Death Of 1st Deputy Mayor Mars 2015 Budgetary Session

By I B Nji

The easy going SDF pioneer Councilor and First Deputy Mayor for Bamenda III Council, Madam Lailam Bati Rose shocked her peers and council workers as she slumped to the cold hands of death in front of her office that fateful morning of December 12. She is reported to have suffered a malaise after coming out of her sick bed and came to discuss the planning of the council mini-agro-pastoral show.

This day happened to be a very busy day in the Council premises as there was a budgetary session billed for 10 am. The late Rose Bati Lailam came in at 8:30 am and greeted the Mayor in his office and then greeted the many young staff in the office then ask for her key to access into her office and before the door was open she collapsed on the floor and ended her story in the SDF long walk for freedom. As she was carted away the Angel of death had cast a gloomy spell in the vicinity and people were talking in whispers wondering what a calamity. So far all the founding fathers of the SDF in Nkwen are all gone beginning with the pioneer Mayor of Bamenda III, Prince  Pius Ngwa Amando followed by third Deputy Mayor Emmanuel Kotie and today first Deputy Mayor Rose Bati Lailam. The councilors and Senior Divisional Officer did muscle some courage to commence the business of the day after two hours behind scheduled time.

After presenting a catalogue of project realization in the municipality, Mayor Fonguh Cletus Tanwie presented a budget of FCFA600 million for 2015 up from FCFA 400 million for 2014. This budget was said to be balance in revenue and expenditure and after perusing through the documents, the budget had a clean bill of votes from the councilors in session. Talking on some projects that are ongoing, Mayor Fonguh said Bamenda III is free from the complaint of lack potable water in the city of Bamenda. This is because the Town Green water project which is jointly funded by ADB and the council to tune of FCFA 31 million, has reached completion but for the expected 1000 PE pipes from Germany. The 2015 budget shall tackle education, roads/bridges given the authorization that the Mayor should acquire a front head loader and grader. Study green parks and develop leisure centers, give assistance to health centers, encourage agricultural cooperatives and complete Namoh residential layout. With this expectation by the public, the Mayor remarked that “We shall be aggressive in revenue collection, project designing, project implementation, follow-up projects and report, create fresh revenue sources, fight against corruption.”