Exit of a man of the people:

K’ba in shock as Richard Njikam dies suddenly

By Doh Bertrand Nua in Kumba

Richard Njikam

The death of popular farmer, businessman and politician, Richard Njikam, has been announced. According to family sources Njikam (Grand Ricky) died suddenly from a heart attack, in the night of Friday, 28 September 2017.

                The news of Grand Ricky’s sudden death was received with shock by the population of Kumba, especially the political and business community. This was because Grand Ricky was seen parading the streets of Kumba throughout the day, in his white Jeep. He even shared a drink with friends at a popular Hotel in Kumba on that fateful day.

                A very popular businessman cum politician, Njikam Richard inherited the famous Njikam Plantations situate at Ikiliwindi, Kumba, from his late father.  

                Njikam Richard was also a contractor and CEO of Omega Construction Company. He was said to have won at least 29 contracts in Meme Division with some prominent ones being;  the contract to construct a guest house in Konye, construction of market stores in the Kosala market in Kumba II and the construction of the Buea road Motor park among many other projects. We learned that he died as he was celebrating the approval of the payment for and reception of one of his big projects, the Buea road park, by the Kumba City Council and FEICOM.

                Born in 1958 in Buea, Richard Njikam’s late father was a former Inspector of Lands under the then West Cameroon administration. It was during this period that he acquired vast expanses of land at Ikiliwindi to found the Njikam Estate. 

                Until his death, Richard Njikam was Regional Delegate of the Chamber of Agriculture for the Southwest Region. He was also alternate Senator to Hon Otte Andrew Mofa and Charge' des Mission of the Meme CPDM permanent Divisional Delegation.

                Njikam went down in history as the head of the Committee for reorganisation of CPDM basic organs that supervised the ouster of the otherwise all-powerful EKale Mukete as President of the CPDM in Meme 1A, in 2015. 

Njikam is survived by his wife and four children.

                His body is presently lying in the mortuary of the Kumba District Hospital pending funeral arrangements.