By Bless Zoshe in Buea, Cameroon
Organizers of the Miss West Africa Cameroon Beauty Pageant have replaced the frontrunner of the beauty pageant ahead of the international final billed for Sierra Leone in December 2012.
Cameroon’s coordinator of the project and Chief Executive Officer of Freddash Models Buea, Alfred Nemfor and his team, made the pronouncement during a press conference recently in Buea. Nemfor said they are seriously worried over the lack of commitment, consistent unavailability and unprofessional attitude of Miss Enjeck Josette, since she won the contest on September 22.
First runner up, Frida Tumbu Ayamba
“Since she became winner of Miss West Africa Cameroon 2012, she has not been available; she has been very disrespectful to the team, she is never there when we need her, and she goes to places under the canopy of Miss West Africa Cameroon without our knowledge. All of these have kept us worried especially as we have just six weeks to go for the international final,” Nemfor said.
23 year-old Enjeck was replaced with the first runner up, Frida Tumbu Ayamba.
“We have the right to replace her. That is why we have the first and second dauphines. We gave her a two- week trial period and there is no improvement. We have programmed a national tour, which she knows nothing about because she neither picks nor returns our calls. We cannot let such a candidate carry the flag of Cameroon because it is the country’s reputation that is at stake. We are not going as spectators, but to win.
Quizzed on their entente with hierarchy, Nemfor said, “ the Ministry of Culture is a guide, so they recognize our decision to effect such substitutions since we are the technicians on the field. They are aware that we have a Miss and two runners up, so such replacements are legal.
Sometimes, it takes a few days, but it is possible to change and we shall forward a report to the ministry immediately.
Miss Enjeck Josette
On her part, the pageant coordinator, Forbah Madonna affirmed she was muffled by such behavior. “The impression the Miss gave is not the best. Being a Miss is a very big responsibility because it is no longer totally about you, it is about Cameroon. I don’t know why she put up that kind of character because during the competition she wasn’t like that. But, I believe that the decision taken by the team is in the best interest of Cameroon”.
Forbah further sounded confident about the performance of the first and second runners up, whom she has been grooming in the absence of the Miss.
“I think they are very good. They prove themselves throughout the challenge, and that is why they emerged dauphines. The first runner up for example made an interesting presentation and has a very good project, so I think if given the chance she will excel,” Forbah added.
In a chat with the new Miss, final year student of the Department of History in the University of Buea expressed her dissatisfaction over the present state of affairs, but remarked that her present status will be a great opportunity for her to represent Cameroon at the international final.
Miss Frida Tumbu Ayamba also promised to put in her best, adding that she is already fine tuning her project, which will involve a monthly HIV/AIDS sensitization campaign among youths, especially in Limbe and Kribi, where the prevalence rates are startling.
Talking to the unseated Miss during an earlier press conference, Enjeck Josette attributed her unavailability to inadequate logistics, breakdown in communication and the fact that she is also engaged in other humanitarian activities in Yaounde. However, she was not present during the final press briefing for comments after being unseated.
Cameroon’s delegation to the Miss West Africa International final in Sierra Leon is expected to leave the country on December 11, ahead of the contest slated for December 21, 2012.
Meantime, a one-month national tour has been announced for November. The tour will see Miss Frida Ayamba travel around the country to seek the blessings of Government Officials, traditional authorities, and the Cameroonian people. Ayamba said she counts on the prayers, encouragements, and above all, votes from the entire nation to succeed in the competition.
The Miss West Africa contest is open to candidates from West African countries as well as candidates from West Africans countries residing in the diaspora.
