Money palaver:

Biya’s appeasement ‘envelope’ divides Konye chiefs

By Doh Bertrand Nua in Kumba

Chiefs in Konye Sub-Division in Meme Division of the South West region under the Konye Chief's Conference are divided over the sharing of the appeasement envelope that was handed to them by the head of the CPDM delegation that was sent to Konye Sub-Division during the recent peace and reconciliation mission ordered by President Paul Biya, The Median was hinted.

                The bone of contention is the FCFA 500 000 that Mrs Ndoh Bertha Bakata handed to the president of the Konye Chief's conference, Chief Eseme Elis of Kokobuma, to share among the 36 chiefs that constitute the Konye Chiefs’ Conference, we learnt.

                Our source said trouble ensued after it was alleged that Chief Eseme had decided to keep FCFA 200000 for the presidency and handed the rest FCFA 300000 to be shared among the other chiefs.

                Realising that Chief Eseme had retained part of the money, the chiefs cried foul, castigating their president for “greed and selfishness”, our source told us, adding that the Chiefs have addressed a strongly-worded petition to Mrs Ndoh Bertha explaining the situation to her.

                This has created a cold war between Chief Eseme Elis and the rest of the 35 Konye Chiefs.

                We gathered that relations between the Konye Chief's Conference President Chief Eseme Elis and his predecessor, Chief John Mediko II has also further deteriorated, after it was said that Chief Eseme replaced Chief John Mediko II as president of the Konye Chief’s Conference through a bloodless coup.

                We learnt that following the recent death of Chief Makane Obase Calpy of Koba village, the other chiefs have planned to use the burial ceremony to openly condemn Chief Eseme for the greed. The disgruntled chiefs say chief Eseme must apologise to them before the funeral if he must avert the embarrassment.

                Our source said the chiefs are ready to forgive their president if he uses the occasion of the burial of their colleague to apologize for his action. If not they risk passing a vote of censure on Chief Eseme Elis. Let’s wait and see!