The throne of Ndzah village, in Bamenda III Subdivision, Mezam Division of the North West Region, has remained contested since 2019, with disagreements between Kingmakers and the administration foiling attempts at crowning a new Fon.
Following the disappearance of late Fon Victor Akotohm II on October 30, 2019, the Kingmakers, in what they considered ‘strict’ adherence to tradition, enthroned Fon Marius Mbomchom Akotohm III in November of that year.
Marius faced contestation from the administration, disrupting his public presentation.
The administration refused to recognize him.
Successive civil administrators have failed to resolve the crisis and the palace has remained sealed.
In a twist of events, Austin Ayuni Sakah, Divisional Officer for Bamenda III, during a crisis meeting on Thursday, November 21, presented a certain Fobolingong Nson as the new traditional ruler of Ndzah.
DO’s Choice Rejected
Kingmakers rejected the choice of the DO. They want the administration to unseal their palace and not impose a Fon against their customs and traditions.
“What is holding us back now is that we are still waiting for the DO to tell us when they will unseal the palace. The name presented to us as the new fon surprises us, especially since we haven’t gone anywhere and don’t even know him. We oppose this decision,” Ngu Williams, one of the Kingmakers, said.
In an open letter addressed to the Divisional Officer of Bamenda III, Ndzah Kingmakers expressed dismay at the decision of the administration.
“It is with great dismay that we observed your decision to overlook the agitation of the people and the objections of the meeting. Attempts were made to silence these legitimate voices, which only exacerbated the community’s frustration,” part of the letter reads.
“Such actions risk undermining the trust between the administration and the people of Ndzah, who rely on your impartiality and respect for traditional protocols.”
Calls for Respect
Rejecting the choice of the administration, they called for the respect of the authority of kingmakers and the will of the people of Ndzah.
“We categorically reject the candidacy of Fobolingong Nson. The process of selecting a Fon is a sacred and spiritual act vested solely in the kingmakers, whose decisions are guided by custom and ancestral wisdom,” the letter further reads.
They made it clear that, “Any attempt to impose an unendorsed candidate not only disregards our traditions but also jeopardises the unity and peace of the community.”
Earlier on, the Divisional Officer for Bamenda III called on the population of Ndzah to accept and work with Fobolingong Nson as the new traditional ruler.
The rejection by the population indicates that the protracted chieftaincy crisis is not ending any time soon.
