Foiled Elective General Assembly:

SDO bans SW Chiefs congress, as Fako Chiefs wash dirty linen

Zang III, Fako SDO

South West Chiefs are yet to come to terms with the SDO for Fako following the latter’s decision banning the holding of their elective general assembly in Limbe last weekend.

                Zang III in an order issued Thursday 16 February 2017 stopped the holding of the general assembly of the Chiefs Conference in Limbe, citing security concerns and internal wrangling within the association.

                Reacting to the ban, the Assistant Secretary General of SW Chiefs’ Conference SWECC, Chief Nfaw Robinson Tanyi described it as “unfortunate”.     

                He noted that the SWECC has persons of value and honour within its ranks including Parliamentarians, senior administrators, Army Generals, General Managers, and Judges amongst others, all of whom are not only peace loving allies of the regime but have always supported and encouraged the President through motions of support in the past.

                “SWECC has never breached the peace of the nation nor participated in public disorder of the kind. 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,” noted the chiefs in their release that was signed by the deputy scribe of SWECC, on behalf of incumbent president Nfon V. E. Mukete.

                “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 to the world that our people have no reason to fear going about their day-to-day businesses.”

                While acknowledging the authority of the SDO in banning the meeting, the Chiefs at once drew his attention to article 11 of their constitution which bars non-members including public officials interfering in the internal affair of their association.

                The Chiefs said the SDO only needed to have read their statutes between the lines and with good will to understand that it hasn’t the interpretation he gave to it. They as well reminded the SDO that the statutes of SWECC supersede that of the Fako Chiefs Conference that inspired his banning order.

                They concluded: “We are indeed very ashamed of the position and interpretation you have given to this article on our activity.”

Fako Chiefs disagree

                Even as the SW Chiefs are blaming the fako SDO for banning their meeting, observers have noted that the administrator has reason enough not to have allowed the meeting to prosper, especially considering the internal wrangling and personality conflicts that have plagued the Fako Chiefs’ Conference in recent times.

                It is understood that even though chosen to host the elective GA and also produce the next president of the SWECC, Fako Chiefs have shamelessly elected to keep washing their dirty linen in public.

                It emerged that Fako Chiefs have remained divided over the choice of Chief NjombeNjoke Johnson as the unique Fako candidate to succeed outgoing Senator Nfon V.E Mukete at the helm of SWECC.

                While many argue that NjombeNjoke is youthful and unfit to rule over his fathers, his supporters mainly from the Buea area say he is their candidate and his candidature must be endorsed forthwith.

                It is understood that mostly Chiefs from the Limbe and Tiko areas are challenging NjombeNjoke’s candidature. These coastal chiefs argue that the Bakweris from the Mountains cannot always claim everything that is meant for Fako. They argue that now is their turn to also produce the candidate for the SWECC presidency.

                With the standoff, it is now rumoured that Chief EtinaMonono of Great Soppo, Buea may be the one to succeed the outgoing Bafaw paramount ruler, Nfon VE Mukete. But this also has met with stiff opposition from the Limbe chiefs, who are projecting instead the former president of Fako Chiefs Conference, Chief Samuel Epupa of Dikolo, as their candidate for the job. The elderly Chief Epupa is said to enjoy popular support among his Limbe peers.