By Bakah Derick
Barristers Duga Titanji Ernest and Mbah Eric Mbah all from the North West, have made known their intentions to lead the Cameroon Bar Council. They have both made public their intentions and are running campaigns ahead of the June 18, 2022 elections. Should any of the two become president of the Cameroon Bar Council, the North West would have produced six of the 14 presidents to have led the revered institution.
Since 1974, not fewer than five Barristers-at-law from the North West have led the institution with the pioneer president Fon Gorji Dinka holding the office for about eight years from 1974 to 1982. He will hand the office to Yondo Black who will return the office to the North West four years later as Bernard Muna took charge from 1986. After six years, Patrice Monthe will takeover but only for four years before handing over to Luke K. Sendze of Nso extraction in the North West who will spend three years in command.
Another North westerner Akere T. Muna will take the presidential crown and wear for at least five years. For ten years, the presidency will leave the North West to other regions bringing Ebanga Ewondo, Tchoungang Charles and Eta Besong Junior.
In 2012, Sama Francis Asanga came to power in what was the return of the council presidency to the North West though he will not complete two terms before Jackson Ngie Kamga took charge.
Barrister Sama Francis was the fifth bar Council President from the North West at the time the nation counted just ten with the rest of the country sharing the other five places.
Since Sama’s departure in 2015, the presidency has been elsewhere including the current interim Bar President Atangana Bikouna Claire who is acting as the 13th Bar Council leader.
Should Mbah Eric or Duga Titanji win the highly contested elections come mid June 2022, the North West region will be providing the sixth Bar Council President; a record number not held by any other region in the country. In fact, it will be six for The North West and eight for the rest of Cameroon.