The Wonjia Royal Family is strongly opposing the designation of journalist Albert Njie Mbonde as Chief of Bokwaongo village in Buea, claiming it contradicts the traditional constitution and legal procedures.
Family heads from the royal lineage have challenged the designation through written petitions, audio recordings, and video clips they shared with MMI to express their dissatisfaction.
They claim that Njie Mbonde’s father is from another village called Bwana, and he has only matrilineal links to Bokwaongo, this disqualifying him from becoming Chief in Bokwaongo.
MMI reported that the CRTV Political Desk Editor Albert Njie Mbonde was designated Chief of Bokwaongo by four kingmakers out of six during consultation talks at the village on March 19, 2025.
The talks were supposedly coordinated by the Divisional Officer of Buea, Abba Abdourahman.
Dr. Julius Monangai Ikome, who identifies as the only prince of Bokwaongo and rightful heir to the throne, argues that the selection process violated the constitutional provision governing chieftaincy succession.
“Chieftaincy in Bokwaongo is hereditary. It is found in the constitution that was approved by the government in Article 3(d). Mr. Njie Mbonde is from Bwana, his father has never been a chief before, and his grandfather has never been a chief before,” he said.
Dr Ikome Monangai said he is the grandson of former Chief Oscar Ikome Elinge, who ruled before Chief Elkana Molua Messe, who died in 2023.
“It is really surprising that he (Njie Mbonde) is nominated a Chief today… No aspect of the decree of 1977 on Chieftaincy was respected. I believe that the authorities of a law-abiding nation must show the example. I am the only Prince in Bokwaongo. And before Chief Molua died, he left a document with me… handing power to me. This was signed by three notables in the village. I expected that the administration, after having been presented this document, will proclaim me the Chief of Bokwaongo without going through the formalities that have changed the process of Chieftaincy.”
He warned that the flawed process designating Njie Mbonde as chief could have serious consequences for the peace and stability of Bokwaongo.
“It affects the society because Bokwaongo is not happy at all, because the process of choosing a Chief was not respected. And this will have a lot of ramifications as time goes on. The administration should know this. People are not happy and may express this unhappiness in very many ways, especially during elections and so forth. But I think the administration has a lot of time to rectify the situation.”
Also, Ikome Marcus, a member of the Wonjia Royal Family, strongly disputed the selection of Mr Njie Mbonde as Chief.
To him, the kingmakers who designated Mr Njie Mbonde as Chief betrayed Bokwaongo.
“The Divisional Officer for Buea, in this case, carried out his duties as required by the law. He facilitated the process but cannot impose a chief on the people. The responsibility for this disgraceful outcome lies squarely on the shoulders of the chief makers, who have sold out their village for personal gain,” he said.
“They have not only disgraced themselves but have also tarnished the reputation of Bokwaongo village and its people. Their actions are a stark reminder of how greed and corruption can erode even the most sacred institutions,” Mr Ikome Marcus added.
Mola Njoh Njie, a senior native of Bokwaongo and long-time councillor since 1976, insisted that chieftaincy in Bokwaongo follows patrilineal lineage.
“A man from elsewhere cannot come to Bokwaongo and say he wants to be a chief,” he said. He raised this objection during the consultative talks and has reiterated it again after Njie Mbonde was designated Chief.
“Chieftaincy is not for money. There is regulation to become a chief, and we follow the tradition. The Bokwango constitution drawn up in 1999 says that chieftaincy is from father to son. I don’t know where Njie Mbonde came from. Is his father a chief? Is his grandfather a chief? The answer is, no,” Mola Njoh Njie added.
To support their claim, those opposing Njie Mbonde’s designation have provided historical documents. These include copies of the West Cameroon Gazette (No. 24, Vol. 8, May 18, 1968) and West Cameroon Notices No. 120 and 121, which list Oscar Ikome Elinge as Chief of Membea–Bokwaongo.
A certificate titled The Recognition of Chiefs Law, 1960, signed by the Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Local Government of West Cameroon on June 6, 1966, also recognises Oscar Ikome Elinge as the rightful chief.
Dr Julius Ikome Monangai claims to be the son of the late Chief Oscar Ikome Elinge and, as such, the qualified successor to the Bokwaongo throne.
The Bokwoango Chieftaincy was contested by three main candidates. These were Dr. Julius Ikome Monangai, journalist Albert Njie Mbonde, and member of parliament for Buea Urban, Hon. Malomba Esembe.
Malomba was absent from the consultative talks where Njie Mbonde was designated Chief and has since then raised no public opposition to the designation.
They further accuse Njie Mbonde of bribing kingmakers, allegedly distributing over FCFA 6 million to influence his selection. Voice clips in Mokpe language have been presented as evidence to support the claim.
Njie Mwambo John from the Gbwefoa clan, which is one of the three families making up Bokwaongo. He has openly accused Mr Njie Mbonde of bribing kingmakers during the March 19 consultative talks.
He also claims to be the older brother to Mr. Teke Mwambo NJie, who was one of four kingmakers who allegedly collected bribe of FCFA 750,000 each to make Mr. Njie Mbonde the chief of Bokwaongo.
In a written statement sent to MMI, he said, “I stand behind the truth, and I’m faithful to the norms and traditions of my village, people and culture. I can’t watch my village being betrayed and sold out to a stranger like Albert whose father is not a Chief, and not from the royal family, and I stay quiet, which is why I’m writing this. The rightful man who is supposed to be chief should be made Chief.”
“I have evidence of this bribe on paper and on record. There were six kingmakers; four took bribes to make Mr Albert chief, and two refused to betray their land. The head of the Gbwefoa family was also bribed to make Albert Njie Mbonde chief,” he said.
Mola Nyoki Ngomba also shared these concerns.
“They were asked to go and bring their candidates, and there will be a debate on them, but on that day there was nothing done. They just said they should go, and the chief and they went and brought Njie Mbonde. He earlier said Chiefs of the Southwest are fake. He is more fake because he is coming from his mother’s side. We cannot put him in power to rule us.”
In the wake of this Chieftaincy dispute, Albert Njie Mbonde has reportedly challenged those who oppose his selection to go to court if what they are saying is true.
In a statement quoted by The Post Newspaper, Njie Mbonde said Chieftaincy in Bokwaongo rotates among the three main families: Wonjia, Gbwefoa and Wondiwa.
“I am sure it (the opposition) is coming from Monangai’s wife, who is a lawyer. If she is so sure of her claims, why doesn’t she go to court? Ask her whether I am replacing his father. Ask her whether Monangai Ikome’s father succeeded his own father. The logic is simple, we have three royal families: Wonjia, Gwefoa and Wondiwa. A son of any the three can be designated Chief,” Njie Mbonde is quoted to have said.
Asked about his origins and links to Bokwaongo, Njie Mbonde said he is from the Wondiwa family.
“My mom is Etome. My father is Wondiwa. And my paternal grandfather served as Wondiwa kingmaker for over 40 years. I guess you know Mr. Emmanuel Moanga Mbwaye. That’s my maternal grandfather. However, they claim I have two mothers,” he is quoted as saying.
Concerning the allegations of bribing kingmakers with FCFA 6 million, Njie Mbonde denied the claims and asked those making them to prove them in court.
“Bought with which money? Do I have more money than the MP or a bushfaller? They were given 10 months to bribe but failed. It’s normal for Mola Njoh to support him. He is a Wonjia man who was part of the land selling in the village. My coming is frightening to him. Julius Ikome was not supported even by his own family, which is why they had five candidates at the start. My dear, I have received all the six kingmakers and family heads. We have gone past that level. Let them go to court,” he said.
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