Manoka Island

Thomas certainly had stronger connections within the ruling CPDM party than John and Thomas could also have destroyed John, politically and economically, faster than expected, if it were not for the timely intervention of the traditional head of Deido. But in early 1997, Thomas felt that, it was time to finish with John Epee Mandengue: economically and politically. Why? Simply because, in spite the mediation of the traditional head of Deido, during the constitution of the party list for the primaries within the ruling CPDM party, John Epee Mandengue, Armand Din Bell and Laurent Esso, who was Minister of Justice at that time, constituted the same list or were in the same camp. John Epee Mandengue’s list was constituted prior to the legislative elections of 1997. Thomas therefore discovered that, he had several other potential and much more powerful political enemies than John Epee Mandengue, who was his obsession. It must be recalled that, John became the political enemy and rival of Thomas since the former took over the moribund Leopard Football Club of Deido and transformed it into one of the three prestigious football clubs of the country. But while Thomas was battling on several fronts, he nevertheless succeeded to win the primaries organised within the ruling CPDM party and went on to be elected MP.

Thomas Tobbo Eyoum was elected MP for the Douala sixth parliamentary constituency, based in the Island of Manoka. The Douala sixth constituency is made up of the Islands of Swelaba, Cape Cameroon and Manoka. Manoka Island is the largest of the three islands. She is located some 30 km away from mainland Douala and it is inhabited in majority by Nigerians, Beninese, Liberians and Ghanaian fishermen & women. Manoka is 20km in length and 17km in width and has little or no infrastructure. It has a prison constructed by the Germans and used by the French and the regime of late Amadou Ahidjo to jail rebel or nationalists of the UPC and also those who were opposed to his rule. It used to have a large sawmill, railways and a jetty meant to export timber exploited on Manoka Island and adjoining ones. But all those infrastructure left by the Germans and sustained by a Timber exploitation company for while, has been left to ruin after exploitable timber was exhausted. Manoka island and the other Islands belonging administratively to the Wouri division of the Littoral province are surviving economically because of Nigerian fishermen and Nigerian businessmen and women, without them, it would have become desolate uninhabited islands. After the victory of Thomas, he registered another victory. Peter Mafany Musonge, the cousin of John Epee Mandengue was still Prime minister but he was no longer the Director General of CDC. The new Director General of CDC was Henry Njalla Quang.