The Saga of the Sabga Lamidad: An Investigative Report
By Issa Nyanyi  in Bamenda

Controversy still reigns supreme in Sabga following the enthronement of two Lamidos to a single throne in less than one month. The issue which started off like a light breeze has turned into a tsunami, as it has now attracted the attention of the American Embassy and the Prime Minister of Cameroon. The Frontier Telegraph went an extra mile to dig out hidden facts surrounding the imbroglio.

Background to the Conflict

The Mbororos in Cameroon make up one of the largest single ethnic group who speak the same language: Fulani, in the North West province. They have their traditional set-ups well organized, with the Ardos being in charge of a handful of Mbororo families (Hamlets or Sares), while the Lamido controls conglomerations of Ardos in a large region. It is a federal and decentralized structure that seems to have served them well all this while. The succession to the throne of a Lamido is elective as well as hereditary. In the North West province, there had never been a Lamido until some six years ago, in 2001, when political considerations obliged some Mbororos to start what appears to be a fight over who is the greatest Mbororo in the entire region.

By October of 2003, the antagonism was brought to public view in a fight over who is the Lamido of the Mbororo community in the North West province. There had existed a sort of Cold War between two large groups – the MBOSCUDA and SODELCO. On the one hand, MBOSCUDA is backed by a certain Djadji who is supposed to be the son of the Ardo of Sabga, and later Lamido of Sabga. A top CPDM baron, Djadji works at the Presidency. It is reported that in September 2003, Djadji, and others like Musa Usman Ndamba organized a MBOSCUDA National Assembly in Bamenda. Prominent personalities in attendance were the appointed governor of the North West province, the SDF MP for Bali-Santa, the Assistant Government Delegate for Bamenda and other top CPDM Barons of the North West province. In that meeting, the “new Lamido” (the first) was sort of confirmed.

This joy was to be short-lived as information reached the people that the administration of Mezam had declared the elections of the “new Lamido” null and void. As one man, the entire population of Sabga thronged out onto the major highway between Bamenda and Ndop. Trouble had started, and the people smelled a dead rat. Our investigations reveal that very suspicious meetings were being held in the office of the Divisional Officer for Tubah, the jurisdiction under which falls Sabga, chaired by Alhaji Baba Danpullo.  Also present at the meeting was the Fon of Kedjom-Ketingo and the Hausa chief in Bamenda. Many are wondering why Alhaji Baba Danpullo, who is not from Sabga and not even of the same ethnic lineage, will be so interested in who occupies the Sabga Lamidad.

The Drama goes Sour

On Monday August 20th 2007, the inhabitants of Sabga woke up to find the entire community surrounded by more than 200 armed security forces. Later in the afternoon, Mezam SDO Jules Marcelline Ndjanga arrived to open the doors of the Palace he sealed in July 2007. He then proceeded to reading what he called administrative ordinances. He insinuated that because of the “dispute” over the throne, he had stepped in by asking interested candidates to apply to him. He concluded that he had received only one application. So, he went on to pronounce his new Lamido, in the person of Alhaji Mamouda. At the mention of that name, all hell broke loose. The women immediately formed a human wall and blocked the palace entrance. It took the entire military force to overpower them.

While in the Palace, Mr. SDO had to wait for the “Patron”- the main man Alhaji Baba Danpullo, who later arrived in the company of the Hausa Lamido of Banyo, the Hausa Chief of Bamenda and some Hausa elders. The population immediately confronted Alhaji Baba Danpullo, and he was only rescued thanks to the firing of tear- gas into the crowds. Some pregnant women were badly affected, and a horse was shot to death. In the midst of the mayhem, the Lamido of Banyo proceeded to crown Mamouda Sabga as Lamido by performing some Moslem rites.

Intimidations and tortures ensued, causing the escape of many youths from Sabga. Many demonstrated at the Prime Minister’s office in Yaoundé, while others took refuge at the Embassy of the United States of America. A few days later, there was an organized “reconciliation” in Sabga, with prepared speeches indicating that the feud was over. Starched agbadas were distributed to some “new Lamido”. But, this again was to be short-lived, as the Prime Minister issued very strong directives to Ministry of Territorial Administration and Decentralisation boss to carry out investigations on the issue, thereby annulling all what the Mezam administration had done.

The questions being asked are many and varied as well as intriguing. If the first ever Lamido was recognized only in 2003, where does the supposed will have come from? Why are the Hausa so interested in the Sabga issue -- an area completely inhabited by Mbororos? Is Alhaji Baba Danpullo out to settle scores with the Mbororos of Sabga who have blocked his expansionist tendencies for long? What next? The Frontier Telegraph will continue it’s investigative reporting to provide some answers.