Sabga Lamidate Succession Dispute of 2007: Manipulation and Government Tolerance

Abstract

This paper presents a succession dispute in the Sabga Lamidate in Cameroon in 2007 between Abdouliy Mamouda and Yerima Adamu Buba, both princes of the Lamidate and argues that the dispute emanated from manipulation by interest groups and the violation of the succession tradition of the Lamidate by government authorities. For about nine decades since creation in 1925, the Sabga Lamidate has experienced a relative and uninterrupted peace until 2007 when this succession dispute provoked uproar and drew attention both from within and without the North West Region of Cameroon. On Monday 20 August 2007, the then Senior Divisional officer (SDO) for Mezam, Jules Marcelline Ndjanga, Alhadji Baba Danpullo and the Lamido of Banyo, Mohaman Gabdo Yaya accompanied by 200 armed mixed gendarmes and police officers, moved into the Sabga Lamidate and performed an enthronement rite placing Abdoulaiy Mamouda as the designatory successor of the late Lamido Adamou Sabga. This action provoked open opposition resulting in a succession dispute in the Lamidate as Adamu Buba, a contender and choice of the people elected democratically by kingmakers and according to tradition was denied the throne. In order to put our facts in a logical order and to ensure the flow of these narratives, we employed a triangulation of both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, besides knowledge on participatory observation. We also relied more on live video images provided by the MBOSCUDA (Mbororo Social and Cultural Development Association) office in Bamenda including Newspaper reports on the issue at the time. The paper reveals that: The dispute emanated from the determination of Danpullo to grab the Sabga grazing land, The enthronement of Mamouda was contrary to the succession tradition of the Sabga Lamidate and against the will of its kingmakers and their kith and kin; Danpullo and the fon of Kedjom-Ketingo were at the fore front of the manipulation; the Cameroon Government tolerance paved ...