The population of Muetan Mbu, Tombel Sub Division, Kupe Muanenguba Division, has justified that they never abandon their village because of the socio-political crisis in the region. They said they have gone for ‘greener pastures’ and will soon return to take over their village.
In a letter to The Ultimate Newspaper, Epie George Njume on behalf of Muetan Mbu Cultural and Development Association, MUCUDA disclosed that they have gone hunting for greener pasture and will soon be back on their ancestral land.
“Nobody should encroach into our land on pretext that it has been abandoned. Any invader without express permission will be dealt with accordingly.” Njume warned.
He lamented that the population of Muetan Mbu from time immemorial has been marginalized by their neighbouring village, Kodmin. “They have in several instances sabotage Muetan Mbu people meanwhile they are silently exploiting our land. Even the high tension electricity from Tombel Council crossed over Muetan Mbu to Kodmin without us having access to the black cable.” The elite wailed.
Njume thanked Bakossi National Park for renovating the water stand pipe in their village though they are not in the list of villages around the park. He accused Kodmin village to have egocentrically influenced the park to give them just one tap instead of two.
Senge Dorothy of Kodmin said the allegations of marginalization are unfounded. She said nobody lives in Muetan Mbu for so many years. “Not even a dog or fowls can be found in Muetan Mbu. The people left even with their animals.” Senge lamented.
She said instead they are worried to live in Kodmin without their neighbours of Muetan Mbu.
Sisters Apart
Meanwhile, an elite of Kodmin on basis on anonymity narrated that the two villages of Kodmin and Muetan Mbu were glued and it was difficult to distinguish between Muetan Mbu and Kodmin, reason why Muetan was called Muetan-Kodmin. He said Muetan Mbu depended on Kodmin for church services, the school and other aspects of development.
The elite explained that for any development project to reach Kodmin, it must pass through Muetan Mbu, mostly without their contribution. He mentioned the pipe borne water project, the electricity project and the road development that was done with very little contribution from Muetan Mbu.
He said since Muetan Mbu has a fertile ground than Kodmin, when their population migrated for ‘greener pasture’, Kodmin people took advantage to farm on some abandoned portions of their land. He said this has met with stiff resistance from the Muetan Mbu people who have severally organize military raids from their hideouts to cut down the crops of Kodmin farmers in their land. “This has happened several times against the violatiuon of the tradition of the Bakossi people.” He added.
Also, the Chief of Kodmin village, Chief Abwe refused accusation marginalization and encroachment of Muetan Mbu for farming. He said with the growing shifting cultivation in their village, they usually seek for permission from owners of farmlands in Muetan Mbu before using their land.
He said the migration for ‘greener pasture’ by Muetan Mbu has laid costs on Kodmin because community road work usually carried out by both villages now rests on the shoulders of Kodmin alone.
By Olive Ejang
