Scramble for SWECC Presidency ensues

A tussle has erupted among Chiefs of Meme in Kumba over who succeeds Fon Lucas Njifua as President of the Southwest Chiefs’ Conference, SWECC. The tussle emerged at a requiem service organised at the Presbyterian Church Mile I, Kumba, Southwest Region on Sunday, April 20, in honour of the deceased Board Chair of the Cameroon Development Corporation, CDC, Henry Namata Elangwe.

SWECC politics took centre stage when at the end of the church service, the son to the deceased, Geoffry Elangwe, acknowledged the presence of the Chief of Bombe Bakundu, Rudolf Duala Itoe, as President of the Meme Chiefs ‘Organisation’, rather than ‘Conference’ to the dismay of Chief William Ekong .

In the end, the error was not rectified and the presence of Chief William Ekong Sakwe of Big Nganjo, current Mayor of Mbonge, was not acknowledged, leaving commentators to give various interpretations. Ekong’s supporters are said to have picked holes in the acknowledgements as being the handiwork of detractors who want to thwart his ambitions of becoming the next President of the SWECC.

The list of dignitaries is said to have been compiled by a certain John Kingue and handed over to Geoffry Elangwe for acknowledgments. As President of the Meme Chiefs for the last few years, Ekong is said to be counting on his successful management of the body to move to the SWECC Presidency, given that it is now the turn of Meme Division to head SWECC.

However, The Post learnt that due to the funeral of Fon Njifua, a SWECC general assembly meeting billed for Kumba this April may be shifted to May. This postponement, observers say, will only give room for more animosity and dirty royal politics among Chiefs in Meme.

Elangwe Served Cameroon With Patriotism

In a message from the President of the Republic, Paul Biya, addressed to the Elangwe family, the deceased was described as having served Cameroon in all patriotism. Read by the special representative of the Head of State, Prof. Peter Agbor Tabi, Biya’s message depicts that, the late Henry Namata Elangwe was a personal friend and one of the architects of Cameroon’s Reunification.

Agbor Tabi explained that, by the time the CDC Board Chair died, the President of the Republic was held down by important State assignments, reason why the condolence message was coming later. The Chief Celebrant, Rev Dr. Nyansako-Ni-Nku, described Elangwe’s demise as a glorious exit, adding that he lived his life to the full as a pharmacist, politician, Minister, husband and father. Nyansako admonished the Elangwes, friends and well-wishers to see the death of the CDC Board Chair as a sign of victory.

The Moderator Emeritus averred that, the special service organised by the Presidency in honour of the fallen Bakundu hero, portrays the very humane nature of President Paul Biya. Chronicling the Christian life of Henry Namata Elangwe, Elder Maurice Sone described the deceased as a generous and caring follower of Christ that will be missed for long.

Elder Sone reminded the church of how Elangwe, took interest in fundraising activities, annual thanksgiving and the building of the church house; a vision which is yet to be completed.

With Elangwe’s age, he said, the church visited him regularly in his palace and shared the Holy Communion with him. Chief Henry Namata Elangwe was baptised in 1990 by the Reverend Isaac Elangwe. He later became a bona fide member of PC Mile I Kumba, until his demise.

By Maxcel Fokwen