Who will succeed Mbonge Mayor: Traditional ruler or deputy?

Another traditional ruler may end up succeeding Chief William Ekong as the new mayor of Mbonge, going by the geopolitics of the sub-Division, The Post has learnt.

While the mourning of the Mayor is ongoing, the race to get a possible successor is already in progress though still underground.

The challenge of succeeding Ekong, observers say, may not just end at the level of being politically charismatic, but will extend to someone who must remain loyal to the dictates of the political godfathers of the Subdivision.

In the meantime, the Council has four Deputy Mayors, some of who stand the chance of taking over the management of the Council after the expiration of the 6o days interim period.

Besides the four Deputy Mayors; Chief Graham Oponde Mesodi, Hannah Ndiba Njimba, John Obase and Gift Manyaka, other names may enter the race depending on what transpires between now and the day of the election.

However, The Post learnt that, if the CPDM party allows the political leaders of the land to pilot the election or request for proposals, the battle will possibly be between the 1st Deputy, Chief Oponde of Bole and John Obase who doubles as the Municipal Treasurer to the Kumba III Council.

Yet political projectors are reading a drift further into the camp of Chief Daniel Mokamba of Mbonge Marumba. The Mbonge traditional ruler, who has been occupying the position of pro-temp Chairman, could be the man to clinch the mayoral position.

Considering the persistent anarchy between the Bakundus and the Mbonges, Chief Mokambe seems a suitable replacement for Ekong to keep the Mbonge flag flying.
Chief Graham of Bole, though a Bakundu who has been working principally with the Mbonges, may be sacrificed for the sake of the complicated nature of politics between the two clans.

Meanwhile, a clear political reasoning out of the situation, many say, is resting on the shoulders of former Mayor and now Questor at the Senate, Andrew Otte Mofa.

With a few months to the election, another Bakundu, Rodulf Nganda Niaba, currently Principal of GBHS Kumba, may enter the race. Nganda suffered a crushing defeat in the hands of Ekong in 2013 when he first showed interest to head the Council. He is known to have a strong affinity to the current CDC Board Chairman, Benjamin Itoe, and Bertha Ndoh, Adviser at the Prime Minister's Office.

Given that, most of the political actions are taken after secret meetings, the game for the election of a new mayor may become difficult if the Nganda camp nurses another ambition.

SDF Angle

The presence of 10 SDF Councillors headed by a Bakundu, Harrison Itoe, if harnessed, could toughen the game.

But unsuccessful gains in most political consultations, including the last CPDM reorganisation exercise, only show how far Ekong's camp had mastered and taken grip of Mbonge Subdivision.

The Mbonges may also have to get counselling from their Cultural and Development Organisation, MECDO, on whether to let go of the position of Mayor to a Bakundu who has been somewhat loyal to their course, or retain the mayoral seat. If this be the case, they will have to choose between John Obase and Daniel Mokambe or contemplate on a Bakundu 'friend', Graham Oponde.

Bakundus, on their part, are less organisaed compared to MECDO. The Bakundu Cultural and Development Union, BACDU is still to recover from a battle of leadership that sparked off last year.

In Konye, the Mayor, George Musima Lobe is Bakundu, which clearly makes it less likely for another Bakundu to crow as Mayor in Mbonge.
Ekong, The Post learnt, will be buried on February 13, 2016, in his native Big Nganjo Village.