Manyu Elements Cultural & Development Association (Meca-Usa)

MANYU ELEMENTS CULTURAL & DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION (MECA-USA)

TRUTH & RECONCILIATION CONFERENCE

ATLANTA GEORGIA

OCTOBER 10, 2009 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Agenda 3

Contextual Framework 5

Conference Overview by Mr. Bate Agbor-Baiyee 8

Fact Finding Committee 13

Constitutional Review Committee 15

Management Committee 16

Keynote Address by Mr. Emmanuel Ekumah 20

Welcome address by Major Fidelis Agbor, Chief of MECA Georgia 25

Address by Ms. Patience Ebini – Candidate for Vice Chairperson 26

Speech by Lady K. EttaNdip Arrah-Manyi – Former Vice Chaiperson 31

NEC Handing over process – Report by Former Chairman Sesekou Solomon Egbe 34

Facts about the Tabi Mondi Law Suit – Lessons learned 40

Constitution review committee – recommendations 43

Articles of the MECA USA Board of Directors (BOD) 49

Appendix A – MECA USA Financial report 52

Appendix B – email extracts relating to Tabi/Mondi COC Law suit 72

MANYU ELEMENTS CULTURAL & DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION (MECA-USA) Truth & Reconciliation Conference

Atlanta, Georgia Saturday, October 10, 2009

AGENDA:

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PHASE ONE :

-Opening Prayers -Opening Remarks (MECA GA) -Introduction: Conference Coordinators -Introduction: Conference Chair/Co Chair – Remarks by Chair(s) -Remarks by MECA USA 2009 Campaign Teams (Ako-Besong & Agbor-Ebini) -Remarks by former National Chairmen of MECA-USA -Remarks by first Female VP of MECA-USA 1995-1997 -Motivational Speaker – MECA USA: From Conception to Present Day (An Overview of the Association’s history as we examine the need for a more effective organizational framework).

LUNCH BREAK

PHASE TWO:

1. Fact Finding Committee - NEC Handing-over Process – Egbe’s Administration (Update about the books). - The 2009 Washington Convention Failure: A critical analysis. - Tabi/Mondi against Ako/Besong & MECA-USA (COC) Lawsuit: Lessons learned

2. Constitution Review Committee - Election reforms (Absentee Ballot, Rotational/Sub-Divisional Cabinet, etc.) - Administrative & Structural Reforms (Board of Directors, etc.) - Membership Criteria: Chapter & Individuals.

3. Management Committee

- Way forward - Next Elections - Next Convention Date & Venue - Modalities for Ad hoc administration to govern MECA-USA

BREAK-RECESS

PHASE THREE:

1. Committee Reports/Recommendations 2. Matters Arising from Reports/General Assembly discussions 3. Adoption of Committee Reports & Conference Resolutions 4. Closing remarks by Conference Chair(s).

FUNDRAISING GALA/ CULTURAL NIGHT

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CONTEXTUAL FRAMEWORK: Sessekou, Dr. David Tambe, Conference Co-Chair and Ms. Adele Mbeng Tanyi, Conference Co-Chair

This conference report documents the details of MECA-USA’s Truth and Reconciliation Conference (TRC) that was held in Atlanta, GA on October 10th, 2009. As the name suggests, the purpose of the conference was to provide a platform for members of MECA-USA to assemble, to debate, to resolve, to reconcile, and to explore solutions to some of the deep rooted problems currently plaguing the organization. This historic conference was the second of its kind. The first such conference was held in Boston, MA (The Boston Summit) ten years ago in April of 1999 when the organization was faced with issues related to clashes at the leadership. The Boston Summit provided a successful platform for members of the organization to dialogue, to restructure, and to advance new concepts designed to transform MECA-USA into a more dynamic and respected organization. The positive outcome of the Boston Summit was well received and praised as a constructive approach to problem solving within the union. This background knowledge and experience was invoked once more in an attempt to tackle some of the pertinent issues facing the organization at present.

The current Truth and Reconciliation Conference was triggered by the botched MECA-USA Annual Convention held in Washington DC from July 3-5, 2009. The humiliating outcome of the DC convention was a culmination of failed policies, failed programs, poor decisions, disrespect for the constitution of MECA-USA, disrespect for and at the leadership of the organization, disrespect for the members of the organization, arrogance, previously unresolved conflicts, etc. All of these factors resulted in a significant divide within the organization. MECA-USA was essentially rifted into coalitions of the willing. Major events leading to the rather disjointed state of the organization include, but are not limited to conflicts related to the highly contested MECA-USA election procedure and results in Houston, Texas in July of 2007, issues related to the Tabi/Mondi vs MECA-USA’s NEC/COC lawsuit that ensued from the contested convention process and results, issues related to the non-handing over of MECA-USA documents and transfer of power between the previous Solomon Egbe administration and ruling Peter Ako administration, allegations or rather assertions of embezzlement of MECA-USA funds by previous administration(s), issues related to the fraudulent or apparent fraudulent operations of the Independent Electoral Committee (IEC) prior to and during the convention, issues related to potentially dubious membership lists submitted by MECA-USA chapters to the Independent Electoral Committee, issues related to the handling of absentee ballots by the IEC prior to the convention, issues related to the suspension of some of the members of the organization, etc.

The immediate outcome of the failed 2009 DC convention and elections was a vacuum at the helm of the organization. Rather than involve the entire organization, this leadership vacuum was filled by the Council of Chiefs (COC), thus creating further confusion and divide within the essential fabric of the organization. The COC’s decision to retain the incumbent administration was considered unconstitutional and denounced by some MECA-USA chapters, while other chapters agreed to go along with the decision of the COC. Irrespective of the decisions taken at the chapter level, the Council of Chief’s decision to retain the incumbent administration led to additional splits within many of the chapters of MECA-USA.

Given the above dysfunctional state of the MECA-USA union, it was imperative that we get together as an organization to rescue the organization from total collapse. The Atlanta Truth and Reconciliation Conference thus provided a platform for members of the union to dialogue, to provide justifications/clarifications to some or all of the problems and allegations cited above, to reconcile eventually, and to explore new approaches to transforming MECA-USA into a more dynamic organization.

