Nico Halle rejects “Ntumfor” title; says it’s a joke in bad taste

Barrister Nico Halle has described the recent reinstatement of his “Ntumfor” title by a group of Northwest Fons as a joke.

He was speaking in a telephone interview last Saturday in relation to reports that a group of Fons of the North West had resolved to reinstate the title of “Ntumfor” on him.

According to Halle, the North West Fons’ Union (NOWEFU) is in ruins and divided amongst itself, reasons why they are calling him in to make peace and mend fences.

“The Fons want me to come and solve their problems now since they are in a cross fire. That is a big joke.” He said, questioning, “Where have they been all this while?”

It should be noted that an enlarged executive meeting of the union that met at the Bambui Fon’s palace on Friday May 29 recalled and rehabilitated Halle as their official spokesperson after he was dropped on August 27, 2008.

The meeting that was convened by the outgoing president of NOWEFU, Fon Teche Njei, came after the former president; Fon Chafah Isaac XI of Bangolan issued a strongly worded letter to the Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralization in which he castigates Fon Teche Njei’s led NOWEFU executive as clinging on to power after their mandate had expired and conniving with Mezam SDO Felix Nguele Nguele to manipulate the constitution of NOWEFU to stay on to power.

In a swift reaction to the allegations, Fon Teche convened an enlarged meeting in the Bambui Fon’s palace on Friday May 29. During that meeting, he explained that his mandate at the helm of NOWEFU expired in April and he has the power to carry on till November when elections will be held. He further explained that though Fon Chafah had brandished a registration certificate for NOWEFU, the SDO for Mezam, Felix Nguele Nguele had said the file of NOWEFU in his office was empty and there was no constitution in it.

To this effect, Fon Teche explained, the SDO had ordered them to adopt a new constitution and table before an election.

During the Bambui meeting a revised constitution was tabled and adopted. Another major development was that Nico Halle who was suspended indefinitely from his functions as spokesman of the union by a decision of the former president, Fon Chafah Isaac XI on Aug.27 2008 was reinstated into his functions with effect from the date of signature.

On the issue of elections, it was decided that elections will hold on November 28, 2015 during which a new NOWEFU executive be elected. The new president of the union, it was noted will come from Donga Mantung Division.

However, the resolutions of the Bambui meeting have just set the stage for fresh controversy given that another group of Fons led by Fon Chafah boycotted the gathering.

These Fons who were absent include all the first class Fons of the union amongst several others.

The resolution reinstating Ntumfor Barrister Nico Halle as Spokesman of the Union was copied to the Presidency, the Prime Minister, the Minister of Territorial Administration, Minister of Defense, Security operatives and the South West Chief’s Conference as well as administrative authorities of the North West. This, it was explained is because the decision that suspended him indefinitely in 2008 was also copied to all these quarters.