Teche Njei is a threat to peace in NW Region- Fon Chafah

Chafah Isaac Mbunka XI, Paramount Fon of Bangolan, Promoter and Co-Founder of North West Fons’ Union, NOWEFU, has said that any attempt by Fon Teche Njei to deprive Donga Mantung and Boyo Divisions of their turn to head NOWEFU will pose a serious threat to the peace and unity of North West Fons and the North West Region in general.

Chafah spoke to the Cameroon Journal in Bamenda on May 19 as he submitted a petition addressed to the Senior Divisional Officer, SDO, for Mezam Division.

It should be noted that Fon Teche Njei who is Fon of Ngyen-Muwa village in Momo Division, and Senator, was elected President of NOWEFU on March 16, 2012. After serving his three years term as spelt out in the Union’s constitution, Teche’s mandate expired on March 16, 2015. His unwillingness to convene an elective general assembly after the expiration of his mandate is the reason behind Chafah’s warning.

The situation has left many to conclude that there is a power vacuum at the helm of NOWEFU. Holding on to his position as Promoter and Co-Founder of NOWEFU, sparked Fon Chafah reason to addressed the “NOWEFU Crisis” in a six page document to the SDO. Chafah is urging the SDO in the document “to support us to re-establish legality in NOWEFU.”

It should be observed that for the greater part of the crises, Chafah has largely been silent in spite of appeals from elderly Fons that he convene a general assembly for elections and transfer of leadership to Donga Mantung or to Boyo division, following the rotation system as enshrined in their constitution.

In support of this line of thought, Chafah writes; “Out of the seven divisions that make up the North West Region, five have had their turn” including Mezam, Bui, Ngoketunjia, Menchum and Momo. “This unfortunate attempt by Fon Teche Njei to deprive Donga Mantung and Boyo divisions of their turn to head NOWEFU is posing a serious threat to the peace and unity of North West Fons in particular and the region in general.”

Fon Chafah hinted The Journal of talks around town that point to the existence of a new NOWEFU constitution, single-handedly drafted by Fon Teche Njei with the objective to force it through, to enable him continue to stay at the helm.

To this, Fon Chafah states: “with the expiration of Fon Teche’s mandate on the 16th of March 2015, he no longer has the locus standi to act on behalf of NOWEFU and so any attempt by him to convene any meeting to modify our constitution shall be considered null and void.”

In the document to the SDO, he writes that “truth and facts may be bitter but necessary for posterity.” According to these truths and facts, Fon Teche Njei has never convened a single general meeting since his election in 2012, suggesting that he leads the association single handedly with demagogy, manipulation, division and misinformation.

Fon Chafah states that being the first Third Class Fon to head NOWEFU, he has systematically excluded all First Class Fons in the Region, from the affairs of the Association.

“Clandestine trips to Yaoundé to harass state officials for pecuniary gains and self-aggrandizement are frequent under his leadership, thereby putting the once respected Fons of the Region to ridicule and disgrace,” Chafah states.

“A grand fund raising was organized by him soon after his election to complete a multi-purpose secretariat complex of NOWEFU, but no work has been done and no account rendered of tens of millions collected for that purpose,” the Co-Founder notes.

Fon Chafah warns that any administrative authority or persons treating Fon Teche as NOWEFU President are no longer doing so in the interest of North West Fons.

“The Advisory Council of NOWEFU shall be meeting very soon to chart a way forward for the Association with a view to putting in place a transitional committee to organize election for a new President General from any of the two remaining divisions,” Fon Chafah said.