The conference was well attended and very successful. Details of the conference agenda, the attendance, the issues tackled, the issues resolved, the major resolutions, etc are included in this conference report. I am proud to say that so much was accomplished during this all-day conference. Most of the work was done in committees and reported back to the general assembly. At the end of the conference, the conference participants agreed almost unanimously to form an interim MECA-USA government that will lead the organization during this period of uncertainty and turmoil. The interim government will carefully handle the affairs of the organization until successful elections are conducted at the next convention. It is imperative that MECA-USA be transformed to a dynamic and effective 6

organization worthy of respect and dignity. The next convention was scheduled for July 2-4, 2010 in Atlanta, GA.

Details of the deliberations, the resolutions, and the ensuing decisions are included in this report. I implore every concerned Manyu son and daughter to read through the report to get the facts as they were divulged during the course of the conference.

We will like to seize this opportunity to thank all those who sacrificed their personal time to attend this conference. We will equally like to thank all those who could not attend, but contributed to the success of conference in one way or the other. We sincerely appreciate MECA-GA for hosting us and for the hospitality.

Long Live MECA-USA Long Live Manyu Division

Dr. David E Tambe, Conference Co-Chair Ms. Adele Mbeng Tanyi, Conference Co-Chair

CONFERENCE OVERVIEW:

The meeting began with an inspirational opening prayer delivered by The Prophetic Apostle, Prince, and Reverend, Hamilton Arrey Ayuk. Rev. Ayuk ardently thanked the Lord for voyage mercies and also prayed for those who could not make it. He prayed for, praised and thanked all those who have helped to plan this extra ordinary meeting. He invited our Lord and Savior to guide the hearts and minds that will partake in the deliberations that were to unfold. He prayed that unity, peace and prosperity should reign in Manyu. Furthermore, he prayed for the outcome of the event to be beneficial and far-reaching for the peoples of MECA-USA and the gentle land of Manyu Division.

In his capacity as the fire-brand leader of the hosting chapter, MECA-GA, candidate for the MECA-USA Chairmanship elections in 2009, respected Major in the US Army, Fidelis Agbor in clean crew haircut and dapper Italian suit delivered his opening remarks welcoming and thanking everyone for making the sacrifice to come to this groundbreaking conference. On behalf of the people of MECA-Georgia, the Major said he was extremely excited, appreciative and short of words for a) the dedication and sacrifices of members of the Chapter , b) the members of MECA-USA who staked material and human resources to come from near and far off places and c) for their love and dedication to this treasure called MECA-USA. The major implored all to show tactical accommodation of one another to 8

ensure that our thoughts and actions go a long way to advance the purpose for which we are gathering. (SEE REPORT # 1). In style and excitement, the Major moved on to introduce the crew who will facilitate the business aspects of the deliberations of the conference. Chief coordinator of the deliberation was assigned to Sessekou, Dr. David Tambe (MECA-Dallas) who will be assisted by the able Mrs. Adele Tanyi (MECA-N. Carolina). Notes were to be taken by Mr. H. Bate AGBOR-BAIYEE (Arizona-MECA-Dallas). The facilitators of the event were immediately invited to the podium to proceed with the management of the events.

Sessekou, Dr. Tambe took the microphone and introduced the agenda for the day and he reminded participants to get individual printed copies of the agenda as well. Dr. Tambe immeasurably thanked everyone for taking time of their busy schedules to come to this imperative Truth and Reconciliation meeting. He movingly expressed his intense joy, confidence and hope in the spirit of resilience of our people. He reiterated the relevance and reason why we were assembled in Atlanta. He reminded participants to be honest, open and professional in the ways they conduct themselves. He reminded participants that we are a family that is not perfect but one that is not going to stop trying to be good and better. He said, as we proceed from Rodeway Inn, we should refrain from treating one another with disrespect, incivility and intolerance. He asked that we do our best to be as candid and constructive as possible so that, hopefully, we shall reach some strategically important and far- reaching resolutions by the end of the meeting that will change the face of MECA-USA forever. He reminded participants that they do not have to agree on everything but, like a true family, we are compelled to be civil and considerate.

Ms Tanyi on her part as co-coordinator took her turn to articulate how delighted she felt in seeing everyone’s bright and beautiful face. She said she was optimistic as she encouraged participants to work collaboratively to reach vital aspirations and solutions for MECA-USA’s challenges. She implored participants to immerse themselves and be involved and engaged in the business of the day. She asked them to contribute ideas wisely too. She asked members in the gathering to go ahead with hopefulness and not be intimidated by those who think MECA-USA is a private property. She added in reassurance that MECA -USA is re-rising as the road to peace, unity and development was being reconstructed. She warned that if we go to slumber, MECA-USA will also go to slumber and Manyu development will face a stalemate. She ended her comments once again by saluting the hosts and those who spared the time to come.

With that said, the conference Coordinator Sessekou, Dr. Tambe turned his eyes back onto the agenda. He stated that an important reason why we are gathered here was to begin to find creative and constructive ways to thaw the tensions and rifts that had come to characterize MECA-USA affairs! He used the word détente (easing of philosophical and ideological tension between adversaries) to describe the mission at the conference. He extended an invitation to the respective Ako-Besong and Agbor-Ebini teams to present a report from their campaigns. The Ako-Besong team was absent and the Agbor-Ebini Team went ahead and presented the following report.

