Mayor Ekema of Buea Council Passes on at 43

The death has been announced of the Mayor of Buea, Ekema Patrick Esunge.

Ekema is said to have succumbed to the cold hands of death at Polyclinique IDIMED, Rue Koloko – Bonapriso in Douala after a malaise. It is believed that the lion-hearted Mayor of Buea suffered from a heart attack Sunday morning although rumours suggest he might have been poisoned Saturday night.

Born September 26, 1976, Ekema shot to prominence when he welcomed President Paul Biya in Buea in February 2014 during celebrations of the country’s independence and reunification.

He was elected councillor of the Buea Council during the 2007 twin elections. He would later become first deputy mayor until a feud between him and the then Mayor, kept him away from Council business.

When Mayor Mbella Moki Charles was elected into the pioneer Senate legislature in April 2013, Ekema Patrick Esunge resurfaced to claim the mayoral seat. He was then installed on Monday 27 May, 2013, at the Buea council hall, to complete Charles Mbella Moki’s term of office.

During the September 30, 2013 municipal elections, the CPDM list won in Buea and on October 16, 2013, Ekema Patrick got a fresh mandate as Mayor of Buea – a mandate that was due to expire on February 29, 2020.

On November 22, 2013, Ekema told the people of Buea in a message that “Change has come to Buea”. His words: “Change has come to Buea. Ekema Patrick Esunge, the Lord Mayor of the Buea Council, thanks the entire population for their fervent support and promises to bring development to the Buea Municipality.”

Indeed, Ekema brought change to Buea. He changed Buea from Mbella Moki’s “Town of Legendary Hospitality” to the “City of Excellence”. He realised many projects although the Buea Central Market FCFA 2.5 billion project never saw the light of day.

His friends were as many as his enemies. It is under his chairmanship that the likes of Councillor Chief Molinge Ikome David (of blessed memory), Councillor Prof. Victor Julius Ngoh, Councillor Thomson Kinge, Councillor Chief Njie Mandenge, Fourth Deputy Mayor Comfort Ojongnkpot and First Deputy Mayor Emmanuel Motomby Mbome were “dismissed” from the council.

Ekema crashed out of the race to become the Section President of the Fako III CPDM in 2015. Something about his Advanced Level Certificate having issues as well as being photographed by a naked photographer put Ekema on almost every lip.

His fight against separatist tendencies in Buea earned him multiple recognitions, the latest being a recognition from the traditional rulers of the South Region. In July 2019, traditional rulers of the South Chiefs Conference crowned Ekema “Nyamoto Kpwatolo” - the great warrior – for his never-seen bravery.

Ekema was married and had many children. He was a member of the Christian Men Fellowship (CMF) of the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon and worshipped at PC Molyko. Ekema unfortunately stopped going to church following apparent disagreements with the leadership of the church.