NDZAH CHIEFTAINCY CRISIS: Talks End In Fiasco As King Makers Reject New Fon Presented To Administration
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This decision was made during a consultative meeting to designate a new fon, chaired by the Divisional Officer (DO) of Bamenda III, Austin Ayuni Sakah, on Thursday, November 21, 2024.
According to the kingmakers, and many attendees, the meeting ended in a fiasco because the administration attempted to impose a fon on them, which they rejected saying they already have a Fon, HRH Fon Marius Mbomchom Akotohm III.
During the talks that held in NDZAH , the DO for Bamenda III, Austin Ayuni Sakah reminded the population that if their palace is still sealed today, it is because of the chieftaincy crisis that has affected the village.
Speaking on behalf of the seven kingmakers of NDZAH village, Ngu William explained how the situation began:
"It started in 2019 when Fon Victor Ngwa Akotohm II disappeared. As tradition demands, he chose his successor in a secred manner and informed the king makers. While on his sick bed, he learned that one of his sons was circulating a fake will claiming he was the next fon. The late fon made a disclaimer that he had not designated the young man. The matter is still in court."
He further stated:
"According to our tradition, when a fon passes away, a new one is installed seven days later, which was done. After the seven days, the Kwifon gathered the villagers at the palace, and in the presence of the sons and daughters of the late fon, the new fon was chosen. He was accepted, and everything was done to install him, and that is the fon we recognize."
Ngu William also indicated that the former Divisional Officer (DO) for Bamenda III conducted his investigations. He said the DO requested the list of the kingmakers, which was provided, and since it is the kingmakers who enthrone a fon, he called on them to prepare for the official presentation of the new fon to the administration.
"On the day of installation, four armored cars stormed the village, and the soldiers accused us of installing an 'Amba fon,' which was not true. After investigating, the soldiers discovered that the claim about us installing an Amba fon was false and that the fon was a student in Bamenda. Before leaving, they told us to continue with our ceremony,"
said Ngu William.
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| HRH, Fon Marius Mbomchom Akotohm III Enthroned on November 6,2019. |
Since the late fon's passing in 2019, the palace has remained sealed due to the ongoing succession dispute in NDZAH village.
"What is holding us back now is that we are still waiting for the DO to tell us when they will unseal the palace. We are very surprised by the name presented to us as the new fon, given that we haven't gone anywhere and we don't even know him. We oppose this decision."
Adding his voice to that of the king makers and the population of NDZAH village, the First Deputy Mayor of Bamenda III Council, Koti Joseph Tita, an indigene of NDZAH, stated that what happened on Thursday was a conflict of culture, and procedure.
"The person who presented the new fon was like an assistant to the late fon. They call him Kweti, and in that capacity, he has no authority to designate another fon. It's a conflict of culture and procedure. The appropriate body that should have presented the fon today is the sacred society."
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| First Deputy Mayor, Bamenda III Council Sharing At The Meeting |
"I am concerned that we may end up with an administrative fon who lacks traditional backing. What has happened here is an administrative act, and we have every right to contest it."
Divisional Officer Calls on NDZAH Population to Accept New Fon and Work with Him
Despite the population's rejection of Fobolingong Akotohm Nsoh's designation as the new fon of NDZAH, the DO appealed to the community to accept, and work with him. He stated that no decision can ever be favorable to everyone, and that having dissenting voices is beneficial for the designated fon as it would spur him to serve all.
"We told them that after five years, we are tired of having a village without a leader. I told them there is no leader without opposition, and that it's even a positive aspect. Those who oppose a leader help that leader to improve. In spite of the dissenting voices, whoever is chosen as fon is the fon for all of them, and they should give him the opportunity to serve and bring life back after five years of dormancy,"said Ayuni Sakah.
Kingmakers Open Letter To Divisional Officer, Bamenda III
If the Divisional Officer left NDZAH thinking he had put the Chieftaincy Crisis there to rest, then he might have missed the point. Just hours after settling down in his office, a letter titled: Reaffirmation of Traditional Authority and Rejection of Unauthorized Chieftaincy Claims sent viral.
In the letter which drayinfos.com has a copy begins by appreciating the DO for his efforts to addressing the chieftaincy crisis that has challenged the peace, and unity of the community. Another portion of the letter reads:
" It is with great dismay that we observed your decision to overlook the agitation of the people and the objections of the meeting.Attempts were made to silence these legitimate voices, which only exacerbated the community's frustration. Such actions risk undermining the trust between the administration and the people of NDZAH who relays on your impartiality and respect for traditional protocols."
The next paragraph reads:
"We categorically reject the candidacy of Fobolingong Nson. The process of selecting a Fon is a secred and spiritual act vested solely in the King Makers whose decisions are guided by custom and ancestral wisdom. Any attempt to impose an unendorsed candidate not only disregards our traditions but also jeopardizes the unity and peace of the community."
The following paragraph states that:
"We acknowledge and appreciate the administration's ongoing efforts to mediate in the crisis. However, we urged you to respect the legitimate authority of the King Makers and the collective will of the people of NDZAH. The rightful Fon has already been enthroned, and any actions to disrupt or manipulate this process will only serve to further divide our community."
It should be noted that the late Fon of NDZAH, HRH, Fon Victor Akotohm II disappeared on October 30th, 2019, and the King makers acted promoted and in strict adherence to tradition to enthrone HRH, Fon Marius Mbomchom Akotohm III on November 6,2019.
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| HRH, Fon Marius Mbomchom Akotohm III With King Makers |
Unfortunately, those the NDZAH people say don't have the right to designate a Fon came up with the name, Fobolingong Akotohm Nsoh as the new Fon to the disagreement of the population of NDZAH.
They say they are bent on seeing into that tradition is respected so that they can leave with the Fon their ancestors chose for them, and not the one selected by the administration.
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