For the Agbor-Ebini campaign Ms Patience Ebini fluently briefed the assembly on their campaign platform and their leadership aspiration for MECA-USA and how that was thwarted by political corruption and nepotism of those who were assigned to guard and guide the democratic integrity of the elections . Amongst other things, she highlighted the attempts by the Agbor-Ebini team to run a clean and honest democratic campaign but met with obstacles from a biased Electoral Commission. She recounted several incidents where the Agbor-Ebini team tried to reach out to the opposing team to change the rhetoric and tone of the electoral politics in MECA-USA to no avail. She denounced the infusion of the shady Absentee Ballot concept to arrange the elections. She went to say; it was even more atrocious to establish a dark and sinister Electoral Commission under the auspices of a personal friend and advisor, Ms Ann Assam (MECA-Chicago) of the opposing team who spent her whole time tirelessly trying to get Mr. Peter Ako elected. Furthermore, she said Ms. Bessem Chu Besong (MECA-DE) wrongfully and arrogantly called off the impending elections. She emphatically stated that, under no circumstances does not any single person have the right to call off a MECA-USA election. Furthermore, the Agbor-Ebini team thoughts it was abnormal and an illegitimate decision for the dysfunctional Council Of Chiefs under Mr. John Etta (MECA- Houston) to add onto sour wounds by handing over power to the Ako-Besong team hence that decision is null and void. The Agbor-Ebini team thinks that COC was colossal failure. She said the Agbor-Ebini team thinks COC was wrong as they were setting a problematic precedence that the Agbor-Ebini team will not accept (SEE REPORT # 2)

There were remarks from former chairmen of MECA-USA who passed along wisdom from the grey hair.

Former Chairman (1995-1997) and pioneering Public Relations Officer (1990-1995) of MECA-USA, and Sessekou Joseph Mbu (MECA-DC) said he was humbled and delighted to see that committed Manyu children are fighting gallantly to ensure the continued survival of MECA-USA. Like a veritable sage, he said, a house with no links to its past is like a river with no source. He said every successful association or establishment has sustained institutional memory through an active engagement with previous leaderships which has rarely been the case with the recent past leadership of MECA-USA. He decried the fact that we sometime allow leaders in MECA-USA who have no real experience or entrenched interests in the well-being of the organization-MECA-USA. He went on to say that we should stop the practice of using MECA-USA as a place where people come to test their leadership abilities, especially those who may not even be s/elected as leaders of their own households. He went on to say that, at the micro level, Manyu unity will not play second fiddle as we aspire for Manyu prominence in the macro level. He reminded the well attended assembly that the number one principle of MECA-USA since its inception has always been Manyu unity. He asked tongue- in-cheek if this is what we have seen lately. He assured the crowd that we will make it despite the odds and with resounding thunderous refrain from the attendees, the chorus of ‘YES WE CAN’ was chanted. He invited the general assembly to jointly say “MANYU WILL NEVER BE DESTROYED”. Making biblical Referencing, he also said, like the Israelites in the Old Testament, he said we are here to take the MECA-USA train back to its tracks in the Promised Land. He assured the conference categorically that “Manyu will never be destroyed”.

Former Chairman and Sessekou, Solomon Egbe (MECA-DC) took the floor and with his trademark eloquence, thanked all for coming to this ground-breaking meeting. Naming them one by one, he warmheartedly congratulated his past associates and officers and saluted them for all of their hard work and support. He urged participants to seize this moment and take back their organization. He said the organization belongs to the people and the people should not allow themselves to be manipulated and cajoled to submitting to scare tactics. He urged participants to remain involved and engaged in every aspect of the deliberations that will ensue.

Ms Katherine Ettandip Arrah-Manyi (Lady K as she is fondly known) in her capacity as the Female VP of MECA-USA 1995-1997 and Mother of MECA-USA took the stage. She began her poignant and yet passionate remark by lamenting the fact that some of his dear friends are not present. She said that Satan’s powers will never stand in the way of God’s grace in His children. She said October 10th, marked the first day of truth and reconciliation for the true believers and devoted members of MECA-USA. She further said that members have not only bought airfares in a trying economic times; they have sacrificed time and taken risks; they have driven long miles across the States to stand together for the unity of the Manyu people, demonstrating our true love for our people at home and abroad. She said that we all have come from near and far to bear witness and fight for the resuscitation of MECA- USA from its worst trials and tribulations. Lady K congratulated everyone for coming. Lady K lamented the fact that those who have passionately stated that ‘Lady K MECA-USA will never die’ are the ones putting the nails on the coffin of this cultural treasure of ours. She asked God almighty to be our guide and savior so that MECA-USA will endure the current assaults. In near teary eyes, she commented that MECA-USA was formed to unite us and not divide us. She prayerfully ended her remarks by saying come twenty years from now, we will be celebrating the 40th anniversary of this association holding hands together paying homage to MECA-USA and our ancestral land. (SEE REPORT # 3)

A MECA-USA founding father and Manyu cultural iconographic elder Mr. Ekumah Emmanuel (MECA- Dallas) took the rostrum with solemnity and ceremony. He began by calling for the observance of a minute of silence in honor of late Carlet Ayuk, and the late Ernest Tambe Agbor for their towering examples in leadership in MECA-USA. He went on to highlight the theme of the conference and then anchored his conversation on the past, the present and future of MECA-USA. He said if you do not known where you come from you will not know where you are going. He publicly recognized the founding fathers of MECA-USA in the persons of Sandys Eyong, Carlet Ayuk, Ekumah Emmanuel and Earnest Tambe Agbor. And, founding mothers in the persons of the esteemed, Esther Abangma -Arrey and Elizabeth Nkongho. He said since the very inception of MECA-USA, there has been a strong desire to create an organization that value tolerance, fraternity, love and unity. He went on to say our leaders historically, as should always be the case, must have a clear understanding of their sources of their power. Methodically, he addressed the issues of ambiguities of MECA-USA bylaws; he called on the simplification of our institutions so that they can be more effective in delivering services and programs to members. He also asked that the MECA-USA website be resuscitated. He reignited the issue of board of directors for the association, he said our electoral processes must be honest, free and fair, and that we should encourage the bests in our midst to run for office.

PHASE TWO:

1. Fact Finding Committees - NEC Handing-over Process – Egbe’s Administration (questions about the books). - The 2009 Washington Convention Failure: A critical analysis. - Tabi/Mondi against Ako/Besong & MECA-USA (COC) Lawsuit: Lessons learned

In a brief preface to this section of the deliberations, the conference coordinator Sessekou,Dr. David Tambe , reminded the General Assembly that this section of the conference was like the meat on the bone of our agenda. He told attendees that this part of the agenda constitutes a very important raison d'être for why we are gathered in Atlanta this week-end and he somberly beckoned on members to be very engaged and involved in every step of the deliberations. He also requested that the members maintain professionalism, honesty and respect of various shades of opinion. The various committees were constituted and were asked to selected their scribes and spoke persons to eventually report their findings to all. As stated above, the committees were broadly arranged as follows, Fact Finding, Project Management/ Finance Committee, Constitutional Review Committee and Management.

