Mofako Balue Chieftaincy Debacle: We all know how this chapter will end.
A story has never ruptured the moral fabric of the Balue tribe than that which’s brewing in Mofako Balue. What’s at
stake—which the Balue chiefs and the Mofako community must address and preserve —is the tumultuous nature of the selection of their chief. The preservation of the customs and traditions of the Balue people in general and the Mofako Balue people in particular must be reflected in the selection process, and this is what the Balue chiefs must preserved.
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| ByJackson W. Nanje |
stake—which the Balue chiefs and the Mofako community must address and preserve —is the tumultuous nature of the selection of their chief. The preservation of the customs and traditions of the Balue people in general and the Mofako Balue people in particular must be reflected in the selection process, and this is what the Balue chiefs must preserved.
What is at issue in Mofako Balue?
Throughout the twenty-seven (27) Balue villages chiefs are selected by the Kingmakers through a rigorous process and approved by the people in an open setting. Chieftaincy has never been carried out through an election process. This is the system dynamics the rogue Dikome Balue Subdivisional Officer, George Tonye, who is absolutely not in touch with the realities (customs and traditions) of the Subdivision (because he does not live there for obvious reasons) he is trying to adopt in our beloved Mofako Balue. Outrageous!
There was first a chosen one, Tata Henry Ibue Momoh Sakwe, who was unanimously selected by the Kingmakers and embraced by the community gathered in the village square (ETANA). There are videos to substantiate this exercise in the village. Then, a document twist was introduced by the other contestant, Tata Kingsley Elangwe Nanje, justifying that some of the Kingmakers wanted but him as chief. For those not versed with the traditional rites like District Officer, George Tonye, the chieftaincy is hardly conferred to a man who is married to a foreign wife for fear that the village may be sold to that foreign wife. Such esteemed position is given to people with moral rectitude not individuals with questionable character. Unlike in some known tribes in the Southwest Region, where titles are auctioned, it is not the case with the Balue tribe. if someone attempts to circumvent the process with malice afore-thought, heads will roll.
Balue Chiefs address the Mofako Balue quagmire.
The Balue chiefs sitting at the former president’s (Chief Dr. John Ahmadou Mokube) house in Limbe unanimously issued a scathing proclamation in support of Tata Henry Ibue Momoh Sakwe claiming that his process passed the smell test. The Balue Chiefs Proclamation on November 25, 2023 in support of the crowned Tata Henry Ibue Momoh Sakwe, was quite timely enough to preserve our customary practice.
Normally after the village crowning process the crowned individual submits his documents to the District Officer who then transmit them to the Senior Divisional Officer for onward transmission to the Ministry of Territorial Administration for formalization and final approval. This is usually the process The rogue District Officer has comprised a legitimate process by entertaining another candidate who has not been vetted by the Kingmakers and embraced by the community.
The District Officer shamelessly organized two meetings in November to begin the process anew to the chagrin and consternation of the Mofako Balue and the Balue communities. Why circumvent an already vetted process?! This is why the Prime Minister, Head of Government, and a traditional ruler himself who understands the process, has asked to meet with the Balue Chiefs and the supervising District Officer, to come explain why the whole village was summoned to Kumba twice to address the Chieftaincy selection by him, which is in the purview of the Kingmakers in each village. The District Officer or the Senior Divisional Officer must not interfere in the selection process of chief. Their work begins when the selection process is over and the crowned chief's documents are submitted for onward transmission.to Yaoundé.
The Kingmakers had already done the right thing; the villagers acknowledged their choice; the Balue Chiefs equally did the absolute correct thing upholding the customs and traditions of the Balue tribe; and, Prime Minister has done the needful to resolve the grudging parties.
The verdict is anxiously awaited!!! I know the customs and traditions of the Balue tribe shall prevail.
3 comments:
This is a snapshot of the issue currently happening in Mofako Balue. One of the Contestants is my Uncle but I’m going to support the Chief the Mofako People already ordained and who has been blessed by the ancestors and already entered the sacred house(Etana).
Customs and traditions must be upheld. This kind of precedence cannot be set.There are very serious grounds for automatic disqualification of the latter per custom and tradition. The criterion for selection should be examined point-by-point.He whom was initially chosen by the kingmakers before a faction of them were coerced into committing such sacrilege should be reinstated,otherwise both contestants be disqualified based on the allegations disclosed during the process.Our political affiliations or socioeconomic status cannot be used as bargaining power to influence ancestral customs. Chieftaincy is not a social construct,but a traditional hierarchy based and built on customs,beliefs and rituals which is transferred to generations in accordance with those standards, not imposed. It's a shame that this traditional malpractice originated from my family.I strongly denounce this and call for a review of the whole process.We cannot transfer traditional power to another generation without rightfully protecting and preserving the dignity of our ancestors.
It ended as predicted with a victory for the regent Chief, Chief Henry Ibue
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