Officials of the Southern Cameroons National Council, SCNC, have in a statement declared a “State’ funeral for their fallen chairman, Chief Ette Otun Ayamba, who died last Thursday morning at the Full Gospel hospital in Mamfe.
The statement, accompanied with a funeral programme for the SCNC leader, states that Chief Ayamba will be buried on July 28, in his Eyumojock native land in strictly Bayangi tradition. In addition, he will be buried in Southern Cameroons’ colours of blue and white stripes with thirteen stars in the middle of the flag; representing the thirteen counties (divisions) of Southern Cameroons.
Not only have July 26-27, been declared, “National Days” of mourning on the entire Southern Cameroons territory, the Southern Cameroons’ flag, organisers say, will fly at half mast in all Southern Cameroons Local Government Areas (sub divisions) and counties within the period of “national” mourning.
In a move aimed at revitalising the activities of the SCNC, taking advantage of the funeral, all SCNC factions have not only entered into serious negotiations to get re-united, they have agreed to reconcile and would take an oath to that effect over Chief Ayamba’s corpse never to factionalise the movement again, the Journal gathered.
According to the funeral programme, Chief Ayamba’s corpse will be removed and kept for viewing at his Banga residence in Mamfe on July 26. July 27 has been set aside for eulogies and “national” honours, from SCNC officials. His corpse leaves Mamfe for Eyumujock on July 28 where he would be interred in strictly Bayangi tradition.
In what promises to be the biggest crowd puller and huge number of dignitaries ever in Manyu funerals, sources within the SCNC say foreign dignitaries have already announced their presence at Chief Ayamba’s funeral.
The SDF, Cameroon Journal has been hinted, is already contemplating postponing its NEC meeting that was programmed for Bamenda on July 27. This is to allow the party’s top officials to attend the funeral in Mamfe.
Following news of Chief Ayamba’s death, condolence messages began pouring in from international bodies. Eulogies and condolence messages have already been received from the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organisation-UNPO, Southern Cameroons Movement - SCAM and the Southern Cameroons Peoples Organisation-SCAPO.
