Tension drops as NGA'ian Union Prez is re-elected

Simmering tension, which has recently, been causing riot among Nigerians in Tiko, finally dropped to an acceptable low on September 21, when the incumbent President of the Nigerian Union, Chief Benedict Esimone, was re-elected.

The Nigerian Consul General to the Southwest and Northwest Regions of Cameroon, HE Dan Wari Nwazim, was personally present in Tiko, on that September 21, in a bid to quell the disagreements of his fellow Nigerians towards a peaceful election.

But, his presence, nonetheless, added with that of some elements of the Cameroon police force, seemed not to have been enough to quell the pre-election disagreements and wrangling.

The camp of the incumbent President had been raising worries and claiming that the organisation of the elections had been arranged to disfavour him.

Chief Blessing Ombhiribi claimed that the Nigerian Union in Tiko had failed to ensure unity of the Nigerians and, thus, the leadership was ripe for a change.

The Consul General, who addressed the Nigerians prior to the elections, called for a spirit of unity to reign before and after the election. The Consul observed that Tiko, for well over a year that he has been in Buea, has been noted for its disunity.

In reaction, the incumbent President admitted that there has been disunity owing to the fact that most of the union members have not been paying their dues. He asserted that the Consul General was not pleased with the situation.

“You have to rise above elections. I want to wish that there should be no bitterness after the elections. If the incumbent wins; all of us will have to support him.

If a new person is elected, we shall support him.” Following the Consul General’s appeal and prayers for peace, the elections went on smoothly and the incumbent was re-elected by a slim margin of a single vote difference. He beat his rival, Chief Blessing, by 39 votes against 38.

“We want to thank God that everything went on well. We also thank the Consul General for his advice, the DO of Tiko and the Nigerian community for all that has happened here today,” said Samuel Ojo, one of the top staff at the Consulate in Buea, after witnessing the elections.

Chief Esimone will pilot the Nigerian Union in Tiko for another four years and shall be assisted by Prince Alex Okoye as Vice and Eugene Omobu as Secretary General.

Esimone promised to ensure that in the next four years, Nigerians in Tiko shall have a structure of their own.

The Consul General had chided them for not having built a structure to house their Union for over four decades that the Union has existed in Cameroon. Louis Atu who chaired the Electoral Commission advised that a new spirit and trust should reign in the union.