BY SIMON NDIVE KALLA
Consultative talks to designate a replacement for the paramount chieftaincy stool in Limbe has ended in a deadlock last Friday October 20, 2017 forcing the Senior Divisional Officer for Fako, Engamba Emmanuel Ledoux to postpone the talks to a later date – Friday, November 3, 2017.
In a tense atmosphere on Friday, October 20 at the Limbe city council hall, Down Beach, the three main families in Limbe; the Carrs, Mukebas and Manga Williams couldn’t agree on the choice for a successor to the late chief Ferguson Billa Manga Williams, who passed away some 11 years ago.
According to a representative of the Carr family, David Nanjia Carr, late Ferguson Billa Manga Williams and his father who have ruled Victoria for almost a century were not traditionally designated chiefs. He argued that Chief Johannes Manga Williams, Ferguson’s father, was a district officer in 1908 who was imposed on the Victoria community by the Germans because he was literate.
He added that the Manga Williams family has never been a royal family and cannot be permitted allowed to continue to rule in Victoria, now Limbe.
Chief Samuel Ekum of Dikolo on his part cited historical references to indicate that the Manga Williams are the rightful owners of the Limbe paramount chieftaincy throne. He argued that their royal lineage could be traced to Bimbia, true owners of the Land that later became Victoria after offering it to Alfred Saker in 1858.
Chief Ekum maintained that the Limbe chieftaincy is hereditary and not rotatory as claimed by the other protagonists. He cited how Late Chief Johannes Manga Williams ruled Victoria from 1908-1958 when he died and the throne was inherited by his son, Ferguson Manga Williams who ruled from 1958 till his demise in 2006.
“It is only normal that the throne be given to another member of the Manga Williams family, I don’t know where all these other people are coming from with their claims”, Chief Ekum stated.
Other speakers during the talks asked the SDO to consider giving each division within Limbe its own paramount chief since the administrative unit has been split into Limbe I, II and III.
On the other hand, another speaker urged the SDO to consult the ‘Beele commission’ which was constituted after the demise of Chief Johanness Manga Williams in 1958. The commission requires that the three main families in Victoria; Carrs, Mukebas and the Manga Williams to deliberate and come with a new chief in the case of a vacancy.
As the atmosphere became more strained, the Senior Divisional Officer for Fako Engamba Emmanuel Ledoux told the three different families to go back and have pre-consultative talks and produce a single candidate for the Paramount chieftaincy stool. He adjourned the matter to November 3, 2017 for broad consultative talks that will finally select the new heir to the Limbe chieftaincy throne.
The consultative talks that held last Friday, October 20 came on the heels of another family event that saw a major endorsement last Friday, October 6 of Prince John Elufa Manga Williams by a cross section of Limbe Kingmakers to fill the vacant stool of the Limbe paramount chieftaincy.
This was done in the presence of other Limbe elites at the Johnny Manga Williams residence in Mbonjo, amongst them was the member parliament for Fako East, Hon. Etombi Gladys, Mayor Nseke Luma of Limbe III, The Divisional Officer of Limbe III and former government delegate, Lifanda Samuel Ebiama. There was also the noticeable presence of the Chief of Batoke, HRH Molungu Otto.
The six kingmakers who endorsed Prince John Manga Williams and promised to present him to the Fako SDO as their choice for the Limbe paramount chieftaincy stool include, Chief Samuel Ekum of Dikolo, Pastor Monjimbo of Bonagombe, Isaac Nanjia Carr, a representative of the Mukeba family amongst others.
The endorsement comes a year after Johnny Manga Williams (as he is fondly called) was officially nominated by the Manga Williams family as the one to replace the late Chief Furguson Billa Manga Williams, who passed away some 11 years ago.