As one who has benefited from the largesse of the Fako Elite Development Organisation, FEDO, as far back as 1970, as a student in the then Baptist Teachers Training Collage, Great Soppo, Buea and a registered since 1990, I wish to testify that, there were and are, some Fako Elites who have a passion for the development and aspiration of the Fako Indigenous people, to grow into prosperity.
FEDO is one of the oldest Fako organisations that dates from 1966; 48years now. It is a non-partisan, indigenous development organisation of the Fako Indigenes that stands to protect the legitimate rights of any Fako Indigenous son or daughter that is being threatened unduly. FEDO has as its focus on many issues that hinders the developmental aspirations of the sons and daughters of Fako origin with regards to addressing any issues that are fundamental to their very existence, which will enable them to achieve their developmental goals and ambitions.
Nothing is more fundamental to any people’s existence, development, survival and prosperity, than the ownership and control of their ancestral lands. I wish to note here that, even the people of Fako Division are presently faced with the enormous challenges for their survival, and the absolute lack of control and ownership of their ancestral lands, a challenge that has lasted for more than a decade, since the inopportune arrival of the Colonialist; Germans and later the British Colonial Masters on the fertile soil of Fako Division.
Therefore, this appeal is made to FEDO, and all the Fako Living Forces; FECA, BICA, MOLONGO, Fako America and all Fako well placed influential sons and daughters to come out and jointly address the numerous problems, in particular the current Fako Land crisis related to the continuous, notorious problems facing the Fako people in particular, the dispossession of the Fako people’s Land that is being occupied for the past 67years by the Cameroon Development Corporation, CDC, under the guise of “land-surrender” by successive Government administrators, Land Surveys department, Land registers in Fako Division, in total disregard of the indigenous Land rightful owners.
It should be noted that, there exist a law/text that prohibits any Government administrator or official to own more than one parcel of land in his or her own area. This is not the case with those who work in Fako Division. So, where are we? It is interesting to note here that, not only is the land occupied by the C.D.C, but, there is a nefarious practice that is being manifested in the land grabbing practices by churches and influential personalities, and also, the illegal creation of “newlayouts”, Maiteur, the carving out of private plots for private use in Government Residential Areas, GRAs, Clerks quarters, Federal quarters and in the Station in Buea, Tiko and Limbe notably.
There is also the continuous abuse by some Government privileged officials, who use their positions to make fraudulent land certificates issued to them without the knowledge of and the total exclusion of, and or in consultation with the rightful land owners,the Fako Indigenes complained. I call on FEDO to also probe into the actual findings of the Ministerial Commissions of inquiry, from the Minister of State and Land Tenure that was sent in April 2014, to investigate this current Fako Land Crises. I am afraid that, by its composition, it is not independent because, you can not be the player and the referee.
So therefore, we call on Government to send an independent commission of inquiry, which will include some independent Fako notables or elites who would facilitate the findings and bring out the actual culprits who should be prosecuted for their ill gotten wealth from the Land surrender, the exploitation of quarries in Fako Land and others.
It is also common knowledge that, under the African customary laws and practices, all community lands are held in Trust by the Chiefs, not for sale, kings and Natural Leaders. As a result, I call on FEDO and the Fako living forces, to strongly condemn any unsavory practice by any Fako chief(s) as this is in violation of the people’s rights of minority. It is my fervent prayer that, FEDO, all Fako living forces of Fako Division, and influential Elites should collaborate with the Conference of the Fako traditional rulers to take their responsibilities to protect and defend all Fako ancestral Lands from being sold indiscriminately.
I wish to congratulate and support the Southwest Regional Human Rights and Freedoms Secretariat for the wonderful work they are doing in raising the awareness of the Local Communities, especially that of Fako Division, with regards to their inalienable rights to hold, control and protect-defend their ancestral Lands from illegal and abusive sales by some misguided individual traditional rulers of Fako with the complicity of some misguided Government administrators and officials.
I strongly pray that the Government will come to the rescue of Fako people and free them from these unjust acts by some greedy individuals who do not think of the posterity of the yet unborn Fako child. I trust FEDO will not stop to defend the legitimate rights of any Fako indigene who holds any high post of responsibility that is being threatened by any individual or group of persons in the smooth discharge of their duties.
Fako sons and daughter are Cameroonians and have the right to occupy any post of responsibility in Cameroon in any capacity they are put to serve. We should remember; there is no monopoly in violence. Let what had happened to some of our sons and daughters in the past who where threatened to be killed, never ever repeat itself. Cameroon is a State of Law, therefore we trust in justice and equity.
God bless Fako Division and Cameroon
