Pioneer Kumbo SDF MP buried

The Pioneer SDF Member of Parliament, MP, for the Kumbo constituency, was, December 12, buried at the Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Church cemetery, Kikaikelaki, on the outskirts of Kumbo.

Hon. Michael Tah Banseka, fondly called ‘Parly’, who died on November 26 at the age of 82, entered Parliament following the 1997 Legislative elections on the opposition SDF ticket. He served for five years.

After serving the Catholic Mission for years, asa trained teacher, Banseka later took interest in micro-finance matters. This brought him into community credit unionism, an interest that took him to St Francis Xavier University, Antogonish, Nova Scotia, Canada, on scholarship where he studied business administration. Hon Banseka is credited for what is today the Cameroon Cooperative Credit Union League, CAMCCUL where he became the pioneer Manager in September 1968.

His interventions in the micro-finance sector earned him several national and international awards.

According to Hon Joseph KonglimnyuyKwi, of the Oku/Noni Constituency, , Hon Banseka[his peer in Parliament at the time] was instrumental in the creation of the Union Bank of Cameroon, UBC. To Hon Kwi, the UBC documents were stocked in the Ministry of Finance and when they succeeded in meeting the Minister, Hon Banseka’s presentation caused the Minister to approve the ‘dossier’.

The CAMCCUL General Manager, Jonas Tientchou, had this for the fallen micro-finance guru.

“The credit union movement in Cameroon is loosing a great pioneer who devoted his entire life to build the movement and to make the League strong in order to achieve his dream of bringing the credit union to all villages in Cameroon so as to enhance the economic conditions of poor Cameroonians. As the first manager, he worked hand in hand with all his colleagues, associating himself with everybody without looking at the position.

Tientchou lauded Hon Banseka for his publication “101 Questions andAnswers on Credit Unions”, describing it as a handbook for credit union members.

Hon Banadzem Joseph Lukong, who succeeded Hon Banseka in Parliament, and who led a group of MPs - both past and present - said the deceased was a much disciplined person.

“He was a strong willed person and was determined in whatever thing he was doing. I think he has lived a fulfilled life,” Hon Banadzem, who is the SDF Parliamentary Group Leader in the current National Assembly, declared to this reporter.

A requiem at the Kikaikelaki Catholic Church had as chief celebrant, His Emminence Christian Cardinal Tumi and concelebrants Mgr George Nkuo, Bishop of Kumbo; Mgr Andrew Nkea, Bishop of Mamfe; Mgr Agapitos Nfon, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Bamenda and a host of priests, religious and Christians.

In his homily at the requiem, Mgr Andrew Nkea, Hon Banseka’s godson, described his fallen godfather as a disciplinarian, caring father and philanthropist.

Amidst laughter, Mgr Nkea said even as young seminarians on holiday with Pa Banseka, it was rather the later who reminded them of prayer time. The man-of-God called on mourners not to weep, for, the fallen Hon MP had achieved his heart’s desires. He reminded the congregation that one of Hon Banseka’s wish was to celebrate the golden jubilee of his wedding, a thing he did about a year ago.

Hon Michael Tah Banseka leaves behind his loving wife, Rose, with whom he had been married for 51years; many biological and adopted children, grand and great-grand children, the Christian community, credit union members, friends and well-wishers to mourn him.