Chiefs, Activists in land duel in Buea

As the Fako land saga takes a new twist, Fako chiefs have accused CRTV Buea of promoting “unwarranted declarations” that could lead to violence, secession and genocide.

The new turn of events in what is has come to be known as the ‘Fako Land Saga’ has led to a royal duel between chiefs, the administration and members of the civil society.

The chiefs have accused Christopher Tambe Tiku, Secretary of the South West Office of the National Commission on Human Rights and Freedoms for continuously calling for violence, genocide and secession under the pretext of securing Fako lands.

The chiefs fell short of mentioning the name of Barrister Ikome Ngongi who, together with others, has recently been very vocal on the fight against the continuing illegality surrounding transactions over Fako lands.

“Meeting in Buea this 16th day of July 2014, we the Fako Traditional Rulers after taking cognizance of certain unwarranted declarations on the CRTV-Buea slot “Press Club” by a group of unscrupulous individuals using the name of some outlawed groups namely the B.L.C.C. (the Bakweri Land Claims Committee), the BCUF( Bakweri Cooperative Union of Farmers) Ltd, Real Estate & Housing Cooperative Society ltd and a certain Tambe Tiku Christopher who have continuously been calling for violence, genocide and secession under the pretext of Fako Lands,” their press release, a copy The Journal procured, states in part.

The statement is signed by Kombe Ndike, Tiko Chiefs Conference President; M.M. Otto of the Limbe Chiefs Conference; Johannes Mokoto Njie, Muyuka Chiefs Conference President; Njie Mandenge, Acting Secretary General of the Fako Chiefs Conference; Chief Mbanda, Vice President of the Fako Chiefs Conference and Samuel Epupa Ekum, President of the Fako Chiefs Conference. The document was sent to the Presidency, the Prime Minister, Ministers concerned, ELECAM Board Chairman, South West Governor and Fako SDO.

The chiefs in the release use unfriendly words to describe those they say are claiming to be fighting against the continuing illegality surrounding transactions over Fako lands.

“We want to distance ourselves from these overzealous individuals who are suffering from traditional assimilation and frustration…we equally condemn these persons who have no iota of love for their patrimony as evidenced by the illegal sale of assets belonging to the erstwhile Bakweri Cooperative Union of Farmers to the Cameroon Baptist Convention for over FCFA 300 million,” the chiefs said.

They also sought to dissociate themselves from allegations that they sell community land and enrich themselves to the detriment of their indigenes in need of land.

They hold that Tambe Tiku, Ikome Ngongi and all those fighting against the supposed illegality surrounding transactions over Fako lands are hungry, frustrated and envious.

Their words: “Contrary to these nepotic declarations emanating from these irresponsible individuals that are even threatening to drag the non-indigenous people who have been allocated lands by the traditional rulers as a sign of national integration to court, we the traditional rulers of Fako do call on all these stakeholders to be steadfast and continue to help in the development of our division. They should consider these agitations as mere signs of frustration, envy and hunger.”

In an editorial, July 19, the moderator of “Press Club” on CRTV Buea, Senior Journalist Matute Menyoli said “…If anybody claims that Press Club of all programs is fomenting trouble, instead of being credited for the challenging job we are doing here, because of personal gains and interests, then it is most unfortunate.”

Speaking to The Journal in a telephone interview, Christopher Tambe Tiku described the attitude of the chiefs as a show of ignorance.

“If the Fako chiefs are called upon to define the word genocide, what will be their definition? You can see how people can expose their ignorance to the public,” he said.

Speaking on CRTV Buea Press Club, Saturday, July 12, Tambe Tiku said "… We brought to the knowledge of the Prime Minister the disparity between the rich and the poor and the callous and atrocious manner in which land grabbing is taking place in Fako. And that it may cause violence at anytime because the youths are prepared to act in this matter."

In the interview with The Journal, July 19, Tambe Tiku insisted that “…we are involved in some sort of conflict prevention because we know that if it continues, there will be violence at a certain stage. If they continue with the excessive grabbing of land in the manner they are doing, violence is inevitable.”

The Journal learnt that Tambe Tiku and Ikome Ngongi had a meeting, Friday, July 18, in Yaounde with the Prime Minister and Minister of State Property, Surveys and Land Tenure.

Quizzed on the outcome of the meetings, Tambe Tiku hinted that the Minister has put an end to land surrenders in Fako and in the days ahead, all Divisional Delegates of Lands, both past and present will be expected to render an account of all surrendered lands and the beneficiaries.

“We have also been mandated to supply to the minister the names of all those who are involved in the illegal sale of land in Fako,” Tiku hinted The Journal.