By Wambo Emmanuel
The national president of the Meta cultural and Development Association MECUDA, Ayaba David who presented a speech at Zang-Tabi and Nyen villages during the economic and meet the people tour of the SDO for Momo division has admitted that despite the wrangling surrounding the choice of who is the Meta clan head, he saw and was well informed that the Fon of Nyen represented the Fons of the 29 villages of the Mbengwi central subdivision at the West Cameroon House of chiefs.
The controversy surrounding the crisis of the clan head after the confirmation by MECUDA National president that, Nyen Fon represented Meta Fons at the West Cameroon House of chiefs and thus, is believed to be the clan head is that, the Fon of Zang-Tabi presented authentic documents to the visiting SDO for Momo, Absalom Monono W. dully signed by the Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralization uplifting the Fon of Zang-Tabi as clan head.
Speaking on the issue after he listened to both Fons in their various palaces, Momo SDO Absalom Monono advised the elite not to waste their precious time fighting over things that are working against the development of the area. The state, he furthered, is interested to see the growth of a village both in population and in development. This, he went further, permits the administration to up-grade the status of the village to 1st, 2nd or 3rd class Fondoms.
It should be noted that chieftaincy disputes seems to have taken a center stage in the North West region as a whole and within the ranks of the Meta clan Fons of the Momo division in particular. Momo SDO Absalom Monono W., who happens to be a prince of Great Soppo-Buea of the South West region, recounted his experience with the classification of villages and chiefs of his native land Buea. According to him, clan head is not recognized by the law. The law recognizes 3rd, 2nd and 1st class chiefs and not clan heads.
Other issues handled by the Momo SDO raised by the vice president of Nyen Development Association NDECA, included land matters, the boycott of schools and ghost towns respect. SDO Absalom was categorical about the boycott of schools by the students and pupils of the two villages. To him, those calling for school boycott are those wanting to take over powers at the detriment of their children’s education.
He was given traditional blessings from the Fons of Meta recognizing him as an administrator who loves the development of his division of command.