Land grabbing in Fako is an illusion - Chief Mokoto Njie

Below is an except of an interview granted the Sun Newspaper by the New Fako Chiefs' President, Chief Mokoto Njie.

New Fako Chiefs’ President, How prepared are you for the office of President of the Fako Chiefs Conference?

I can say I am very prepared because I’m not new to the Fako Chiefs Conference. Before this day of my election as president, I was the treasurer. I’m a man of the system. I’m ready for and will be up to the task. I’ve served as Fako Divisional President of the South West Elite association. I know the good, the bad and the ugly about Fako.

What is your roadmap for the Fako Chiefs Conference for the next two years?

My first priority will be to reunite the Fako Chiefs. I’ll also bring in all chiefs who are not yet members of the conference and see how we can ensure that the various chiefs-elect are installed.

I’ll look at the construction of a secretariat for the conference as a matter of urgency. We will also coordinate the development of our villages and ensure the completion of the blueprint for chieftaincy succession in Fako.

Camps seem to have emerged among Fako Chiefs. How do you intend to lead a divided house?

I started reuniting the people even when I was not president. Now that I have been elected president, I pledge to reconcile everybody so that we can move in the same direction for the interest of Fako. I’ll reunite everybody and not only Fako Chiefs. As a chief, you are the father of everybody.

You are taking up this office at a time when land grabbing has become an issue in Fako. How do you intend to handle the issues?

I don’t term it land grabbing because people apply for the land that they lost.. Bakweri people gave land to the Germans for the plantations and they agreed that such land will be surrendered to the community when there is the need.

The people apply to the government for land to be surrendered and such surrenders are done legally. This does not amount to land grabbing. The state gives the land to the community and the chief as the head manages the land. When we say it is grabbing, it is not true.

We may have one or two cases where some people might have misused the land, but it does not amount to land grabbing. The chief has the right to share the land to the community members. Land grabbing in Fako is only an illusion.

Today, Fako chiefs seem to be at war with their people over surrendered CDC lands. What do you make of this?

I don’t want to comment about the group fighting Fako Chiefs. I think they should know better why they are fighting. The land is given to the community and the chief manages it. A group cannot come out to challenge the authority of the chiefs.

Fako Chiefs were recently in Yaoundé to protest the suspension placed on land surrenders. What was the outcome of the meeting?

A suspension is not a ban. Because of the small noise around the place, the minister has suspended land surrenders so that they can investigate and rectify the lapses. It was not a protest per se. the land has not been taken away from the communities. It still remains community land. The minister reassured the chiefs that all will be well.