FACT FINDING COMMITTEE:

The Fact Finding Committee consisted of the following; Mr. Emmanuel Mondi: Scribe Mr. Ebai Tabeh, Sessekou Solomon Egbe, Sessekou and Chief Philip Tabi, Mr. Samuel Eyong, Sec Gen and Ms Grace Egbe, Ms Regina Ati, Ms Elizabeth Ashukem, Ms Liz Tarkang, Ms Agnes Takeng, Ms Joan Essim.

Committee Chair: Mr. Victor Eware Tataw

Three important items were to be deliberated upon, namely;

1- The NEC Handing over Process 2-2009 Washington Convention Failure 3-Tabi-Mondi vs. Ako-Bessong and MECA-USA Law Suit.

With reference to NEC handing over process, Chairman and Sessekou Solomon Egbe stated, as has been the case on various occasions that all documents were handed over to Chief Cletus Ayuk. However, he

insisted that the issue was not about handover of documents, the real issue here is the transfer of power ie. Change of signatures between the incoming and outgoing administration. The Ako-Bessong team failed to adhere to this procedure. See detailed report from Sessekou Egbe in (REPORT # 4)

With respect to the law suit, the spanking new leader of MECA-GA, Sessekou Phillip Tabi in a well- expressed speech delivered to the General Assembly emphatically reiterated the fact that the Tabi- Mondi team did not and will never sue MECA-USA. He clarified that the defendants named on the law suit were John Etta and Peter Ako for deceptively confirming the results and declaring Peter Ako as the winner of the problem infested election. He underlined several times that MECA-USA was not the named defendant on the lawsuit. Please refer to complete details in (SEE REPORT # 5)

The Ako-Besong team was hardly present to offer a perspective.

For the lessons learned, it was agreed that the leadership structure and constitution should make provision for conflict resolution through arbitration. It was also agreed that any grievance should be submitted first to an arbitration committee. In the event this fails, then, the courts will have to decide on the outcome of such contentious issues.

This committee decided not to institutionalize any absentee ballots during MECA-USA elections. They said it is too complicated to define and enforce hence it creates room for fraud. MECA-USA members who must exercise their civic duty to vote must be physically present at the elections convention. No voting by proxy is accepted. The final electoral list should be approved by the General Assembly of each Chapter before submitting it to the electoral committee which must be verified at the convention grounds. The chapter chiefs have no powers to alter this list.

The CONSTITUTIONAL REVIEW COMMITTEE REPORT:

Under the leadership of Dr. Kingsley Takor, the Constitution Review Committee (CRC) had a robust conversation and (SEE REPORT # 6) is a byproduct of their deliberations. Also included attached a copy of the recommendations "MECA-USA-CRC_Recommendations.doc". Also included is (REPORT # 7) a draft version of the Articles of the BOD, "MECA-USA_BOD_Articles_Draft.doc".

MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE: - Way forward - Next Elections - Next Convention Date & Venue - Modalities for Ad hoc administration to govern MECA-USA

Committee Chair : Mr. Augustine Agbor

Ms. Mimi Mispah, Ms Theresia Ayang Mbu, Ms Estella Ojongmboh Agbor, Mr. Agnes Ebai, Mr. Bate Agbor Baiyee;Tanyi Adele Mambeng, Ebai Tabe, Major Agbor Fidelis, Mr. Nkongho Deba, Engineer Simon Etta, Ms. Enongene Takor Catherine, Ms. Florence Abange, Ms. Julie Nyanket.

The following resolutions were reported.

1) The creation of an interim management team to run the association until proper elections are held at the next convention. 2) A board of directors should be created to run the business activities of MECA-USA. 3) All elected officials must operate under their defined roles as stated in the constitution. 4) The next elections shall take place at the convention between July 2-July 4, 2010. 5) The management committee proposed Atlanta GA as the next convention Venue 6) The interim MECA-USA governing body shall include the following:

 Administrative Chairperson  Administrative vice-chairperson  Secretary General  Treasurer  Public Relations/cultural officer. 7) An advisory body consisting of elders, and or former chairpersons should be created. 8) All previous administrations should hand over all items belonging to Meca-USA to the interim body.

To elaborate on the findings listed above, the Management Committee cognizance of the extraordinary and complex nature of the current state of affairs in MECA-USA, the committee decided that an interim government of MECA-USA should be established to man the affairs of MECA-USA until elections are held in the next convention in Atlanta in July of 2010. This idea was put to vote and the congress overwhelmingly voted in favor, with 62= for, 0=against and 1=abstention.

It was also suggested that the organization be managed by a Board of Directors which was put to vote and there was another unanimous vote 62=for, 0 against and 1=abstention.

There were suggestions that the next convention be hosted by Atlanta for a fresh start considering all the mishaps that this organizations has been through. Due to expediency, it was decided that the 2010 convention goes to Atlanta where there are ready human and material resources on the ground to help advance the renewed vision and mission of MECA-USA. There was a unanimous feeling in the house that the next Convention and Elections have to be successful hence there was no room for gambling. It was said that the convention has to be hyped and we needed it to take place where there is high probability for success. The next MECA-USA general elections will be held during this convention.

Mr. Hubert suggested that we endeavor to be transparent in all future electoral processes to avoid the blunders of the DC 2009 Convention/ Elections.

Reverend Hamilton Ayuk, suggested that the team that was to run for office come convention time in 2010 should prepare a transitional team to facilitate the transition.

