Bakundu chiefs split over Itoe's dismissal

The worth of the signatures of Chiefs of Bakundu extraction, in Meme Division, Southwest Region, has witnessed a rise following the announced sacking of the President General of the Bakundu Cultural and Development Union, BACDU, Benjamin Itoe, recently.

News of the sacking has further split the tribe and the various camps are reportedly scrambling for the signatures of the 31 active chiefs to justify their respective stance.

Following the publication of the sacking in the press by the President of the Bakundu Chiefs Conference, Hon David MotaseNgoh, with a roll call of some 22 chiefs, the argument is gradually shifting to the authenticity of the signatures.

Motase had told reporters during a press briefing that the decision he announced has the backing of all the chiefs who signed the document.

The former Member of Parliament equally explained that, but for natural happenings such as death, all the 36 chiefs of the villages that make up the Bakundu tribe would have been active members of the union.

Meanwhile, information making rounds in Kumba now holds that some chiefs have dismissed Hon. Motase from the position of President of the chiefs’ conference.

Approached for comment on this new twist, Motase told The Post that all the information is fake.

Meantime, the Benjamin Itoe camp is reportedly bracing up to defend his dismissal together with his BACDU executive.

The Post gathered that the list of signatories to the document from the chiefs supporting the former Minister may have the same names as those which are found on Motase’s list.

The Minister had programmed a press briefing for Wednesday, April 15, at 9.00am at the Chiefs Palace in Kake II but rescheduled the meeting to a latter hour, reportedly due to electricity outage that delayed the processing of documents.

At the time of filing this report, information was emerging that a pack of documents had reportedly disappeared from the secretariat of the Bakundu Chiefs President. The documents, The Post learnt, contained vital information relating to the Chiefs’ Union.

As the differences between the traditional leaders continue, some people are reportedly making gains from both camps.