First ever third Class Chief of Bussumbu installed

His Royal Highness, Chief Mekako Gobina George, has been installed as the First, Third Class Chief of Lower Busumbu, in Limbe I Municipality.

The installation was done by the Divisional Officer of Limbe I, Epale Seraphin a last January 4 at the Lower Busumbu Court Yard in the presence of the Mayor of Limbe I, Mbua Ro- Danny Mokako.

Speaking at the start of the ceremony, the Chairman of the Traditional Council, Otto Mussaka welcomed the Divisional officer and his entourage.

He said on July 9, 2013, the Divisional Officer visited Lower Busumbu and visited the village again on June 11, 2014 for the census that identified the notables, elders, kingmakers and the royal family of lower Busumbu village.

“We wish to inform you here, that it was not very easy to choose one person from the royal family, so on December 9, 2004, a meeting was convened by the head of the royal family, pa Ngomba Leme Richard for the family to select a chief, during this process, two candidates were nominated; Mekako George Gobina and Penn Teke; Mekako George Gobina was finally elected as Chief of Lower Bussumbu and was presented to the king makers who finally confirmed him.” Chairman Otto Mussaka explained.

The Chiefs present took time to pour some libation and enthrone their peer traditionally before giving way for the Divisional Officer of Limbe I to do the administrative installation.

The DO said according to presidential decree no 2007/115 of 23 April, 2007 bearing on the creation of new Divisions and in application of instructions of hierarchy, on June 11 2014; he personally carried out a working session in the village consecrated to the selection of a chief for the village.

He said in November 2014, a consultative talk was organised in conformity with decree No 77/245 of July 15, 1997 bearing on the organisation of chiefdoms and that during that meeting the kingmakers unanimously presented their choice in the person of Gobina George Mekako.

According to the Divisional Officer, the designation was completed by the SDO for Fako, through the signing of the prefectoral order appointing him the Third Class Chief of Lower Busumbu.

Born on November 22, 1959 in Buea, he entered his professional career in 1988 where he served in many companies, the most important being PECTEN Cameroon. He had assumed the function of auxiliary of administration since 2012 until his designation as third class Chief.

The Divisional Officer said the new chief masters the Bakweri Culture and the problems of Lower Bussumbu.

His functions as auxiliary to the administrations were read out to him by the Divisional Officer.

Speaking after the installation, Penn Teke Leme, said they were happy and looking forward for that great day; “at last Lower Bussumbu has a Third Class Chief and we are happy”, he said.

Being one of those who ran alongside the present Chief, he said, “I did not nominate myself, I was nominated by a member of the royal family, he is my brother so during the process, he won and I am happy since he can do better than me.

Speaking on the immediate challenges that await the new Chief, Penn Teke said the first thing is that the chief has to rally those in Diaspora so that they can come back and see how the village can be developed.