All previous constitutional formalities for selecting a host for the convention was suspended due to the abnormal situation that MECA-USA finds itself in. After much deliberation, the next Convention was billed for the week-end of July 2nd - 4th of 2010 in Atlanta. Several other places such as North Carolina, DC, Chicago were considered for the hosting but none of them presented a case as convincing as Atlanta. Atlanta was particularly lucky because they had made a strong case evidenced by the on-going Truth and Reconciliation meeting. It was agreed that an interim government be formed to man the affairs of MECA-USA until a full-fledged elections is held in Atlanta in July of 2010.

The interim government was going to be a corporative style with members of the various chapters selected by lot casting from the various chapters. It is the responsibility of each chapter to identify the member to represent the office that is associated with their chapter

A deadline of November 7th was suggested Chapters to submit their picks for the post they have received in the interim government.

INTERIM ADMINISTRATION:

Interim Chair: Sessekou Maurice Enoh (MECA-Dallas)

Interim vice Chair: Elizabeth Ashunkem (MECA-GA)

Interim Sec Gen: Mr. Baiyee Mondi (MECA-DC)

Interim Financial Sec/ Treasurer: Ms Adele Tanyi (MECA-N Carolina)

Interim PRO/Cultural Officer: (MECA –Chicago)

The business session ended at around 6:15 amidst an atmosphere of euphoria and fanfare. There were group hugs and cameras.

MECA-USA Truth & Reconciliation Conference Atlanta, GA Saturday, October 10, 2009

KEYNOTE ADDRESS

Presented By: Mr. Emmanuel E. Ekumah

My dear Brothers and Sisters Distinguished Guests Ladies and Gentlemen

Before I commence my conversation with you today, I would like to call upon you to join me in observing a moment of silence in honor of two departed MECA-USA Founding Fathers: Late Chief Carlet Ayuk-Ako of MECA-DC and late Chief Ernest Tambe-Agbor of MECA-Georgia. Also, on a very personal note, please join me in praying for eternal rest for my dear mother, Princess Sarah Orock Etchu, whom I laid to rest exactly one year ago today in her final resting place in Bachuo-Akagbe.

I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to the Atlanta Truth & Reconciliation Conference Planning Committee for selecting me as the Keynote Speaker. So, who is a keynote speaker and what is his/her role in a critical gathering of this nature? For those who may not be aware, most professional conferences, political events, conventions, and organizational gatherings, typically would select a keynote speaker to not only be the prime speaker at the come-together, but the tone-setter and the person responsible for refocusing the audience on theme of the conference. Knowing how judgmental we Manyu people are, I have decided to speak a little about myself before some of you invoke the Manyu syndrome, “Wo chi aha?” which translates to, “Who are you?”

I am a career Education Administrator with four undergraduate and graduate degrees in Education, International Relations and Information Technology. Since arrival in the USA in 1982, I have been deeply dedicated in being a constructive voice in the issues affecting both the Cameroonian and Manyu communities in the USA. I was a founding member of CAMSA-USA in 1983, and served the organization in numerous capacities such as, Senior Adviser to National Presidents, Chapter President/VP of New England, Committee Chairman and Special Envoy to numerous Presidents of CAMSA-USA.

In the Manyu community, I was one of the six MECA-USA Founding Fathers & Mothers and the Founding Father of the Manyu group in Boston, MA in January 1989, which later became MECA New England - one of the founding chapters of MECA-USA in March 1990. For twenty years, besides being one of its dedicated believers, I have participated in eighteen out of twenty national conventions and the only person to have chaired the most conventions and national events. Lastly, I have served as an Adviser to almost every National Chairman, chaired several committees and been there in attempting to resolve many conflicts our community has faced and continue to experience.

Manyu! Manyu! Now that I have been unmasked, I believe it is the right moment for us to rise up, greet one another, shake hands, hug each other as we start the process of defining why we are here in Atlanta, Georgia today.

Why Are We Here In Atlanta, GA Today?

In case you haven’t yet noticed and/or it didn’t hit you yet, the MECA-USA family is facing its worst and deepest crisis in twenty years. Most of you would agree with me that most families and organizations at some time in their existence do undergo certain difficult moments. However, if any entity, be it a family or organization does not develop adequate mechanisms to successfully resolve its disputes, anarchy in the form of mistrust, disunity and dishonesty reigns. Simply, the group becomes DYSFUNCTIONAL.

My dear brothers and sisters, whether you agree or disagree with my observations, I am here to proclaim to you in the clearest tone possible that MECA-USA, our beloved organization, is an excellent example of a dysfunctional group. We have lived in denial all these while, and today, we are gathered to salvage what remains of our group. This process is called TRUTH & RECONCILIATION. My hope is that at the end of this conference, each participant would disperse from here taking along with them the true meaning of this event, and, of course, putting in to practice some or all of the lessons learned today.

While TRUTH is simply a stated fact, Reconciliation is defined as settlement, resolution, compromise, bringing together. In reconciliation, we MUST take into account the source(s) and cause(s) of the dispute(s), acknowledgment of wrong(s), ability to forgive and exploration of fair and clear avenues to recompense. It is completely untrue to hold the position that reconciliation can take place only between groups or parties. In reality, it is an individual process and exercise which once actualized, then one is confidently and honestly prepared to partake in the general exercise.

Even though some in our community would claim that this conference was a failure because some faction boycotted, I stand here to assure you that such is not entirely accurate. Your presence here today is a huge step in the right direction and future this organization needs at this time. We cannot force unwilling parties on the peace table; however, when the life of an organization is on life support in the intensive care unit, stakeholders interested in unity, love, progress and peace may take upon themselves to build the necessary bridges to connect one another. My dear brothers and sisters, that’s why we are here today.

