2025 presidential: Family of fallen nationalist, Ndeh Ntumazah, throws weight behind Akere.

The delegation to the gathering, held at the Bastos residence of Akere Muna, constituted successors of the late Ndeh Ntumazah 

The successors from the family of the late Ndeh Ntumazah, it was gathered, were bearers of a message of encouragement to the presidential hopeful.

They came along with a peace plant harvested from the tomb of the late nationalist. The symbolic peace plant was handed to Akere Muna during the meeting.

The handing over of the peace plant was not just a gesture of respect, but a transmission of heritage and a symbolic anointing.

The delegation, led by Isaiah Awah, described their mission as one of “continuity, consecration and commitment”, affirming Akere Muna as the spiritual and political heir to the aspirations of Cameroon's founding fathers. 

Though Ndeh Ntumazah, one of the leading figures of Cameroon's anti-colonial resistance and co-founder of the Union of the Population of Cameroon, UPC, died in exile, he never abandoned his vision of a free, just and united Cameroon.

His successors said they had watched in silence and admiration as Akere Muna walked the path of service, courage and reform at home and abroad. 

According to the head of the family “...the peace plant is not just a symbol of tranquility”. 

For him, “...it is a living reminder that although the fathers of our struggle for independence died in their bodies, their spirits live on. And today, that spirit rests on you, Akere”.

They all reiterated the fact that when they heard that the Bâtonnier had been nominated as a candidate for the next elections by a coalition, they were at peace with themselves and in their spirits. 

As a renowned lawyer, former Vice President of Transparency International and fearless voice for justice in Cameroon, Akere Muna has long been at the crossroads of law, governance and activism.

In 2018, he made a bold bid for the presidency, championing transparency, accountability and national unity, although he ended up backing Prof Maurice Kamto, as he puts it, “he could not ask of Kamto what he himself could not give...”

Today, the Ntumazahs, like most Cameroonians, believe that the time has come for Akere Muna to rise to the highest office of the land- not as a politician seeking power, but as a Statesman anointed by history. 

They added that: “...the fathers of this nation planted seeds of freedom, watered them with exile, sacrifice and blood. This plant that you now hold is both memory and mission. We give it to you, not only as a sign of blessing, but as an order to finish what they started”.

Akere Muna, visibly moved, accepted the peace plant with a bow of the head. 

“I receive this gift not only for myself,” he said, stating that: “I receive it on behalf of all those who believe that this nation still has a soul worth defending. The dream of Cameroon is not dead, it only slept. And now it's waking up”.

Also present at the ceremony was John Acha, a patriarch of the Ngyen-Mbo, who said that all he could say was to thank the Ntumazahs for the kind gesture. He said Cameroon had been through a lot and that it was time to call on God to show and lead the way.

As the ceremony, which was attended by some members of the Union for Reconstruction, UFR coalition, drew to a close, traditional songs were sung and the delegation received a symbolic gift from Akere’s team.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3469 of Tuesday June 10, 2025