By Tata Mbunwe
Traditional rulers in Wabane Subdivision, Lebialem Division, have reaffirmed their call for the removal of Mayor Nembo Ketu Israel, insisting he must not be imposed for another term after two decades in office.
They have also denounced HRM Follah Njuh Julius Follah of Bangang village, whom they accused of usurping the presidency of the Wabane Fons Conference.
In an official rebuttal MMI News has received, issued by the Wabane Fons Conference and signed by its president, Fon VK Nchong II, the traditional rulers declared null and void a statement issued on October 20, 2026, by HRH Follah, stating that his tenure as conference president expired on May 10, 2025, following the election of Fon Nchong II as the new president.
The conference said Fon Follah’s act of signing documents and using an official seal in the capacity of president constitutes fraudulent impersonation punishable under the law.
The rebuttal follows a protest staged by Fons and chiefs of Wabane on October 17, 2026, to denounce what they saw as attempts by CPDM elites to impose incumbent Mayor Nembo Israel as candidate for next year’s municipal election, despite him serving for up to 20 years already.
However, the protest was not unanimously supported, as separate statements issued on October 20 by the Wabane Fons Conference and the Wabane Chiefs’ Union distanced themselves from the actions, calling for peace, dialogue and respect for traditional institutions.
The traditional rulers expressed their greatest concern over what they described as the reported intention by Minister Paul Tasong to impose Nembo Ketu Israel as Mayor again, after he has served 20 years as mayor of Wabane Council and as CPDM Section President for Lebialem III.
They argued this undermines good governance, democratic participation, and the will of the people, and puts the CPDM Party at risk in the upcoming elections. The conference stated they remain determined to stop him and whoever is backing him from “handpicking hand clappers as councilors who will bury the development of Wabane for another five years.”
The Wabane Fons Conference called on the authorities to ensure a transparent, inclusive, and democratic process for succession and for the rotation of leadership to guarantee fairness, accountability and renewed representation for all the people of Wabane.
The tensions come as political mobilisation gathers momentum ahead of upcoming legislative and municipal elections. Minister Tasong, head of the CPDM Permanent Divisional Delegation for Lebialem, chaired a party meeting in Wabane on October 17, where supporters renewed their backing for President Paul Biya and the ruling party.
Mayor Nembo’s team has maintained that he enjoys absolute support from villagers rallying behind his development record.
On the ground, however, Wabane remains one of the most enclave subdivisions in Cameroon, linked only with seasonal roads and most of its villages lack electricity, pipe borne water, and good healthcare facilities.