SHESA Silver Jubilee Class & Guneku Fondom Donate to House of Hope Orphanage, Mbengwi

SHESA Silver Jubilee Class & Guneku Fondom Donate to House of Hope Orphanage, Mbengwi

The fon of Guneku and his mates of the silver jubilee class members of Sacred Heart Ex Student's Association (SHESA) on Thursday July 29 2021 sent a delegation to visit House of Hope Orphanage, Ngyen-Mbo in Mbengwi to make a donation on their behalf. 

The visit was made following a distress call that came from the orphanage some months back and circulated on social media in which the children were seen crying for help. Contacted later, they requested for food, medication and an income generating activity like owning a grinding mill.

Family Photo

The Grinding Mills Donated by SHESA Silver Jubilee Class

When H.R.H Dr. Fomuki W. Ticha, Fon of Guneku heard the call, he contacted his classmates with whom he schooled in Sacred Heart College Mankon to help. The decision was thus arrived at that rather than always donating food to the children which  obviously gets finished in due time and they'll still cry of hunger, it'll be better something is provided for them that can go a long way in generating income for the running of the orphanage. After carrying out findings, the conclusion was thus arrived at to provide the orphanage grinding mills. 

The mills, fabricated by a young welder in Mbengwi will be used to grind the children's food stuffs and also serve the entire Ngyen-Mbo community that as at now has no grinding mill. The villagers of Ngyen-Mbo used to travel right to Mile 18 Mbengwi to grind items like maize, beans, groundnuts,  spices just to name these few. Now with a grinding mill at the orphanage, they don't have to travel to Mile 18 again. 

In addition to the machines, a cash donation of two hundred thousand (200.000) francs was also made for running cost within the early months of operation. As instructed, the money is to be used to pay the salary of the worker that shall be recruited to be operating the grinding mill for the first early months before the place starts generating its own income.

Family Photo

Symbolic Handing Over

Apart from the machines and cash, the children were also offered a basin of fresh eatable fishes harvested from a pond in the Guneku Fon's palace. The delegation that visited the orphanage was comprised of Mr. Ngwa Vitalis, the Secretary of the GUDECA, home branch, Mr. Ndingwan Primus, the Guneku traditional council chairman, Madam Fomuki Carine, a queen of the palace, Madam Sango Della who's in charge of the Guneku library, Mr. Fomuki Ben, a prince and Mr.Timo Bunde, a notable. 

Madam Ayaba Marvis is the founder and matron of House of Hope Orphanage, Ngyen-Mbo. In appreciating the gesture, she said "When I was sending out that video I didn't expect this.  I'm really so grateful and thankful to God that I have brothers and sisters who are ready to do anything for me because of these children. I feel proud. Thank you our dear chief, thank you SHESA Silver Jubilee Class. I feel so  touched in a way that I'm short of words. May the good Lord bless the fon wherever he is and his friends in Jesus name. May your reign make people be proud of you because this is an everlasting souvenir that you and SHESA Silver Jubilee Class have given to the children."

Madam Ayaba Marvis, Founder/Matron, House of Hope Orphanage, Ngyen-Mbo

A Basin of Fresh Fish from the Guneku Integrated Fisheries Project

Founded in 2012, House of Hope Orphanage today harbours over 50 kids. Initially, the orphanage was in Ngyen-Mbo but with the outbreak of the ongoing anglophone crisis, they were compelled to flee for safety since the area where it was located became a red zone as several gun battles kept taking place around there. They managed to secure an old dilapidated house in Back Mbon that was totally not fit for human habitation as it had nasty walls and floor, leaking roofs that were already falling off, dirty environment and other unfavourable conditions.

Their breakthrough will later come when images of this their precarious living conditions started surfacing online. Touched by this, Mr. Foncham Humphrey, a U.S based son of the soil asked them to relocate to Wumfi where he offered them a better house worth the name for a two years free stay with prospects of renewal. However, just barely over a year of stay at their Lower Wumfi temporal residence, they're currently making plans to return to their initial permanent headquarters in Ngyen-Mbo. 

