The president of the
outlawed Anglophone civil society consortium, Nkongho Felix Agbor, known fondly
as Agbor Balla, who was recently released from jail, was over the weekend
conferred with the title of ‘Sesseku’, one of the most important traditional
titles of Manyu land.
The entire Manyu
literally almost came to a standstill during the title-conferment ceremony as
thousands turned out to join Agbor Balla as he bid farewell to his late father,
Nkongho Brown, who passed away on December 10, 2016.
It should be recalled
that due to Ag
bor Balla’s detention at the Kondengui principal prison since
January 19, the former consultant with the United Nations who doubles as the
African Bar vice president for central Africa, could not take part in the
funeral ceremony of his late father.
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| Agbor Balla is decorated with prestigious title |
And so as his dad began
his journey to the world beyond, it was a rather brave, though not deterred,
Agbor Balla who despite his detention at the time, embraced the realities and
enjoined the almighty God to receive his “best friend” as he fondly referred to
him.
According to
information from Bakwele village, the mammoth population that turned out at Pa
Brown’s farewell occasion was never-seen in that part of the country.
Not fewer
than two thousand indigenes, media reports hold, turned out to join Agbor Balla
who was given a hero’s welcome and traditional recognition to pay his last
respect to late Pa Brown, described by many as loving, peaceful and a fine
family man.
“Visiting my
late father's grave today, who was buried in my absence while I was in prison,
was indeed a special moment for me.
He was my best friend, a gentle, kind and
generous soul.
I will always remember the
sacrifices he made to keep us happy, the unconditional love he gave us all,”
Agbor Balla tweeted after last Saturday’s crowd-pulling event.
In his vote of
thanks to all who joined him say goodbye to his dad who has embarked on a
journey of no return, the human rights advocate and astute legal practitioner,
noted: “It was a touching moment, but very stunning especially the
exceptionally warm welcome I received from the population of Bakwele village
and its surrounding in Eyumojock sub-division.
I am honoured and humbled that
you all received me with warmth, joy and merry despite the pains, suffering and
hurt we have all been through.”
Agbor Balla,
it would be recalled, was in detention alongside others for eight months.
They
were arrested within the framework of the Anglophone crisis which started in
October last year with a common law lawyers’ strike.
They were
charged with terrorism, rebellion, secession and other high gravity crimes at
the Yaounde military tribunal.
But on August 30, 2017, President Paul Biya
ordered that all the charges against them be discontinued.
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