‘I have been reliably informed by an official in the Ministry of Supreme State Control that the Divisional Officer for Nguti is planning to arrest me under the pretext that I am against development in Nguti. I, therefore, have a strong conviction that he is looking for any available opportunity to humiliate me in public…’
By Azore Opio
The CEO of Nature Cameroon, Dominic Alekeh Ngwesse, has addressed a long letter to the Governor of the South West, Bernard Okalia Bilali, imploring the administrator to urgently investigate what he terms threats to his life posed by the Nguti Divisional Officer (DO), Kombe Henry Pasang.
Ngwesse says the DO used administrative fiat and threats to intimidate him as he went about his charge of protecting the rights of his native Nguti people from the “unscrupulous actions and activities of a certain agro-industrial company” which, he says has been unlawfully, recklessly and unsustainably operating in the Sub-division.
“I wish to humbly submit this petition against Mr. Kombe Henry Pasang, Divisional Officer for Nguti Sub-division and pray you as the First Administrator of our Region to take keen interest to ensure my security and that of my staff as well as my entire family in Nguti and beyond.
“On May 6, 2014, I was presented an arrest warrant by the Chief of Post for Public Security, Nguti, issued by the State Counsel of the High Court of Kupe-Muanenguba in Bangem, dated sometime in July 2009. He asked me on that fateful May 6 to follow him so that he could present me to the State Counsel and I did just that. But upon presentation of the said warrant of arrest, the State Counsel and I were taken aback that there is no case filed against me, even upon verification from the High Court in Bangem. The Chief of Post immediately called the Divisional Officer who had a long conversation with him. The State Counsel was deeply dismayed to see me innocently accused before him.
“The next day the same police officer apologized to me for committing such an error,” begins the petition.
The Nguti DO delivered another administrative blow at Nature Cameroon’s CEO with Decision No. 00196 of 11/September/2013 suspending the NGO from holding any public meeting in Nguti Sub-division.
According to the DO, the decision “was to put a hault not to ignorance on your part [Dominic Ngwesse] to State Laws but, to ensure the consequences of brashness and obstinacy does not get out of hand in Nguti Sub Division under the banner/cover of carrying out social development for the population..”
The CEO of Nature Cameroon, however, says, “The truth about it is that the administration of Nguti does not want anyone to talk about the issue of land grabbing by SG SOC [Herakles Farms] in Nguti. Consequently, they are using this method to avoid people knowing in details the bad side of the company and what the communities need to know in order to stand firm in defending their rights.”
Ngwesse admits in his petition to the South West Governor that he has been very vocal over some illegal activities of Herakles Farms (SG SOC) plantation project in Nguti before the Presidential decree of November 25, 2013 giving the company a three-year temporary lease.
He cites the case of one of his staff, Njang George Gedeon Ekangaki, whom he said became the subject of military arrest for allegedly being a ‘banga smoker’ “misleading youths of Nguti to destroy WIJMA CAFECO Company.” [WIJMA CAFECO owns a sawmill in Nguti that transforms raw timber into finished wood].
Ngwesse said the youths and the rest of the population of Nguti had merely carried out a peaceful demonstration (May 2014) at the company’s gate asking for their legitimate rights and the need for the Divisional Officer to open dialogue between them and the company.
“One does not need any further facts to confirm my suspicion that my life and that of my staff in Nguti are at stake because many families in Nguti are no longer on talking terms given that the discussions after the peaceful demonstration revealed issues that may not be publicly mentioned,” says Ngwesse in his petition.
Ngwesse thus, entreats the Governor to cause the Divisional Officer and the Chief of Post for Public Security for Nguti to give an explanation why they are traumatizing him and creating an atmosphere of insecurity around his staff and him.
Nature Cameroon is a recognized association under Cameroon law by virtue of an acknowledgment receipt no 46/A/G.42/162/Ps dated the 9th of September 2004 signed by the then Senior Divisional Officer for Kupe-Muanenguba Division, Mbu Peter.
According to a senior administrator in Nguti, Nature Cameroon has done a lot in Nguti in terms of development initiatives.
“This includes provision of community water, but may be Herakles is thinking that Nature Cameroon is trying to block its way,” said the administrator.