The matron intends to source for assistance to erect dormitories for the kids in the near future and such a plan can only be materialised in their Ngyen-Mbo permanent base where there's relatively enough land for expansion. The orphanage receives visitors almost on weekly basis that keep coming to impact the lives of the children in one way or the other. At moment, the Meta Cultural and Development Association (MECUDA) recently ended an online fund raising exercise to reach out to the kids.

The Delegation that Did the Donation on Behalf of SHESA Silver Jubilee Class & the Fon of Guneku

Loading of Machine in Car from the Welder's Workshop

In June 2020, four international MECUDA branches, specifically UK, Germany, France and Belgium carried out the biggest donation ever at the orphanage comprised of 12 bung beds making a total of 24, mattresses, blankets, bedsheets, pillows and their cases, pots, buckets, cutleries, toiletries, food and money all of these amounting to two million two hundred and sixty five thousand (2.265.000) Frs CFA. The doors of House of Hope Orphanage, Ngyen-Mbo remain wide open to people of goodwill that want to reach out to the kids

Administrative Reorganization of Guneku Village; Opposition in Sang Quarter

Administrative Reorganization of Guneku Village; Opposition in Sang Quarter

As the countdown to the official installation of the newly elected quarter councillors of the various quarters that make up Guneku village draws nearer, the last bends of the administrative reorganisation exercise are being negotiated. For a couple of weeks, a team put in place by the Fon of the village, H.R.H Ticha W. Fomuki has been criss crossing the various quarters in upper, lower and central Guneku to execute the Fon's orders though all the team members weren't there from the beginning and not all who started ended.

After the first week of the exercise that started in Fun quarter on Thursday 25 July and was due to end on Monday the 19th in Fringyeng, due to absenteeism or low voter turn out in some quarters, a rerun was ordered to be exceptionally conducted in such quarters afterwards in such such quaters. It was for this reason that Mr. Ndingwan Primus, the Guneku traditional council chairman and Mr. Amamuki Jonathan, the Njinebai quarter head descended to Sang quarter on Thursday July 22nd 2021 for the rerun exercise. 

Council Chairman and Njinebai Quarter Head struggling to lift up the GUDECA Bike After they Fell on the Mukan Hill on their Way Back from the Field

The turnout in the quarter head's compound was relatively good. At the start, it seemed like some persons were already earmarked to be presented as elected councillors that shall represent Sang quarter in the Zone 3 Council and thereafter in the Guneku Traditional Council, this without the consent of the villagers. Sensing something fishy, the visiting delegation ordered that fresh elections be conducted there and then beginning with nominations and then voting, a decision that was agreed by all. 

Three men and three women gained nomination. They were ordered to move out of the hall while voting was done by show of hand with eyes closed and heads bended so that no one gets to know who voted for who. At the end of the exercise, three out of the six candidates gained promotion to progress from the Sang quarter council to the Zone 3 council and thereafter to the village council. They were: Mr. Bah Valentine, Madam Julia Forkwen and Mr. John Ndakwe.

Voter's Turn Out in Sang

Having proclaimed the results and the newly voted applauded, when all thought the exercise was free and fair, one Pa Fokwen Andrew stood up and challenged the results, refusing categorically that he doesn't recognise them. Speaking to Mbengwi Online, he said "Firstly, before conducting the election, they never told us the total number of voters in the hall. Secondly, how should I be convinced that my vote was counted and for the candidate I wanted when I closed my eyes and bowed my head? Thirdly, this exercise wasn't supposed to be conducted in a haste since it's geared towards the development of the village. We would've first known the total number of villagers and compare to that of the voters that turned out to ascertain if a quorum was met or not."

He will still continue venting his discontentment by proposing what would've been done. Hear him, "Again, since we couldn't have ballot papers and boxes, we would've used our own local items like grains of beans, maize and groundnut which are readily available. Each of these seeds would've been allocated to a particular candidate so that for example if I were to stand for election and my seed is groundnut, voters that want me will go and put groundnut in a given basket or container after which the seeds will then be counted under the watchful eyes of all. This way, I would've been better convinced that my vote was counted or not. That's my main worry."

