SW GOVERNOR THREATENS TO DETHRONE IDP CHIEFS
By Paul Njie
25/04/2019
The Governor of the South West region has threatened to dethrone all chiefs, who have abandoned their chiefdoms to seek refuge in the Francophone regions.
Governor Bernard Okalia Bilai made the threat this Thursday at the conference hall of the Buea council, during a meeting with traditional rulers, ahead of the National Day celebration.
Mr. Okalia Bilai promised to replace chiefs who are internally displaced, if they don’t return to lead their villagers during the 20th May march past event.
He urged them to convince the populations in their villages to participate in the celebrations, which have been banned by secessionist fighters.
The governor also warned chiefs present at the gathering that failure to participate in the National Day celebration, will provoke hard consequences which he failed to reveal.
Chiefs in Buea and the South West as a whole are often chosen by their people. It’s not clear what powers the governor has to unilaterally dethrone legitimate chiefs who were enthroned by their own people, without consulting them.
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THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT STANDS READY TO ASSIST CAMEROON SOLVE THE CURRENT HUMANITARIAN AND SECURITY CHALLENGES!!!
The British Government has expressed its readiness to assist Cameroon solve its current humanitarian and security challenges. This was disclosed by His Excellency Rowan James Laxton, the British High Commissioner to Cameroon, after an audience granted him by the President of the Republic, H.E. Paul BIYA at the Unity Palace on 24 April 2019.
“I said to the President my Government was determined to support Cameroon to overcome its current difficulties, but also to make the most of the enormous potential of this wonderful country,” the British Diplomat explained.
Both personalities focused on the humanitarian and security situation in Cameroon – including the situation in the north of the country, the Far North, North-West and South-West Regions in particular.
H.E. Rowan James Laxton emphasised that he had a very productive discussion with the Head of State.
They discussed a large range of subjects; bilateral, regional and international – particularly trade, investment, and development.
Contrary to what Mr Paul Njie says, Chiefs in Buea and the South West and all Regions of Cameroon are NOT CHOSEN BY THEIR PEOPLE. Nobody casts a vote to elect a Chief. Chieftaincy is predicated on heredity, generally from father to son. Kingmakers simply rubber-stamp the decision. A Chief must be legally recognised by the Ministry of Territorial Administration by issuing the Chief a certificate. So, the government ultimately decides who is the Chief of village or clan or tribe. Thus, a Governor could recommend to the Minister of Territorial Administration to dismiss a Chief.
Whether a governor likes it or not, whether the MINAT likes it or not, Fons in NW cannot be dismissed. Remember when the Fon of Balikumbat died and the LRC DO was asking for applications for those interested to become Fon?
The chieftaincy in SW is different because high-ranking government workers make themselves chiefs. Inoni was never chief until he rose to the ranks, Was Dion Ngute’s father a chief? how did he become chief? He was never chief when he returned from Britain; Benjamin Itoe was never chief until he became minister. Agbor Tabi was chief, did his son become chief after his death? Oben Peter Ashu was chief, did his son becone chief after his death? Chieftaincy in Lebialem mirrors that in NW.
Jean
The LRC government has long been gradually abolishing anglophone tradition by trying to pay them, issuing certificate, etc and that’s why the governor had the authority to say what he said and might work and the newly appointed ones still either exile or they fear taking over.
Dismissing and appointing Chiefs will create another conflict and help the restoration process
Allow Okalia Bilia to go ahead. He thought it very well for Southern cameroons