Palpitating tension rocked Limbe III municipality in the week just passing and it remains unclear if the said tensions are over yet or rather ‘sleeping dogs have just been allowed to sleep in the mean time.
Talks of the ceding of the historic Bimbia Slave Trade Site to an individual, Gilgal Tours Company, without the knowledge of local authorities, sparked up an atmosphere of animosity which reached climax on Tuesday, but was ‘technically’ handled with the failure of Arts and Culture Minister, Bidoung Mkpatt’s arrival as earlier announced.
His visit had been programmed to chair a double ceremony to lay the foundation stone for the construction of a monument at the Slave Trade Site in Bimbia, Limbe III Municipality, in partnership with Gilgal Tours Company which the ministry had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with.
But all done in confidentiality and sidelining the Limbe III Council and traditional rulers, paved way for suspicion and thus outcry for what the local authorities termed, ‘Stripping the municipality of its most precious treasure’.
The said meeting which had been programmed for Tuesday, January 14, at 11am in Bimbia, to be presided at by the Minister of Arts and Culture, Pierre Ishmael Bidoung Mkpatt, did not hold.
On Saturday January 18, the Sons and Daughters of Bimbia community rallied in Bimbia to unity and foster development in the village and to get the stand point of the Chief of Bonangombe, HRH Chief Victor Musuka III whom he was alleged of having deal with Gilgal Tours Company but he vehemently denied of no deal with him.
Meanwhile the Quarter Head of Chop Farm, Fon Louis who report indicated was to be stripped from his function says his wordings on the video circulating on social media has been tempered with. “What, I said on the video is not really what, I said.” Fon Louis insisted.
In her intervention, Sarah Derval said the meeting was aimed at bringing back Sons and Daughters of Bimbia area. “It’s a wake up call for us to come back and revamp an Association that has been dormant for awhile now”,
“Conflict is good, it’s only bad when it becomes violent. We know how to manage it, so, it doesn’t get violent. I think that’s what we have been doing here to manage it.” Sarah Derval explained.
She revealed that Bimbia people in the diaspora are willing to assist the Government to develop the Slave Trade Site in collaboration with the Bimbia community and Limbe III Council.
On his part, Henry Njalla Quan Jr. called on all Sons and Daughters to come back home and revamp the existing Association and to develop Bimbia community
He explained that they will carry on activities such as holiday football tournament, cultural festival among others to keep the community alive, on that note he pledged to support the activities with FCFA 1 million.
Enter reaction of Gilgal Tours
On his part, the CEO of Gilgal Tower, Eric Igwacho says his vision is to make Bimbia Slave Trade village a touristic magnet in Africa.
“The Bimbia Slave Trade village is something, I’m passionate about because my vision is that everybody will benefit from it, Bimbia community, Limbe and the county. So, I’m let by my sport to do those things.”
“I think there’s a divine intervention in my life, if I carry on these things you’ll see the results way after. So, the Bimbia Slave Trade village is not for my personal benefit it will create job opportunities for the young people” Eric Igwacho explained.
BY SIMON NDIVE KALLA
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Cross section of Bimbia community after successful deliberation
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