Indeed God have Mercy on and on our nation Cameroon. I lack words to express my indignation to what our people have been subjected to. We have been reduced to destitute in their own country by their own people. Our fellow countrymen have concocted a potent tonic of misery and death for others.
The main ingredients of this lethal concoction are bribery, corruption, embezzlement, fear, falsehood, greed pride and selfishness, etc. These toxins are not very palatable as such they are repackaged for easy consumption. The doses come in different shapes and styles. Some of them are; (1) Heaven helps those who help themselves, or God helps those who help themselves. (2) Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s. (3) You have to do what you have to do to survive. (4) If you do not grab your share of the national cake some other person will. (5) The government has inexhaustible resources and does not care how we use them. (6) It is Ok to break the law for personal survival. (7) The immediate is more important than tomorrow. (8) We are not different from other countries, corruption is found everywhere. (9) Everybody is doing it so it is right. (10) Sacrifice is better than obedience. I will robe Peter and pay Paul. Cheat, steal from the system and give to the poor. Permit me to stop it, for this list can go on and on.
Before you stop reading, remember that we all at one point or the other drank some of this concoction. Please do not dismiss my allegations, just read on. I am also included and I am guilty of positioning myself to take advantage of the system. Most of the time when my age is asked, I struggle to come out with which is which. You all understand what I am talking about. Our demographics have been messed up by such actions.
No wonder a bridge that was built in the 50s to serve a city that had less than half a million inhabitants is still the only bridge in use after the population of the city has more than quadrupled. Who are we lying to? Who are we deceiving? The answer is obvious, we are the ones, lied to and the ones who end up suffering and paying the price.
We may spend all our time and energy debating if these toxins are actually toxic or not. But the truth of the matter is that our people are living in misery and part of the problem is people taking advantage of the system.
We are not supposed to let fear of the present, past, and future influence our actions. Fear is universal, but our Lord JESUS Christ admonishes us not to be afraid. May I submit that fear is the root cause of most of our suffering. People are afraid of what people will say to them, if they do not get job, so they lied and cheat to get it. Some are afraid of how their peers will treat them if they do not get that car, house name it, so they lie and cheat to get it. People are afraid to be deported, so they arrange fictitious marriages. It is shocking that the marriage institution which is the bedrock of society should be treated like this. Some are so afraid of not earning a living in foreign countries and afraid of going back home that they have to do all in their power to get papers. Yes some say they were persecuted in Cameroon in order to be granted asylum.
You can justify it all you want. All what I am saying is that letting fear instead of faith guide us is counterproductive. Where is the hope for our country? When are we going to stop consuming this lethal tonic? Do we have the courage to change the system? Do we have the moral capital to effect change? Can we boldly beckon on others to come walk with us on the straight and narrow path of life?
We are all connected and none of us can take advantage of the system without inflicting, pain on others.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
FAKE Documents
An interesting read below these comments. The issue here is the spirit that prompts people to do whatever it takes to get them what they want or to get where they want to go. Who am I to cast the first stone at Marius? What makes his act an abomination? It is sad and very sad that individuals have to reduce themselves to this level in the name of money.
Many have not faked their deaths, but have faked certificates, qualifications and ages to get what they want. What about those that have faked relationships, marriages, and stories of torture to get what they want? Is it OK to steal from your own family? Is it OK to fake your own death and cause your family such pain? I will not hesitate to say NO. There is no justification for such an action. It is cheap, selfish and shameful.
What about our country. Is it OK to fake and benefit on behave of the country? Is it OK to embezzle tax payers money and not account for? People fake, construction contracts with the intent of stealing from the system. What about those who are abroad and are still on government pay roll? They connive with their bosses to fake their presence in the country. But the truth is that they are not there and are being paid for work they have not done. Some justify by saying the amount that is being paid is nothing compared to the millions and billions others have stolen. Others say the money is being used to buy medication for sick relatives. Faking works for the immediate, but is counterproductive in the long run. I am glad the law finally caught up with Marius.
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Cameroon: Man detained for announcing own death
[Cameroon Cops]
The schemer was arrested by the police, in collaboration with his disgruntled family.
A 36-year old folk, Motakuri Marius, who announced his own death over a private radio station in Douala, was last Friday picked up by the police in a local night club, where he served as bouncer,
at the Grand Hanger neighbourhood in Bonaberi. In connivance with a certain Manfred Okei, who posed as prison warden, Marius informed friends and relatives, three weeks ago, that he died, after a protracted illness, in an intensive prison barrack in the Littoral, and that his corpse was transported to a private mortuary in Douala. Excerpt: “Mr. Manfred Okei, a senior chief warder in charge of prisoners’ welfare in the Littoral, announces, with deepest regret, the death of an inmate, Motakuri Marius, who died in an intensive prison barrack last week.
Marius died after a protracted illness. The corpse which is currently lying at a private morgue in Douala should be collected by family members as soon as they get this announcement, else it will be handed to competent municipal authorities. The concerned should contact Chief Warder Manfred on telephone number xxx.”
