The CPDM Section President for Momo IV section in Ngie believes that leadership is giving back to the people and not extorting them.
A proud holder of a Masters degree in conflict and an engineer, Stephen Ujambeng Ando joined the CPDM party in the early 1991 in the heart of political agitations that would later lead to the institution of multi-party system in Cameroon. The creation of the SDF and its launch at the City Chemist in Bamenda instigated youths to become violent especially vis a vis the CPDM. According to Stephen Ujambeng, “The youths that the SDF had recruited were very hostile and this made it difficult for the CPDM to operate especially in Momo Division where I come from”, he said.
He joined the Majorettes of the CPDM where they demonstrated in national and political events. Being a student in Longla College then, he was picked up one day by the SDF guys and thrashed. This did not deter him from militating with the CPDM. His determination and activeness began to give him exposure and on one occasion he was called up by the Former Prime Minister Pa Simon Achidi Achu and asked to get involved in the President Biya’s Youth Movement (PRESBY). “It is Presby that I actually used to recruit most of the youths that were disgruntled and who had joined the SDF back into the CPDM”, Ujambeng continued. “We later created a sub divisional office of Presby in Ngie, Njikwa, Batibo, Mbengwi and Widikum. From there I was elected YCPDM sub section President of Ono sub section in Abe bong village in Ngie. It also became very difficult for the SDF to operate in Momo division because we gave the youths reason to join the CPDM which had a better offer than the SDF that preached violence. And we succeeded because the youths who genuinely wanted to build the nation joined us on the CPDM side. From there I was elected in the CPDM as delegate in charge of decentralized organizations and from there in 2021 I was voted in to the top position of Section President.” He has also contested in a series of elective positions and he keeps learning.
He also helps in improving the lives for the population in the division. “I have in my little way contributed in improving lives in our division. In 2017 I anticipated going in for the Parliamentary elections. To proof to our people that I was out to help, I invested over 30.000.000. I built three public toilets in Njikwa with each costing about 5.000 000 giving a total of 15.000.000frs invested in Njikwa. In Ngie I built Bridges and did water supply in a village in Ebang, a village Ngie still. In Widikum, I invested closed to about 12.000.000. for water supply to Bussam where the health Centre is”, Ujambeng revealed.
It has been a long and steady journey but according to Ujambeng, “The policy of the CPDM is to help the masses and many don’t seem to understand this they go in to gain instead of giving”, he lamented.
Irene AWENEG
