Protesting Small Soppo residents accuse Buea 2nd Deputy Mayor of tribalism

Residents of Small Soppo Wovila village in Buea marched to the office of the Divisional Officer (DO) this Friday afternoon, expressing indignation at a new water management committee installed by the second Deputy Mayor of Buea, Mosoko Edward Motuwe.

The protesters, carrying placards and peace plants, claimed the committee was not inclusive, alleging that key stakeholders in the community were sidelined.

They accused the Deputy Mayor of tribalism, stating that he chose predominantly Bakweri natives, the dominant ethnic group in Buea, as committee members, without giving ample representation to other stakeholders within the community.

The protest, which took Small Soppo residents to the DO’s office, is the latest outburst in a protracted water management crisis in the community.

The crisis has deprived dozens of residents of potable water as the Soppo Old Boys and Girls Association, which constructed the water catchment, battles for control with the village Traditional Council.

Anthony Njefi, a resident of the village, explained that the association has been managing the water catchment until the Traditional Council began attempting to seize control of the catchment.

The crisis attracted attention from the Buea Council and the administration.

On June 28, 2024, MMI reported how the Divisional Officer for Buea, Abba Abdurahman, intervened in the crisis to restore peace.

He established temporary peace by setting up a water management committee through the second Deputy Mayor, Mosoko Edward.

The committee was intended to unite all contending parties to jointly manage the water. However, the outcome has been unyielding.

Anthony Njefi expressed the residents’ discontent with the water management situation, stating that the new committee does not reflect their aspirations.

“We came here today to show our discontent against the water management situation that has been existing in Small Soppo Wovila village,” he said.

“We have been having water crises between the Soppo Old Boys and Girls Association and the Wovila Traditional Council. This has dragged on for some time. And the DO of Buea, who is like our father, came here three weeks ago to resolve the problem.

“After consulting with all the parties, he resolved that he would return to set up an inclusive committee that would coordinate the water to ensure there is peace.

“The following week, he sent the second Deputy Mayor of Buea, Mr. Mosoko Edward, to set up the committee. But we were surprised that when he came to set up the committee, he was too partial. Every suggestion made by the association was kept aside.

“In setting up the committee, he set up a committee that is 80 percent natives and just 20 percent of the other stakeholders. We have six stakeholders, but only three stakeholders were members of that committee. The major stakeholder, Soppo Old Boys and Girls Association, who constructed the water and has been supplying water to the community for over three decades, was sidelined,” he explained.

He further stated that the Traditional Council, consisting predominantly of natives, wants to “seize” the water from the Soppo Old Boys and Girls Association, which is run by a mix of natives and non-natives of the village.

“It’s too unfair. It shows tribalism, it shows injustice. It shows that the committee was not set up in the spirit of living together, which the Head of State has always prescribed,” Anthony fumed.

Small Soppo Wovila community, like most areas in Buea, is inhabited by a mix of natives and non-natives.

They have lived and collaborated peacefully for several years.

The disgruntled Small Soppo residents expect the Divisional Officer to not only settle the crisis and ensure access to potable water, but to also restore serenity and cohesion among residents.

©Mimi Mefo Info