House of Chiefs: Revisiting Chief Ebako’s cry for salvation

By Nchendzengang Tatah

His Royal Majesty Chief Dr Atem Ebako Bisong Andrew, President of the South West House of Chiefs and Vice President of the South West Regional Assembly, in an outing on May 20, reaffirmed the responsibility of his letter of May 19 addressed to the Senior Divisional Officer of Fako, Viang Mekala. Which surfaced on social media on the same day.

The said letter had caused a rebuttal from the Assembly President, Zacheus Elango Bakoma. Wherein, he disassociated the regional house from the heavy-worded piece. “It is an obligation for him to respond. If he did not respond, it would be rather unusual,” Chief Ebako told press men who approached him at the end of Unity Day celebrations in the South West headquarters of Buea. He said so, walking off the esplanade of the ceremonial ground to his car while dressed in his traditional wear, over which was the green, red, and yellow official sash. His left arm was in the hands of his official bodyguard.

Chief Ebako’s earlier proposition

Pondits have recalled that Chief Atem Ebako has been vocal on issues from his first year in the august house. Following Regional Assembly elections on December 6, 2020, Chief Ebako will later be voted December 20 as pioneer head of the South West House of Chiefs and Vice President of the South West Regional Assembly. By Sunday, May 16, 2021, Chief Ebako appeared with startling remarks on the Sunday radio news magazine on state media, CRTV. As reported by the Median Newspaper issue No. 450 of Tuesday, May 18, of which CNA has seen, Chief Ebako made a mess of the Special Status born from the Major National Dialogue of 2019,, creating his institution, which he said had no meaning.

He was quoted as saying that the institution was only on paper. Confirmed by his idling in office for over five months. He had called on the powers that be to “give us the competence and resources,, let us go to work.” The House of Chiefs President had further insinuated that the administration was not on paper, and so there was a need for accompanying actions. Moreover, he felt the overcentralization of power had inspired secession, propagated by activists with the aid of armed civilian groups.

Chief Ebako wanted the government to hand over the necessary competences to the decentralised structures, such as regional and municipal councils, to fast-track development. He, however, had expressed optimism at the drive of President Paul Biya with the intended operationalisation of the decentralisation process. Chief Ebako is the traditional ruler of Talangaye in Kupe Muanenguba. He has barely visited his community since the escalation of the ongoing socio-political conflict into an armed conflict.