Pa Forkwen Andrew, the Disgruntled Voter

Bah Valentine, Voted to Represent Sang Quarter in the Zonal/Traditional Council

While Pa Andrew helplessly protested the results alone, to the rest like Mr. Bah Valentine Mukiawah that was voted, it was a fair election. Cornered for his reaction after being elected, he expressed surprise with the decision of the electorate. He said "When I was coming, I didn't even ever imagined I'll be one of the councillors but since God has made it this way, I'll first of all thank my people for electing me to go to where I'm going and I'll also pray to the Almighty God to continue to guide and protect me so that I'm again elected to progress from the zonal council finally to the Guneku traditional council"

Having documented the results from Sang quarter, the two-men delegation progressed to Munam for the same rerun exercise but unfortunately, for the second time, the people weren't present. The quarter head here confirmed the people were notified but reasons they didn't show up could be attributed to an impromptu funeral that occurred in neighbouring Kimbot quater and that some WhatsApp voice notes were circulated calling on the people to discard the ongoing reorganisation exercise being carried out by the fon of Guneku. Munam it should be noted has always been a disputed area said to be having subjects belonging to Guneku, Nyen, Zang Tembeng, Wumnemburg and Njinibi villages respectively. Others are those who want Munam to stand on it's own as a full fletched village and enthrone its own fon so that no fon continues claiming ownership of the area. It's almost the same situation too in Sang that's divided in opinion between those who want independence and those who want to still belong to their ancestral roots.

Some Sang Voters

The Three Newly Elected Councillors to Represent Sang Quarter in the Zonal Council

The last quarter that received the delegation on this Thursday the 22nd was Kimbot. The people were met at the impromptu funeral earlier on mentioned somewhere in this report to have occurred thus disrupting the initial plan. When Mbengwi Online met the Kimbot quarter head, Pa Ndip Christopher Chi, we wanted to first know from him how life in such a remote area is especially during this crisis period that's caused and increase in rural urban migration and insecurity plus an economic meltdown.

He said "There's life here in Kimbot but for lack of good roads especially when we have to take patients to the hospital. Here, we mostly do farming. We have enough plantains, palm oil, garri but transportation remains a major problem because of the nature of the road. Some buyers come and offer us very low prices for our produce, transport them on their heads to go resell and make good money while we the main producers are left with nothing very little income." Socially, the people of Kimbot have a Presbyterian Church where they worship. They also have the Aje'eh market in Munam where they go do business weekly. He ended by pleading with Kimbot sons and daughter out of home to always think about them that are back home  as they are barely struggling with life to make ends meet.

Kimbot Quarter Representatives 

Pa Ndip Christopher Chi, Kimbot Quarter Chairman 

Having completed its mission of the day, the delegation will then return, under heavy rain fall, sliding off their motor bike and falling along the way because of slippery and bumpy road network yet they were happy and satisfied in executing the Fon's orders. All attention is now titled towards the official installation ceremony of the newly elected councillors, built for the 30th of July 2021 in the Guneku palace. Some villages up till now haven't yet partaken in the exercise. The Fon has said those that want to stay behind should stay, when they feel as to Comecon board to join the moving train, the doors will be opened for them. 

Democracy in Guneku; Fon Fomuki Injects New "Blood" for Easy Administration

Democracy in Guneku; Fon Fomuki Injects New "Blood" for Easy Administration

Guneku village, the biggest in the Meta clan in terms of land surface is currently undergoing some administrative structural readjustment. The exercise, called for  by H.R.M Dr. Ticha W. Fomuki, the Fon of the village started on the 15 of July with quarter elections. In a release dated July 9th, the fon stated that;

Considering the fact that the existing quarters and village traditional councils in Guneku fondom do not meet the aspiration of many people due to conflicting parties, blackmail etc,

Considering that when people chose their leaders in a society to represent them, they collaborate with them to make things work for the community,

Considering the need for zonal traditional councils which will bring members to build the village traditional council in Guneku, 

He (the fon) has decided to carry out democratic elections in the various quarters for the population to elect their representatives in the zonal traditional councils from where the village traditional council shall be built. 

