Agbor Tabi to be buried like king

Sons and daughters of Manyu have resolved that no matter the context of Agbor Tabi’s death, and given the legacy he has left behind, he must be given the burial of the king that he was. (Prof. Agbor Tabi was also the ‘Ntufam’ or better still, the ‘Nfor’ of Ndekwai village, in Eyumojock sub-division of the South West region).

Manyu elements have unanimously resolved that given the multi-dimensional roles, and especially the many caps that he wore, AgborTabi’s funeral must reflect his status as political leader and chief.

“We are lamenting the fall of a general on the field of battle. So we must stand like one man and talk with one voice. We must all put hands on deck and give our departed brother a burial befitting of the people that he incarnated,” said Dr. Agbor-Ambang Antem, who reiterated that “no matter the context of Agbor Tabi’s death, it is the identity of Manyu that is at stake.”

He added that “Agbor Tabi epitomized the Manyu image and character; and that that identity has to be protected and preserved at all times, no matter what it takes.”

Manyu sons and daughters are also determined that irrespective of what the state will allocate for AgborTabi’s funeral, especially given that he died in active service, his Manyu brothers and sisters must put together all it takes to make his burial colourful and historic.

They took the firm commitment at a meeting of Manyu elements in and out of Yaounde, last Monday 2 May 2016, at Agbor Tabi’s sumptuous and expansive palace at Biteng, Yaounde.

Held under the canopy of the Manyu Elements Cultural Association, MECA, the meeting was presided over by the Minister in charge of Special Duties at the Presidency, H.E. Victor Mengot Arrey, who was assisted by Prof. Ako Edward, Rector of Maroua University, who is also head of Agbor Tabi’s maternal siblings.

During the meeting, MECANS maintained that no mater the state of the road, Agbor Tabi’s corpse must get to Mamfe only through the Kumba-Mamfe road.

“As Minister in government, our patron, father, brother and son did not only represent Manyu but the entire South West. And so, his body should be made to pass through all the major towns of the SW region before it gets to Mamfe,” suggested one MECAN. The suggestion was unanimously accepted.

It was also agreed that because none of Agbor Tabi’s several compounds in Mamfe would be expansive enough to contain the thousands of people that would come for the funeral, his body would be laid at the Mamfe grandstand during the funeral ceremonies.

Then, as it is the tradition in Manyu, his body will be conveyed to his village, Ndekwai, in Eyumojock sub-division, for burial by the Ekpe society.

No alcohol during funeral

But one point might pose a problem to mourners during the funeral ceremonies. We were told that AgborTabi before his death, expressed the wish that if ever he died, alcohol should not be served during his funeral. He said those who were thirsty for alcohol should do him the honour and wait until after he had been buried. It should be told that in his life time, Agbor Tabi neither drank alcohol nor smoked cigarettes. But it is not known if he also spared the babes.

Tentative Funeral Program

Monday 30 May: Arrival of mortal remains at Nsimalen Airport.

- Conveyance to Yaounde General Hospital

Thursday, 02 June: Corpse removal at Yaounde General Hospital.

- Academic Honours at IRIC, UNIYAO II

- Laying in state at family residence in Biteng

- All-night vigil

Friday, 03 June: Conveyance of corpse to Mamfe via Kumba

- Laying in state at Mamfe grandstand

- State and other honours

- Wake keeping

Saturday 04 June: Conveyance to Ndekwai, village, Eyumojock sub-division

Burial in by Ekpe society