A Dirty Game

Chapter One

1 One itting and sipping spirits with friends of the same political party and discussing the possibilities of becoming richer was a pastime for Foti. He, like his friends, had a huge appetite for riches and hated to discuss with any low class men in society, as birds of the same feather flock together. People often thought he was the architect of hideous and incredible acts because he wasn’t open in whatever he was doing. It seemed none of his convictions in all his life would ever quash those allegations. Foti was the Lord Mayor of Tiko. He fought hard for the position and was fighting hard to maintain it. The people of Tiko city gave him many names: obstinate fellow, political sphinx, financial wizard, big fish, quiet killer, unscrupulous mayor and so on. It was bright that afternoon. The mayor was ready to address the people on the death of former mayor, Kamso. It was one of the biggest crowds with almost all hands on jaws. Kamso died just two days before, on January 1st, 2010, on his way from a New Year party. Before his death, he had become a well known face in Tiko. He was a member of the opposition party thrown out from the council after a parliamentary political duel. ‘Crime in this area is on a marathon increase,’ said Foti to the crowd. ‘It is a point of concern for every Tiko man in particular and the entire Southwest region as a whole. I will not hold my breath for a second until those who have assassinated the former mayor are brought to order. The forces of law and order are seriously investigating…’ The population was in chaotic voices that Saturday morning. It should be recalled that Kamso had designed an excellent plan for Tiko subdivision during his five years as head of the council. In the midst of the crowd were journalists from private newspapers as well as human rights S 2 activists. When the mayor stepped down from the elevation after his speech, many journalists scrambled to question him. ‘Lord Mayor,’ said Tanga, a most popular journalist. ‘The people do not know how the deceased was dealt with. Do you have any word of explanation?’ ‘Ehmm ehmm… I was informed thirty minutes after the incident. I reached the scene five minutes later and saw blood oozing from the deceased’s skull. For now, I have nothing to say about how he was killed until the investigations end.’ ‘His death has come just at the time of allegations of attempted murder on the late mayor by a group of militants from your own party. If you can see on the placards held by some of the people in the crowd, it is written that militants of your party killed the former mayor. How do you react to that?’ ‘Such allegations by The Watch Newspaper aren’t true. There was a thorough investigation. Our militants were not involved in such malignant acts. I think any allegations could carry tremendous consequences if they can not prove it. Any assassination of character shall be redressed in the court of law.’ ‘The Watch Newspaper once reported that he escaped assassination in a previous incident, and no accusation of false statements has been made. Last week, there was another report that Silence is acceptance. Is that true?’ ‘No. Let The Watch Newspaper and its oppositionsponsored bunch of political maniacs say whatever they want. I think we are in a country that operates on law like any other. Let them baffle us in a court of law if they’re confident in those allegations.’ ‘Some of the militants…’ The mayor suddenly tore through the crowd, leaving Tanga and other journalists. The police guarded him to his jeep. He adjusted his gowns on his shoulders with a fat and courageous smile and entered the ostentatious car. 3 Foti was very close to Kingsley Ebot, the police commissioner for the subdivision. Through Kingsley, Foti commanded the Tiko Police even more than the divisional officer who had that right more than all others. The ruling party, the CPDM (Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement), controlled Tiko Subdivision. The majority of sympathisers of the main opposition party in the country, the SDF (Social Democratic Front), were English speaking Cameroonians. Meanwhile, the majority of CPDM militants were French speaking. The opposition party had been and was the main political impediment for Foti...