How Hon. Lifaka Accounts To Her Electorate

Interviewed By Azore Opio

Hon. Emilia Monjowa Lifaka, MP for Fako West Constituency, Member of the House Committee for Finance and Projects and of the Executive Committee of Good Governance at the National Assembly, is proud of her achievements as the people's representative so far.

She names her contribution to their welfare to include the provision of school buildings and uniforms, constructive debate in the Assembly that often led to bills being amended to reflect reality and common sense. She intends to take a go at another term in Parliament next year, even though she strongly feels that the wicked minds of her detractors are at work…

The Post:  How has it been at the House?
Lifaka: Rough. Politics is not easy.

How many villages make up your constituency?

My constituency spans from the West Coast District, the Bonjongo Court Area, Lysoka, Mamu and the Bonadibongo area.

What are your responsibilities as an MP?

The responsibility of the Member of Parliament first is to legislate and, of course, to protect the interests of the electorate, the people; lobbying for things to come to their area and also to invest in the micro-projects within the limits of the funds provided us.

Since you became MP, how many bills and laws has Parliament passed so far?

Hmm, that is a difficult one simply because I have not been taking records. Eeh… at least you have given me food for thought.

Of the bills that have been passed, which one has impressed you the most and which one do you think has not been properly done?

None has not been properly done because I voted all of them in my good frame of mind, good conscience and not because of party discipline. I voted them because I think they were good laws for the electorate.

There is the Criminal Procedure Code, which everybody termed revolutionary; a bill that has come in to alleviate a lot of the suffering of our people. We also have the declaration of assets that is a good law that will help to reduce corruption. It might not stop it but it will help greatly to curb it.

Have you ever moved a motion on your own initiative and influenced it to become a bill and finally a law, without benefit your seniors? Have you ever done one on your own?
No, no, no, I haven't, but I have proposed amendments, aah…when the Criminal Procedure Code was tabled, I, in consultation with legal experts, tabled amendments in Parliament, many of which government accepted.

Like which one…?

The right to remain silent, you know (pause), I think it is article 66 of that law… the right to remain silent. If you are arrested, you should be informed that you have the right to remain silent.

You proposed that amendment?

We proposed the amendment… I proposed it in consultation with legal experts; you know I am not one, but in consultation with legal experts. These proposals were made and I tabled it as a Parliamentarian. And the amendments were accepted. I think there were 22, 15 were accepted.

You recently visited Bova, and handed out gifts. What inspired you?

It is my regular visit to my constituency. Since I was elected in 2002, I have been going round. When I came back from Parliament in 2002,because we went in August, the first thing I did was thank the people who voted me. So I bought cows, rice, salt and distributed all in the West Coast, Bonavada, Lysoka, Mamu…

Those gifts, you buy them with your personal savings or there is some other source of money?

No, there is no other source of money. The only source of revenue is from Parliament for micro-projects that we have to carry out within our constituencies.After that project, I embarked on another one in Sanje, in the West Coast District. I installed a generator at the Sanje Health Centre and provided beddings for it.

Still in the West Coast District, I created a community education and empowerment centre and bought sewing machines, gas cookers and so on, for the centre. I got the Ministry of Agriculture to transfer a facilitator to take care of the centre. In Lysoka, I got government to create a nursery school and I rehabilitated the building that houses the school.

I run the school as if it is a private school, but government runs it. I provide everything - benches, uniforms, everything that the children need. In Mamu, they didn't have classrooms for 20 years of existence. I gave them some bags of cement; I gave them five trips of sand and cash so that they could start construction of classrooms. I moved over to Bonjongo, my birthplace.

Two classrooms are under construction presently at a secondary school that has been upgraded to a high school. I have been to HOTPEC to donate things to the orphanage. I was in Bova. That was my third time to visit the area.

By the way, how much micro-project money do you receive? Do you receive them yearly or in one lump for the five years?

No we receive yearly. Every year, we receive FCFA 8.000.000.

Do you think micro-project money is enough to do all these things?

It is definitely not enough!

Then why does government not go beyond the miserable micro-project money and do major things, like good roads, schools, hospitals and the like so that Cameroonians may improve the quality of their own lives?

