While the chief of the Bansoa group does not recognize a hereditary succession in the administrative chieftaincy in Bakassa village, the son of the late Joseph Tenekam claims to be his father’s successor and wants to fulfill the procedural requirements.
The village of Bakassa in the Bansoa group is at the heart of a dispute over the designation of the third-degree traditional chief. Since the death of His Majesty Joseph Ténékam, the village has not consolidated the designation of his son Fotsing Ténékam II as village chief. According to a note from the group chief, His Majesty Jean Dedieu Tchinda II Njontou, the spreading news claiming that Bakassa village has its traditional chief who “parades in broad daylight with traditional chief attributes” is unfounded. It rather fosters confusion among the population. The reason is that the group chief declares that after the death of chief Joseph Ténékam, there is a vacancy in this chieftaincy created by the State. Consequently, he does not recognize the son of the deceased as having succeeded his father.
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In response to this clarification, Fotsing Ténékam reminds the group chief that his late father had been elected and then designated chief of Bakassa village by the superior chief Njontou, father of the current group chief. Upon his death, he left behind a legacy that he, Fotsing Ténékam, recognizes himself as the custodian of. He explains the source of the confusion mentioned by the superior chief. It arises from the fact that all necessary traditional procedures have not yet been completed for the succession within the family of the deceased chief. He thus commits to correcting the shortcomings at the traditional level, without however mentioning the administrative level.
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Reaffirming his loyalty to the group chief’s authority, he states that he firmly condemns any attempt to sow confusion, division, or discord between his family and the authority of the superior chief. He calls on all sons and daughters of Bakassa to remain calm and united, to remain faithful to their authority, and not to lend any credence to divisive speeches. However, the debate opened by the group chief on succession in an administrative chieftaincy remains without clarification. Such a designation comes after consultations and election.
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