RE: Baba Danpullo Land Grab - The story as Told by Voice of Esu

Waooo! What a success story. Baba Danpullo has done this in many places, and through the same corruption and intimidation, he succeeds. Thanks to the unity of Esu people that his greed didn't prevail. 

With Danpullo, the hilarious story of Ndu Tea Estate which once noted at world markets as of highest quality, now vanished. Instead he or redundant the machines and relocated some elsewhere. 

This story is very teaching; for villages that allocate land for any development project without stipulating clear terms, without considering communal benefits first.

Thanks for sharing.

Nformi Emmanuel

Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android

On Fri, Jan 8, 2016 at 12:41 AM, 'Greig Batey' via ambasbay

<ambasbay@googlegroups.com> wrote:

PLEASE TAKE YOUR TIME TO READ THE GENESIS OF THIS STORY BECAUSE IT MIGHT ONE DAY HAPPEN TO YOUR VILLAGE AS LONG AS PEOPLE LIKE THIS CONTINUE TO WALK AROUND INSTEAD OF GOING TO JAIL.

THIS TEXT COMES FROM "THE VOICE OF ESU"

A Quick Run-down of Mr. Danpullo's Story in Esu

 

Early in 1986 Mr. Baba Amadou Danpullo arrived  Esu and pleaded with the fon of Esu, His Royal Highness Fon Meh Buh II, for a piece of land. His intention, as he clearly expressed it, was to set up a factory. In response to his plea, and in line with the Esu people's generous and hospitable disposition, His Royal Highness Joseph Meh Buh II- the custodian of all Esu communal land accorded Mr. Danpullo about 1,000 meters square at Ibiy Wundele, Esu.

By June 1986, Mr. Danpullo started bringing in cattle to Esu. In less than two years, he had brought in thousands of cattle to Esu. Danpullo's cattle progressively started occupying surrounding lands that had for hundreds of years been used for farming and other income generating activities such as raffia palm, sand collection, construction stones gathering, palm oil production and other micro commerce.

By 1990, Mr. Danpullo was already in possession of more than 10,000 hectares of Esu land that is more than three quarters of Esu land. Through illegal force, intimidation and harassment Mr. Danpullo forcefully evicted villagers and other cattle owners around Wundele neighborhood next to the piece of land that was initially allocated to him, and in all the other neighborhood he illegally encroached and seized. Thus, natives of Esu who had lived, farmed and carried out other occupational activities on their ancestral lands at Ewo, Kendjong, Sam'gwa, Edah, Melang, Tukisong, Ke'dzam, Fandwuri, Kem'Wheh , Wundele – all farming neighborhoods of Esu, were evicted by  force. Those who resisted to Mr. Danpullo's orders were beaten and their houses and other property seized, destroyed or burned down. Other cattle owners who had coexisted peacefully with natives of Esu and most of whom included Mbororos, Fulani and natives had their cattle confiscated if they tried to hold on to their grazing fields. Mr. Danpullo deliberately used some of the seized and abandoned homes to reside his herdsmen.

For nearly three decades, the people of Esu have, individually and collectively decried Mr. Danpullo's illegal occupation of their land. Several complaints and petitions against Mr. Danpullo's illegal activities have been written and submitted to administrative officials – DOs, SDO, governors etc by the people of Esu. Early on, Mr. Danpullo tried to convince His Royal Highness Fon Joseph Meh Buh II to grant him permanent ownership of Esu land and when the latter vehemently opposed the illegal usurpation of Esu land, Mr. Danpullo resorted to intimidations, harassment, the use of influence and above all corruption.  With the help of his ally Mr. Marafa Hamidou, former Minister of Territorial Administration and SG at the presidency of the Republic of Cameroon, Mr. Danpullo effectively placed Divisional and Senior Divisional officers in Menchum Division to help him obtain the land documents on Esu land. Even on his sick bed, His Royal Highness Fon Joseph Meh Buh II refused to sign documents for Mr. Danpullo exchange for his medical evacuation abroad. He was categorical when he repeated that no land was ever sold to Mr. Baba Danpullo.

 

When His Royal Highness Fon Joseph Meh buh disappeared in September 2007, and was succeeded by His Royal Highness Fon Albert Kum-a-Chuo II, Mr. Danpullo did not give up his ambition to own the more than 10,000 hectares of Esu land he occupies by force. He employed the same corrupt and manipulative practices to illegally grab land in Esu. The most noted attempt was when in 2011, he sent Mr. Sally, the son of late Ardo of Wum, with a suitcase filled with bank notes to bribe the new Fon of Esu, His Royal Highness Kum-a-Chuo II.  Mr. Danpullo had just one request for the fon of Esu: sign the land documents and retain the suitcase laden with money. The fon of Esu turned down the offer, but he invited Mr. Danpullo to come to Esu and if he needed land he could present his request to the people of Esu. Mr. danpullo was infuriated that the Fon of Esu refused to sign the documents and turned down a suitcase of money. He called the Fon of Esu the same night after Mr. Sally - his emissary who brought the money and the documents, had left and told him in an intimidating voice: "You have turned down the "kola nuts" and have refused to do me a favor by signing the land documents; you do not know me, pillars will be planted on my land soon, whether you like it or not".

The Fon of Esu, His Royal Highness Kum-a-Chuo II informed administrative heads in Menchum Division. He pointed out to them there would be serious consequences if Mr. Danpullo attempted to plant pillars outside the piece of land that was allocated to him by his father and predecessor Fon Joseph Meh Buh II.  Youths of Esu sent petitions to DO, SDO and governor to oppose Mr. Danpullo's illegal occupation and abuses in Esu. The population created vigilant groups to protect their land stop any illegal planting of pillars. Mr. Danpullo invited 4 youths from Esu and offered them two millions francs (2,000,000) cfa to persuade them not to oppose him. This brought a lot of tension in Esu as the population nearly lynched these youths.

Using his influence and corruption Mr. Danpullo on June 16, 2015 falsely claimed ownership of the land he illegally occupies in Esu to obtain a court injunction order in Wum to criminalize the people of Esu if they "trespass on his land". The same court annulled the decision on August 26, 2015 after the people of Esu fought back.  Mr. Danpullo filed an appeal and the ruling that has been adjourned twice for obvious reasons is still pending.

Summarily, since November 2015, the people of Esu have repossessed their stolen land. They are happily farming on it. They have taken the responsibility to safeguard their land and their livelihood. More than 99 percent of the population of Esu are farmers and depend on land for their survival. It is imaginable, unthinkable and impossible that one person should claim more than 10,000 hectares of land for himself, for his cattle! Contrary to what Mr. Danpullo claims that the people of Esu were incited by the Governor of the North West Region, Mr. Lele L'Afrique, the people of Esu have been patient for too long and have explored avenue to dialogue with Mr. Danpullo to no avail. This is very typical of Mr. Danpullo who, when he is unable, to use corruption and influence he resorts to invectives and would say people hate him. Since justice ends up prevailing, it is with no apprehensions but total confidence and determination that the people of Esu have taken back their land. It is up to Mr. Danpullo to relocate his cattle because the population of Esu will not tolerate if these cattle invade farms. Mr. Danpullo cannot throw more than 40,000 people of Esu into the river to claim their land. The people of Esu have a right to life. Cattle must move and not people moving out.

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