No, the government does! You are talking about good roads? I take the Bonjongo-Sasse-Mile Four road. Government put in FCFA 1.2 billion. Like I said, government is now constructing an administrative building and a conference centre in Bonjongo. In Idenau, it is constructing a health centre with a resident medical doctor.

In Mamu, after the temporary nursery building, government constructed a permanent building with the help of the Japanese. And government has just created a technical school in Lysoka.

Talking about Japanese collaboration, why is that most schools built by them are only found in Francophone Cameroon, not in Anglophone Cameroon?

Huh, there is one in Buea opposite the military camp. They are also building in Limbe, Kumba - they are taking it Province by Province.

Is it true that the CPDM Subsection Presidents of Bova II boycotted your visit?

Yes, the CPDM Subsection Presidents of that area boycotted.

Why?

Hmm… bad faith! Because… because, from 2002 that I entered Parliament, I have been trying to carry out this ceremony in Bova and he keeps going, "oh, no, today I don't have time. Oh, tomorrow… let's change the date, oh let's try to do it this time, let's have it on Friday…" knowing that we have programmed a visit for Friday… I just attribute that to bad faith.

Do you, by any chance, have a personal grudge with those Subsection Presidents?

No, I do not. But in politics, people make their choices.

Would you say they are opposed to you?

I don't know, I wouldn't know. But I think, and I believe, the majority of the people elected me, and I am there to serve that majority.

We heard that the placard-wielding youths of Bova said it took you five years to journey from Bova via Yaounde back to Bova? Why did it have to take you so long, if that is what happened?

First, it is not yet five years since I joined Parliament in August 2002. August 2007 will make five years. Two, I told you that when I went to Parliament I bought cows, rice and such things, and they received them.

In October last year, from the pictures that you see here, another ceremony took place in Bova… so it didn't take me five years; that is why I say it is bad faith. As a Parliamentarian, I have at least 68 villages. You cannot visit them individually. You group them up. And if every village thinks you must make a stop, it is not possible!

You did say at Bova that you fear the opposition SDF might run out the CPDM in that place, why? And why did you say that the CPDM is not used to placards?

We of the CPDM, we do not use placards to send messages across. That is an anti-party activity. Secondly, your reporter classified the protestors as CPDM; I would classify them as SDF. I don't know what convinced him that they were CPDM.

Are there some SDF militants in Bova?

Well, people can always change their minds. Maybe these children voted for me, today they are carrying placards against the same person they voted for.

Elections are coming up next year and it is only natural that any politician in his/her right mind would be out now campaigning. Is this your campaign, or will you wait until, say, a month to elections?

When I was leaving Parliament in March, I received micro-project money. I have to use it! Unless they are asking me to keep the money. Next year micro-project money will still be given to me.

Are you planning to run again for Parliament?

Yes…

Do you think you will win?

Definitely. Because I have served my people. I have delivered the goods. I have come above so many things and I am sure my detractors manipulated the placard-brandishing young men. In politics you cannot expect everyone should be for you.

There are rumours that you accuse some people of hiring some journalists to run you down. Is it true, and if it is true, who is paying whom?

Well, I will continue to say they are my detractors

Yes, but you said you were going to name names after the Bova visit, could we have some names, please?

No. They are my detractors.

Do you know them personally?

Hmm, you might know your detractors; you might not know them.

But do you know any of them, physically?

When a Subsection President boycotts your ceremony, is he not your detractor? Definitely he is. He is proving to you beyond reasonable doubt that he is your detractor. Who is behind him is a different story. But I know him because he boycotted a party that he represents goes to his seat. He did not boycott me.

How do you get along with your Mayor who is also your comrade-in-party, so to say?

Are you insinuating something?

How do you get along with the Mayor, who happens to belong to the same party as you?

Why didn't you ask me about the other MP, why did you choose the Mayor. Why didn't you ask about my Section President; why did you choose the Mayor?

How about your working relationship with the present Prime Minister and even with the former Prime Minister and the Mayor, since they are inhabitants of your constituencies?

I don't think I have any problem with anybody.

Great. When The Post reporter approached you in Bova, you dismissed him, saying you don't speak to that newspaper. What was the matter? Do you have any problem with the newspaper outfit or any individual working there?  Why didn't you want to speak to the press when you very well know that Cameroonians are entitled to information from you as a public figure and their representative?

