Bui Division: Traditional ruler allegedly using Amba fighters as escort!.

He is said to be under intense fire from the Bui Senior Divisional Officer, SDO. In a strongly-worded two-page query letter, the SDO of Bui, Menyong Gilbert Sunday, accused the traditional ruler of working in complicity with those he described as “enemy forces”.

The SDO said the armed men with whom Kinkoh is accused of parading with are separatist fighters. He described the move as provocative. 

The SDO regretted that the action, alongside series of others engaged recently by the traditional ruler-designate, not only destabilises “the well-established Nso Fondom” but also jeopardises peace efforts in Kumbo and Bui Division in general. 

The grievous accusations are contained in a query letter the SDO addressed to the designated traditional authority. The query letter, with Reference No.01/QL/E.26/PS/41, a copy of which The Guardian Post has seen, is dated September 10, 2024.

In the query letter, the SDO is categorical that “...it has been established beyond reasonable doubts” that the traditional ruler has been carrying out some activities in and around his chiefdom, clearly indicating that he shares “an incestuous relationship with enemy forces tantamount to destabilising the well-established Nso Fondom”.

The SDO went further to cite instances and moves undertaken by the designated traditional authority to buttress his accusations. 

He cited the “provocative visit to Ndzeen Palace, in a convoy, led by Amba fighters, through the Kumbo Squares, under the very watchful eyes of every onlooker, on Saturday June 8, 2024, which agenda is yet to be uncovered”. 

Further buttressing his accusations, the SDO cited the most recent visit of the “Nwerong and Ngiri” of the palace of the traditional ruler, to Vekovi, on September 9, 2024, and “the hilarious reception accorded you by Amba fighters, armed with sophisticated guns”. 

In order not to attract disciplinary and criminal sanctions being meted on him, the SDO urged the traditional ruler to, upon receiving the query letter, within 48 hours, provide explanations.

Working to destabilise Nso Fondom 

In what the SDO says he considers as moves to destabilise the Nso Fondom, the administrator cited “your rebellious self-proclamation as "Fon" of Ngomantse Fondom” by the traditional ruler of Kikaikelaki, whom he said, is by tradition, answerable to the Paramount Fon of Nso. 

The move and the public outing with the royal throne at Kikaikelaki by Kinkoh Eric Dzekem, who is also known as Shufaay Tsenla, the SDO clarified, is “a prerogative that is exclusively reserved for the Paramount ruler of Nso, according to the organisation of the Nso Fondom”. 

The SDO also recalled that the display of masquerades in his palace, on November 9, 2023, "was championed by Amba fighters, just like it happened in Ndzeen palace and Kingomen”. 

Menyong regretted that despite his warning, the traditional ruler has continued in the act and has failed to distance himself from Amba fighters.

“Following this incident, I invited you in my office on November 17, 2023...you took an engagement never to use these masquerades out of the vicinity of Tsenla and to stop all activities that go contrary to Nso customs and tradition, and finally to distance yourself from separatist fighters. But you continued immediately you left my office,” he explained in the release. 

The SDO said the “recent move to crown the family Head of the 'Kam' compound in Vekovi, Jakiri Subdivision, is in line with a well-planned strategy by separatists to destabilise the Nso Fondom, by creating puppet Fons who will pay allegiance to you and subsequently destabilise government’s efforts to keep the State united and peaceful”.

Only MINAT can modify chiefdoms 

The SDO, through the query letter, reminded the traditional ruler that the “creation and modification of chiefdoms is the sole prerogative of the Minister of Territorial Administration, MINAT; upon proposition by the competent administrative authorities”.

He further stated that as a proposed Second-class traditional authority, the traditional ruler is supposed to act as “an auxiliary to the administration”. 

He added that Kinkoh is also supposed to “show proof of loyalty to State institutions,” through his efforts in “building peace, fighting criminality, and promoting the unity of our country”. 

SDO unrelenting in calling traditional rulers to order 

The SDO of Bui, it should be recalled, has been unrelenting in calling traditional authorities who do not work for return to peace in their communities, to order.

Prior to the fresh query letter to the designated traditional ruler of Kikaikelaki, the SDO had in June 2023, issued a warning to the traditional ruler of Mbiame village, Fon Nweh II, in which he accused the Fon of providing “aid and comfort to separatist terrorists”.

The administrative authority had said information within his area of command alleged then that the traditional ruler leaked vital “information to terrorists concerning the movement of the defense and security forces, and masterminded the kidnapping of peaceful civilians for ransoms in order to share in the booty”.

Reports hold that the SDO’s accusations against the Fon have been taken over by the Military Tribunal in Bamenda, where the traditional ruler might soon be summoned for questioning. 

Worth noting is the fact that shortly after the accusation of the SDO, the Fon of Mbiame was slammed heavy fines by the secret society of the village, commonly known in the local parlance as ‘Nwerong’. 

The secret society had ordered the Fon to provide 50 goats, 50 fowls, 50 jugs of raffia palm wine, 50 crates of beer and 50 baskets of cooked ‘fufu corn’. 

This article was first published in The Guardian Post issue N0:3228 of Friday September 13, 2024