Fo’o Sokoudjou Slams Region West Traditional Rulers for Supporting Biya

By Synthia Lateu
Fo’o Sokoudjou Mpoda, chief of Bamendjou village in the West Region, has distanced himself from fellow traditional rulers of the region who recently expressed support for President Paul Biya ahead of the October 12 presidential election.

In what appears to be a series of audience meetings at the Unity Palace, various stakeholders have been received by Ferdinand Ngoh Ngoh, chair of President Biya’s campaign strategy committee who doubles as the secretary-general of the presidency.So far, Lamidos, bishops, Northwest fons, and youth representatives have attended these sessions.

Reacting after the audience, West Region traditional ruler and chief of Bamendjou in Mbouda, Chief Tchio Maurice, expressed satisfaction with the encounter.
“We want a Cameroon that is always peaceful. That is why we told the minister to convey our support for peace in our country to the Head of State,” he said.
However, in an August 14 statement, Fo’o Sokoudjou said he was neither aware of the planned meeting nor involved in it, urging chiefs to speak only for themselves:
“I, Sokoudjou, did not send anyone anywhere and did not send any message to anyone. If I have something to say, I will say it directly without keeping my mouth shut. I have not refused anyone their place in their own house, but let no one, when going into their house of witchcraft, block my hand.”
He further lamented that some chiefs had, in his view, diminished themselves by abandoning “the chairs of their forefathers” to go to the Unity Palace.
“See now, the water has started flowing uphill!” he exclaimed, adding that they had abandoned the missions entrusted to them. The traditional ruler further invited everyone to be careful and to avoid the wrath of the gods when the truth triumphs.
Political analyst Aristide Mano questioned why such chiefs of the West region “pampered” by their communities with wealth, travel, luxury, and honor would humble themselves before a regime that, in his words, “no longer hides its tribalism.”
Fo’o Sokoudjou, known for his outspoken criticism of the government and calls for its departure, recently welcomed opposition leaders in Foumban advocating for a single opposition candidate. In his address, he stressed the need for change in Cameroon and unity among opposition forces.
The Foumban declaration called for citizen mobilization, especially among youth, the diaspora, and rural communities. Several follow-up meetings have since been held with the aim of quickly reaching an agreement. If successful, the opposition could, for the first time, enter an election with a coordinated strategy.