The message of the Prime Minister, Head of Government, Chief Dr Joseph Dion Ngute to his kith and kin at the ongoing Southwest Peace and Development Forum, has fired hope of a new era.
The message of the Prime Minister was delivered at the opening of the session on Friday, May 12. It was done by his special envoy, Director of Cabinet at the Prime Minister’s Office, Balungeli Confiance Ebune. The forum is taking place under the theme: “South West, Our Region, Our Challenge, Our Common Identity”.
As a bonafide and illustrious son of the Southwest Region and a respected traditional ruler, the message of the PM to the over 600 delegates from the six divisions of the Southwest Region that are taking part in the exercise has been profound and energizing.
The delegates were more than fired up with a new zeal of determination to accompany the government in seeking the complete return of peace, disarming of those still carrying guns and reviving development.
Among the key messages from the PM through his envoy, was the disclosure that the government is keen on working on the recommendations that will be arrived at in Buea.
“The Prime Minister has asked me to reassure you beforehand that the ears and eyes of Government are particularly attentive to the deliberations and conclusions that will come up from this forum,” the Prime Minister’s envoy noted.
While highlighting the need to respect state institutions, the directives for all to join in counselling youngsters still carrying guns to disarm and return to living normal lives.
Beyond this, the Prime Minister also reminded the population of the Southwest Region of President Paul Biya’s firm instructions for rehabilitation works on the lone National Oil Refining Company, SONARA to get underway soon.
Ebune Confiance delivering PM’s message at SW Peace and Development Conference
Speaking at the event, Ebune Confiance was clear in delivering the PM’s message that, the Southwest Peace and Development Forum is holding within a context of President Paul Biya’s resolve to devolve powers through decentralisation.
“It gives us great pleasure that an initiative like this one is conceived, championed and implemented by the Southwest Regional Assembly,” the PM’s envoy said, adding that: “This is ample proof that solutions to our challenges can only be better articulated through home-grown and locally engineered methods”.
He declared that: “This is a merit of effective decentralisation and we are extremely proud of such a development… It goes without saying that this forum today is an eloquent proof that the people of the Southwest Region have their destiny in their Hands”
He told reporters that the Southwest through the mobilisation and discussions ongoing has shown that it does not depend on people from elsewhere to dictate the pace of things.
“They have come and they are determined that they will sit and see how Peace is normalised in this Region,” Ebune Confiance said, adding that the Southwest Region remains attached to the leadership of President Paul Biya. Peace, he said, is a continuous process in which every son and daughter of the region should continue to play their role.
The Prime Minister’s envoy was treated to a hectic reception as he arrived Buea Friday. In attendance were mayors, senators, members of government, General Managers and other sons and daughters of the region from other walks of life.
