At close of cultural festival in Yaounde: Minister Mbah Acha restates Momo’s stand for united, indivisible Cameroon.

The member of government restated the position of the people of her native Momo Division, on Saturday December 2. 

This was during the closing ceremony of the Momo Cultural Festival in Yaounde.

The crowd-pulling grandiose event took place at the esplanade of the National Museum. It was under the theme: “Momo for Peace, Unity and Development”.

The Momo Cultural Festival drew the curtains of month-long activities, including sporting competitions like football and handball amongst others.

It was attended by members of government, members of the diplomatic corps, administrative authorities, traditional rulers from Momo Division and other parts of the North West Region, and sons and daughters of Momo Division. 

Minister Mbah Acha drums peace, unity

Speaking during the event, Minister Mbah Acha said: “Momo people stand for a one and indivisible Cameroon”. 

“We decided to come together to let the world know that Momo sons and daughters are a peace-loving and dynamic people,” she added.

The minister said the Momo Cultural Festival was an occasion to showcase the “positive aspect of our population: peace-loving, dynamic, development-oriented, hardworking, honest and friendly, despite the wave of insecurity in the Division as a result of the crisis in the two English-speaking Regions”. 

Momo solidly behind the Head of State 

She said the people of Momo Division are not only united but are resolute “behind the Head of State, President Paul Biya, who preaches peace and living together”. 

Irrespective of the separatist atrocities in the Division, she said, “there is something still positive about our Division, which is our living together and being peaceful, honest and kind hearted. We want to tell the whole world that Momo is a Division that cherishes peace and national unity”. 

Dignitaries, traditional rulers immortalize event

“Live in peace with your host community”

Minister Mbah Acha urged sons and daughters of Momo Division resident in Yaounde, to live in peace and harmony with their host community. 

She revealed that there are plans to organise the Momo Cultural Festival in Mbengwi in the near future. 

Condemns separatist atrocities 

She used the occasion to strongly condemn separatist atrocities committed in Momo Division. 

The no-nonsense, astute and dedicated elite and leader, condemned the public execution of two individuals in Guzang by armed separatist in October this year. 

“The sanctity of life requires that no one has the right to take away the life of another individual. Cameroon is a state of law where the rule of law prevails and must be respected,” the minister said. 

She urged Amba fighters to disarm and go to DDR centres to get trained and rehabilitated for social reintegration. Mbah Acha also condemned those still denying children the right to education.

Momo Fons recognise Minister Mbah Acha Rose

Traditional rulers of Momo Division used Saturday’s occasion to decorate Minister Mbah Acha Rose.

She was raised to the rank of Mother of Widikum, with the title “Ehgo-Teriwidikum”. 

The traditional rulers said the title was to empower the minister and recognise her for the selfless services to the Division, North West Region and the country as a whole. 

Cross section of dignitaries present a cultural festival

Akere Muna, Asheri Kilo laud Momo Cultural Festival 

Renowned Cameroonian international lawyer and son of Momo Division, Barrister Akere Muna, also present at the ceremony, hailed the organisation of the festival. 

Culture, Akere Muna said, “is the only thing that binds us. The celebration of culture is the best way to unite because we all find ourselves within our culture. It was very heart-warming. We have a very rich culture and putting on a show is a very great idea”.

According to the Secretary of State to the Minister of Basic Education, Dr Asheri Kilo, “the people are all together. All the Subdivisions came together to celebrate their culture, unity, peace and to sports”. 

About Momo Division 

Momo Division is one of the seven Divisions in the North West Region. It is made up of five Subdivisions: Mbengwi, Batibo, Ngie, Njikwa and Widikum. Momo Division covers a surface area of 1.792 KM square. 

The headquarters of the Division, Mbengwi, was created in 1968. Momo Division is also divided into two constituencies; Momo East, made up of Batibo and Mbengwi and Momo West, comprising Ngie, Njikwa and Widikum. 

Momo Division, which prides itself as Cameroon miniature, counts about 250,000 inhabitants.