Hundreds of dignitaries representing the administration, the judiciary, forces of order, the clergy, and traditional authorities joined thousands of Lebialem sons and daughters to pay last tributes their fallen hero, Divisional Officer (D.O) Fonya Felix Morfaw in Ndungated on Friday (20th) and Saturday (21st) June 2008. The solemn ceremony, presided over by the Governor of the South West Province , representing the State of Cameroon culminated in the Posthumous Award of the Medal of National Knight of Valour to D.O. Fonya.
When the casket bearing the remains arrived the Ndungated palace arena on Friday at 9PM pandemonium broke loose as hundreds of mourners surged towards the canopy to get a first glimpse. Unlike other corpses, the casket remained sealed and all the profoundly affected parents, relatives, friends and well wishers could do was to grip the casket, sleep on it, wail, and lament and gnashing their teeth in anger. The wake keeping continued all night long in like manner with no personality or affected person wanting to keep his gaze out of the view of the casket-
The official burial ceremony began on Saturday at 9 AM with the arrival of the Governor, military honours and a Catholic mass service. Five eulogies were made: one from the family head, a second from the representative of the Ex-students of the School of Administration (ENAM), a third from Mr Anu Vincent F, the representative of the Ex-students of Seat of Wisdom College, Fontem, the fourth from the President of Ndungated Cultural and Development Organisation- Mr. Njuzy Lawrence Asong, and Mrs Fonya Odilia sadly concluded with a heartbreaking testimony of their “honeymoons” that left hundreds hobbling and weeping with her. These straight-to- the-point eulogies then gave the way for the statement from the State through the Governor of the South West Province . In it the governor regretted the loss of his close collaborator, especially the circumstances surrounding his death. He recounted the events from the fateful Monday 9th June to when the corpse was discovered eight days later. In attempt to carry out his exalting task of administering the people of Kombo Abedimo Subdivision in Mundemba Division, D.O. Fonya and seven other close collaborators moved into a fishing village only to be brutally attacked and killed. Three survived and five including Fonya died on the spot. Their bodies were taken to unknown destinations and it was after a thorough search that the bodies were found. This was “to dispel propagated rumours surrounding his death” and inviting the family not to heed to such rumours. He then ditched out a “warning to journalists who take upon themselves to sell falsehood”, concluding however that “he had forgiven them.” He assured the family of the readiness of the administration to be by them “at all times” and that the death of their son should be a way to strengthen their solidarity.
On behalf of the state the Governor posthumously honoured D.O. Fonya with a Medal of National Knight of Valour. Burial followed suit at the private residence of late Fonya Felix at the entrance to the famous “Three Corners, Ndungated”. Mourning rituals will continue throughout the week in total respect of the traditions and customs of Nweh.
AFUTENDEM Lucas in Menji.
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