Instead of Breaking Down Bridges, 'They' Will Help Me Build Them - Council Aspirant Martin Tanjong.

Martial Gnoukapasi

Tubah Council aspirant Martin Tanjong.

Martin Tanjong, seeking another mandate as mayor of tubah council under the CPDM ticket this time around in the up coming twin municipal and parliamentary elections of februaury 9th this year, made the headline remark in response to a question posed by MNews237 on how he was going to overcome the problem of insecurity facing the region to continue with the execution of the lofty projects he outlined in a press conference wednessday January 29th, organized to declare his intention to run for office and spell out his ambitions for the municipality if he's given another mandate.

Below are the responses he gave to some petinent questions asked him by media men and women during the press conference;

MNews237 - In your presentation, you cited a number of achievements  during your first mandate in office, mentioning insecurity as the only stumbling block that punctured certain aspirations. How will you overcome this problem to carry out your programs, if given another term of office in the forth coming election?

Tanjong Martin   - Those people who've been asked to leave the bushes and have not done so are not animals. They are people who needs to be listen to and educated on certain issues so they can gain back their places in society. I will make it possible immediately after the elections, not when we are installed in office because our winning is a must and am sure of it, since i have the population behind me. Alongside others, we shall bring them to reasoning so that they are not killed in the bushes, and we shall move together. Last November before moving to korea i gave a contract in Kedjom Keku and instructed for it to be executed by the 'Amba people'. The intention was to make them reason that they need to work in order to live. From my findings when i came back i realize they're the ones who did the job. I am assuring them, let them take it from me today that,  i will use them as much as possible to develope the municipality . That instead of  breaking down bridges, they will be the poeple to build the bridges. that instead of breaking down water pipes, they will be the ones to take care of them. that instead of burning down classrooms, they will be the ones to construct them and manage the benches . That's my promise. there's no need fighting wars.....

Chris Mbunwe(The post Newspaper) - When last did you visit your council?

Tanjong Martin - Am the only mayor who despite the crisis was still holding my sessions in my council premises. On the 7th of november 2018 i held my budgetary session for 2019 in the council. On the 28th of march 2019 i held my 2019 administrative account session. On November 4th 2019 i had my budgetary session for 2020. 4th December 2019, we presented the land use plan and on the 31st of that same December there was the validation of the land use plan. Most of this activities took place in the council premises. We've only been out when there's insecurity, and i couldn't have put my life and that of my staffs at risks".

Nimpa Francis(Radio Hot Cocoa)  - What if you make councilor and don't make mayor. will you stay on as councilor or resign?

Tanjong Martin -  Politics is negotiation and arrangement and this reminds me of my time with the SDF party, and the last election that made me mayor in 2013. After the election the councillors said they were voting somebody  who ended up having 26 votes and his opponent 9 votes, yet the party insisted for someone else to become mayor. I can never insist to be mayor, but if i have more votes, i will not also allow someone else to be mayor.

To note that the mayor in waiting, also stressed on the fact that there is no need waging political war against one another in the same municipality. "It is good for all the political actors to understand themselves and focuse on looking for ways to make life better for all in the community".

"if you have the love for your people, you won't misappropriate what is theirs. i have in the past dismiss council workers just for the fact that they temper with council money", he added.

Mezam five cpdm section president Prof. Peter Abety

 Meantime speaking earlier, CPDM section president for mezam five(5) professor Peter Abety said  mayor tanjong was not coming into the party because there's an election in view. 

He said and i quote "It's time for all sons and daugters including those contesting both the municipal and parliamentary seats in the  constituency, to put aside political differences and focused on development... as we are going in for this election, we are not focusing on political party, we are focusing on local development of tubah municipality in particular."

Dismissed from the Social Democratic Front Party(SDF) under article 8.2, Tanjong Martin believes his achievements which as spelled out at the conference ranges from grading of roads, electrification of tubah municipality, construction of health centres, markets, provision of water and other programmes executed thanks to partnership deals with foreign bodies, are enough for the people to give him another chance via the ballot box to continue.