Where We Came From: Brief History

For a people or community to be strong, they MUST have a rigid grasp, appreciation for and respect of their history. By doing so, they are able to learn from mistakes of the past and capitalize on the successes of past generations. The height of arrogance and dishonesty in MECA-USA today has stood in the path of this noble process. Our individual egos and zealous quest for recognition has done nothing but damage the theme that brought us together in the first place. Unlike today where Manyu people, food, music and culture is everywhere you turn, the early Manyu immigrant in the USA (1980-1990) starved in search of the things we now take for granted. Especially for some of us who resided outside the Washington, DC and Atlanta metro areas, the sight of a fellow Manyuan and/or the rare occasion to eat some eru, left sweet memories in you for several months. It 22

was that extreme desire to commune, interact and network with one another that ignited the idea to conceive a national Manyu network. Also, in CAMSA-USA (the main student organization), regional alliances became very apparent leaving the politically-aspiring Manyu candidate with very little or no organized network to operate on. Consequently, in the summer of 1988, six Manyu children: Carlet Ayuk-Ako, Sandys Eyong, Elizabeth Nkongho, Esther Abangma, Ernest Tambe-Agbor and Emmanuel Ekumah conceived the idea of a national Manyu organization that would not only serve as a cultural platform for Manyuans in America, but would also provide the political muscle to present a formidable political dominance in CAMSA-USA. In the fall of 1989, a general conference of all Manyuans in the USA was held at the White Oak Towers in Silver Spring, MD. Participated were elated with the concept of a national group. Two delegates were selected from the few Manyu meetings groups that existed at the time (Washington, DC, Atlanta, GA, Boston, MA and Houston, TX). These delegates met in an open general assembly forum in Boston, MA on Saturday, March 31, 1990 and developed the framework for the new organization. On that same day, MECA-USA was born and named after its sister organization in Cameroon, MECA. Atlanta, GA was unanimously selected to host the first national convention. In early July 1990.

Where we went off Track Like most organizations, MECA-USA has seen its own share of triumphs and tribulations. Over the span of its short existence, we have witnessed some major events that have had a tremendous effect on the stability and strength of our group. From internal chapter splits to chapters sounding a vote of no confidence on the National Executive Committee (NEC), these milestones have either strengthen or weakened us depending on how one sees it. On the other hand, we have been successful in small ways over the years in supporting some development efforts in Manyu.

Manyu! Manyu! The three occasions when extreme intolerance manifested its ugly self so vividly, our organization suffered a huge tremor. First, in Washington, DC, the 2001 Convention when the Joseph Eyong administration connived with the Council of Chiefs (COC)/Electoral Committee to disqualify the candidacy of candidate for National Chairman, Morgan Enowmbitang. That decision ultimately led to the disenfranchisement of certain Manyuans and the formation of another Manyu rival group, the National Organization for Manyu Advancement (NOMA). Failing to learn from mistakes of the past, the COC/Electoral Committee once again reneged on their constitutional responsibilities at the July 2007 Houston Convention by presiding over another fraudulent electoral process that led to a team suing the association. Lastly, in July 2009 Washington, DC Convention, the COC and the Independent Electoral Committee in the grandest of all electoral frauds, collected absentee ballots from almost one hundred Manyuans and attempted to influence the outcome of the 2009 elections. Despite appeals from conventioneers for the absentee ballots to be put through the rigorous constitutional scrutiny as stipulated in the MECA-USA constitution, the COC and IEC overruled. The end result was no election and a subsequent decision by the COC to unconstitutionally appoint the incumbent Chairman for another two-year term. The COC decision was followed by four chapters (Washington, DC, Georgia, Dallas and North Carolina) of the organization denouncing the decision and unwillingness to recognize the NEC.

Areas of Concern My dear brothers and sisters, based on my professional experience and participation in this organization, please permit me to honestly pinpoint some of the areas that concerns me the most with our group. I am also very convinced that the mere presence of these negative elements have a resounding effect on our state today: Lack of Leadership Dishonesty: Lack of Selflessness Disrespect: Persons & Institutions Intolerance & Hate These elements have rendered MECA-USA totally ineffective. To progress and be effective, we must adopt and adhere to the basic principles and attributes of effective organizations.

The Attributes of An Effective Organization: DCOM DIRECTION: Clear Vision as defined by the Leadership and understood by stakeholders. COMPETENCE: Ability to articulate and perform tasks. The organization must attract and put in place competent individuals to run its affairs. OPPORTUNITY: Potential for growth and adequate maximization of human and capital resources. MOTIVATION: Eagerness to serve and belong. Provide incentives for members to be motivated to serve loyally.

The Way Forward Simple, User-Friendly & Unambiqous By-laws Free & Fair Electoral Mechanism Effective Structures: Board of Directors, Chapters & Membership clarities Effective Project Development/Management Process Effective Conflict Resolution Mechanism

To conclude, I would like to wish everyone journey mercies to the respective destinations. Thanks for the honor bestowed on me today and a productive conference to all. God bless.

Long Live MECA-USA Long Live Manyu Division

THE REPORTS: Report # 1 Welcome Address by Major Fidelis Agbor, Chief, MECA-GA

My dear brothers and sisters, I want to take this time to welcome you to Georgia, the Peach State. You will find several attractions in Georgia that will keep you busy and entertained. You will find several attractions like the Georgia zoo with lots of exotic animals, the Georgia Aquarium, the largest in the world and lots more. A few weeks ago, we were plagued with flooding, one of the worst natural disasters in the Georgia. A lot of Manyu residents were affected by the flood. Some lost their houses and one with a small business had more than 40 cars immersed under water. My brothers and sisters, I want to say that we are now recovering from the flood. We have to. With your support today, we should be able to start the process of forgetting the past. My brothers and sisters we all know why we are here today. The events in 2009 DC Convention spilled over to Georgia. MECA-GA voted not to recognize the NEC that was put in place by the Council of Chief. Currently, MECA-Georgia is operating independent of any illegitimate administration until this Assembly today decides the way forward. We trust in you to deliberate and come up with something that will guide this Association for the next two years or create a workable model for this Association. Before I conclude, I would like to bring you the good news of the Georgia Elections that took place in September. I have been the chief of MECA-GA for the last four years, and my term has now come to an end. The head of the new executive that will lead MECA-GA into the future is none other than Sessekou Philip Tabi. Please join me in congratulating our new Chief, Sessekou Philip Tabi. On behalf of MECA-GA, I want to say, Welcome and wish you a constructive deliberation. Major Fidelis Agbor Chief, MECA-GA

Report # 2 Address by Ms. Patience Ebini – Candidate for Vice President

Dear Brothers & Sisters, I am very pleased to be here today for the Peace and Reconciliation Conference. I am also honored to present a report of the events before and after the MECA USA Convention 2009 in MECA DC that led to an aborted election but the Council of Chiefs(COC) decided to hand over power to the Ako-Besong Team to lead MECA USA for the next two years. It is unfortunate and disappointing that none of the Ako- Besong team members or supporters is here today for an initiative to set the ball rolling for reconciliation and seeking common grounds for the sake of the organization and Manyu. Nevertheless, with such an impressive crowd, it shows that there are so many of us who are willing to move forward.

