Villagers plead with Limbe Gov’t Delegate to delay demolition

The community of Batoke in Limbe II subdivision has formally pleaded with the Government Delegate to the Limbe City Council, Andrew Motanga Monjimba, to do everything humanly possible to carry forward to a later date the planned demolition of dilapidated roadside structures in their village.

This was a pivotal concern raised by the villagers on Saturday 5 March 2016 as they thronged the palace to offer New Year wishes to their traditional ruler, HRM Chief Molive Molungu Otto.

In an emotion-packed speech and welcome address read out to Chief Molive Molungu Otto on behalf of the villagers by the Chairman of the village council, Mbella Raphael Eko, the villagers noted that they are aware of the fact that the Limbe City Council is currently embarking on a demolition campaign to give the city a facelift ahead of the 2016 Female African Nations Cup. While observing that Batoke village is directly concerned with the Nations Cup since the stadium is just around their vicinity, the spokesman of the community added that they are very aware of the need for such a demolition exercise.

They, however, begged the Government Delegate not to send his bulldozers to Batoke very soon, and for him to tally a bid for the villagers themselves to prepare and bring down the earmarked houses. This concern was even more important given the fact that most of the structures in the peripheral village of Batoke are “karabot” , and should the Government Delegate, Andrew Motanga, send his bulldozers there at this point in time , the village could be reduced to rubble.

In response to the cry of the villagers, HRM Chief Molive Molungu Otto emphasised the fact that when government machinery is in motion, no one can stop it. He added that in the long run, such a demolition exercise will help the development of Batoke. He, however, agreed with the villagers that he will join them to plead with the Government Delegate to carry the demolition in Batoke to a later date.

One of the major worries of Chief Molive Molungu Otto was the crisis currently rocking the “water fufu” sector in his village. He said the economic mainstay of Batoke is the production and sales of “water fufu” to the Limbe metropolis and beyond as well as neighbouring countries such as Equatorial Guinea and Nigeria. He said some studies have been done and submitted to the Limbe II council and a lasting solution is expected soon.

Remarkable Achievement

In his State of the Village address, HRM Chief Molive Molungu Otto outlined some remarkable achievements that the village registered in the course of last year. One of such key achievements is the fact that security in Batoke has been seriously stepped up especially after the murder of a Norwegian in the area last year.

He said the village vigilante group is doing a formidable job, and everyone can now agree that Batoke is now safer to live in than was the case before. The opening of roads, improved health facilities, provision of potable water and social cohesion amongst the various people cohabiting peacefully are just some of the achievements that the chief outlined.

It is at this juncture that Chief Molive Molungu Otto proceeded to hand over a 500m piece of land to the Association of Francophone Women in Batoke, in fulfillment of a promise he made to them about three years ago.

Village Almanac Unveiled

The unveiling of the village almanac as well the appointment of new members into various management structures in the chiefdom were some high points of Saturday’s event. Various groups from different ethnic and geographical backgrounds took turns to present gifts to Chief Molive Molungu Otto, the most outstanding being a Lion and Staff Symbol present by the traditional council.

On hand to witness the New Year Wishes ceremony were the SDO for Fako, Zang III, the DO for Limbe II, Douga Emaran, the 1st Deputy Mayor of the Limbe II Council, traditional rulers including the versatile Chief Ndiko Henry Fonderson of Lower Meveo, artists and a cross section of the Batoke population.

General animation as well as heavy eating and drinking graced the day.