Vincent Thomas Lainjo – ‘The last man standing’

Vincent Thomas Lainjo fondly called Pa Lanjo – was the last living person of the 13 Members of Parliament in the Eastern House of Assembly in Nigeria, who came from the then Southern Cameroons. His journey on earth made a final full stop at the Kumbo Cathedral Cemetery where his mortal remains took permanent residence four months after he died in Buea.

By Yemti Harry Ndienla

Lainjo, who was elected MP into the Nigerian Eastern House of Assembly in December 1951, later served as Prime Minister of the Republic of Cameroon and Special Adviser to the Governor of Southwest Province, call it region. He died after living for over a century

Voted together with Pa Lanjo, were; Dr. E. M. L. Endeley, Peter Motomby Wolete, Nerius Namaso Mbile, Richard Ndobede Charley, SA George, Martin Forju, John Ngu Foncha, Solomon Tande ng Muna, JT Ndze, AT Ngala, Rev. Jeremiah Chi Kangsen and Prince Sama Ndi.

"I was the Prime Minister, Minister of Education, Minister of Natural Resources which included Agriculture, Minister of Forestry, Minister of Cooperatives and Minister of Human Rights, I was Minister of Social Welfare, serving both in Nigeria and in Cameroon" Pa said in an interview granted L'Effort Camerounais in April 2006, adding that he personally examined the whole Bakassi situation from beginning to end and put up a memo, which was presented to the International Court of Justice.

He was also voted alongside Dr. EML Endeley, Nerius Namaso Mbile, Rev. Jeremiah Kangsen, AT Ngala and John Ngu Foncha to represent the Eastern Region in the Federal House of Assembly. Even though he joined Dr. EML Endeley in advocating that the then Southern Cameroons joined Nigeria, he is said to have endorsed the unification of Southern Cameroons with La République du Cameroun.

Pa Lainjo, was a mentor to many. “I first met the late Pa Lanjo, while I served as Confidential Secretary of the Resident of the Cameroon Province in Enugu. We also worked together when I was Adviser to the Governor. He had a retentive memory and was referred to as 'the dictionary'; he was straightforward and everyone liked him. He was very honest. Considering his great opportunities, many were surprised by his moderation. He served the nation selflessly and did his job without fear or favour. There was hardly gossip that he received any kickbacks” Thomas Mbua Ndoko, described the late elderly statesman.

To the children, Pa was such a loving and caring person to them and all those he came across. “His life and character brought the children together and helped us work harder to be what we are today. We will greatly miss him.”

Above all Pa Lainjo was God-fearing. And that’s where I knew him. Before Pa became my bench mate at St. Anthony’s Parish Buea Town, I first meet him closed to two decades ago, when I stopped by his house in the company of my longtime girl friend to pickup a package from the daughter who was visiting from Chicago - USA. We had walked through the darkest of nights and stones, as we passed along the bush path from Buea town, to Pa’s residence situated behind the old stadium in Buea town. We spent closed to 15mints with him in the absence of the daughter. He would ask about my parents, my life and my sweetheart in a jovial manner.

Thereafter, Pa and I became bench mate at St. Anthony’s parish in Buea town, participating actively in church activities. He was the leader of our “sector” and new everybody by name. Though Pa’s sight was failing him, he would still recognize us, most often from our voices. “Who’s this by me”? He would ask each time he took his seat. And if you sound strange, he would know you didn’t belong there.

He was very active during mass and his voice was conspicuous in responses during mass rite. He was the last also to go for offertory and Holy Communion. He could only wait for a while for either the Rev. sister or Father, to stop by his sit to administer communion.

Pa would spend about 10-15 minutes greeting people around his sector, and others from his village, who came regularly to say hi. Like these people, we would all miss him.