Choves Loh
12 May 2008
Late Ambassador Christopher Nsahlai's last journey on earth and funeral in the land of his ancestors, Mantum-Kifom, Jakiri Sub division was a crowd puller. Civil, political and religious authorities filed out to bury their brother, father, friend ,hero and comrade.
It was the North West at its best that mobilized to mourn and pray for God to grant late Minister Nsahlai a safe passage through the gates of death to a home with all the Saints in heaven. Virtually all the sons and daughters of the province were around to comfort late Nsahlai's family .Hon. Simon Achidi Achu, Yang Philemon, Ama Tutu Muna, Atanga Nji Paul, Ngafeeson Emmanuel, Fuh Calistus Gentry, Fai Yengo, MPs, Fru Ndi, Baba Ahmadou Dampullo etc all joined the Special Representative of the Head of State, Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Jean Kuete to bury the one known to have been a true Patriot, a Visionary, no nonsense public official, a good comrade and a good Statesman. Late Christopher Kilo Fai Nsahlai the Board Chairman of the Ports Authority of Douala, Former Minister and former Ambassador died in Yaounde on April 18, 2008. Santa the gateway into the North West welcomed his corpse on May 9th with CPDM militants leading the funeral convoy to down town Bamenda where a crowd of mourners offered special prayers for him in the Congress hall led by Mezam I CPDM Section President, Minister Nji Paul Atanga.
The Rt. Hon Achidi Achu prayed God to make Late Nsahlai one of his Ministers and Messengers in heaven. It was all praises for President Biya who decreed a State burial for the illustrious son of the nation. The last journey from Bamenda to Mantum-Jakiri was hitch free with the bumpy stretches of road from Ndop through Babungo to Babessi rehabilitated to ensure smooth driving to the home of late Nsahlai's ancestors. At the funeral, Nkwain Francis, leader of the CPDM Central committee delegation said late Nsahlai was a fateful apostle of the CPDM and its founding President, Biya. He said the party was in Mantum to do libation for the land of Nso to be soft for late Nsahlai whose loss was tragic and painful. Late Nsahlai according to the CPDM delegation was a committed leader and a flame of the Jakiri people. Emmanuel Nsahlai, the son on behalf of the family said the passing of their father was not natural but promised to keep his wisdom and love assured that from heaven he will continue to be caring.
North West CPDM elite found in late Nsahlai "an exponent of national unity and national integration". From humble beginnings in 1943 the elite recall that Minister Nsahlai began his rise to the Mountain top as early as 1974 when he was appointed Charge de Mission in the P.M's office and went on to relentlessly pursue his goals not caring what people thought or said, a distinctive mark of his personality. Ministers of the Church prayed God to free him of the bondage of all his sins and grant him the joy of unending peace and light. In all, it was the funeral of one who was a rallying force in Bui and a pure blood traditionalist who also took credit as the "Ngwaang","Shu Fai" and "Nformi" of the traditional "Nfuh Gham" and " Nfuh Bah" of Nso land.
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