Reorganization of Toh Quarter, in the Palace

Traditional Hut in the Palace

More so, he went on to appoint a team, made up of Mr. Mbakwa Bernard as Leader, Mr. Vitalis Ngwa as Secretary and Mr. Amamuki Jonathan, Mr. Ndingwan Primus, Mr. Fondom Calvin and Mr. Fon Mathias as members. The team,  charged to settle disputes if any before the quarter/zonal elections, unite conflicting factions if any, carry out democratic elections in all quarters and zones so that the population can chose their right leaders for easy management of the village has been crisscrossing various quarters of the village for the exercise. 

The starting point was in Fun quarter on Thursday the 15th where there was a relatively good turn out. The team went into the business of the day at the end of which their quarter council was successfully formed, made up of 11 persons excluding the quarter head, Fodom Calvin. The Fun quarter inhabitants admitted not having any serious conflict the delegation could step in to resolve. "We are fine here" was their general response. 

Mr. Mukum Charles Ndika was voted the president of Fun Traditional Council and shall be representing them in the Guneku Traditional Council. Talking to Mbengwi Online, he said "I'm so happy for these powers bestowed on me by my people of Fun. They know and can testify that I'm a straightforward somebody, one that likes truth and an agent of development. This isn't going to be my first time of serving them. I've been doing it before and I still like as they've asked me to continue"

Communique from the Palace Announcing Elections

Committeee Appointed by the Fon to Conduct the Exercise

Order of Quarter Elections

Meanwhile Mr. Abanda Gideon on his part was voted as the Secretary General of the council. He said "From what I witnessed, it was a good and fair electoral process and the elected members are like square pecks in square holes. I'm very convinced that with the cooperation and unity of the quarter, they'll be able to carry on the present development aspects that we have especially the maintenance of our road that's speedily degrading from rain water now." He cited other challenges plaguing the quarter being lack of electricity and pipe borne water considering that the present system they have that was supplied by Plan International has loopholes in that when rain falls, muddy water flows from the pipes.

From Fun, the delegation descended to Tuengyie quarter but unfortunately the locals weren't present to receive them. In Nyang, Toh and Ngong quarters, all went on well. Madam Timkoh Florence shall henceforth be representing the aspirations of the people of Nyang quarter in the Guneku traditional council. After being elected, she told Mbengwi Online "The only problems I'll be taking to the council for solution will be land disputes or others that would've been more than us to handle here at the level of the quarter council but those that we can handle here, we would" Most councillors are men and Madam Florence together with some other few women that were elected in some quarters like Toh quarter shall be fitting herself in a male dominated circle. This, she's very aware of and confident she will be up to task considering that she's a "man woman" as she termed herself. 

Just like Tuengie, no voting was done in Nyeh quarter on day one of the exercise. Pa Wanjeh Augustine, an inhabitant of Ngong quarter extended a vote of thanks to the fon for what he's doing to the village. In his own words, he said "For the many good works the fon has done to this our Guneku village, I'm a living witness and I thank him so much. I pray God blesses him more abundantly to continue thinking about us back home as he's been doing"

Mr. Mukum Charles Ndika

Abanda Gideon

Timkoh Florence

Mr. Ndingwan Primus, the Guneku Traditional Council Chairman in all the quarters visited has been schooling  the inhabitants that their quarter council will handle minor disputes and only forward those that are more than them to the traditional council in the palace of the village. However, they were cautioned that no quarter council has powers to handle land disputes. As such, all land disputes in all quarters will be handled at the level of the village traditional council at the end of which the final decision will be arrived at by the fon and a land title obtained to prevent the matter from ever resurfacing. 

At the close of the day, Mr. Mbakwa Bernard, head of the electoral commission put in place by the fon spoke to Mbengwi Online. "We are doing everything to see that all the quarters have their representatives so that information can be disseminated to them" he began. With regards to his expectations at the end of the exercise when the team would've toured all the quaters, he said "I expect that we have what we actually call a just and humane society in Guneku in the sense that people will feel the Fon's presence when all these structures would've been put in place. I think that Fon Fomuki wants to make Guneku a just and humane society."

