SW Regional Assembly president disavows VP, throws weight behind Fako SDO against Chiefs
By Nchendzengang Tatah
The President of the South West Regional Assembly, Zacheus Bakoma Elango, issued a note on May 19 distancing the South West Regional Assembly from the declarations of the President of the South West House of Chiefs wh0 is also the VP of the Assembly, His Royal Majesty Chief Dr Atem Ebako Bisong Andrew, to the Senior Divisional Officer (SDO) for Fako earlier on the same day.
Chief Ebako had addressed what he felt was the condescending manner in which the SDO had ordered Fako Traditional rulers to participate in May 20 celebrations across the division. Bakoma said the release was one that he only saw on social media. Wherein he felt, Chief Ebako had “challenged the authority” of the SDO.
To him, Fako SDO Viang Mekala had the right to summon traditional rulers for the Unity Day celebration and impose imminent sanctions on those who would not show up without justifiable reasons. Bakoma said the chiefs were “auxiliaries to the administration” and the orders were a reminder of their “republican duty and responsibility”.
He went on to regret that the House of Chiefs President had failed to weigh in on the SDO’s order on the chiefs. “Unfortunately, by your correspondence, you are combating global State and collective efforts to bring back normalcy to our beloved region,” the South West Regional Assembly President asserted.
According to his estimation, it was only the President of the South West Regional Assembly who could issue statements as regards any component of the Assembly which the House of Chiefs is one of two. He further quarrelled with the House Chiefs President for using the letterhead of the Assembly without seeking his consent and approval.
To recall, Chief Dr Atem Ebako had issued a letter to the SDO for Fako on May 19, warning him of what he felt was the “rude” and “callous way in which the civil administrator had instructed Chiefs to be at the May 20 celebration ground. In the outing of SDO Viang Mekala on May 15, he had assured disciplinary sanctions against chiefs who would not show up at the grandstand without a significant excuse.
