October 12 poll: Lebialem Fons drum peace, recommit to promote education, revive economic activities.

The monarchs have also taken a firm commitment to work towards reviving the local economy in the Division, promote education and general return to normalcy. 

The resolutions and other key issues formed the decisions arrived at during the extraordinary session of the Lebialem Fons Conference held recently. 

The confab, attended by all 17 Fons of the Division, was presided by the President of Lebialem Fons Conference, HRM Fon Aloysius Lekelefac Fotabong of Lewoh. 

Revered Lebialem elite, Minister Paul Tasong, and presidents of various development associations, attended the gathering of the royal fathers as guests.  

The custodians of the customs and traditions of Lebialem used the confab to review the current socio-economic and political realities of the administrative unit, which they were unanimous, have been deeply impacted by the ongoing crisis rocking the North West and South West Regions. 

The traditional rulers took keen interest in the situation of school attendance in the Lebialem, expressing deep concern over the prolonged disruption of effective schooling. 

The Fons pledged to lead sensitisation campaigns in their various villages to once more make their people to shun fear and see the need to allow their children attend classes. 

They also pledged to work closely with local administrative authorities and stakeholders to ensure that schools reopen in every corner of Lebialem.

"We must mobilize all human and material resources to bring our children back to school. Education is the foundation of any progressive society, and we cannot afford to lose another generation," the Fons emphasised. 

Harping on the social front, the Fons emphasised the urgent need to restore basic social amenities such as clean water, healthcare facilities, electricity, and access roads. 

These services, the Fons insisted, are critical to fast-tracking the socio-economic recovery of the Division, which has stagnated for several years due to the ongoing crisis.

The royal fathers also used the gathering to extend an olive branch to the few remaining sons and daughters of the Division still carrying arms in bushes to surrender, join the Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration Centre in Buea and be reinserted to join the development train to give Lebialem a new lease of life. 

"We will continue reaching out to them as our children. They need to understand that peace and development go hand in hand,” the traditional rulers stated. 

Minister Tasong, Fons map strategies to revive economy 

On the economic front, the Fons concerted with the son who doubles as the Minister Delegate to the Minister of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development in charge of planning, Paul Tasong, on the way out. 

They together with presidents of various development associations outlined a number of ambitious proposals aimed at setting Lebialem’s economic engine back in motion. 

Key proposals included the reconstruction of local markets to boost trade, rehabilitation of farm-to-market roads to ease access for farmers and traders and support for agriculture and livestock sectors to provide jobs and food security. 

Local economy, they stressed, must be revived to prevent further rural exodus and empower youth and women who are most affected by the economic downturn caused by the crisis. 

The traditional rulers also lauded the efforts being made by the government, through Minister Paul Tasong, for the one billion FCFA electricity project recently financed under the presidential reconstruction plan. 

The project, it was said, aims to reinstate electricity in the Lebialem with use of reinforced concrete poles, covering the stretch from Dschang through Menji to Bakebe. 

The Fons described the initiative as a tangible demonstration of the government's commitment to restoring normalcy and development in Lebialem, noting that it puts the Division "back on the rails of light".

Assure 100% vote for Biya 

The Fons reassured their sons and daughters in the Division that all necessary preparations have been made to ensure the upcoming presidential election unfolds is peaceful, inclusive, and hitch-free.

They called on their subjects to massively come out and exercise their civic duty by voting. The Fons also reaffirmed their support for President Biya while citing series of developmental projects and high-level appointments of Lebialem sons and daughters under his leadership as proof of his love for the Division. 

The Fons emphasised that their core message remains peace, unity, and massive participation in the electoral process.

"The once buzzing and hustling Lebialem will rise again. And so shall it be,” they declared, sounding upbeat that with collective effort and unwavering determination, Lebialem can regain its lost glory.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3586 of Monday October 06, 2025