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Cameroon: The Ntumfor Title Has Caused Me Nightmares - Nico Halle

Joe Dinga Pefok

28 August 2008

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interview

The spokesman of the Northwest Fons Union, NOWEFU, Ntumfor Barrister Nico Halle, has revealed that the Ntumforship title has drained him and caused him a lot of nightmares.

In this interview, granted The Post in Douala, after an extraordinary Executive meeting of NOWEFU, which took place in Bamenda on August 16, Ntumfor Halle, among other things, talks on the conflict between him and the President General of NOWEFU, Fon Chafah XI, the choice of Menchum Division to produce the next President General of the Union and lashes out at those whom he says are commercialising the Ntumfor tile. Read on:

The Post: At the recent extraordinary Executive meeting of the Northwest Fons Union, NOWEFU, which took place in Bamend , Menchum was reportedly chosen at the detriment of Momo, as the Division the will provide the next President General of NOWEFU. Why the choice of Menchum?

Ntumfor Halle: Usually, ahead of a General Assembly at which a President General of NOWEFU is to be elected, there is an extraordinary Executive meeting to determine which Division will produce the next President General.

That's exactly what happened on August 16. It will, thus, be erroneous for any one to think that the decision had been determined in advance. However, I am aware of the fact that rumours - and even some media organs - had, before the recent meeting in Bamenda, already declared that Momo was to be the next Division to produce the President General. But, as far as I know, no such decision had been taken by NOWEFU before the August 16 meeting.

Fon Hans Anagho of Ngwo Village in Momo Division had, before the August 16 meeting, declared his intention to run for The Post of President General of NOWEFU. He should definitely be disappointed with the choice of Menchum. Don't you think such a situation would have been avoided if NOWEFU had adopted a fixed calendar for the rotation of the presidency of the Union between the seven Divisions?

What you are saying is true. This would have worked in a bid to avoid bickering about the choice of the Division to produce the next President General. In fact, I think that what you are suggesting looks like the best option that the turns of each of the seven Divisions should be determined well in advance.

However, I have the impression that, at the end of the round of this current system of rotation, that is, when each of the seven provinces would have taken its turn to produce a President General of the Union, there will be a modification of the system to go into operation from the second round. In such a situation, there would be a fixed timetable, which will, thus, clearly indicate the order in which The Post of the President General will rotate between the Divisions.

Some media reports have indicated that, during the NOWEFU Executive meeting, the conflict between you and the President General of NOWEFU, Fon Chafah X1 of Bangolan, took centre stage. Any comments on that?

I think that what took centre stage at the meeting was rather the choice of the Division that should produce the next President General of the Union. It is, however, true that we did address the crack which was on the wall in the relationship between Fon Chafah and myself. Well, he brought up the issue at the meeting. He did say the media had blown the problem out of proportion. Well, to put it succinctly, he said he still holds me in high esteem.

What was the problem between you and Fon Chafah?

I do not like to discuss this uneasy situation that existed between Fon Chafah and me. But, unfortunately, the thing is now in the media. Let me, however, say that I and Fon Chafah had an excellent relationship even before I was made Ntumfor some nine years ago. Well, the fact is that things had, along the line, gotten derailed.

There has been the flow of some bad blood. It is unfortunate that the relationship between two friends turned that way. I think that some external forces came in and did damage to our relationship. But I have been silent about it; just watching and praying. I have, all along, considered the rather poor relationship between Fon Chafah and me as an isolated case, since I have, all this while, had a wonderful relationship with all the other Fons of the Northwest Province.

You should not forget that there are close to 400 Fons in the Northwest Province, and, apart from Fon Chafah, I relate well with all of them. We work in total harmony. In other words, there are no glitches between us: I respect them and they respect me, too.

Let me stress that respect is supposed to be reciprocal in society. So, while you respect a Fon or a traditional ruler, he should also respect you. A Fon who does not respect his subject or elite, does not also deserve respect. It is true that Fons or traditional rulers are important people in the society, and society is supposed to respect them. But, they, in turn, must also bear in mind that society also deserves respect from them.

There have been some media reports that, at the recent meeting in Bamenda, you accused Fon Chafah of sponsoring press publications against you. Do you have any evidence to substantiate such an accusation?

I did not say anything of that sort at the meeting. But I know that I did decry falsehood, lies telling, manipulations and smear campaigns. But, even then, I made no direct reference to anybody. I did not even say anything about press publications. Nonetheless, talking about press publications, let me say that I read in a newspaper, sometime ago, that there was a certain trio sponsoring certain newspapers to destroy me.

It is ironical, isn't it, that Fon Chafah, with whom you admit to have had some problems. is the one who says he played a major role for you to become Ntumfor. Some observers would say that you are simply being ungrateful to the Fon...

I can not understand why this Ntumfor title thing keeps coming up. What is Ntumfor, for God's sake! Ntumfor is just a messenger. Thousands of other titles have been given to sons and daughters of the Northwest Province. But, the truth is that a title never makes a man. Rather, a man makes a title.

A traditional title is not a certificate; it is not a profession; it is not a paid job. What is special in the name, Ntumfor? Nothing. It is just like the other thousands of traditional titles that have been given out. I think that I was made Ntumfor because of the many things that I have been doing over the years that endears me to the Fons.

While presenting me at the Fons meeting which held at the Nkwen Palace, the Fon of Bafut, Abumbi 11, read out a long list of reasons that had caused the Fons to decide to make me Ntumfor. When Fon Angwafor of Mankon was blessing me at a ceremony which took place at the Bamenda Municipal Stadium, he said the Fons were sending me to be their Ambassador, their Spokesman, as well as their Legal Adviser.

He also said that I had the mission to correct them wherever and whenever they were wrong. On that occasion, he said I should continue with the good work that I have, all along, been doing.

Was there no deal or private arrangement between Fon Chafah and yourself before you were given the title of Ntumfor by the Fons?

No. What deal or arrangement? All I know is that the Fons invited me to their meeting at the Nkwen Palace; they said they had decided to give me the title of Ntumfor, in recognition of my good work. That is what happened. So, the title was given just like a pat on my back. It is not like the Ntumfor title came with some property or favour.

The title has never directly, or indirectly, given me anything. The title has never caused me any appointment. I have benefited nothing - absolutely nothing - from the Ntumfor title. Rather, I have been drained by the Ntumfor title. But I do not complain because it is a mission the Fons asked me to execute. So, I am doing it with pleasure. Don't forget that, before becoming Ntumfor, I was doing things for the Fons. More important, even after the title of Ntumfor, I will continue with that spirit.

But, then, nobody should pride himself that he took part in making me Ntumfor. Let me reiterate: the title has never brought me any drop of water. And, let me make it abundantly clear: I have never exploited the title for anything, whatsoever. Rather, if there is one Fon who has benefited from this Ntumfor title, it is Fon Chafah.

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