The youths of Ewonda in the Bonavada area in Buea on Thursday, April 24, protested against the grabbing of their land by a cerctain Paul Tonga Molua who claims the Lower Ewonda chieftency.The village, the agrrieved youths say does not exist.The said chief with the backing of some regional officials including Southwest Governor, Okalia Bilai has secured a land title to land of about 80 hecters. This was challenged in court. Despite the court injunction pasted on the land to stop the bulldozing of the land, he still continues working, with the help of police officers.That explains why the youths went to land with placards and drove away the caterpillars despite heavy police presence.Genesis of the protestAccording to youths, Ewonda, located after Buea town and before Bova, existed as one village, also sharing boundaries with Bunduma.A few years back, Paul Tonga Molua declared himself chief of Lower Ewonda, a village the youths say does not exist.The place which is being bulldozed and purportedly sold is inside Ewonda. But when the government constructed the road from Buea town to Bonakanda, many people moved from the interior to the roadside. However, they maintain their farmlands, which they depend on for livelihoods.Now, Paul Tonga declared himself chief and, with the backing of some regional authorities, is accused of selling the place. The land we are told belongs to over 20 families.Youths Say No to Land GrabDuring the morning protest, the youths forcefully stopped the caterpillar that was demarcating the area.It has destroyed corn, banana and other items on land.Efome Ferdinand Motutu, the youth leader of Ewonda, said they have tolerated enough.“When they created this Ewonda village, we tried everything possible, but through their influence with the administrators, they were able to come and coronate the chief of Lower Ewonda. We allowed that to pass. Just of recent, he has come to claim, with aid of the governor, minister of land and D.O., he was issued a land certificate on all our lands,” he said.“We, the youths of Ewonda, are passing a clear message. All this while, you people have not been seeing us because we are very peaceful. But it is very difficult nowadays to push the youths to the wall,” he added.Court Order violatedThe villagers had taken the matter to the Buea court of first instance and the court placed an injunction on the said land.However, the chief of Lower Ewonda violated it and continued bulldozing the place.When the youths confronted the caterpillar, the police that had been deployed to the area tried to stop them.It almost resulted in a confrontation. However, the caterpillar driver and surveyors, guarded by the heavily armed police, drove out.“We don’t want any trouble. But if they want to see the other side of Ewonda youths, we are expecting them to come again,” Fome Ferdinand said.“This is a clear message to the administrators,” he added.Ferdinand said the land is the only source of livelihoods for them.To them, Ewonda is one village, and there is nothing like Lower Ewonda.Governor implicatedThey said the Southwest Governor, Bernard Okalia Bilai, came to the region and became a landlord, of which he is just an administrator.They believe that the governor is the one pushing the chief because he has taken several hectares of the land to sell. MMI can’t confirm this allegation.“The governor should tell us where we will stay,” the Ewonda demanded.The works have stopped, and the youths have promised to deal with anyone that tries to enter the land.However, when they arrived there, they realised that the bulldozer had encroached into Bova, which is a different village from Ewonda.MMI is yet to get a comment from chief Paul Tonga Mulua.However, we spoke with the Elder brother Chief Paul Tonga who disassociated himself from the piece of land under dispute.“i never participated in the inauguration of the chief. I am not part of it” he said.
15
