By TALLA AGHAA CHRISTOPHER
In the days ahead, the Senior Divisional Officer, SDO for Meme Division, South West Region, Ntou’ou Ndong Chamberlin will embark on a marathon installation of newly appointed Divisional Officers, D.O in Meme Division.
Following Presidential Decree No. 2019/ 537 of 7/10/2019 bearing the appointment of Divisional Officers to the various Sub Divisions throughout the national territory, the following Sub Divisions in Meme were affected by the presidential decree. In Konye Sub Division, Attah Moses Ndep formerly 2nd SDO for Ngoketunjia Division will pilot the destiny of that sub division in replacement of Ekolle Blessed who goes to Ngambe Tikar in the same capacity, meanwhile in Mbonge, Otto II Richard William, former 1st ASDO for Fako takes over from Bikie Befolo Alain Serge while in Kumba III, Ngale Meende Alfred from Ndelele sub division in the East Region takes over from Epolewane Verklin who goes to Limbe III in same capacity and in Kumba I , Ali Anogu, former D.O. for Mundemba takes over from Saffo Roger who has been appointed as Secretary General at the Extreme North Governor’s office.
It should be noted that the new D.Os. that will be installed in the days ahead will be confronted with hot files when they settle down for effective work. It’s no longer news that Meme Division remains one of the most affected divisions following the Anglophone crisis since 2016. In Konye with about 36 villages, reports hold that most of the villages have been deserted, the population has relocated to the bushes while others are IDPs in neigbouring towns; there’s virtually no single school functioning in Konye. At the heart of the crisis, the Divisional Office of Konye was relocated to the building hosting the Senior Divisional Officer’s office in Kumba and that’s where the D.O has been functioning, with the ghost towns still showing its ugly face in Konye. Traditional Rulers of the various villages have long abandoned their villages due to the fear of unknown. Reports hold that separatist fighters are almost in “control” of the entire Sub Division. These and many more are the issues the newly appointed D.O for Konye, Attah Moses Ndep will struggle to seek a lasting solution to, so that the population of his administrative unit will find reason (s) to relocate back to the area.
Mbonge is another hot area. Considered as the largest Sub Division in Cameroon with close to 96 villages, the new DO, Otto II Richard William will have to burn the candle to see that the once buoyant Sub Division bounces back. The administrative unit is now a shadow of itself. The outgoing DO, Bikie Befolo Alian Serge appointed to Kekem, it should be remembered suspended his contact-tour in 2017 after fierce attacks by alleged separatist fighters around Mabonge. The new DO will be expected to do everything possible so that the population of the area who have relocated to other towns come back more especially in Mbonge-Marumba, the seat of the administrative unit.
Apart from the deserted villages, the road situation is a cause for concern.
In Kumba III, with headquarters in Mambanda, the new D.O, Ngale Meende Alfred will just have to put a little effort in the area for life to stay afloat, reason being that the outgoing DO, Epolewane Verklin had already done a lot for the people. She championed the return of electricity in the area after three years of blackout, and it is thanks to her that schools in the area are very effective, with people carrying on their normal activities. She had already gone as far as putting in strategies for pipe borne water to reach Mambanda, reason why the population burst into tears when the news of her transfer to Limbe III broke out. However, the lone hot file the new DO will be called upon to handle is to ensure that CDC Mukonge Estate resumes activities. All efforts made by the outgoing DO were fruitless due to harassments of workers by separatist fighters.