By Noela EBOB BISONG
–PM’s rep., Confiance Ebune entreats South West chiefs to display political wisdom
-Dr Chief Mokube John heads new SWECC exco
-Minister Paul Tasong, Bony Dashaco recognised for remarkable support to push region forward
-SWECC code of ethics, rotatory system for selection of president of House of Chiefs, SW rallying song adopted
-Moses Obenofunde out-gone executive celebrated for notable strides
Traditional Rulers of the South West Region of Cameroon have been urged to honour their covenant to the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement CPDM party and its chieftain, Paul Biya, in line with the “much benefits” the region is said to have received from the State under the leadership of Biya. During the Elective General Assembly of the South West Chiefs Conference SWECC which held on Saturday, February 22 in Limbe, the representative of the Prime Minister of Cameroon, Chief of Cabinet at the PM’s office, Balungeli Confiance Ebune, reminded the traditional rulers from the six divisions of the South West (Fako, Meme, Ndian, Manyu, Kupe Muanenguba and Lebialem), of how much the region has received under the Biya government, urging them to honour their own part of the covenant by coming out massively and heaping their weight behind Biya in the presidential election in October this year.
Enumerating the ‘blessings’, including those announced couple of years ago but yet to see the light of day like the Limbe Deep Sea Port project, Ebune called on the chiefs to display political wisdom by supporting the candidacy of Biya in the upcoming election. He also urged the chiefs to be ambassadors of peace and showcase love and to preach against violence in the interest of the region.
New SWECC bureau
The elective general assembly witnessed the election of a new SWECC executive to manage the affairs of the body for the next two years. The new team has as president-Chief Dr Mokube John, Chief Inyang Zachary (Vice President), Chief Oruh Julius (Secretary General), Fon Fotaboh (ASG1), Chief Eseme Golden (ASG2), Chief Dr. Molindo Andrew (Treasurer), Chief Nofuruh Evans (Financial Secretary), Chief Atabe Stephen (Asst. Financial Secretary), Chief Ebong Pende (Public Relations Officer –PRO), Chief Lyonga Ekoki (Asst. PRO), Chief Motanga Elonge (Ast. Social Secretary), Chief Bechem Eneke and Chief Nawambo Attia (Legal Advisers), Chef Mengot and Chief Masango Solomon (Protocol Officers) as well as the Social Secretary and Auditor.
Speaking shortly after being elected, the new president of SWECC, Chief Dr Mokube John, retired medic of the CDC, said “I feel honoured and as a member in the outgoing executive, I have the roadmap already and we are going to reinforce preparations for the 2nd edition of our cultural festival. We will also focus on encouraging our brothers and sisters to be enterprising and self-reliant. We are a peaceful and law-abiding people and we must remain that way and not be swayed by sellers of illusion. We prefer to improve on what we have.”
Elective General Assembly
Talking on his priority during his mandate, Chief Dr. Mokube said it is firstly to consolidate peace in the interest of the region.
The new SWECC president will also focus on the construction of a new Secretariat to host the body, which is estimated at some FCFA 400million. The former Secretariat it should be recalled is currently buried in grass and wearing an abandoned look, said to be as a result of the eight-year-long crisis across the South West.
Hat doffed for outgoing SWECC president, H.M. Moses Obenofunde
The out-gone president of SWECC, H.M. Moses Obenofunde and his team were celebrated for strides made in their time in office, from inheriting a SWECC coffer of FCFA 800 and leaving it at over FCFA 9million. The executive also recorded the establishment of the Eyasu fabric for South West sons and daughters as well as the celebration of the maiden edition of the South West Cultural Festival which had a sponsorship of over FCFA 47 million.
SWECC code of ethics, others adopted
A SWECC code of ethics was adopted during the elective general assembly, which is said to be a guide for South West chiefs to exercise integrity and proper conduct befitting of their traditional titles. Also, the traditional rulers adopted a rotatory system for the selection of presidents of the South West Regional House of Chiefs as well as a South West Rallying Song.
Paul Tasong, Bony Dashaco decorated
Two of the region’s illustrious sons, Minister Delegate at the Ministry of the Economy, Planning and Regional Development – Paul Tasong and Media guru – Bony Dashaco were decorated, handed a note of recognition and given titles, for their remarkable support to the welfare of the South West. The recognition of Minister Paul Tasong was received on his behalf by a Chief of Lebialem, while Bony Dashaco who was present, was dressed by the chiefs as a true son of the soil and celebrated for supporting the maiden edition of the South West Cultural Festival to the tune of about FCFA 20 million in kind. He reacted shortly after the recognition that, “I will continue to take SWECC further and further”.
Motion of support and thanksgiving to Biya
Having followed the sweet tale by the PM’s rep, Ebune Confiance of how much the South West has reaped from the Biya administration, the Chiefs took themselves to task to deliver a motion of thanksgiving and support to Paul Biya, President of Cameroon, declaring their unwavering support to him. The Chiefs in the motion requested Biya to declare his candidature for the 2025 presidential election and pleaded that he launches his campaign in the South West Region.