In the course of the exercise, the fon ordered that elections be cancelled and a rerun organised later in quarters that recorded a very low turn out or complete absenteeism. On the 16th, the exercise was conducted in Njizam, Benjoh, Njiningom and Njinebai. On the 17th was the turn of Sang, Kimbot, Bugebome, Tonmito and Wumnyenge meanwhile Mbengeughang, Mbengtibat, Ngamugheh and Funmbot had theirs on the 18th. The exercise ended in Fringyeng on Monday 19th July 2021. Reports say a grand occasion will take place in the palace on the 30th of July to officially install all the newly elected councillors. 

Council Chairman Congratulating the Elected Councilor of Toh Quarter

Electoral Committee at Work

Guneku it should be noted is the first village known by Mbengwi Online for now that's engaged into such reorganization. Ever since the escalation of the ongoing Anglophone Crisis, nearly all Village Development Associations in the Meta Clan have suspended the holding of Annual General Meetings back home. As such their Executive Council members have continued to remain in power (illegally) considering that their mandates had long expired yet fresh elections are not being organised. 

Nearly all have been hiding under the pretext of the crisis as reason why such exercises can't be carried out. While some are requesting the General Assembly continues to exercise patience for normalcy to return (with no clear cut definition of what they term "normalcy"), others have silently abandoned their offices and another set is those still running (financial) affairs of their associations. 

Mbengwi Online observed that despite the crisis, the Guneku palace and Guneku Cultural and Development Association (GUDECA) continued to carry out projects in the village. In some instances, they met with stiff resistance from non state armed groups usually when fake news is spread about an earmarked project. Despite these, they had never given up but rather paused, re-strategised   and moved on, reason why things are relatively going on well in the village compared to others that are completely mute (or maybe whose activities are never mediatized).

Despite being abroad, Germany to be precise, the fon has continued to have a firm grip on his subjects and monitors affairs back in the village day by day. He has also initiated and is still continuing to initiate more development endeavours in his village like bee keeping, aquaculture, modern library just to name these few. 

A grinding mill has been installed in the palace and is greatly serving the villagers. Computer holiday classes are ongoing in the palace. The Guneku Traditional Council is the only in the entire clan having an official motor cycle used to run affairs in the village. A cultural festival that shall likely be staged when the dry season comes is currently being earmarked for the village.  

This should likely be an eye opener for others to seat up and realise that once there are still human beings living in any village in their numbers, going about their daily lives, then their developmental aspirations should never be blocked or hidden under the Anglophone Crisis.

Installing Fun Quarter Council

Population Blocks Planned Transfer of G.S Wumsom Classrooms Project to Chigwiri

Population Blocks Planned Transfer of G.S  Wumsom Classrooms Project to Chigwiri

The people of Zang Tembeng and neighbouring villages in the Tondig zone of the Meta clan, Mbengwi have pleaded with the Mbengwi Council not to dare implement the planned transfer of the 2020 Public Investment Project for the construction of a block of two classrooms in Government School Wumsom (Tondig zone) to G.S Chigwiri in Mbengwi central town on the basis of insecurity. This time around, they have taken upon themselves the responsibility to secure the project and ensure its effective realisation at its initial site, Wumsom.

The information was revealed during the recently held second quarterly meeting of the Momo Divisional Participatory Follow-up Committee for the evaluation of BIP (Budget d'Investissement Public) projects in the division that took place last Wednesday July 14 2021 in the conference hall of the divisional delegation of Labour and Social Security. Mayor Ndangsa Kennedy Akam of the Mbengwi Council told the committee that to show their commitment, the people have already gone and cleared the project area and have engaged in the moulding of new blocks. 

Government School Wumsom, One of the Oldest in the Subdivision 

As the story goes, last year, a contract for the construction of a block of two classrooms in G.S Wumsom and supply of benches to the same school was awarded. Work started but was stopped along the way due to insecurity as non state armed fighters locally known as "Amba Boys" went and kidnapped one of the workers. Hundreds of thousands were paid as ransom to secure his release from their detention camp. Later, the fighters still went again and pushed down the erected walls that were already reaching roofing level. From thence, the remaining workers flee for safety and work was completely stopped till date. 

