The Executive Secretary and officers of CERDOTOLA welcomed, at the Headquarters of the Institution in Yaoundé, a delegation of traditional dignitaries, members of the panafrican Council of traditional and customary leaders – CPATC in March 17th 2017.
The delegation of traditional dignitaries was headed by H.M HOUDEGBE Octave, King of the Dahè – Benin, Chairman of the continental Office of CPATC. He was accompanied by H.M TOTO BEKOMBO Théodore, 2nd Deputy chairman, H.M TANYI Robinson, Secretary General, H.M LEKUNZE A.N, in charge of public relations, H.M MVONDO Bruno, councillor, H.M EFFA René Désiré, Member and chairman of the traditional leaders’ Association from the South region of Cameroon, H.M Molive M. Otto and H.M EWANE Christian.
From the very beginning of his speech, the Executive Secretary expressed his happiness to welcome their Majesties in a getting back mood. After those kind words, he gave the floor to his guests. The head of the delegation, his Majesty Octave HOUDEGBE, Chairman of CPATC, started his speech with the history of the Council emphasising on the role of sponsor attributed to CERDOTOLA.
Indeed, on June 27th 2014, a working and courtesy meeting between the African traditional Elite and CERDOTOLA had led to important talks around the role that could play traditional institutions in the search of peace and the development of Africa. This meeting had been the occasion, for each party to express its commitment in participating to the strengthening of the place of Africa in a new world order more right and human. It is from these commitments that resulted the CPATC created in Dahè – Benin in September 2014 waying to the declaration procedure of the organisation to the Beninese authorities. Some difficult moments scattered the evolution of the Council from the very beginning of the legalisation process. It has finally succeeded with the issue of a receipt whose declaration has been made public in the Beninese Official Gazette in February 15th 2017.
The meeting of this March 17th 2017 focused thus on the solemn handing over of a copy of this Official Gazette to the Executive Secretary, and above all the expression the gratitude of the continental office of the Council to CERDOTOLA which has strongly work on the creation of CPATC.
The Executive Secretary congratulated the Council: “we have welcomed in this same place the idea, the concept and the spirit of this foundation, and it is with the same full heart, the same serenity and the same sincerity that CERDOTOLA welcomes this step which is a small step, a very small step for the association but a great one for the African humanity. Indeed this text represents a great step in the process of updating and setting back in perspective the existence of Africa before its nomination according to the world colonial order of Berlin. A lot is still to do and to deepen. The most important was to make the first step.”
It was the right moment to announce the celebration of the 40th anniversary of CERDOTOLA and to invite the Council’s Office to call up its member so as to take an active part to that great encounter which will take place in Yaoundé from October 8 to 16, 2017. Henceforth, it has been stressed out that in the scheduled programme, celebrations will start with a parade of African Kings; this will be the occasion for the CPATC to show up.
Copies of the Report-album of the International Colloquium of CERDOTOLA 2015 were handed over to the eight guests. The Executive Secretary added that he will put in place a special unit to follow up the evolution of the CPATC file.
The Deputy chairman of CPATC revealed to the Executive Secretary that their presence in Yaoundé was in prelude of a meeting they would hold the day after in Buea, South-West region of Cameroon for the drafting of a yearly plan of action of the Council.
All along the encounter, the Executive Secretary of CERDOTOLA and his guests relished this sympathy moment in a great enthusiasm. Before he quits his guests, Pr. Charles Binam Bikoi told them that CERDOTOLA will always be honoured to be at the disposal of their Majesties, at any moment they would pass by the Headquarters of the Institution, a familiar place to them and their home.
It is highly relevant that this this visit of the CPATC Office which occurs almost a year after the first one, marks the beginning of a more fruitful and long-lasting collaboration. A family photo marked the end of the visit; taken on front step of the Institution with the Executive Secretary accompanied by Mr. EPALE Hans, Deputy director of General Affairs and logistic and Dr. Pascal TOUOYEM, General Coordinator of programmes in the Scientific Department of the Institution.