Nkwen Fon urges administration to resolve boundary disputes

Wed, 14 Jan 2015 Source: The Eden Newspaper

The Paramount Leader of the Nkwen People in Mezam Division of the North West Region, HRH Fon Azefor III has called on the administration to seek lasting solution to the many boundary disputes emanating from his neighbors. This is a new paradigm shift from the use of brute force as is the case in other areas.

The Fon of Nkwen thinks that the administration is well placed to mediate and seek lasting solution to the many encroachments exhibited by neighboring villages in to his Fondom lately.

So far Nkwen Fondom is a having a tussle with Mendankwe, Bambili, Bambui and Bafut with people trying to carve out parts of Nkwen land. According to Fon Azefor III, these are the same people who have been living in peace for centuries and to him people are free to settle in Nkwen land and pay homage to the Fon of Nkwen and not to carve out part of Nkwen land and add to theirs of origin.

He however lauded the administration of Mezam for doing everything possible to maintain peace within the four SubDivisions. The Fon related that the administration gave instructions as pertaining Nketeso which is boundary with Bafut at Nforya that they should see how to come together and come up with lasting solution to this issue.

This land issue is said to be an old wound given that a resolution had been reached in the past and now that it is still coming up, it no doubt the influence peddling by the elite in the area who want to impose a territory that not that of Bafut. On the area with Tubah the Fon says the people of Nkwen that are law abiding and would not want to do things their own way, are waiting to see what the administration would do.

As for the issue with Mendankwe, Fon Azefor III holds that it is still pending and the people are also waiting to see what would happen. The irony is that the territorial boundary of Nkwen is well traced out and backed by a colonial map indicating the right boundaries and it is ridiculous that after living together for decades neighbours who know the boundary turn to encroach in to Nkwen land.

As a way forward the Paramount ruler of Nkwen, said the administration should come in and respect the boundaries of Nkwen and should not emulate his predecessor in order to avoid any chaos. The strategic position of Nkwen is attracting so many people to identify with the land and hopefully the administration would ensure peace and harmony among the people.

Quizzed as to whether he had seek redress at the level of North West Fons Union NOWEFU. The said that would have been the best forum to address such issues among peers without necessarily bringing in the administration but unfortunately in the one year on the throne there has not been any meeting of NOWEFU. He furthered that he is still new in the Union and would like to observe as things unfold.

Source: The Eden Newspaper