I spoke to the press. At least I was granted an interview. All the press people were there. Yes, I said I wouldn't talk to The Post, it has never…The Post covered my event in 2002 and since then it has never covered my events. So I didn't see why it was interested in this particular event.

Were you suspecting that The Post reporter was hired to run you down?

I believe that his report was not balanced

How else do you think the reporter could have balanced the story?  He presented the gift side of the story as well as the protest. When he wanted a third dimension, you waved him away… did you wish him to leave out the protest side…?

No, no, no… Not at all, but to make the protestors look like they were more than the jubilant crowd, is why I think the story was not balanced. You know it is like a glass of water half full. Somebody with a positive mind will say it is half full. Someone else with a negative mind will say it is half empty. I think the reporter looked at the ceremony with a negative mind.

Do you think this particular reporter will be glad to think that you are out to sully his name?

No, I am not. I am not… my image as a Parliamentarian is at stake I have been working for four years and I haven't done anything for myself. And this reporter took just one day to destroy it.

So what are you planning to do about it?

Nothing. I have forgiven him.

Comments

[JTS]

It Looks like the MP thinks the Mayor wants her post?

[Chim]

The Hon Lifaka does not sound so sure of herself. Why is she so afraid of her own shadow?.

[Bidget Lyonga,]

The truth is finally out. Lifaka does not even know the number of villages that make her constituency. She says her "constituency spans from the West Coast District, the Bonjongo Court Area, Lysoka, Mamu and the Bonadibongo area." Is the Bonjongo court area a village? The reporter wanted to know how many villages make up your constituency. If you chosed to name areas, you should have done so through, or if you chose to name villages, you should have gone ahead to name all the villages instead of exposing your ignorance to the journalist. The best answer would have been 1,2,3....60 villages and wait for the following quiestion. half education is an infection, difficult to cure. My next stop will be on your response to the question regarding bills. So wait for my comments, CPDM disgrace!!

[BenB]

Lyonga,

I remarked that too at the start of the interview, wondering why she rather gave the span of her constituency when she was asked for the number of villages.

The number of villages is important as each of them is a community needing certain basic amenities that cannot be shared in bulk with other even closeby villages.

But later in the interview, Hon Lifaka herself gave the figure. She said at least 68 villages. Maybe Lyonga counts more or less villages in Lifaka's constituency. It will be interesting to know that an MP doesn't know her constituency so well. Lyonga fire!

For most of that interview, she comes across as not-so-knowledgeable, though she sounds sincere. A people only get the leaders they chose for their attitudes and actions. Na wonna bi chose am. Make wonna no cry now. When elections were rigged for her you people jubilated. Make man no cry now.

Lifaka's shallowness comes across most glaringly when she says: "The right to remain silent, you know (pause), I think it is article 66 of that law… the right to remain silent. If you are arrested..." Helele!!

Who here doesn't know that Article 66 in the 1996 consitution is about the famous declaration of assets? And an MP? CPDM na dnon!

May we pardon her since it might just have been a slip of the tongue as she was speaking about both the right to silence and declaration of assets? She said she wasn't a legal expert and MPs (especially CPDM) and ministers often read notes during debates. They don't speak from their minds like SDF MPs during parliamentary debates.

Lifaka might just have received notes from her legal experts and read them in parliament without understanding them.

But even if we pardon her, it de lek say her own don finish for parlaiment as she seems to be out of favour with everyone that matters - Mayor Mbella Moki, PM Inoni, former PM Musonge, etc according to the interview.

And you sabi how way dem di do for CPDM noh? They will next handpick someone else, maybe Bidget Lyonga to run for parliament in the next elections to be rigged.

I salot o, Honourable Bidget Lyonga.

BenF

[BenB]

This Buea Rural parliamentary seat now obviously coveted by Lifaka's "detractors" belongs to Prof. Kale. He won this seat, but wonna bi tif am.

Tif property di hot belle.

[Mbu.B]

Dumb parliamentarian.One needs patience to read through.
Woman you drive a car but you can`t even open the bonnet of the car.Forget another term.You are short woman!

