How MECUDA P.G, Prof. Njoh Oliver Brokered Peace with an Embittered V.D.A

How MECUDA P.G, Prof. Njoh Oliver Brokered Peace with an Embittered V.D.A

In February 2022, Prof. Njoh Oliver became the new President General of the Meta Cultural and Development Association (MECUDA), taking over from Pa Ayaba David Ado who thanks to the Anglophone Crisis, established a record as the longest serving MECUDA P.G, 2013 - 2022. 

During the campaign trail in December 2021, Prof. Njoh Oliver toured some parts of Meta and Chenam was one of the palaces visited where he and his delegation known as the Renaissance Team disclosed their plan of action to the Mbeh of Chenam and his notables. It was during this meeting that the august guest was tasked to reveal what the people of Chenam will stand to gain should he, the aspirant become P.G and the promise made to the people was water and road. 

MECUDA P.G Prof. Njoh Oliver (L) & Fon of Bessi Fomukong (R) at a Stand Tap Near the Palace

Some other happenings classified to be mysticism and mysticism occurred in the course of the deliberations like the falling off the hands of a bitter kola from Ma Tebe Beatrice's hands and rolling towards the Fon, the coincidental bringing in of a special squirrel (eusengeuh) eaten only by the fon to the palace by a hunter just when the visiting delegation was around and the drinking of palm wine by the campaign team members from the Chenam Royal Cup. 

Upon leaving the palace, Prof. Njoh was assured that he will win the election. When the online voting took place thereafter, precisely on the 29th of January 2022 and results later released by the Electoral Commission a couple of days after, Prof. Njoh Oliver emerged winner. The new EXCO will later be officially installed in Buea on Saturday February 26th 2022 and consequently, it was time for the varsity don to begin fulfilling his campaign promises. 

This is how the new P.G had to realise the first project of his mandate in the Tondig zone of the Meta clan, the rehabilitation of the Wumnebit-Chenam-Bessi Fomukong water scheme. The new leadership had promised transparency in projects execution reason why from time to time, updates were given in the MECUDA WhatsApp forum accompanied with videos, pictures, receipts and voice notes on the progress of the project realisation. 

The beneficiary villages were expected to contribute a percentage of the total estimated budget cost while MECUDA provides the lion's share. Unfortunately, according to the P.G, the response from the beneficiary villages was poor and so MECUDA had to end up spending above what had been earmarked. 

Population of Beneficiary Villages Working at Project Site in Wumnebit

Having completed its first project, the P.G and home branch executive on Wednesday October 19 2022 went down to the field for official handing over of the rehabitated water scheme to the population. When images of the exercise were later published online, a "scuffle" erupted as dissenting voices through voice notes started coming in from some Bessi Fomukong elites, accusing MECUDA of lying that they've supplied water to Bessi. 

Discussions went sour and even the fon of Bessi Fomukong that's still trying to acquaint himself with social media usage was dragged into the debate as a video of him standing at a dry tap near the palace and a recorded phone call of his chat with a subject in which foul language was used against the neighbouring Fon of Chenam were brought to the public square, social media. Tempers flared while peace brokers kept calling for a "ceasefire". The fon of Chenam later made it known that the concerned realised his mistake an apologised to him.

Just when the sun was about setting, another spark erupted as a newspaper, Breaking News Bilingue, Edition No. 185 of October 24 carried a headline on its front page that  "As taps are yet to flow, Bessi Fomukong queries an opaque MECUDA Executive, urges them to rebuild trust." Like season 2 of a blockbuster movie, sleeping dogs were again not allowed to lie and so they got up and started barking. 

Things got sour with demands for the naming and shaming of he/she that took the matter to a newspapers while others defended that he who's never faltered should cast the first stone. Things were almost getting out of hand till Mr. Tembu Divine, the National President of the Bessi Fomukong Cultural and Development Association, BEFCUDA that initiated the vocal exchanges on the water project had to distance himself from the newspaper publications and washed off his hands like Pontus Pilate. 

