Some prominent North West Fons were conspicuously absent as many of their colleagues from across the region flocked into the Unity Palace on Wednesday, August 13, to validate 92-year-old President Paul Biya for another seven-year term.
Fons of the prominent kingdoms of Bafut (HRM Abumbi II); Nso (HRM Sehm Mbinglo I) and Kom (HRM Ndzi II) were notably absent.
Although their reasons for boycotting the event remain publicly unknown, many subjects have been quick to praise these monarchs for what is now seen as their refusal to honour the invitation of the Secretary General at the Presidency, Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh—the Head of President Biya’s campaign.
Ngoh Ngoh has received several delegations in the recent weeks, which have pledged to support the ageing leader for another term, the end of which would make him 50 years in power.
The North West Fons’ visit followed a similar exercise by traditional rulers from the West Region, who also endorsed Biya.
While many have blasted traditional rulers for their perceived loss of dignity, some voices from the North West hailed the Fons who stayed off the Unity Palace show.
In Bamenda, the North West Regional capital, residents who spoke to MMI hailed the Fons of Bafut, Nso and Kom heroes for refraining from “betraying” their people by validating a 42-year-old regime that has failed to amend the living conditions in the crisis-hit region.
Some residents perceived the absence as a sign of loyalty to the Anglophone population, their public refusal to endorse the Biya regime, and for standing in solidarity with a North Western population that has been trapped in a separatist armed conflict for nearly 10 years.
Conversely, the Fons who did attend the meeting have been met with fierce criticism and accusations of betrayal.
Furthermore, the fact that some of these pro-Biya Fons have themselves fled their villages due to the Anglophone Crisis has fueled accusations of hypocrisy and detachment from the realities faced by their people.
Traditional rulers in Cameroon have grown increasingly partisan and distant from their populations.
Earlier this year, hundreds of Chiefs from across the nation, gathered as the association of traditional rulers of Cameroon, endorsed Paul Biya, the world’s oldest president, for another seven-year term.
Many of these Chiefs are top-ranking members of the ruling CPDM party, although critics think this could potentially taint their sense of good judgement towards their subjects who align with the opposition.