[Marion-Leslie]

Hi GUYS
CUD SOMEBODY PLEASE GIVE ME SOME HINTS
ON WHAT IT TAKES 2 GET 2 THE FAMOUS GLASS HOUSE?
BC FROM THE ABOVE INTERVIEW, UR MP IS ALL A MESS.
SHE KNOWS NOTHING.
SHE IS SO UNSURE OF WHAT SHE SAYS AND...
IN FACT SHE IS SO TENSED DAT THE INTERVIEWEE CUD EXPOSE HER(THEM)
CPDM WUNA CHOP 4 WUNA SABI!!!
AZORE, AHEAD AHEAD.
THE POST, I BEG WUNA EXPOSE THEM ALL.

THIS WOMAN REALLY WASHES HER DIRTY LAUNDRY IN PUBLIC.
WHAT IS A RIGHT AND WHAT IS AN OBLIGATION?
SHE SAYS THE RIGHT 2 STAY SILENT!!!
GOD SAVE US.
IS DAT AN OBLIGATION OR A RIGHT?.
MRS HONOURABLE.
HOW HONOURABLE R U?

[Rexon]

Nayongo Ethel,

You are a true fighter and a God fearing person. You speak with your heart and the truth and the almighty God will receive you in heaven with open hands.

I hope the likes of Agbormbai, Che Sunday, Frank Muma, who always pour this forum with CPDM rhetoric will be able to learn something from you.

[Daniel Ewang]

Lifaka should be ashamed to classify the Bova Youths as SDF. And should now know that they will truly go with SDF if she is the CPDM is not careful. When Youths revolt is SDF, when they cry for hunger, it is SDF but when Rice, beer and cows are given it is the CPDM. Lifaka, how many bills have you debated, you don't even know. From your interview, you appear to be just a little worst than madam Funning, because she can at least communicate in French, but your ignorance is a disgrace to the Bakweri and the CPDM as a whole.

[.Legima Doh (LD)]

Nayongo,
Great indeed.Some would think that you are so obscene.Yes it sounds so but the message is fraught with the bitter truth and the bitterness itself makes it look that way and not you.So her deeds are obscene and shameful.What a derogatory MP.
She knows virtually nothing to be an MP and is therefore a disgrace in toto.This is how to surge forward in that demonic regime,they must partake in very odious deeds like prostitution,necromancy,theft,bribery,corruption and all the vices.That MP brings shame to the Bakweri land as a whole.I know the Bakwerians to be very intelligent although some aren't that courageous.
In LRC,ministers are caught with stolen money,DG ie directeur generals are caught with stolen money,some jailed,almost all the government officials have their names boldly written in the list of the corrupt ones,MPs kill like Doh,some prostitute like Lifaka,most if not all are necromancers like Mendo,Mbella Mbappe,Minlo etc,most are homosexuals like Owona,Mbonjo etc,and the head himself is a crown of all the vices.As we can see,that country has planted deep the seed of evil and that is what shall be harvested.
ONE day,Peace shall reign in our land.We are simply sorry of the disgusting nature of things in that country.
Southern Cameroons,Peace!
Legima Doh,
for SCNC

[Mary Ayuk]

Mrs Lifaka you are a mess to the CPDM.

[Mengolo]

Madam Lifaka
Thank you, for granting this interview with the post. I will like to give you one little advice. Have confidence in your self and speak like some one who has spent four good years in parliament. Speak with authority but with respect, because from the way you gave or represented your self, reading your interview comes out to be very week. Even and OVERSEEYER at the then Tole tea estate could have done better then what you did on this interview. Wake up

[Tita Mofaw]

She is only doing her job...I mean representing her people.Go ahead with the work you are doing Your Excellency Mrs Hon.

[Tina]

Hon Lifaka,
It's not funny to read stuff like this from a so called MP.

[Tina]

Madam Lifaka na whaoooh..........When next you want to grant an interview think about what you gonna say because you made a fool of yourself in this one.As a parlamentarian you ought to do better.

[Daniel Ewang]

Lifaka has not seen anything yet. Just continue granting interviews they will sink your baot. You want to ride on the press to rise but you want the press reporter to slide and fall. Failed and fake politian.