New Sasse chief wants to unite warring factions

Abel Mokuke Ndive has been coronated and installed to the royal stool of Sasse village with a call to unite warring factions within the village.

The call was made by the Divisional Officer for Buea, Paul Kouam Wokam at the Sasse Village Square Saturday January 17. Sasse has been without a chief for over twenty years.

In his installation speech after the coronation rites conducted by scores of chiefs, the Divisional Officer reminded the businessman born in 1973 that managing a village like Sasse is not the same as managing a business. He enjoined him to give a listening ear to the population and take development to his people.

Moved by encomiums from the Chairman of the Sasse Village Council, Liowe Francis, hailing him for bringing peace to Sasse, Kouam Wokam said “The people of Sasse welcomed me and permitted me to carry out this duty. At this point in time, history will hold that it was now that Sasse had a chief. All other villages without chiefs should put aside internal strife and interests and work towards a similar end. They should copy good examples. If Sasse had been for over 20 years without a chief, then every other village without a chief can have one.”

Amidst increasing criticisms that the consultative talks were done under heavy security, same with the installation, the Divisional Officer noted that the struggle has been long.

“The race has been long and the throne has been disputed. It is human that they might be reluctant to join, but if they believe in their village and think that something can be achieved, then it’s time for them to come on board. While they continue protesting or filing protests to the administrative courts or administration, they should know that they remain sons and daughters of Sasse. They should listen to the new chief. We are impressed with the development that the village has seen within this short while. This is a new era for Sasse,” the DO said.

Chief Mokuke Ndive on his part said he wants to “lead my people to greater heights. My first priority is to identify the boundary of Sasse village with its neighbours. We will identify and demarcate all family land. I’ll then embark on agricultural development and encourage the youths to come back to the village.”

He described his opponents as those who don’t want development but encouraged them to come to Sasse.

His words: “Not everybody wants development but this day, the Lord has brought us back to the village. You can see for yourself the development that has been coming in. We got lights, water and a community hall with other buildings. I’m appealing to them that together we build, and divided we’ll fall. I’ll call all of them to come to the palace let’s reason together and move forward. To the community, I want to tell them that the glory of God has come back to the village. We are going to work as one force to rebuild this village.”

Quizzed on whether he is comfortable to be chief of a warring village, he said “I’m so comfortable to be the chief of Sasse. The village was extinct and I’m trying to bring the people together. Aside the Sasse College, people now know that Sasse village now exists.”

He denied claims that he treated the delegation of North Wes Fons at the ceremony with disdain, given that he failed to stand to receive a traditional stool given him by Fon Forbuzie Martin Asanji of Chomba, Fon TTT Tegenecha of Zang Tabi and Fon Mbakwa of Acha Tugi.

“The coming of the North West fons is so colourful and wonderful. I could not stand up to take the gifts because I’m sitting on a royal stool. I assigned my protocol officers to collect the gifts from them,” Ndive explained.