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

Prince Jesco Manga New Limbe Paramount Chief

By Francis Tim Mbom (Monday, 19 February 2007) from the Up Station Mountain Club newspaper

Prince Jesco Manga Williams has been designated the new Paramount Chief of Limbe after a family meeting at his Sapper Road residence, on Saturday, February 17. Jesco, 86, replaces Ferguson Billa Manga Williams who died in July, 2005.

The late Billa Manga was a younger brother to Prince Jesco and since his death, the Limbe throne had been mired in controversy as to who takes over.

As to how Billa Manga became Chief, Jesco said in 1959, when his father who was the then Paramount Chief died, he was studying in London. When he was called home, he could not come because of his studies. So he decided that his younger brother be made the Paramount Chief.

Going back to the controversy over inheriting the throne, The Post gathered that late Chief Billa Manga had willed the throne to the General Manager of CDC, Henry Njalla Quan, Jesco's nephew. But Jesco said that the "will was forged."

He said if they had to observe the will, many things would have been put into question. He had challenged the will at the Buea High Court. But the matter, Jesco said, was quashed on grounds that there was no substantive matter before on which his challenge was based.

Besides Jesco's claim to the throne, David Najia Carr of the Nanjia Carr Ovassee family at New Town was the first to lodge his claim to the throne, barely three weeks after Ferguson died.

Carr was seeking to be given "recognition and enthronement as the new Paramount Chief of Limbe."The head of the David Nanjia Carr Ovasse family, Carr had based his claims on the fact that, according to his documents, his grandfather was the first paramount ruler of Limbe and not King Manga Williams of Bimbia.

"My grandfathers were the founders of Limbe at New Town which is known as Liengu Mboke and not the Manga William family," Nanjia said at the time.On his part, Chief Martin Etule of Wovia, who died over a month ago, had said it was now the turn of the Wovia clan to designate a new Paramount Chief for Limbe.

He had said in an interview he granted to The Post that "Limbe belongs to the Wovia clan. Now the right man to be chief should be a Wovia man." Late Etule had argued that the Wovia people were the very first to settle in Limbe. He had said that the Bimbia people where the Manga Williams originated came and met them in Limbe.

Etule, who died at 99, was regarded as a custodian of the Bakweri tradition and history because of his age and especially because he was learned. That notwithstanding, the battle for succession had been raging on. The Fako administration led by the SDO, Bernard Okalia Bilai, had a few weeks back held another consultative meeting to lay the matter to rest.

Then Jesco said he called up last Saturday's meeting as a way to help the administration resolve the matter."I called this meeting as a step towards helping the administration appoint the actual Paramount Chief of Limbe," Jesco told The Post.

He said the Manga Williams family was the ruling house in Limbe and only it could designate a new Paramount Chief. He said he was going to take the result to the administration and the message would be transmitted to the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Decentralisation waiting for the Prime Minister's final approval.

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Court Dismisses Case Of Chief Manga Williams' Succession

By Francis Tim Mbom from the Up Station Newspaper

The High Court Of Fako has dismissed a motion brought before it by Prince Jesco Manga Williams against the SDO of Fako on grounds that there was no substantive matter before the court from which the motion was originating from.Prince Jesco, 88, and the elder brother to the late Paramount Chief of Limbe, Ferguson Billa Manga Williams, had filed a motion before the High Court of Fako, HCF, in Buea against the SDO of Fako, sometime in January, praying the Court to cause the defendant to hand over the WILL of the late Ferguson's will to the former.

But Justice Leslie Fobang in a ruling delivered Tuesday, February 21, in his Chambers, dismissed the case.Prince Jesco's counsel, Barrister Benjamin Enow of Liberty Law Firm , Mutengene, told The Post that the matter was quashed for lack of a substantive case or an originating matter to the motion.

Barrister Enow said they were going to concert with their client and will file for the court to issue a letter of administration of Late Ferguson's Estates to their client.

Since the Paramount Chief of Limbe died on July 7 and was laid to rest on September 9, there has been no successor as yet. All attempts to find one has meet with some resistance, this way or that way.

According to the motion before the Court: HCF/ 0055/ M/ 05-06, Prince Jesco is said to have on OCtober 11, contested when a WILL said to have been left by his late brother, Ferguson, was read out in his residence (Jesco) during a family meeting he had convened with the Fako SDO, the Probitry of the High Court, security officials and other family members.

According to the contents as read out, the late

Ferguson

willed that the GM of CDC, Henry Njalla Quan, be his successor.The motion before the Court stated that Prince Jesco "registered his objection and protest as to the origin, authenticity and contents," of the WILL.

Prince Jesco in a briefing to The Post after the ruling on Tuesday, told The Post that to the best of his knowledge, his brother "left no will." As to why he was contesting the WILL, he said when his younger brother, late

ferguson

, died, he (Jesco) wrote to the Fako administration to find out if the late Chief left anything in their keeping as a WILL. He said he got no response.

He further said it was only when he, as the family head had summoned a meeting for the issue of succession to be looked into that a WILL surfaced. According to him after the WILL was read, the administration refused to let him have the copy.

This prompted him, he said to file a case in court in order to cause the Fako Admistration to surrender the WILL to him.

Legal Mind

Barrister Sylvester Awasume in reaction to what the law holds about the authencity of a WILL said, normally a will as per the law has to be written in three signed copies and should have two witnesses; one copy, he said, has to be deposited with the probitry of the court and two with either the lawyer of the person or his/her confidant. He said the beneficiary of the WILL, by law, has to have no prior knowledge of it nor where it is kept. "It can be kept anywhere," he said.

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