Newspaper Publication that Sparked a Roar

He regretted that an in-house disagreement amongst family brothers that had to end just within them resolving it had to be carried to the media. In denying knowing anything about the said publication, Mr. Tembu Divine said "My brothers and sisters, before God and man, my hands are clean. I know nothing about this newspaper publication. I've never discussed our internal squabble here with any journalist."

In the course of all the debates, the MECUDA P.G kept his calm and never threw back stones at all who were attacking him and his executive. Even video footages he published of his various recent tours across many Meta villages and fondoms were still disregarded. Calm and order was finally  reinstated and has been reigning since then after the MECUDA P.G Prof. Njoh Oliver finally delivered a message on the subject which he titled 

WHEN TWO BROTHERS ARE FIGHTING, THE EMERGENCY IS NOT TO FIND OUT WHO IS WRONG OR RIGHT

Bongob, greetings to you all. The situation in hand, resembles the title above. We are simply causing now a storm in a tea cup or like someone said above, building mountains out of ant hills. It's very bad to find brothers fighting. In such a case, the first remedy is to separate the fight, whoever was wrong will be judged after in order to bring peace amongst them. 

The author of the so called, news paper article in BREAKING NEWS, has been condemned and reprimanded vehemently by the elites of his village, Bessi Fomukong and the VDA president came out yesterday in a disclaimer and also condemned and distant himself from it.  Talking lies about our association to public place is so bad, inciting one Fon against another is bad, pushing a brother into using wrong words, only to tape and forward, are all wrong doings of the same author. 

Newly Constructed Storage Tank by MECUDA in Wumnebit

All of these have been condemned. The basic fact is, there is no major problem with the said water project. Putting off the hands of the underworld  and the little work that our brothers of Bessi have agreed to tidy on the line, will solve the current intermittent  flow of water to a constant flow and maintenance and nothing much. We must first stop this unnecessary fight, call for peace and then see into the root causes to advert a similar future fight.

We should stop fighting to know who paid the news paper to publish lies, many of you knew him and are just fanning flames for this unnecessary fight to go on. The truth is that, the Water project and the VDA president are only unfortunate victims of pre-existing problems. A long standing misunderstanding exists between Bessi and Chenam and has been clearly manifested in the course of these recent wranglings.

Secondly, I have been reliably informed that a misguided broadcast over CBS Radio Bamenda in the Meta language, after the recent MECUDA/VDA Presidents meeting in Bafoussam, outraged the Bessi Fomukong people causing them to completely boycott participation in the water project. Thirdly, the several misguided messages, videos and phone calls posted on social media and then this news paper article, are just the fallouts of this situation. 

I thank my brother, Barrister Ndangoh, who lead the delegation to see things on the field. To my brother Tembu, VDA president, I say sorry for the stress and Pa Tah and the people of Bessi, I pray you not to loose hope., Water is flowing but not well yet in Bessi. I had discussions yesterday with Angob Tembu and then Pa Tah, during which we found common grounds and the very simple way forward that was missed. All is well. 

Fon of Mbengwi, H.R.H Njokom A. Awa Drinking from a Stand Tap in Wumezeh Quarter, Bessi Fomukong

Water Flowing from a Stand Tap in Wumezeh Quarter, Bessi Fomukong 

To the exco of MECUDA General, I say courage, we should consider that the catchment has been reconstructed, a new 15 cubic meter water tank built and water pulled down to Wumezi quarter in Bessi where an uninterrupted water is flowing now. My people of Bessi will then do their intra village distribution of the water and case closed. To the Meta people, I pray us to be peace builders, in our intentions, speech and activities. To those who have done wrong, repent. Our peaceful living as a people, will bring development in our dear clan.

Long live the Fons

Long live MECUDA

Long live Metaland.

 P.G MECUDA