The story shook Marius’ rural community in the South West Region. It was too hot for the deceased’s parents. Experts were brought in to break the news. Marius’ kith grieved and wailed. Marius abandoned his family, after he stole a neighbour’s cock, six years ago. A burial agenda was hastily scribbled. Three men were dispatched to trace the corpse. Others dug the grave. The three men, who saw a cosmopolitan settlement for the first time, reached Douala before sunrise. But, “Warder” Manfred’s telephone network was inconsistent.
The callers called unrelentingly. Then, a hunky voice echoed at the other end. It was the “warder”, a sumptuously looking bald man, not much better than pigmies in height. The “warder” painstakingly greeted the men, and struggled to recount the death of Marius. But tears sealed his lips. “Warder” Manfred sank on his knees, and sobbed abundantly. Marius’ uncles begged and pampered him. But the “warder” wept on, whisking lumps of mucus from both nostrils. “Marius was too humble to die; he was a model to other prisoners” the “warder” murmured.
From his pouch, Manfred pulled three stamped sheets; one was the late Marius’ death certificate, the second was the hospital bill, which summed up to FCFA 150,000 and the third the mortuary bill of FCFA 180,000. The “warder” also proposed a coffin worth FCFA 70,000 at the barrack. The sum of FCFA 400,000 was fumbled into his palms. In a flash, “Warder” Manfred jumped on the rear of a nearby bike, and never returned. Manfred and Marius reportedly lavished the booty at Bonaberi.
Cameroon Tribune
Many have not faked their deaths, but have faked certificates, qualifications and ages to get what they want. What about those that have faked relationships, marriages, and stories of torture to get what they want? Is it OK to steal from your own family? Is it OK to fake your own death and cause your family such pain? I will not hesitate to say NO. There is no justification for such an action. It is cheap, selfish and shameful.
What about our country. Is it OK to fake and benefit on behave of the country? Is it OK to embezzle tax payers money and not account for? People fake, construction contracts with the intent of stealing from the system. What about those who are abroad and are still on government pay roll? They connive with their bosses to fake their presence in the country. But the truth is that they are not there and are being paid for work they have not done. Some justify by saying the amount that is being paid is nothing compared to the millions and billions others have stolen. Others say the money is being used to buy medication for sick relatives. Faking works for the immediate, but is counterproductive in the long run. I am glad the law finally caught up with Marius.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cameroon: Man detained for announcing own death
[Cameroon Cops]
The schemer was arrested by the police, in collaboration with his disgruntled family.
A 36-year old folk, Motakuri Marius, who announced his own death over a private radio station in Douala, was last Friday picked up by the police in a local night club, where he served as bouncer,
at the Grand Hanger neighbourhood in Bonaberi. In connivance with a certain Manfred Okei, who posed as prison warden, Marius informed friends and relatives, three weeks ago, that he died, after a protracted illness, in an intensive prison barrack in the Littoral, and that his corpse was transported to a private mortuary in Douala. Excerpt: “Mr. Manfred Okei, a senior chief warder in charge of prisoners’ welfare in the Littoral, announces, with deepest regret, the death of an inmate, Motakuri Marius, who died in an intensive prison barrack last week.
Marius died after a protracted illness. The corpse which is currently lying at a private morgue in Douala should be collected by family members as soon as they get this announcement, else it will be handed to competent municipal authorities. The concerned should contact Chief Warder Manfred on telephone number xxx.”
The story shook Marius’ rural community in the South West Region. It was too hot for the deceased’s parents. Experts were brought in to break the news. Marius’ kith grieved and wailed. Marius abandoned his family, after he stole a neighbour’s cock, six years ago. A burial agenda was hastily scribbled. Three men were dispatched to trace the corpse. Others dug the grave. The three men, who saw a cosmopolitan settlement for the first time, reached Douala before sunrise. But, “Warder” Manfred’s telephone network was inconsistent.
The callers called unrelentingly. Then, a hunky voice echoed at the other end. It was the “warder”, a sumptuously looking bald man, not much better than pigmies in height. The “warder” painstakingly greeted the men, and struggled to recount the death of Marius. But tears sealed his lips. “Warder” Manfred sank on his knees, and sobbed abundantly. Marius’ uncles begged and pampered him. But the “warder” wept on, whisking lumps of mucus from both nostrils. “Marius was too humble to die; he was a model to other prisoners” the “warder” murmured.
From his pouch, Manfred pulled three stamped sheets; one was the late Marius’ death certificate, the second was the hospital bill, which summed up to FCFA 150,000 and the third the mortuary bill of FCFA 180,000. The “warder” also proposed a coffin worth FCFA 70,000 at the barrack. The sum of FCFA 400,000 was fumbled into his palms. In a flash, “Warder” Manfred jumped on the rear of a nearby bike, and never returned. Manfred and Marius reportedly lavished the booty at Bonaberi.
Cameroon Tribune
Saturday, January 16, 2010
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