In order not to lose the contract, plans were being nursed to transfer the project to Government School Chigwiri, in Mile 17, Mbengwi central town that's relatively safer and secured. The beneficiary population of the Tondig zone of the Meta clan, Mbengwi got hint of the plan and stepped in to beckon on the council not to carry away their project to another area. They've given assurance that their area is relatively safer now for work to resume considering that the main leader of non state armed fighters that were terrorising the area, masterminding kidnaps and stopping the execution of government projects had been killed by the military. Reports say there are few "Amba Boys" now left in the area and these few don't disturb the population again.

Benches the were to be Supplied to G.S Wumsom Abandoned in the Court Yard of the Momo Basic Education Delegation, Mbengwi

While opening the session, the committee's vice president told participants "One thing has brought us here, to evaluate projects allocated to our division. We are aware of the challenges  but if we truly want to serve our people, we should sacrifice for them and all will come to pass" He also reiterated  the need for contractors to be inclusive in the course of executing their projects on the field by endeavouring to use the local population in its realisation to avoid disturbances that may eventually lead to abandonment as the case has been in most areas. 

In the course of the meeting, members also evaluated the state of some projects that were allocated the division since last year but are yet to be completed and put to use. Such included the rural electrification project from Barakwe through Wumnebit to Chenam in the Tondig zone of the Meta clan, Mbengwi which the Momo Divisional Delegate of Water and Energy said is at 95.85% realisation as at now, pending technical reception. Meanwhile that for the construction of a borehole at the gendarmerie brigade and at the Momo Senior Divisional Officer's residence were rated to be at 85.19% each and 78.26% for the one at the Mbengwi central prison. As for the rural electrification of Bessi Fomukong from G.R.A Mbengwi, there are no signs of work commencing any moment soon.

As has been the case for over two years now, only the mayor of the Mbengwi council has been physically attending these follow up meetings, same way his predecessor was doing. Those of Njikwa, Andek, Batibo and Widikum often send either their Council Development Officer or deputy or Secretary General and at times nobody at all. The case of the Widikum council is worst as the council has always been found wanting in almost everything concerning the realisation projects in the municipality. Consequently, the council has always been first from the bottom when it comes to classification of council's performances within the division at the level of the follow up committee. 

The Momo Divisional Delegate of the Ministry of the Economy,  Planning and Regional Development (MINEPAT) cautioned all mayors within the division to be extra careful this time around with how they manage the 27.7 millions given annually by the Ministry of Public Works for road maintenance. She tipped them that the regional governor is currently investigating the usage of these funds as there are indications many mayors have been playing hanky panky with the money. They were reminded of past mayors that went to prison for misappropriation and thus advised to stop using the money to open up roads because often than not, they soon fold up back like no work was ever done but rather to use the money in building bridges or culverts on roads as these will be more durable, feasible and sustainable.

Using the carrot and stick approach, while the committee resolved to call the mayor of Widikum to order as it isn't normal that almost every project in his council area is at 0%, his colleague of the Mbengwi council was rather applauded for having realised most of his projects by 100%. It was during this meeting that we learnt four councils in the division each received 5 million francs from the state to fight COVID-19 except the Mbengwi council whose own share was 11 millions. How the funds were used is a story for another day but the mayor of Mbengwi council briefly said he used his to purchase a mini waste disposal van for the council, disinfected some public areas, bought and distributed prevention kits and carried out sensitisation campaigns. 

Renovated Finance Building, Mbengwi

Before having closing remarks from the S.D.O's representative, the committee expressed ignorance with the ongoing rehabilitation of the Finance Building. For several years, the deplorable state of the finance building in Mbengwi preoccupied the Momo Divisional Participatory Follow Up Committee members. Studies were done and forwarded to Yaounde only for all to later on be surprised in seeing that rehabilitation works have been going on and are near completion without their consent. In trying to find out what was going on, it was realised the contract was awarded directly from the finance ministry in Yaoundé and the contractor is answerable to nobody on the ground. 

