The newly installed SDO of President’s Biya’s native Dja and Lobo Division in South Region was earlier this week given what observers have described as the greatest embarrassment of his entire career as an administrator by the population of his area of command.
Damien Owona was forced to prematurely end his maiden meet-the-people tour following a total boycott of his visit to Meyomessala Subdivision by the population at the ceremonial ground. The administrator was rather welcomed by empty chairs and 16 out of the 19 chiefs of villages that make up the Subdivision.
In a viral social media video, the SDO who was visibly bewildered of the development was seen exchanging with the close to one of the third class chiefs who answered present for the reception. The civil administrator then halted the contact tour and left after waiting for the locals to show up at the ceremonial ground for close to a quarter an hour.
“Let us be serious. There are at least five chiefs absent besides the sick chief. Where is the population?” he questioned the other traditional custodians who answered present. Owona went further and insinuated that the absence of the population could be the handy works of the chiefs.
“You block your people in their homes and you yourselves don’t show up. How do you explain that? At least, you are the chiefs,” he said. “Are you sure you are people are the legitimate chiefs? How can you speak to your people and no one shows up? Where lies the problem? Let’s assume you excuse them of being stubborn, that’s why they don’t listen to you. But there’s no one here,” he stated.
“Not even a single villager amongst the 19 chiefs. So the population are stubborn to all the 19 chiefs? Or are you saying that in your villages, there are only bad citizens?” he questioned before his premature departure with his delegation.
All attempts from one of the chief to explain the stubbornness of the locals to the SDO were futile.
Owona was appointed in December 2020 to replace Koulbout Amna David who was transferred to the West region.
By Doh Bertrand Nua
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