickup in Bangem and an ACEFA pickup loaded plantains from Bangem. He refused allegations that the council tipper came to Bangem to carry plantains.
“I am not guilty of any accusation. I didn’t accompany any plantain to Limbe. We have three Regional Councilors from Kupe Muanengeuba in the South West Regional Assembly and nobody is saying anything. They are pointing fingers at me because of grievances that has nothing to do with the festival. It was a decision taken by the Regional Assembly not me.” He cried.
According to the Mayor, if it was the minister’s decision, the event would not have been cancelled in Bangem, justifying that it was the Regional Council’s decision.
By Ahone Jessy