Statistics provided to us by the MINEPAT delegation showed that for this year 2021, Momo division had a total number of 57 projects with an allocation budget of 1.139.106.000F CFA out of which 12 have been completed, 14 started and 31 not yet started thus giving a physical execution rate of 21.38% and a financial execution rate of 5.54%, this as at 14 July 2021. The next follow up meeting comes up in October 

Pastor's Transfer; Weeping Tarries for a Night in Wumnemburg Parish

Pastor's Transfer; Weeping Tarries for a Night in Wumnemburg Parish

If South Africa born Lucky Dube of blessed memory were to attend this particular send-off service, he would've revised the lyrics of "Big Boys Don't Cry" because they did actually cry out their eyes including men, women, children, the physically challenged and visually impaired.

Tears rolled down nearly every cheek in church on Sunday June 27 2021 as hundreds of Christians of the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon, Wumnembug Parish, Meta Presbytery jam packed the newly constructed church house in Wumnembug for the send-off service of their dearly beloved pastor, Rev. Mujem John. 

Big Boys Crying

Even children cried

After having unarguably served the four congregations that make up the parish, that is Wumnebit, Wumnembug, Barakwe and Meh for four years (2017 - 2021) as one of the best pastors ever, the Rev. Mujem John was recently transferred to Diche parish in Widikum subdivision in same capacity as pastor. 

His transfer thus became a bitter pill for the Christians he had served to swallow, reason they ground and gnashed their teeth in church to no avail, wishing he had never been shaken from their parish but  no matter how hard they cried, at press time, the reverend Man of God is  already in Widikum to commence impacting the lives of the Christians there just like he's been doing wherever he's called to serve.

From information gotten, this is the first time Rev. Mujem John is moving out of the Meta Presbytery ever since he started ministering the word of God as a pastor. Previously, he was always being rotated only within parishes in Meta, his native land. 

Jam Packed Send-off Service

The too much crying in church during his send-off service was because of the impact he had created not only in the lives of the Christians but the entire Tondig Zone of the Meta clan and beyond. Though a pastor, he was so humble and very hard working. When there's community work, he was often there to lead by example. He shared the people's happy and sad moments, attending funerals, weddings and other such occasions. 

When it comes to preaching the Word of God, he stands out unique as his sermons are always full of messages that touch the soul. It is for this reason that Elder Bah Christopher, Wumnemburg Parish chairperson in his farewell address to the Reverend described him as someone who worked not only as a pastor but as a christian working for his own salvation. 

"In everything you did, you showed us that with hard work, we must help the weak and the poor...your giving in all your four congregations was an eye opener to us Christians who always complained of lack of money. In fact, your sermons in each congregation of the parish fed our souls. For these few years, you have solved most of the problems and difficulties of the parish like backsliding, religious prostitution by our Christians and others." These and many more were some of the roses thrown on the feet of Rev. Mujem by the parish chairperson in his speech. 

H.C.A Meta Presbytery Executive Bidding Farewell to their Chaplain

"Ba" as he is fondly called served in the Meta Presbytery as the longest chaplain of the Hallelujah Choir Association for close to 15 years. The presbytery and zonal executive committee of the choir thus thanked him for opening their eyes to the Word of God. Other groups like C.Y.F, the parish and congregational sessions plus visiting congregations like Mbemi and Njinebai, the Wumnembug traditional council, village development association each took to the floor to give their own testimony about the pastor before his departure and most of their messages centred on recognising the impact he created in their lives (religiously) and wishes for him to grow from a pastor to a secretary, treasurer, synod clerk and even moderator.

