By WIFAH J. NDE
The one-time revered and highly decorous North West Fons Union, NOWEFU has over the years been in the state of collapse and continues to be so rocked by leadership chaos as the sit-tight Fon Teche Njei of Mbelewa denies to submit to the 1990 constitution of the Union.
Fon Teche who by the 1990 constitution of the Union ought to have handed power by 2014 kept tight to power until recently when he called for elections. This was only after he revised the constitution in 2016, introducing the position of the President of the General Assembly.
The twist in the constitution indicates that only a former NOWEFU president is eligible for this position and such shall be Adviser to the executive and shall solely convene General Assemblies as well as pilot external affairs of the Union.
Following Saturday’s Elective General Assembly in Nkambe, Senator Fon Teche Njei of Mbelewa was declared overwhelming victor, President of the General Assembly and his colleague Fon Nfor Ibrahim of Nkambe becomes president of NOWEFU answerable to him.
Rocked by several irregularities, observers say the election in Nkambe was man-powered by Fon Teche who lavished money on logistics for all those who were attendance for the election, hired buses which transported the Fons from every part of the region, provided them with huge envelopes and used election machineries in his favour which many are yet to understand how he maneuvered them to President General.
He retained all powers of the Union for the next two mandates giving that he has the sole power to call for General Assemblies, represent the Union in official external matters and is the Adviser to the new bureau.
At the meeting, he brandished a letter from the Head of State which he called confidential, told colleagues that a delegation shall be constituted in the days ahead to meet with the Head of State to digest the content of the letter which he remains the master planner.
It filtered to The SUN that, there is a monetary package the Head of State is preparing for the fons which shall be dished out to them during the said meeting in order for them to spearhead campaigns for back-to-school in their respective localities.
While the Nkambe confab was sitting-in, another group of Northwest Fons converged on their Secretariat at the Nkwen Fon’s palace where the said assembly leaders who had petitioned the Nkambe Assembly to the NW governor’s office stating that it was illegal, proceeded with creating their own new bureau.
As disclosed to The SUN by Fon Shey Barnabas Mbunwe II of Mbot in a telephone chat, the Nkwen conclave was the legal and legitimate body to elect into office a new executive of NOWEFU judging by the 1990 constitution which according to Fon Shey does not give room for elections of NOWEFU executive to be organized in any division out of the headquarters of the Union and at the General Secretariat which is currently haboured by the Nkwen Fon’s palace.
The outcome of this election was therefore as follows: H.R.H Fon Shey Barnabas Mbunwe II of Mbot was elected President, Fon Yakum Kevin of Mbambalang as Secretary General, Fon Asaana of Njong, Treasurer, Fon Gahgwaning Theophile of Balikumbat as Financial Secretary, Fon Ndung Saidou Nuhu of Waindo as Organising Secretary, all under the Advisory umbrella of the following: Fons Gah Nyonga of Bali Nyonga, Aneng Francis of Bafmen, Abumbi II of Bafut, Nsehm Biglo of Nsoh, Chafah of Bangola, Gwanga Peter of Buu, Gwang Mbanyansig III of Guzang and Angwafor of Mankon.
As the imminent war of position is now staged, the executive bureau of the Nkwen confab through their president told The SUN that they shall succumb to no intimidation from any individual or group of persons. To him, Fon Teche who doubles as Senator is using his position and privileges from some quarters to intimidate and manipulate illiterate fons, solely to consolidate position and continue to rip from ill-gotten sources.
He accuses the later of illegally giving out property of the Union on rents for the past 9 years and intends doing so for the next 8 years. On this, he quotes Article 24 of their constitution which states that “No person shall use the property of the Union for any selfish motive…”
“NOWEFU is not in factions, there are no two presidents, and the legitimate Union is the one which my colleagues voted me to lead. Our constitution is still the 1990 constitution and until power moves round the 7 divisions of the region, no individual or structure is mandated to revise the constitution sah. We shall all see the president of the Republic when time comes, he is the Head of State for every Cameroonian” Fon Shey thundered.