King makers of Esu, a locality in Menchum Division of Cameroon’s restive North West region have been reminded of the provisions of the law governing chieftaincy issues in Cameroon.
Abdoulai Aliou, the Senior Divisional Officer, SDO of Menchum, brought it to the limelight, one year after the Fon of Esu was murdered with no successor enthroned.
In accordance with Decree No.77/245 of 15 July 1977, bearing on the organization of traditional chieftaincies the civil administrator considering article 08 of the said law stated that, “Traditional rulers are, as a rule chosen within families called upon to perform customarily, the traditional command. Candidates should fulfill the physical and moral conditions required and should as much as possible know how to write and read.”
Also noting articles 09 and 10 of the cited law, providing procedures to the designation of the new monarch,he calls on members of the royal family of Esu ,”……to put their heads together as it is more than a year, that their beloved chief disappeared and after due mourning for this period, it it time to move ahead for the development of Esu.”
He called on the Kingmakers and Notables of Esu village, “for a sense of responsibility to facilitates the process of putting a new chief hitch-free. He therefore informs prospective candidates to the throne of Esu to file in their candidacy in his office for arrangement of consultative talks at the palace of Esu which he shall personally preside over.”
On March 9, 2022 Fon Kum Achuo II of Esu was attacked and killed alongside his first wife by unknown gunmen.The throne had since then remained vacant.
Demands by villagers for an investigation to bring perpetrators to book has yielded no fruits.
Some villagers say no one shall occupy the throne until the government sheds light on the circumstances leading to the murder of the late monarch.
By David Atangana.