These they did shading tears of regret like two lovers parting ways. The supposed to be joyful ceremony was almost turned to a mourning event when a lady from the Presbyterian English Choir Association (PECA) took the microphone to sing a goodbye song to the pastor. In tears that contaminated the rest of the congregants, she sang "Rev. Mujem, farewell. We wish you the  best in life as you depart now from this parish. We pray that God should guide you as you carry the flag/works of the church. Look at our church building, it's the effort of Rev. Mujem. Anytime we look at the church, we will always remember you"

Rev. Mujem John & Wife, Tenguh Cordelia

Then she continued in sobber tone and watery nostrils, this time around addressing the pastor's wife, Madam. Tenguh Cordelia "Our dear mummy farewell. Who will teach our children again? You have been like a family to us. As you depart now from Wumnemburg, we pray that God should guide you as you support pastor in his works." Then came the last stanza that was jaw breaking; "Our dear pastor is going, going to leave us, not for sorrow but for joy. Although you're leaving us, remember us in your loving prayers. Goodbye, goodbye, may God be your guardian. Goodbye, goodbye, we hope to meet again"

After all the speeches, all the Christians then processed as groups and individuals from the back of the church to the front to bid their loving pastor farewell in cash and kind. They filled the basket to the brim with money and gifts while receiving their last blessings from him. The Wumnemburg palace went as far as awarding the traditional title of "Tom Fon" meaning "the Fon's messenger" to the pastor. This they did by wearing on the pastor's head right in church, a traditional cap with a red feather inserted on it, insisting that it's a special gift from the entire village through the fon that was represented by notables from the traditional council and the Wumnemburg Cultural and Development Association (WUCUDA). Rev. Mujem John is thus seemingly the first pastor to have been awarded such a coverted traditional title in the history of the Meta Presbytery. 

Singer of the Song that threw the Church into Tears

In his last words to his Christians, the Reverend Man of God thanked the palace for the cap and "antenna", a subtle way he referred to the red feather given to him. He affirmed he's aware such recognition demands more work, more responsibilities yet he assured them he'll continue to do his best. As the late makossa super star, Kotto Bass promised in one of his hit tracks that he will never forget Bamenda, so too did Rev. Mujem also make a promise that he will never forget Wumnemburg especially as they're his "moyos" (in laws) considering that his better half is from Barakwe and one of his children has been held back in Wumnembug by a family friend. These and many more are tangible reasons why he will have to be revisiting the parish from time to time. He even wished the palace provide him land to build a house in Wumnembug.

"Our legs will never be heavy to come back here because the love you've shown us is extra. If I cried, it was because I shall miss a loving people, a hardworking people, people whom if I say let's go this way they follow, let's do this, they obey" he told his Christians. In preparing their minds to receive their new pastor, he said In preparing their minds to receive their new pastor, he said "We thank God and plead that the support you gave us, give to the new pastor coming. Never you say the pastor that left wasn't doing like this, now this new one has come and is asking us to do like this. No!" Like my wife said, every pastor has his/her special gift from God and once that is used for the glory of God, follow him."

The out gone pastor Mujem is noted for possessing an exceptional gift in building. Reports have it that professionally, he's a trained builder. Within his four years stay in the Wumnembug parish, he mobilised each congregation to engage a new church house construction project. Bit by bit with hope and determination, Wumnembug, Barakwe and Meh succeeded to raise and roof their new church house, all mega structures that can take at least 500 Christians while Wumnebit was at foundation level before his transfer. Ironically, these are tiny congregations whose attendance in church on ordinary Sundays is hardly up to 100 Christians yet like the mustard seed, they constructed multimillions worth new church buildings. 

Rev. Sisters from Neighbouring Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Njindom 

Pastor Mujem Being Conferred Traditional Title of Wumnemburg Fon's Messenger

His send-off service was also attended by reverend sisters and Catholic faithfuls from nearby Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Njindom with whom he had established a very good bilateral relationship. Prior to his send off service, the Njindom parish priest threw a party for the pastor in the parish house and was to attend the service but for his tight schedule that prevented him from witnessing it. Rev. Mujem encouraged his Christians to continue with same spirit of holding interdenominational services or masses when invited for as he put it, 

As he is now in Diche parish, Widikum, it is hoped that the Christians of that presbytery will feel his impact during his stay there with them and by the time he shall be leaving in some years to come probably in a higher capacity, they too shall grind and gnash their teeth wishing he could stay longer.