Simon Sombe, Divisional Officer, DO, for Mbonge Subdivision, Meme Division, Southwest Region accompanied by elements of the National Gendarmerie, stormed the compound of the dethroned Chief of Big Bekondo village, Jomo Motale Otte, July 11, and retrieved the national flag from him.
The flag was lowered shortly after consultative talks with Kingmakers of Big Bekondo, that culminated in the selection of Prince Blessed Okolle as the new Chief designate of the village.
In the company of the Brigade Commander, the Divisional Officer served the dethroned chief a copy of the Ministerial Order signed by Territorial Administration Minister, Rene Emmanuel Sadi, relieving him of his duties.
The DO then ordered the elements of law and order to lower the flag, as bewildered villagers looked on while the dethroned Chief Jomo received the document that stripped him of his traditional authority after nine years, nine months in service.
Quizzed on the symbolism of the action, the DO told reporters that, following the Ministerial Order No 091/A/MINATD/DOT/SDOA/SCT of May 27, 2014, Jomo, alongside his compound that used to serve as the main depository of all official documents from the administration, ceased to be an auxiliary of the administration and a chief.
Going by the content of the Ministerial Circular, Jomo was dismissed for engaging in acts of corruption, cheating and extortion of funds from his subjects.
Edwin Nange, an inhabitant of Big Bekondo, told The Post that there was some misunderstanding within the village but things had returned to normal before the Ministerial bombshell was announced over State media.
Nange recalled issues such as the whereabouts of money from a mobile telephone company destined for the traditional council, allegations of the chief collecting 10 percent of money from villagers whose lands were affected by the planting of a mobile telephone antenna in the village, plus other issues hampering the smooth running of the village.
The selection of Prince Blessed Okolle, according to the Divisional Officer, is pending a Prefectural Order from the cabinet of the Senior Divisional Officer, SDO, for Meme that will either confirm or annul the consultative talks. Sombe, however, remained upbeat that the success recorded at the level of consulting 13 out of 14 Kingmakers, depicts a new era for the village.
Addressing the community, the DO warned against the attitude of taking chiefs hostage, whereas they are the same persons who put them into office. Sombe noted that, the village of Big Bekondo must remain one and indivisible. He urged the two family groupings of the village, Esunga Mbenge and Esunga Liko families, to operate in close ranks.
He regretted that some of the errors that communities find themselves in remain the handiwork of some overzealous and unpatriotic administrators in connivance with villagers who have corrupted their tradition. In this light, he called on all parties to take their portion of the blame.
Speaking to reporters shortly after his selection, Chief-designate, Dr Blessed Okolle, who is currently serving as plantations Manager of SGSOC Cameroon, popularly known as Herakles Farms, denied ever nursing ambitions to become a Chief, despite being a Prince.
Okolle disclosed that he suspended his missions out of the country within two days when he was informed that, the 14 Kingmakers of Big Bekondo wanted to see him. He sees his village as one in need of reconciliation, good roads and development in every other sector of life.
