Jesco Invokes Inoni to Appoint Him Paramount Chief

Cameroon: Jesco Invokes Inoni to Appoint Him Paramount Chief

Azore Opio

26 September 2008

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Prince Jesco Manga Williams, one of the parties in the contentious Limbe paramount chieftaincy stool has released a letter, which he thinks is the "final issue to put a nail on the coffin of [the] Limbe chieftaincy issue.

Dated September 19, 2008 and titled "The Paramount Chieftaincy Issue Reaches Its Finality," the letter is addressed to the Prime Minister.In it, Prince Jesco begins, "With regard to this chieftaincy affair if the subject matter was not so important, I would have given up a long time ago. But because a personality like Paramount Chief John Manga Williams was amongst the people that founded the importance of Limbe..."

Jesco goes on to dig up historical data to try and prove that he is of the blue blood to take over the paramount chieftaincy of Limbe.He says his great grandfather was King of Bimbia and "through him the Slave Trade was halted because he gave the British every assistance that was required."

The chieftaincy aspirant goes on to narrate that when his father was invited by the British Government, he went with him as his private secretary and "took the opportunity too go to the Public Record Office in London where he took notes of some record and (Pursuant to Statute 1 & 2 Victoria C.94).

This reference seems to be in relation to the treaty ending Slave Trade. Jesco says that in one of the record photocopies one can see that "among the principal signatories was that of his Great Grand Father King Bille Williams."

Jesco takes the reader down memory lane in 1923 to meet King George the Fifth when "he signed a certificate acknowledging the work done by my late father of his services to the people of Cameroon were highlighted."

And lastly, according to Prince Jesco, even Njalla Quan, CDC General Manager, "one the contenders bravely refused to be a contender to the chieftaincy stool and would not oppose me."

Jesco attached a letter purportedly written by Njalla Quan, dated January 13, 2005 to him (Jesco), in which Njalla Quan says "...with regard to the succession of the late Chief F. B. Manga Williams, I wish to make it clear that it has never been and it will never be my intention to vie for the throne. I have never claimed to be an heir to the throne..."

With these points that Jesco believes are evidences that the colonial masters "strongly believed in the capability and honesty and sincerity of the Manga Williams family as a ruling house..." he invokes the Prime Minister Ephraim Inoni to "use his good office to bring this chieftaincy mater to an end by appointing me as the next paramount chief of Limbe."

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Limbe Chieftaincy Stool Still Vacant

Cameroon: Limbe Chieftaincy Stool Still Vacant

Francis Tim Mbom

11 August 2008

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Three years after the Paramount Chief of Limbe, Ferguson Billa Manga Williams, died, the chieftaincy stool still remains vacant.

As tradition demands, the kingmakers of the Limbe chiefdom together with members of the ruling family were expected to find a successor.But immediately after the Chief's death, the SDO's office became inundated with applications from several quarters, each seeking to fill the vacant seat.

Among the lot were the elder brother to the late Chief, Prince Jesco Manga Williams and David Nanjia Carr.But since the death of Chief Billa Manga Williams, the Fako administration has at no time called up consultative talks to designate a new chief as it has been doing in other neighbouring villages such as Mukundange.

It was at the backdrop of government's silence over the issue that the elder brother of the late Chief, Price Jesco, called a press conference on Friday, August 8, at his Down Town Limbe residence to re-echo what he claims is his de facto right to succeed his late younger brother.

Jesco laid the blame for the lack of a paramount chief in Limbe squarely on the government. He said the Manga Williams family of which he is the eldest, had met over a year ago at his residence in the presence of some members of the then SDO of Fako, the Police Commissioner of Limbe, and his family designated him to replace his late brother.

"I wrote many letters to the SDO to state that I am now prepared to taker over the paramount chieftaincy of Limbe and that a meeting should be called. The SDO called a meeting where people came and, in fact, everybody who came was of the agreement that I should be the chief. But the SDO said he would send his recommendations to the Governor," Jesco said.

Following the inaction of the Fako administration, Jesco said that at one point he had to confront the Southwest Governor over the issue, but like the Fako administration, the Governor never acted.

"If the Governor knew that I am not the one to be installed, he would have given his reasons and not just sit quiet and leave matters to lie to the detriment of the country," Jesco bemoaned.

He added that he, in the midst of this feet-dragging, wrote to the Prime Minister's office. But he said till date, he has not received any reply.Prince Jesco said he is totally dissatisfied with government's attitude in handling the Limbe paramount chieftaincy palaver.

