Fon rejects attempt at revisiting Njirong/Ntumbaw crisis

Nganjo Kennedy, Fon of Njirong in Donga Mantung Division has rejected moves towards reconciling Njirong and Ntumbaw villages by the National Exco of Wimbum Cultural and Development Association, WICUDA.

The age old Njirong/Ntumbaw land dispute which has gone on unabated for over 40 years, re-escalated October last year, leaving some dead, heavy loss of property and livestock on both sides.

At the time of escalation, Donga Mantung administration and that of the North West Region stepped in and resolved the problem. The verdict came out in favour of Njirong village.

It is in this backdrop that Nganjo Kennedy has in a written statement rejected recent attempts at reconciliation made by the National Exco of WICUDA that created a crisis management committee with objectives to examine the Njirong/Ntumbaw problem. Nganjo has described the WICUDA reconciliation move as belated, saying “it is medicine after death.”

WICUDA Exco, had in a meeting that lasted several hours, in a communiqué broadcast on radio, asked both parties to submit documents to the committee for the matter to be revisited. In reaction, Fon Nganjo wrote: “We wish to remind the WICUDA National Exco that the matter was resolved by the government of Cameroon.”

In a telephone conversation with Cameroon Journal, Nganjo said following numerous petitions submitted to the Donga Mantung administration and to the Governor of the North West Region, the matter was looked into and the verdict in favour of Njirong reconfirmed on October 18, 2012.

Fon Nganjo said he did not see the raison d’etre behind WICUDA attempting to revisit the issue. “Njirong will not be a yard stick for such adventurism,” he stated.

He said those who are attempting to revisit the issue after the administration has resolved it, only want to dig up old wounds.

“This is a sensitive issue that had led to loss of lives, and people were physically handicapped,” Nganjo said, questioning whether WICUDA now wants to reverse the administrative decisions that had resolved a crisis that lasted more than 40 years.

The Fon of Njirong would rather see WICUDA focus its attention on cultural and development issues and not to venture into an issue that has been legally resolved. “Attempting to venture into an issue that had been solved is in itself naïve and senseless.” He said.