By Mua Patrick, February 19, 2017
Cameroon Journal, Limbe – Members of the South West Chiefs’ Conference, SWECC, are said to be furious over a decision banning their planned elective general assembly by the Senior Divisional Officer, SDO, for Fako, Zang III.
The Fako SDO, had in an arête issued last week banned the holding of the general assembly of the organisation in Limbe, citing security concerns and internal squabbles plaguing the association.
In a statement reacting to the SDO’s ban dated Thursday February 16 and signed by the Assistant Secretary General of SWECC, Chief Nfaw Robinson Tanyi on behalf of the octogenarian outgoing president, Senator Nfon V.E Mukete, the traditional rulers described the ban as an “unfortunate” situation.
They said the South West Chiefs’ Conference is made up of persons of value and honour including Senators, parliamentarians, senior administrators, Army Generals, General Managers, and Judges, amongst others, all of whom are peace loving allies of the government of President Paul Biya. They added that the chiefs have always supported and encouraged the President through their various motions and resolutions in the past.
“This organisation has never breached the peace of the nation nor participated in public disorder of the kind to be feared. Rather, it has served the role of a peace breaker and ally of the government on every step of the way in difficulties, sometimes to the detriment of its own image,” said the chiefs in their Thursday communiqué.
“We interpret your attitude to suspend our assembly as unfortunate, untimely and regrettable as this sitting was meant to renew and reinvigorate our executive bureau as well as show the world our people have no reason to fear going about their ordinary businesses,” they added.
While stating respect for the ban, the chiefs in their statement explained: “Article 11 cited in the letter on the election of officers is an
internal affair that calls for no interpretation and inference from non members and public officials. You only need to read it well and with good will to understand it hasn’t the interpretation given and if at all it does supersede the Fako statutes referred to. We are indeed very ashamed of the position and interpretation you have given to this article on our activity.”
Masked crisis
There have been internal squabbles and personality conflicts within the Fako Chiefs’ Conference, the body expected to produce the next president of the umbrella South West Chiefs’ Conference.
We gathered recently that there has been disagreement over the choice of Chief Njombe Njoke Johnson as the unique candidate to succeed outgoing Senator Nfon V.E Mukete.
While many consider the youthful Buea chief as unfit for the job, many chiefs especially from villages around Limbe and Tiko, we learned, now claim it is their turn to produce the unique candidate. We gathered that Chiefs in Limbe are completely against any candidate from the Buea court area. Consequently, rumours of Chief Etina Monono of Great Soppo and Njombe Njoke Johnson of Wokaka, a tiny locality near Buea running for the race to succeed the outgoing Bafaw paramount ruler, have met with stiff opposition from the Limbe chiefs.
Chief Samuel Epupa of Dikolo, former Fako chiefs’ conference president, is now being tipped for the job. He is said to have garnered huge support from his Limbe peers.