BACKGROUND: As most of us, if not all of us present here today already know, Prior to the convention, a lot of things transpired that left several people asking last minute questions but no answers were provided by the ruling team(Ako-Besong). The most pressing issue was the abrupt change of the convention venue 26

(about two days before the convention). The initial venue that was reserved by the MECA DC chapter chief, months before, despite all warnings from some members in the community about fire code violations, was subsequently, not available because the Montgomery County Fire Dept. eventually shut it down. Due to time constraints, he sought the assistance of a few members to search for a venue. Mr. Etchu Samuel (former MECA-DC Chief), one of the committee members, quickly identified a hall that he has been doing business with the owner for more than ten years. Mr. Etchu has signed numerous contracts over the years on behalf of MECA and individuals for events in that hall without any problems. With the approval of the President, he reserved the hall, a security deposit of $500(non refundable) from MECA DC was paid toward that on or about June 3rd, 2009. A few days before the convention, reliable sources from the Ako/Besong team notified a few people that there had been a series of teleconferences going on about excluding certain people from participating in the convention by bringing in police officers to enforce restraining orders against those four MECA DC members. Thereafter, Mr. Etchu started receiving calls from the President and the MECA DC Treasurer to quickly cancel the contract in his name and let the President solely sign the contract. Mr. Etchu insisted that he should be given a valid reason for doing so because it was too close to the convention and it made no sense. The President got some elders involved and requested a meeting for them to ask Mr. Etchu to immediately rescind the contract. The meeting did not hold because it did not make sense that a couple of days to the convention, without compelling reasons, the convention venue should be changed. Despite efforts to get him or any other person added to the contract, the President insisted that it had to be him solely or the contract must be rescinded. Otherwise, he and his cohorts will not have exclusive control over the events in the hall. Eventually, the President, went ahead single-handedly, using MECA- DC funds to secure a more expensive hall for the convention just for them to be able to carry out their motives.

DJ Issue:

As part of the convention program, the name of the DJ was not included but instead referred to as DJ Manyu. This was also a part of the larger scheme to exclude certain people from the hall. Following serious arguments within the MECA DC group against the will of the President and some of his folks, Mr. Oben Ernest was confirmed by the meeting as the DJ for the convention. Following a personal issue between him and one of the dissenters (Mr. Larry Eyong-Echaw), a complaint for a restraining order was filed against Mr. Ernest Oben by Mr. Eyong-Echaw claiming that the new convention venue was his school, in anticipation that it would be granted just prior to the convention date to exclude Mr. Oben from participating in the convention, thereby stopping him from being the D.J. This scheme was also futile because by the time Mr. Oben was served, he was already installed in the hall.

Petitions to the IEC: As you all read on open forums before the convention, the Agbor/ebini team filed several petitions with the IEC proactively with their concerns about electoral issues. One of them was the absentee ballots that were anticipated to be the most problematic issue as far as the election. Despite the specifics of that petition, the IEC never acted upon their constitutional mandate to respond to the petitions because the IEC Coordinator, Dr. Ann Asam, a staunch supporter of the Ako/Besong team ignored the petitions and never brought them to the attention of the IEC body. Thereby, leaving the agbor/ebini team and its 28

supporters with no other options but bring their case to the convention floor to be addressed and resolved. All the agbor/ebini team requested was for proper constitutional procedures to be adhered to and proven for all absentee ballots. Despite several open disclaimers by members who were registered in DE to vote in abstentia without their knowledge, they still had them for absentee ballots. Some of them made it to the convention only to testify that they were not affiliated with any MECA USA chapters. How could we have accepted that?

At The Convention: Despite all the wahala, the excitement of people being at the convention was extremely impressive. People argued but still chatted and hugged one another. However, on Friday was the prelude when Dr. Samuel Besong, former Vice Chairperson of MECA USA instructed the MECA DC President to stop Mr. Assam Assam Eyong from talking on the microphone because he claimed he was not a member of MECA USA. According to him, Assam was one of the members that were suspended from the organization by the Ako/Besong administration. Thanks to one of the moderators who later clarified on Saturday that the previous administration had handed the books to MECA DC appointed individuals long ago in the process of the chapter intervening to resolve the stalemate. Mr. Assam was then stopped and asked to hand over the microphone which he did not comply.

On Saturday, the deliberations went well. Then, came time for the electoral process to start. The IEC was installed and the Council of Chiefs Coordinator, John Etta (a fervent supporter of the AKO/BESONG Team) announced to the Manyu people that four individuals who were already admitted into the hall and paid their convention registration fee would not be allowed to vote. In addition, there were four restraining orders against them not to be in the hall. Two police officers were ushered immediately into the hall to make sure that those individuals vacated the hall immediately. For once, the reactions of the Manyu people took the schemers by surprise as they shockingly watched the officers stand dumfounded by the overwhelming reactions/resistance from the crowd, screaming at the top of their voices that it was not going to happen. The restraining orders and the officers were rendered powerless. The Ako/Besong team was left extremely dejected, humiliated and frustrated.

Then, came, the issue of absentee ballots that the IEC body could not move on with their deliberations because of a "deadlock". Dr. Ann Assam vehemently refused to make available all the absentee ballots for review to the IEC members. Although she reported to the General Assembly that by a vote of 6 to 3, the IEC had accepted to admit absentee ballots, she was confronted right there by IEC members who expressed that it was a blatant LIE as they never voted based on her refusal to present the ballots for review if they EACH met constitutional requirements and payments. Dr. Ann Asam, IEC Coordinator shamefully retracted her statement claiming that it was a mistake.

