Should Fontem Asaba sit on Njifua’s senate seat?

The new Fon of Lebialem, Fontem Asaba, made his first outing after his coronation on May 20th for festivities marking the annual 20th May celebrations.

Many were not expecting him to show up at the grandstand in Menji, understandably because official rituals marking the celebration of the transition of his father and in extension his coronation, had hardly ended. But he did and for him, all of Menji and those who had showed up for the 20th May stood still.

His convoy was long. All the way from Azi Palace, people scrambled for vantage spots along the road to Menji to have a glimpse of the looks of the new Fon. In this cell phone age, the news that he was on the way to the 20th May celebrations quickly disseminated all over, so that by the time the convoy got to Mveh, there was virtually no standing spot on the road to have a glimpse of him.

Flanked by king makers, princes and princesses from the palace, and bounded by the very popular security force that has become very much associated with the Fon of Fontem, the new Fon could be seen smiling and waving spontaneously at the crowd.

When he finally arrived the grandstand, everything came to a standstill as the jubilation, honour and shouts of praises overshadowed all that was scheduled. The climax came when he stood up to fraternise with traditional dancers who approached his cabin to sing his praises. When he stood up to dance with them, there was commotion and wild shouting all over as everyone wanted to see how the new Fon dances – and whether he could dance as much as the father. He did even more.

When the ceremony was all over and the convoy headed back to the Palace, the Journal gathered that, the Fon upon arrival at the Mary Health of Africa Hospital at Mveh, asked that he be taken into the wards to great the patience there. They took him there; he walked ward-to-ward, not only expressing empathy and wishing that they get well soon, but made cash donations on the spot to assist the patience with their medications.

It was such an embrace and a generous gesture from the young King that made us go out asking people’s opinions as to why he should not be elected senator to sit on the seat of his father.

His father died a sitting Senator from Lebialem constituency. He held the office of Questor (finance clerk) in the Senate. Considering the rich educational background of his successor – Fontem Asaba, the Journal spoke to Senators, Members of Parliament, Ministers and senior State Officials as to what they think about the chances for the new Fon to be elected or appointed into the Senate.

Section 154(1) of Cameroon’s Electoral Code provides that “where one or more seats become vacant in a constituency, whether because of the death or resignation of the substantive or alternate member, or for any other reason, by-elections shall be held within a period of 12 months following the occurrence of the vacancy.”

Going by this provision, by-elections are expected to be held in Lebialem to replace Senator Fontem Njifua.

Fontem Asaba, barely clocking 25 years is barred from seeking the office by section 220 of the

electoral code which states that “candidates to the office of senator, as well as the personalities appointed to the said office must have reached the age of 40 by the date of election or appointment.”

Reactions So should Fontem Asaba be made senator? Fon V.E. Mukete, Senator, and long time friend of the former Fon, still grieving for his long-time friend, indicated that though the loss was big, a square peg has quickly filled the gap. “But the gap will still remain at the senate. The departed Fon was a great man, a special friend of mine and I think it is a great loss to the Lebialem people and the nation in general. I’ll give my support to his successor.”

Matute Daniel Lyonga, CPDM Senator from the South West said Fontem Njifua played a very central role in the Senate and wished that Fontem Asaba was ripe for such challenging functions.

“A lot of memories with regard to the deceased colleague and friend. We were the two selected individuals who worked on the standing orders of the Senate from the South West. He was so friendly and open and we were already making plans on how to work in unison and develop the Southwest Region; nonetheless the battle continues and we shall help our people. How I wish this new Fon was ripe to join us at the senate to continue from where his father stopped,” Matute said.

Mbella Moki Charles, former Mayor of Buea and now Senator, described Fon Njifua as “a man who laid a very strong foundation for the senate to take off. If wishes were horses, then it will be my wish for Fontem Asaba, the new Fon, to come into our fold and continue as if Fon Njifua never left us. We all loved him but from the smooth transition, it is clear that he laid a very strong foundation that has met with the response of time; so thank God for him and thank God that he provided a man like him for this community and that he has been able to guide this transition.”

Also speaking to the Cameroon Journal, Bernard Forju, sole MP from Lebialem lamented “I am once more alone!”

Inspired, however, by the background of Fontem Asaba, Forju said, “We expect progress from the new Fon; though not rapid progress. You know when you sow a seed, you expect it to do better than the last seed. The last Fon was an excellent and development oriented Fon, a peaceful Fon, and a Fon of dialogue. So we expect the new Fon to continue in that same spirit. The father was very good so we expect him to be excellent.” Forju said.

Forju came close to shading tears when he said “It is a big blow to me since I have always been the lone Member of Parliament from the entire Lebialem Division. I was happy when the Senate was created and the Fon became Senator. We were working on a common agenda. It is very regrettable that this is happening and I find myself once again lonely. I pray we find a fine replacement, though we would have wished for the new Fon to wear the senate shoes. It is not a very comfortable feeling to be alone.”

Nfor Tabetando who is said to have been a very close friend to the late Fon and who is alleged to have contributed about 10million CFA towards the funeral of the late Fon, said “a great leader has gone, another has come and we hope he (Fontem Asaba) wears all the caps his father wore. We have lost a great king.”

Chief Nkemanyang Paul of The Star newspaper and Martin Nkemngu, former editor of Cameroon Tribune, were of the opinion that Fontem Asaba is a “perfect successor. God has given, taken and given again.” Nkemngu regretted that the man who fought for development is no more, but remain optimistic the new Fon is up to the task.