National Day celebration: Misaje reaffirms commitment to peace, national unity.

Those who gathered at the Misaje Grandstand, last Saturday, to celebrate the Day, also saluted their illustrious son, Prof Fuh Calistus Gentry, for mobilising them in their thousands to celebrate the 51^st edition of the National Day.

Most of those whom we interviewed saluted Prof Fuh Calistus who is Secretary of State, Interim Minister of Mines, Industries and Technological Development, for staying committed to their wellbeing and the values of peace and national unity.

Beyond rallying the entire population, the member of government also mobilised an impressive participation of thousands of supporters of the ruling Cameroon Peoples’ Democratic Movement, CPDM, party.

Enter double celebration

The day in Misaje was a show of double celebration. It coincided with the inauguration of the 10,000 capacity Misaje Grandstand. A massive crowd of at least 15,000 persons turned out for the event in Misaje.

At about 7 am, the population started gathering at the grandstand. It was at 10 a.m that the chief celebrant, Frutumah Martin Mbuh, Divisional Officer, DO of Misaje arrived the ceremonial ground. 

He was received on arrival by the First Deputy Mayor of Misaje Council and other members of the constituted corps. 

State recognitions

Two individuals viz; Nji Enoch, a staff of the Basic Education  Inspectorate in Misaje and Mabuh Paul, a staff of the Misaje Council were knighted for their contributions to nation  building.

The March past was marked by the participation of soldiers, gendarmes and police officers. More than 30 nursery and primary schools took part in the exercise.

The children in their numbers sang patriotic songs to testify the importance of the day. Government Bilingual High School, GBHS Misaje, led the March past for secondary schools. 

The students brandished the map of Cameroon. They heralded the one and indivisibility of Cameroon as a nation. They also carried placards bearing messages of gratitude to the Head of State, His Excellency, President Paul Biya.

Thousands march to show CPDM’s political strength 

To show that Misaje is a bastion of the CPDM, thousands of supporters of the party marched to show their strength. They marched for 1:53 minutes as the officials watched in admiration from the grandstand.

Estimated to be over 10,000, the ruling party supporters who were colorfully dressed in the party’s attire sang patriotic songs.

Supporters salute Prof Fuh Calistus for contribution

Among the thousands of CPDM supporters who turned out for the ceremony, some took out time to identify Minister, Prof Fuh Calistus as the brain behind the great mobilisation and increasing number of CPDM supporters across Misaje.

An elated CPDM supporter, Tanjong Gideon told The Guardian Post that: "We thank our Minister, Prof Fuh Calistus Gentry, for everything put in place to make this day a great success in Misaje. It is now written on the sands of time that once upon a time, the ANDP party tried to fight the CPDM in Misaje but was really humiliated". 

The huge turnout of the CPDM, he said, shows the opposition party has been “buried forever” in Misaje. 

Analysing the numerical strength of the CPDM in Misaje Subdivision, another ruling party supporter, Lon Ernest, said it is a demonstration of political force and control. 

According to Lon, in Misaje, the CPDM is not just a political party but a political movement anchored on conviction. 

He added that supporters and sympathisers of the CPDM in Misaje are of the opinion that they will be no need to campaign for the 2025 Presidential poll because the party is already sure of a 100% victory.

National unity gains

Supporters of the CPDM party used the day to count gains which they said are fruits of their belief in the CPDM, President Biya, national unity, national integration and living together.

They cited the construction of concrete electricity poles to link Misaje to the national electricity grid, the programming for 17 billion FCFA for the construction of the Nkambe-Misaje stretch of the Ring Road project, a mega road project to link Nigeria through Misaje-Dumbu-Sabongida.

They also talked of the provision of potable water in all the 12 villages that make up Misaje Subdivision. These projects, they said, would do the campaign for them at the 2025 presidential election. 

Ultra-modern grandstand inauguration

The event marked the inauguration of the 1,000-capacity Misaje Grandstand. It was the first time that the ultra-modern structure, with an underneath 1,000 capacity, was being put to use.

To many, this is exceptional and one of its kind in the North West Region. At the end of the official ceremony, everyone took time to admire the structure and its beauty.

Many said the structure was an added reason Misaje people turned out massively to celebrate the 51^st edition of the National Day. They also thanked the New Deal Government of President Paul Biya for putting Misaje on its development agenda.