Emmanuel Tataw
18 April 2005
Jean Marie Atangana Mebara, Personal representative of the Head of State raised the late Statesman post-humously to Grand Cordon of Cameroon Order of merit.
All roads led to Bachou Akagbe, a sprawling village some fourteen kilometres to Mamfe, the main town in Manyu Division of the South West Province. Residents of this village at the axis of three main highways leading to Nigeria, Kumba and Bamenda may have been weeping for a departed patriarch but it was an opportunity for them to witness Republican images and symbols. The official funeral ceremony of Emmanuel Tabi Egbe, Roving Ambassador and former Minister of State virtually elevated Bachou Akagbe to the national lime light. It reminded the thousands who thronged Manyu Division for the event of the advantages of loyalty and patriotic service to a fatherland. The death of Emmanuel Tabi Egbe, provided a sterling platform for reflections at individual and collective levels on the appropriate values elder Statesmen have to bequeath to the teaming youths. After close to forty five years of active service to the nation, it was evident the late Roving Ambassador's life touched a national audience. In Bachou Akagbe last Saturday, the quality and quantity of those who came to pay their last respects to him and the eulogies that poured from the Speakers were evident of his standing in the psyche of many.
Wreath
The official funeral ceremony began with the arrival of the Minister of State, Secretary General at the Presidency of the Republic (SGPR), Jean Marie Atangana Mebara. As personal representative of the Head of State at the ceremony, the SGPR's presence gave the event the national significance it deserved. After the playing of the national anthem, President Biya's personal representative went through a guard of honour mounted by various detachments of the Armed Forces before shaking hands with a cross section of dignitaries. Shortly after taking his seat, the remains of late Emmanuel Tabi Egbe, draped in national colours were conveyed to the ceremonial grounds by eight police officers matching to the rhythm of military music. The personal representative of the Head of State was led to lay the wreath offered by the Presidential Couple before the funeral church service was set into motion. The theme of the sermon delivered by the Anglican Church in which the deceased was it's Chancellor in Cameroon, stressed the need to "do it now, for tomorrow may be to late". Christians were told to do what is right "today", because there may be no tomorrow. At the end of the sermon, the condolence message of the Head of State to Madam Jane Egbe, wife of the deceased was read by the SDO for Manyu and publicly handed to her. President Paul Biya, in the condolence message referred to late Emmanuel Egbe Tabi as "a great Statesman who served his country with steadfast commitment and patriotism, spurred by a permanent quest for national unity and a high sense of group cohesion".
Eulogies
Five eulogies were read, all stressing the values of humility, patriotism and leadership exemplified by the late patriarch throughout his political life. The Manyu Elements Cultural Association (MECA) set the ball of eulogies rolling. Dr. Robinson Mbu, President of the association said the "Sun has set in Manyu" with the demise of the "initiator of development groups and promoter of Manyu Culture". The Chief Scribe of the South West Elites Association (SWELA), Dr. Mbencho Andrew Tazi mourned the death of a vibrant founder of the movement. He praised the moral rectitude of the late chief adding that his "values will remain enshrined in the collective conscience of us all". Barrister Ben Muna was the third speaker, taking the rostrum as a representative of the friends of the family. He referred to the deceased as "a man of principles who knew no tribal or regional boundaries because he was wedded to the principle of fairness and justice". Speaking for the family, Leo Egbe, son of the departed Roving Ambassador said his father "sought the best in every creature that came across your way". Leonard Egbe stressed the value of service inculcated into them by the departed father concluding that "you tried your humble best to be honest with both your conscience and the chaotic world all around you". The last speaker was a representative of the ruling CPDM, Minister of the Forest and Wildlife, Hilman Achou Egbe. He called "Comrade Egbe Tabi the architect of the fatherland and eloquent advocate of re-unification" Minister Achou Egbe praised his integrity, and loyalty to the party before reading a condolence message from the Secretary General of the Central Committee of the CPDM. At the end of the eulogies, Minister of State, Secretary General of the Presidency, Jean Marie Atangana Mebara on behalf of the Head of State, decorated, post humouly, late Chief Egbe Tabi with the Grand Cordon of the Cameroon Order of Merit. In his final statement, Jean Marie Atangana Mebara called late Chief Egbe Tabi, "a great servant of the State", praising his "fidelity and sense of duty to the nation". He called on mourners to pursue the dreams and ideals of the late patriot by preserving national unity and love the nation as he did throughout his life time. In conclusion, the SGPR said President Biya has directed him to express his deep gratitude for all the late Statesman did for the nation and his collaboration throughout. The national anthem sealed this phase of the ceremony and led to the burial which took place shortly afterwards.
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