Just Recently, for giving Fru Ndi the key to Limbe Paramount chief palace, the Paramount ruler elect has been fined the to pay 1 pig, 10 bottles of Whisky, 3 Crates of beer and 200,000frs to be shared among other Chiefs. This including an apology letter and promise to bring the symbolic key back from Fru Ndi to Limbe.
The title awarder John E. Manga Williams came under pressure after an ultimatum given him by the other 14 Chiefs of Limbe. The 17th of June Communique from the Limbe Conference of traditional rulers, it was intimated that the said giver of the traditional key, is still a chief elect and hasn’t been initiated into the conference of traditional rulers’ full flesh. For also not seeking their consent and acting as a Paramount Chief, they declared Manga Williams guilty.
When this news broke out, the Social Democratic Front, SDF District Chairman for Limbe reacted, indicting political heavy hands for the actions of the chiefs.
Before now, SDF chairman as an Honorary member of the Limbe traditional key who had already suffered state denial to visit the country’s refinery in same Limbe that had been ravages by a strange fire, had travelled to Bamenda, his hometown.
From his Ntarinkon Residence in Bamenda, he declared that the decision of the chiefs was of no consequence to him as they aren’t the givers of the Key. He also made it clear that, they could come over to Bamenda and collect it, and he could hand it only on request of the giver.
Barely a week later, Chief Manga Williams succumbs, with acceptance to pay the fine and to go by the orders of his peers. Trick? Fear? Conviction? Threat? Really no one can quickly tell from his perspective.
However, many are of the opinion that, the move of the Chiefs is far above correction of a colleague, but a stance to completely continue puncturing the image of the main opposition leader in Cameroon. To make nonsense of anyone not of the ruling class or the ruling party, CPDM.
Being a country with very small proportion of Democratic practice, blatant disrespect of constitutional provisions, poor governance and other leadership ills, political quagmire and witch hunting haven’t deserted the falling nation. The chiefs are a classic example.
Over the years, the Anglo-Saxons in Cameroon have always cherished their cultures and traditional figures as embodiments of their existence, until unhealthy politics and money trekked their ways into palaces across the Mungo.
How can one explain the fact that after refusing Fru Ndi from entering SONARA, a key of honor denied him, the Most Prominent Anglophone, in the Anglophone city of Limbe? It is learned that same key had earlier been handed over to the SDO of that area who is Francophone, but a chiefs dare not oppose. Surprised?
Marginalization and Suppression of the Anglophones is a way of life in Cameroon, reason for the ongoing war to separate from them by the “Ambazonians”.
Who is empowering the chiefs to stand against a title that takes off nothing from them? Fru Ndi, a child West of the Mungo, could the torture be of the French Cameroon Government in Yaoundé or by the same South Westerners John Fru Ndi has defended all along his political career?
A prophet is never recognized at home. Few years ago, an Afro American Community in the USA awarded John Fru Ndi an Honorary title for his political achievements in keeping a peaceful opposition in Cameroon. Isn’t he worth just more than a key from the Limbe traditional palace?
Who is playing the drums then, for those chiefs who were powerless in the face of Okalia Bernard, Governor for Southwest region when he ordered them to march like school kids on National day only to be rescued by activists of Anglophone origin?
Fru Ndi, a no-nonsense political figure might not care about the controversial key and the conspicuous denial by his own people of Limbe, but Anglophones in Cameroon, dead and alive have reasons to weep for this singular disrespect of a man who stand tall in the aspects of well-being in Cameroon.
June 24th, same chiefs in a communique claim they have forgiven their son. But fail to tell if they collected the fines nor are they still expecting the key
While waiting to get the events ahead surrounding the handing over of the Key, if John Fru Ndi will give in, we are still in search, and fervently of who is beating the Chiefs drums.