Basis Of Claim

Prince Jesco seems to hinge his claim to the Limbe paramount chieftaincy; first on the fact that he was born to the late Paramount Chief of Limbe, John Manga Williams.Secondly, Jesco says while their father died in 1960, he, as the elder brother of late Ferguson, was studying law in London.

He said he was called home to come and take over from his late father, but because of his studies, he passed the regency to his younger brother, Ferguson who ruled till his death on July 9, 2005.

Ferguson's Will At Variance

Contrary to Jesco's claims, the late Ferguson's will gives the next of kin to the present General Manager of Cameroon Development Corporation, CDC, Henry Njalla Quan.Jesco admitted that during the meeting that was called up at his residence some time ago, the SDO had produced a will supposedly left by Ferguson designating Njalla Quan as his successor.

But he stated that the will was at odds with tradition on grounds that a chiefdom was an institution whose successor cannot be determined by the fate of a will but rather by the people.

Jesco maintained that after the demise of his late brother, the Manga Williams family had met designated him as the next of kin as per tradition."What is wrong with the will is that a person cannot will an institution to someone or individual which is controlled by the people and by the government," he said, adding that by tradition, it is not the place of the chief to make a will and appoint someone.

Schemers

Meanwhile, Jesco has dismissed claims by other contenders to the throne, such as the Carrs. He presented to the press a certificate that was awarded to his late father in 1928 as recognition from the King of England at the time for his devoted services as ruler of the Victoria Province of the Cameroons.

Jesco said he was the only genuine candidate for the throne; "so far, there has been no clear case. I am the only one, the rest are just scheming." He said he was the paramount chief and wants the government to install him.

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Limbe Chieftaincy Crisis: Jesco Manga Williams Mounts The Stool

Innocent Timbong and Solomon Tembang

Monday, 11 August 2008 13:47

Says “I Can’t Wait Any Longer” Accuses Govt Of Presenting Forge Will Prince Jesco Manga Williams over the weekend told journalists at a press conference that from now henceforth, he was assuming the position as acting Paramount Chief of Limbe. Prince Jesco said with the continuous delay by government to recognise a Chief, he could not remain indifferent and has called on the administration to approve his candidature and name the date for his installation. “As eldest son of the late King Manga Williams, my candidature remains unchallenged”, he said. Jesco also strongly accused the Fako administration of presenting what he called a forged Will purported to be the last testament of the late Paramount Chief of Limbe, Chief Ferguson Manga Williams to the family. He disclosed that following the family’s rejection of the will, the enthronement of a new Chief has continued to stall. Buttressing his case, Prince Jesco argued that following the death of his younger brother, Chief Ferguson Manga Williams about three years ago, the out going SDO for Fako Division, Bernard Bilai Okalia presented a Will to the family during a meeting in the family residence, attended by family members and the Police Commissioner. During the meeting, Prince Jesco continued, the SDO brought out a brown sealed envelope and disclosed that he discovered it among the handing over notes of his predecessor, Ngambi Dikoume, and upon close appraisal he discovered that it was the Will of Late Chief Ferguson Manga Williams. The SDO, Prince Jesco continued, read out the Will in which the late Chief appointed Mr. Henry Njalla Quan as his successor. The Prince said he was surprised because according to the Bakweri tradition the late Chief was not habilitated to choose his successor, and during Chief Ferguson Manga Williams’ life time he never made any reference to the said Will because he himself was well versed with the culture of his people. Furthermore, Prince Jesco continued, Njalla Quan was not eligible to be chief by law and custom because he was not a Manga Williams as his name clearly indicated. Prince Jesco, however, agreed that Njalla Quan was his late sisters’ son but succession in the Bakweri land followed the paternal line and not the maternal line so his nephew was technically eliminated from the succession race. The Will, Prince Jesco said, was challenged by the entire family with Princess Mrs. Edna Eba making the family position against the said Will very clear. Curiously, Prince Jesco regretted that the said Will was not handed over to the family in spite of many attempts to procure it, and said he was sure the Will was being withheld to prevent the exposure of fraud. He declared, however, that he was taking legal steps to ensure that the said Will is handed over to the family. Prince Jesco said following the opposition to the Will, he had presented his file to be installed as the next Paramount Chief following a family meeting, but so far there has been no response from the administration. The delay, according to him, is stalling many traditional activities performed by the chief in Limbe, and many state and society engagements which require the participation of the chief. Responding to questions on the candidature of others, particularly the son of the late Chief Ferguson Manga Williams who has made public his intension to be chief, Prince Jesco shrugged him off, continuing that his late brother was married to a Ghanaian woman and the tradition did not permit offsprings of such to be in line for succession. Quizzed on the merits of his candidature, Prince Jesco said he was supposed to be the chief when his father died but he passed it to his younger brother because he was studying in Britain. Challenged that 80 and above was too old an age to assume public functions, Prince Jesco who falls in this category said age comes with wisdom, quoting figures from the Bible, Nelson Mandela and the American Republican candidate for the White House, John McCain, age and experience, Jesco maintained, are vital for leadership. Quizzed on other families in Limbe like the Carrs and Mokebas who had expressed interest, Prince Jesco presented a seal from King George of England to his father in 1928 recognising his outstanding services as president of the courts in the Limbe zone which covered a larger territory then. The Manga Williams dynasty had reigned unbroken for over a century and will continue inpite of unfounded rumblings Prince Jesco concluded.

