Ni John Fru Ndi, National Chairman of the opposition Social Democratic Front (SDF) party was speaking at his Ntarinkon residence Tuesday after some traditional rulers and politicians in Limbe went amok over a symbolic key to the city of Limbe was handed to him by John Elufa Manga Williams, Limbe Paramount Chief-elect.

HRM Manga Williams had in handing the key to the city of Limbe Thursday, June 13, 2019 invited Fru Ndi to visit the town whenever he so wishes.

The SDF chairman had made a stop at the palace of the royal father designate of Limbe during a working visit to the South West Region.

He was at the palace after stopping over at the Cameroon Development Corporation (CDC) and a failed visit to the fire-ravaged units of the National Refining Company, SONARA.

Grouped under the umbrella of the Limbe Sub Divisional Conference of Traditional Rulers, 13 chiefs in Limbe in an outing on Monday distanced themselves from Paramount Chief-elect John Elufa Manga Williams after he handed the symbolic key to Fru Ndi during last week's visit to the seaside resort.

The 13 Limbe chiefs consider the said act as controversial and by a declaration distanced themselves from same.

The chiefs wrote: “That John Elufa Manga Williams does not yet have a Ministerial confirmation and thus cannot usurp the title of Paramount Chief of Limbe to that extent.”

They say their association with Manga Williams in the past has been the result of solidarity and nothing else. “That our acceptance of John Elufa Manga Williams to associate himself amongst us in public ceremonies is simply for purposes of solidarity and nothing more,” the chiefs wrote.

They went on to give three conditions that Paramount Chief-elect John Elufa Manga Williams must fulfil to redeem his position in the gathering of chiefs during public ceremonies.

“That by this declaration we unanimously call on John Elufa Manga Williams to comply with the following:

“Tender a written apology to the Limbe Chiefs Conference with regards to the handing over of a tradition key to Ni John Fru Ndi.

“Address a letter to Ni John Fru Ndi captioned withdrawal of Traditional Key, informing him of the said withdrawal.

“Desist from executing any further action as Paramount Ruler of Limbe until he John Elufa Manga Williams is confirmed as 1st Class Chief by the competent authority.”

The declaration was sealed by Chief Ndiko Fonderson Henry of Mevio who is president of the Limbe Chiefs Conference along with Chief Edward Motande Maole of Mokunda, Secretary General of the said grouping.

The eleven other signatories to the document include: Chief Epupa Samuel Ekum of Dikolo, Chief Alami Fabian Ekane of Mokindi, Chief George Dikanjo Malumbe of Wovia, Chief Sama Motulu of Kie, Chief George Gobina Mekako of Lower Bosumbu, Chief Priso Quan of Bona Bile, Chief Nyalele Lucas Molinga of Mokundange, Chief Sam Luma of Limbola, Chief Efoe Esuka of Lower Bwando, Chief Motia Mathias Motia of Livanda and Chief Kinge Victor Mosuka. Chief Andrew Ekoka Molindo of Mondoli was absent.

On their part, some members of the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement, CPDM and municipal officials in Limbe fired a missive at John Elufa Manga Williams, Paramount Chief-elect of Limbe for handing a symbolic key to Ni John Fru Ndi, National Chairman of the opposition Social Democratic Front (SDF) party.

In a clearly politically motivated outing, the mayors of the three sub-divisional councils in Limbe, along with some senior councillors of the Limbe City Council, met at the deliberation chambers of the Limbe I Council Sunday, June 16, 2019 to dissociate themselves from the position of their royal father.

‘The declaration of the municipal authorities of Limbe’ is said to be backed by Motanga Andrew Monjimba, Government Delegate to the Limbe City Council and bears the signatures of Mayor Ro-danny Mbua of Limbe I, Mayor Molindo Duncan of Limbe II and Nseke Debotti Luma of Limbe III as well as those of some senior councillors of the municipality.

The signatories to Sunday’s document charged paramount chief-elect John Manga Williams for usurpation and urge him to tender an apology.

The CPDM members wrote: “The Municipal Authorities of Limbe, notably the Mayors of Limbe I, Limbe II and Limbe III Sub-Divisional Councils and all their Senior Councillors held an emergency meeting in Limbe this Sunday the 16th of June 2019, which meeting was convened after due consultation with the Government Delegate of the Limbe City Council against the backdrop of the usurpation of municipal authority by Mr. John Elufa Manga Williams, the First Class Chief-elect of Limbe during which he was seen handing a certain key purportedly being the key to the Limbe Municipality to the Chairman of the Social Democratic Front (SDF) party. The municipal authorities after frank in-depth discussions and consultations with other major stakeholders of the Limbe Municipality declare as follows:

“That Mr. John Elufa Manga Williams did not enjoy the mandate from any competent Municipal Authority to carry out such a gesture to the Chairman of the SDF party. We therefore distance ourselves from this act and declare it not only null and void but a miscarriage of traditional authority; hence it has nothing to do with the aspirations of the people of Limbe. Therefore his action is not only illegitimate and misguided, but it is also at variance with the rules and regulations in force.

“Condemn in very strong terms the uncouth usurpation of powers that are reserved for constituted Municipal Magistrates by a yet to be coronated traditional ruler.

“Invite Mr. John Elufa Manga Williams to withdraw his gesture and eventually tender an apology to the people of Limbe for his uninformed and premature decision to render the municipality too cheap to the eyes of onlookers.

“Call on all the living forces of the Limbe municipality to remain calm and stand against any dissenting voices that are propagating and glamorising deviant actions as an apparatus for conveying their message.”

The missive is also signed by George Mokosso Burnley, CPDM Fako IC Section President and Chief Kinge Victor Mosuka of Bonangombe among other CPDM councillors. The three sub-divisional councils in Limbe, including the Limbe City Council are run by the ruling CPDM of President Paul Biya.

Fru Ndi fires back!

To Fru Ndi, the thirteen chiefs of Limbe who wrote asking that the key be withdrawn from him did not give him the key and are in no place to ask for it to be returned.

The opposition leader regretted that he's a prophet not respected at home. He said he holds the keys to California in the USA and the city of Lile in France.

To Ni John Fru Ndi, the contestation of the honour given to him by the paramount chief elect of Limbe, John Elufa Manga Williams by the chiefs and councillors is a sign of disrespect to his person.

Hear him: “Let the contesting chiefs go to court and ask for the withdrawal of the key or constitute themselves in a delegation and come to Bamenda and ask for the key. I can only accept to go to Limbe and hand over the key if the Paramount Chief-elect, who gave me the key, asks for it.”