NEWS ANALYSIS

By Peterkins Manyong, guest writer and publisher of The Independent Observer

Quitting power before power quits you

The good example of Ntumfor Nico Halle

“When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people mourn,” Proverbs 29-2.

Saturday August 30, 2014 will for a long time remain a Red Letter Day, a memorable day in the history not only of the Presbyterian Church, but also that of democracy as a whole. It was the day Ntumfor Barrister Nico Halle voluntarily stepped down as the national president of the Christian Men Fellowship Movement of the PCC.

Judging from the layman’s perspective, nothing can be more logical than evacuating a position from which no pecuniary advantage is being derived. Rather, the person occupying it makes enormous sacrifices in terms of money, material and time.

  But if we perceive it from the democratic stand-point, Ntumfor Nico Halle’s decision not to go for another term was a historic one. Power is sweet. Only those who wield it know just how sweet it is. Some people are prepared to eliminate others in a bid to become presidents of their village associations and to remain there once voted.

The position of CMF national president is both a dignified and influential one from the moral and social perspectives. But before Ntumfor Nico Halle took over as president, few persons knew or really cared about. This because those who occupied it didn’t use the position to effect the change Ntumfor Nico Halle has brought about-an unmistakable confirmation of the fact that it is a man who makes a title, and not a title that makes a man.

The question many have since been asking is: “will Sir William Mbenkum, the new CMF president fit into Ntumfor Nico Halle’s ‘’large’’ shoes?’’. The new CMF president told pressmen soon after his election that some NATCOM members did everything humanly possible; including backstabbing and downright lies and calumny to prevent him from taking over the CMF leadership. Since the same people are still there in the CMF and have not confessed their intrigues and misdemeanors, they will be untiring in their efforts to make him fail. (A man who has been a villain before can act that part again).

No such objections were raised before Ntumfor Nico Halle became CMF national president because of his already well- known record as a leader. He had left an unbeatable record as the national president of the Ndong Awing Cultural and Development Asssociation, NACDA.

In that position, he had brought enormous blessings to his community and everybody; including the fon of Awing himself wanted him to continue after six years in office. But Nico Halle said categorical No. He would not, no matter what amount of pressure there was for him to eternalize himself in power.

He however promised to work with the new leadership to continue what he had started. He kept his promise, reason why he was chosen and unanimously- accepted as the organizer of NACDA’s golden jubilee celebration. He also promised to continue serving God and the PCC even after quitting the CMF leadership. There is absolutely no doubt that he will live up to that commitment.

William Mbenkum who was democratically elected CMF national president is likely to succeed because he has “a knight in shining amour” by his side in the person of Ntumfor Nico Halle.

Significance of Ntumfor Nico Halle’s decision to step down 

The Holy Bible tells us that God created the world in six days. But we have not been told how long he took contemplating the creation project which is the greatest that ever was and shall be. It could have taken the Almighty thousands or billions of years, as Milton’s Satan tells us after successfully corrupting Adam and Eve.

Similarly, Ntumfor does not take abrupt decisions. Before he finally stepped down and successsfully organized the smooth election of his successor, he had informed the world through the media that the CMF was not a monarchy where people perpetuate their stay in power. Ntumfor believes and rightly too that successful leadership skills are best acquired while actually leading.

He told those who wanted him to take a second term that he did not study CMF at the university like he studied law. If he took another term, he sustained, he would have been depriving others the opportunity to learn how best to cope with challenges that come with the leadership of a movement as large and complex as the CMF. We learn by doing.

Like Ntumfor Nico Halle, like Nelson Mandela

I could have titled this sub-head: “Like  Ntumfor Nico Halle, Like Jesus Christ” but this would be placing him on the same pedestal with God. All human beings are made in the image of God. Therefore a human being, however industrious like Ntumfor  Nico Halle, can be an excellent imitation of Christ  Whose ministry lasted only  three  years but during which  he achieved what the often mentioned Methuselah did not even contemplate for in 969 years.

The best example Ntumfor  Nico Halle can be likened to is Nelson Mandela. Many persons erroneously think Mandela’s achievement is that he spent 27 years in prison. Many rogues have spent almost twice that length of time. Mandela’s greatness really lies in the fact that after spending that length of time in prison, he forgave those who subjected him to both physical and psychological torture by not only compromising him but also torturing and killing thousands of his supporters. The example of forgiveness was only manifested by Christ before Mandela.

Ntumfor Nico Halle is an incomparable example from Camerooon in terms of forgiveness and tolerance. Although a lawyer with a formidable law firm at his disposal, he has never dragged to court even one of those who have been insulting him and throwing banana pearling in his way for several decades.

As CMF leader, he relentlessly fought against corruption and moral decadence both in the church and in society. He is implacable in his campaign to see to it that a certificate in religious studies be included in the list of requirements for recruitment or appointment into any public office.

Ntumfor Nico Halle more than any previous CMF leader presided at fund-raising occasions that generated money to build churches. He has paid school fees for orphans or vulnerable children of people he has never known or may never see.

Like nelson Mandela, Ntumfor Nico Halle has  put smiles on the faces of those who before had only gloom on them. He believes like Shakespear’s Portia that: “the quality of mercy is not strained, it dropped like the gentle rain from heaven, it blesses him that gives and him that receives, it is mightiest in the mightiest.” This simply means that whoever forgives somebody who hurts also gets blessed by the Almighty God in the process of doing so.

Nelson Mandela ruled South Africa for only five years and refused to take another term despite the pressure that was on him to continue. Like Mandela, Ntumfor Nico Halle believes that the mantle of leadership should not be held forever or for a long time by the same person.

“Learn to quit power before power quits you”, Ntumfor Nico Halle seems to tell those eternalizing themselves in positions of responsibility. He agrees with the view that water that stands on the same spot like in ponds stinks because all kinds of obnoxious objects are dropped into it: excrement, used pads, used condoms, foetuses etc.

Ntumfor Nico Halle crowned “King’’of CMF

It may sound contradictory that Ntumfor Nico Halle who declared before stepping down that the CMF is not a monarchy should be crowned King of CMF. His critics have been quick to point out that it means he will dwarf his successor, Mbenkum William. The reality is that Ntumfor Nico Halle didn’t request or lobby to be given that title. Any rational being would easily understand that the whole idea was to convey to him the message that he remains an indispensable part of the CMF movement having done so much to build it.

Queen Elizabeth II is in principle Britain’s head of state but in practice, it is David Cameron who governs the United Kingdom. The queeen of England has the powers to suspend parliament, but she has not exercised that power for more than 300 years. The queen in England is only a titular and moral force.

Even after Nelson Mandela quit power in South Africa, he was still regarded and called: “The Father of the Nation” even by Thabo Mbeki who took over from him.

The message contained in crowning Ntumfor Nico Halle “King of CMF” is that the movement can’t do without his wisdom and advice. ‘’You are our father,” CMF members seem to be telling Ntumfor Nico Halle.

Long live the pioneer King of CMF during whose tenure of office as president CMF members, the PCC and Cameroonians rejoiced because he thought them peace and showed them profound love as opposed to leaders who oppress their people.