Manyemen chieftaincy tussle: Traditional council, kingmakers petition DO, decry sabotage on Chief-designate.

Their worry is the content of a petition, addressed to the Divisional Officer, DO, of Nguti Subdivision, Etengeneng Kevin Oben. 

The petition, a copy of which The Guardian Post has seen, was penned after an enlarged meeting, which brought together Traditional Council members, Kingmakers and representatives of women and youth groups. 

The meeting was held November 7, 2024, in Betock, a neighbouring community, due to a ban on public manifestations in Manyemen, by the Divisional Officer. 

The petition was signed by the Traditional Council Chairman, Akung Daniel Akung, and representatives of Kingmakers, notables, women and youth. 

As explained by the Traditional Council Chairman, Akung Daniel Akung, the enlarged meeting and the petition were prompted by a petition, addressed to the local administration, by “detractors”, questioning the procedure which was used to select the Chief-designate. 

In their petition, the Traditional Council members, Kingmakers and others, dismissed misleading information circulated by “detractors”, indicating that the Chief-designate is not an indigene of Manyemen. 

They were categorical in their petition to the DO that: “The Chief-designate of Manyemem is a bonafide son of Manyemen.” 

The petitioners also clarified that the “Kingmakers were selected by their various family heads and presented to the administration,” contrary to widespread information that they were handpicked by the administration.   

They appealed to the “administration to stop condoning with those disturbing the peace and stability of Manyemen, who they say are using petitions and the social media to create social disorder”.  

The Traditional Council members and Kingmakers also challenged those “writing petitions against the Chief of Manyemem, to show proof of his origin”.  

They were firm that “individuals, purported to be writing petitions, have never participated in any developmental meetings in Manyemen, nor were present during the selection of the Chief and presented to the administration”.

The village officials were clear in their letter to the DO that “those championing the petition writing are not even based in the village”. 

They told the DO that the “peace-loving people of Manyemen are united,” and have thrown their “unflinching support to the Head of State, President Paul Biya, for the upcoming presidential election”. 

They appealed to the DO to use his wisdom and levelheadedness to give consideration to their letter, so as to “meet the aspiration of the peace-loving people of Manyemen”. 

Revisit other petitions 

It should be recalled that the Traditional Council members, Kingmakers and the representatives of women and youth groups, had last September 6, in another letter, pleaded with the DO to lift the ban on the coronation of their rightfully designated traditional ruler and that on public manifestations. 

The bans, they had argued, have stalled peace initiatives and campaigns to boost effective schooling in the area. 

They had decried what they described as “confusion” within the community, due to the prolonged delays by the administration to install the Chief-designate.

“…we humbly plead with your high office, for the coronation of the Chief of Manyemen, which we all rally behind him with love and unity,” partly read the letter in September.

They had also reiterated that Manyemen people will “remain law-abiding in promoting the peace the nation deserves”. 

Fighting troublemakers 

Prior to their outing last September, the Kingmakers, Traditional Council members and elders had, in another letter on June 14, petitioned the government to immediately call to order those trying to stir trouble and disorder within the community. 

In the letter, which was addressed to the South West governor, Kupe-Muanenguba SDO and Nguti DO, they had expressed dissatisfaction with what they said was the inappropriate conduct of a certain individual from the village. They described the moves as “misconduct towards the Manyemen throne”. 

Revisiting designation process

Besong Williams, it should be recalled, was on November 23, 2023, designated Chief, following a chieftaincy consultation in Bangem. He was chosen by all the Kingmakers.

The consultation unfolded in the presence of the SDO of Kupe-Muanenguba, Mungambo William Ekema. 

The founding families of Manyemen; Njeck, Bafeneh, Ndong, Nsukobi and Ntibu, had all rallied behind the new traditional ruler. The process had unfolded without any contestation.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3288 of Tuesday November 12, 2024