Tensions are escalating ahead of the upcoming elections for the Moderator and other top officials in the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon (PCC). Recent events have seen church officials trading public insults, raising concerns about the future leadership of the church.
The controversy began when Rev. Festus A. Asana, the former Moderator of the PCC, addressed an open letter to the outgoing Moderator, Rev. Fonki Samuel Forba. In the letter, Rev. Asana expressed concerns over allegations of plans to undermine the church’s constitution and impose handpicked candidates in the upcoming elections. He also criticised Rev. Fonki’s tenure, urging him to leave a positive legacy as his term nears its end.
A Divided Church
Several Presbytery Secretaries who were supportive of Rev. Fonki responded angrily to the letter, which MMI covered. These officials, who were copied on the letter, swiftly issued rebuttals, dismissing Rev. Asana’s concerns as baseless and accusing him of attempting to discredit the current leadership.
“I feel that the tone of this letter is as a result of you listening to gossips and maybe as a vexation to the fact that you may not have been given the opportunity to influence major decisions in the church,” wrote Rev. Numfor Godwin, Presbytery Secretary for Tubah-Boyo, in his response. “You claim to offer advice, but I believe what you have written is less about guidance and more an attempt to undermine the leadership of the church at this time.”
Allegations of Clique Politics
The PCC now appears to be deeply divided, with factions vying for control as the leadership transition approaches. While Rev. Fonki has been accused of handpicking a successor to guide from behind the scenes, another faction is reportedly seeking to take over church leadership.
In his rebuttal, the Presbytery Secretary for Mamfe accused Rev. Asana of acting on behalf of a group he labeled as a “clique of evil boys and girls.” He also criticized the former Moderator for treating his predecessor, Pa Nku, with disrespect during his tenure.
“You spent your time in the Synod office blackmailing Pa Nku. You even stopped talking to him. After handing office to Moderator Fonki, you went ahead to destabilize the PCC at home and abroad and have not succeeded, and today, you have come out of your mask and bush where you have been hiding to write this unfounded letter,” the Mamfe Presbytery Secretary responded.
He added, “All those you claim have been approaching you to talk negatively about the PCC and Moderator Fonki are your clique of evil boys and girls.”
Fallout from Rev. Asana’s Letter
Other church officials have echoed similar criticisms of the former Moderator. The Presbytery Secretary for Meta accused Rev. Asana of breaking his earlier promise to pray for the church and claimed that his letter had “shattered the serenity of the church.”
Most of the loyalists who responded to Rev. Asana’s letter accused him of the very actions he criticised in Rev. Fonki’s leadership, suggesting hypocrisy in his accusations. They alleged that Rev. Asana, during his time in office, engaged in many of the same behaviours he is now condemning.
A Leadership Struggle
Commentators suggest that most of the individuals criticising Rev. Asana are closely aligned with Rev. Fonki and hold privileged positions within the church. Despite the mounting public backlash, Rev. Fonki has yet to respond to the concerns raised in the letter.
As the elections draw near, the growing divide within the PCC highlights the intense power struggle over the church’s leadership. The fallout from Rev. Asana’s letter has revealed the deep-rooted tensions between factions supporting continuity under Rev. Fonki’s influence and those seeking new leadership.