Last Updated on Monday, 11 August 2008 15:32 view original post here

Limbe Chieftaincy Tussle: Prince Jesco Seeks MINATD Endorsement

By Innocent Timbong from the Eden Newspaper. view original post here

Monday, 14 January 2008 11:19

The smoldering Limbe chieftaincy crisis has resurfaced, sparking renewed wrangling amongst pretenders to the vacant throne. The latest tensions come following a letter addressed to MINATD by Prince Jesco Manga Williams, the elder brother to the deceased chief. Jesco claims he has been chosen by his family as the successor with the backing of the Fako Coastal Chiefs Association. Prior to Prince Jesco’s unilateral lifting of the crown, the Secretary to the Coastal Chiefs Association, Chief Samuel Ekum of Dikolo village, had issued an ultimatum early December, to the effect that the Mange Williams family produce a chief for Limbe latest 31 December 2007. Prince Jesco’s onslaught received objections within and out of his family. Samuel Manga Williams, eldest son of the late chief described Jesco’s declaration as a bluff. Samuel challenged Jesco’s claims, making reference to his age, and emphasising his position as eldest son of the late Chief Ferguson Manga Williams. He said the chieftaincy in Limbe was not a Manga William’s monopoly. He quoted the 1960 Billing’s report which recognised three ruling houses in Limbe, they are the Manga William’s family, the Carr and the Mokeba families. Meanwhile, following the demise of the chief of Limbe, several candidates noticeable emerged as front-runners. It is reported that Chief Ferguson Manga Williams willed his throne to Henry Njalla Quan, son to his late sister. Upon publication of the will, a copy deposited with the Fako SDO, Prince Jesco Manga Williams, uncle to Njalla Quan, challenged the will in court. However, members of the royal traditional council pointed out that the deceased chief had no veto powers over the choice of his successor. Prince Samuel Ewudo Manga Williams is also laying claim to the throne, basing his argument on the premise that he is the eldest son of the late chief. David Nanja Carr has also stalked his claim for the throne, calling on the Manga Williams family to support his candidature, as his uncle late Hon Lifio Carr stepped aside and backed the Manga Williams in 1960. David Nanja claims he has the support of Princess Mokeba, whose eligible males are said to be overseas. Other names mentioned include, Prince Johnny Manga Williams and Makaka Williams, sons of Prince Jesco aged 86. Outside claims have also come from the chief of Bomboko and Botaland. Most of the claims have been judged inappropriate by traditionalists. According to some, succession in Bakweri land is paternal and not matrilineal. Thus the chief must be a male offspring of the concerned chiefs. However, opponents to this view say Victoria aka Limbe, cannot be considered within the aforementioned parameters because Limbe is a settlement. They point out that even strangers had been chiefs in Limbe before the delimitation by the 1960 Billings Report. Other aspects militating against the plethora of mentioned candidates, traditionalist hold, is the fact that many cannot speak Bakweri and are ignorant of the sacred cults of the land. The administration has played a neutral role so far. The Fako SDO, Bernard Okalia Bilai has thrown the ball to the natives to select their chief and present to the administration, for forwarding to Yaounde. The ultimatum by Chief Ekum to the Manga Williams family has also come under sharp indictment by the contestants. According to them the coastal chiefs lack the competence to meddle in the selection of first class chiefs. view original post here