Reconciliation at Nso Palace:

 Sehm Mbinglo forgives banished ‘nwerong’ and ‘ngiri’ notables

-But some notables who still challenge the fon’s authority have snubbed the reconciliation gesture

By Nsaibirni Roland Wirsiy in Kumbo

Nso Palace: Fon re-admits formerly

banished ‘nwerong’ notables

In what can be described as a historic moment in the chequered history of the Nso Fondom, the Paramount Fon of Nso, HRH Sehm Mbinglo I on 13 May 2016 extended an olive branch to some formerly banished notables of the palace and has re-admitted them into the Royal realm.

                The notables, who were members of the ‘nwerong’ and ‘ngiri’ societies, were banished from the Palace by the fon, on alleged charges of disrespect and subversion of his authority.

                But on that historic day the notables had their right to enter the palace reinstated once again.                                               However, some of the banished notables, for yet unknown reasons, snubbed the fon’s reconciliation move and refused to come back to the palace.

                In acknowledgement of the authority of the fon, the notables who accepted to rejoin the palace, paid symbolic fines levied them. The fines included goats, fowls and jars of palm wine.

                After paying their fines the notables were officially reinstated in their former duties in the palace.

                The historic ceremony was attended among others by the Special Adviser at the Prime Minister Office, Francis Fonye, representatives of the Bui Administration and a cross section of the elite and populations of Nso.

                The Fon through one of his close aides, Shufai Yuwar said the decision to reconcile was not taken out of cowardice but intended to foster peace and concord in the fondom. The fon’s decision were also motivated by the need to preserve the Nso culture and promote peace and fraternity in the fondom, Shufai Yuwar underscored.

                The Fon lauded the Prime Minister for always standing by him and the Nso People, and the Bui Administration for their role during the turbulent period.

                The fon invited those still dragging their feet to eschew personal pride and join the reconciliation train, saying the doors of the palace are wide open.

                Sehm Mbinglo I enjoined his subjects to protect their culture and tradition. He encouraged those in the diaspora to always seek to understand issues back home before drawing conclusions. The fon asked his subjects to watch out what they do in public especially in matters relating to tradition.

                Speaker after speaker at the event expressed the need for politicians and others seeking personal gains to desist from using the fon’s authority for personal interests.

                For his part, the Nso Cultural and Development Association President, Nformi Stephen Ndzerem Njodzeka noted  for instance that: “Our Society is tearing apart today because of pride, self-interest, individuals not being ready to come to a compromise and seek solutions to problems problems affecting the fondom, or errors made in decision-making. Our leaders have been sources of great troubles in society because they have stubbornly closed their ears to reasonable advice that could help avert crisis”.

                Ndzerem praised Sehm Mbinglo for sacrificing what many would not be ready to sacrifice.

                “The Nso People believe that they are great because of their Fon and that the Fon is great because of Nso People”, the NSODA President said, adding that any challenge to the Fon’a authority is a challenge to the entire fondom.

                “If we destroy the Nso Throne, we destroy our very existence”, he posited, warning that the Fon’s humility shouldn’t be misinterpreted as a mark of cowardice but a mark of great leadership. He lauded the Administration for the concern shown during the crisis, promising on behalf of the people of Nso that everything will be done to ensure that peace and respect for the laws of land reign in Nso.

                “We went searching for lost sheep and found submissive ones that are here today. Other recalcitrant sheep refused to come back and have continued their onward journey in the wilderness,” Nformi Ndzerem said, noting that those who have refused to come back will not be forced to do so. But he however expressed the hope that the recalcitrant sheep will come back to their right senses and see the need to join the flock.

                Nformi Ndzerem used the occasion to call on all sons and daughters of Nso to preserve traditional institutions and promote their cultural heritage. He said no one should try to destroy these for personal interests.