UNANIMOUS VOICES FOR RESPECT OF ESU’s KINGLY CUSTOMS

There is a multitudinous clamour for the respect of customary precepts in Esu. Multiple voices are shouting out to pre-empt the profanation of the sacred rituals regarding kingship legitimacy in the Esu traditional fondom.
This follows a communique in which Abdoullahi Aliou, SDO of Menchum calls on “prospective candidates to the throne of Esu to file in their candidacy in his office for arrangement of consultative talks at the palace of Esu which he shall personally preside over”

Esu is clan in the Northwest Region of Cameroon. It is worth noting that, the throne in Esu has been vacant since 9th March 2022, after it’s occupant Fon Kum a -chou Kawzuh Albert Chi was murdered while returning from Weh, a neghbouring Fodom to Esu, where he attended a kingly coronation ceremony.

The SDO’s communique published on June 8th 2023 in which he invites persons to submit files for chieftain, has been followed by voices of dissent. The subject is rife on formal and informal forums; some have made official statements castigating attempts to desecrate the culture and tradition in Esu and consequently, the Cameroon grassland. All statements made, acclaim the need to uphold customery laws regarding kingship in Esu.

The Esu Care Taker Committee of the Esu Cultural and Development Association, ECUDA, differed with the SDO. In a press conference on June 17, they articulated that their customs and traditions are being violated. Speaking during the press conference, Barrister Kum Charles Kah of the Caretaker Committee said “Our constitution guarantees customs. We have other international instruments which Cameroon has signed and ratified. You have the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, you have the International Convention of Civil and Political Rights, you have the African charter and so on. Cameroon has signed and ratified these instruments and once they sign these international instruments which has to do with customs, it becomes our body rules. So we cannot sign laws and we still adhere to laws that are at variant with people’s customs”

In thesame vein, the Esu King Makers in a letter to the SDO dated June 12 writes “This process goes against the rules and regulations of our institutions set over four hundred years ago. Also the fon of Esu by Cameroon law is the custodian of the Esu customs and tradition. Therefore we do not expect the choosing of a new fon to go against the same customs and traditions”

The Menchum Council of Chiefs sent out a press release on June 14, which they stated “The Menchum Council of Chiefs has in a press release condemned the SDO’s call stating that “in Menchum, royal succession is determined by discent, sex, legitimacy and bloodline, governed solely by traditions and customs. Under common law, the administration plays an honorary role during the enthronement process. The administration do/should not have any influence in the affairs of royal succession. Esu is a peaceful tribe, currently being managed by their traditional council and other traditional institutions and their sovereignty should be maintained”

A statement from the Menchum Youth Union on June 16, in response to the SDO reads “We the youths of Menchum… decry the ordinance which calls on potential candidates to drop their candidacy in the SDO’s office and implies elective succession to the throne of Esu. Traditional institutions of Menchum are organized and are aware of their functions and have always played their role diligently regardless of public veneer and based on integrity in its truest form dating back to colonial days.The tradition and culture of Menchum does not provide for elective succession of a throne,or any outer influence.Succession is based on legitimacy, bloodline, descent and sex solely reinforced by the people’s customs and traditions.
On this note we stand against the SDO’s prefectorial order. However we appreciate his call for the kingmakers of Esu to a sense of responsibility and we choose to uphold our cultural tenets and traditional values”

The Esu Youth Development Association EYDA wrote to the SDO on June 15th in the words “While investigations are still going on, we are therefore calling on your very high office to see into it that Justice should follow it’s due course first before any arrangement can be made for the enthronement of a new fon in accordance with our customs which you are familiar with. Any plan yo enthrone a new fon without publishings the investigation report and also without respecting our customs and traditions risk further plunging the community into chaos”

By Mildred Ndum Wung Kum

Howdy
Millions of people are educated, informed and liberated through news.
We rely solely on goodwill donation.
Support Cameroon Infotrend to go wider. Your minimum contribution matters a lot.
We are dire in need of equipment; computers, digital recorders, cameras, service providers and financial assistance for transportation.
Any form of assistance would be a great relief. Please Help us!

For all Transactions, use this contact
+237651041509