Although, Mr. John Etta, and the Ako/Besong supporters were given opportunities to continuously present the issue to the assembly as though the agbor/ebini team was acting as if it was unaware that the constitution allows for absentee ballots, they never gave any of the agbor/ebini team members the 29

opportunity to clarify its position too. However, eventually, people like Seseko Ebini, Mr. Ekumah Emmanuel, spoke and outlined the real issues of the absentee ballots and asked that each and every aspect of the constitution must be applied strictly and at this point that it had become a serious contentious issue, the ballots should be reviewed not only by one person (Dr. Ann Assam) but by the entire IEC. There were a host of conventioneers that expressed their disappointments about the creation of absentee ballots in MECA. While Mr. Cletus Ayuk requested that all the IEC members be allowed to express themselves, it was also suggested to the MECA DC President that all the absentee ballots should be handed over immediately to four identified individuals and possibly any other interested members( Ms. Joan Essim, Seseko Ebini, Mr. Cletus Ayuk, & Mr. George Ashu) in conjunction with the IEC, who will review and validate each and every one of the requests per the constitution and bring the results to be added to the electoral votes. All IEC members had an opportunity to finally speak and express their concerns about the absentee ballots. At the end, the IEC Coordinator spoke and explained how the ballots were sent to her i.e. by compiled lists from some chapters like California as opposed to individual members. She expressed that the constitution was vague and ambiguous on the absentee ballot issue making applicability impossible. Basically, by the time she finished, she made it clear to all how she bent the rules to admit all absentee ballots from the Ako/Besong team. The assembly was left with no other option but screaming that the absentee ballots be thrown out. Even a family member to Dr. Peter Ako that was singled out from the crowd to express how she felt about the absentee ballot, said on the microphone, "Throw them out". This brought Dr. Ako staring into her eyes in shock and she repeated her words without blinking. The MECA DC President, and others pushed as much as they could to bring MECA CA to the ballot box and save the absentee ballot review for last to no avail as people were bent on having the ballots reviewed before the electoral process could start. Some IEC Members resisted the process and expressed that reviewing and validating the ballots was a domain exclusively for the IEC and none other. Therefore, the ballots must be handed back to the IEC Coordinator. Following heated arguments and obstructing MECA CA members from casting any ballots into the box, the next thing we knew was the sudden declaration from initially, Dr. Bessem Besong, IEC member from DE & Wife to former vice chairperson, Dr. Besong. Thereafter, Dr. Ann Asam made an announcement cancelling the election and asking everyone to leave the hall immediately. Dr. Ako & Dr. Besong quickly brought the police officers back into the hall and they declared the meeting adjourned and making it clear that there was no election. People could return to the hall at 10 p.m. for the gala. The scheme to defraud the election was unraveled, frustrated and out of shame, the election was called off.

COC & Its Plans for MECA USA: The Council of Chiefs confirmed on the convention floor that NEC handed all documents to COC. At the time when the IEC took over, it was incumbent on them to make it clear that the office of the chairman was vacant until a new one was elected since NEC is not appointed.

Although COC decided to hand over power to the Ako/Besong team until 2011, despite clarion calls for a caretaker or interim government until elections occur at a future date, the agbor/ebini team and other chapters voted against that decision because it was illegitimate and sets bad precedence for MECA USA. The agbor/ebini team thanks all the manyu people for their enormous support and will continue to stand for initiatives to bring justice and efforts toward reconciliation and unity back into our MECA USA. May God Bless Us All.

Patience Ebini, MSW, LL.M Candidate for Vice Chairperson Agbor/Ebini Team 2009

REPORT # 3

MECA-USA TRUTH & RECONCILIATION CONFERENCE SPEECH BY LADY K. ETTANDIP ARRAH-MANYI THE MOTHER OF MECA-USA ATLANTA, GEORGIA, OCTOBER 10TH, 2009

Manyu Elements, Comrades, Ladies and Gentlemen:

When MECA-USA was formed 20 years ago, hardly did I know that many of us will still be standing here as friends and family, to bear witness to MECA-USA’s 20th Anniversary. Today marks the true testimony that Satan has powers which can NEVER stand the power of God’s graces in humanity. Today marks the first day of TRUTH and RECONCILIATION for the TRUE believers and the real devoted members of MECA-USA. Yes, we are the Flag Bearers of Love for MECA!

We have come far and near to stand witness and fight for the RESUCITATION OF MECA-USA from the worst test of TRIALs and TRIBULATIONS, this Family Association in the Diaspora, had to endure. I congratulate and welcome you for your selflessness in spending monies that your family needs!

Those who kept telling me over and over: “Lady K, stop promoting this your LOVE & PEACE BECAUSE MECA-USA WILL NEVER DIE…” have become the same people slaying our brain child, the very MECA-USA that they have been purporting to protect. These same brothers & sisters are dividing MECA- USA into various factions from the United Kingdom to the United States of America.

Today, LET God be our guide and Savior so his wisdom may direct us and make MECA-USA not only live forever, but prove that there’s only one MECA-USA that will be recognized in the United States of America. That, Ladies and Gentlemen, will be the one and only MECA-USA holding our original Records of Incorporation and MECA-USAs 501©(3) from the State of Maryland. Today, we have paid flight tickets; and others have driven miles and miles across the United States, to STAND TOGETHER for the UNITY OF THE MANYU PEOPLE. We have come to BEAR WITNESS TO OUR TRUE LOVE FOR THE PEOPLE OF MANYU AT HOME, ABROAD, and in the United States of America! Let’s learn: “I AM SORRY!”

MECA-USA WAS FORMED TO UNITE, NOT TO DIVIDE US. MY UTMOST PRAYER IS THAT COME THE NEXT 20 YEARS, WE WILL BE HOLDING HANDS TOGETHER, PAYING HOMMAGE TO THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF MECA-USA. Ladies & Gentlemen, I am appealing to you, that, we Manyu Sons and Daughters in the World, should start emulating Barrack & Michelle Obama’s spirit of LOVE, UNITY & RESPECT for Family, Community and Country:

 To our men: Remember that what makes a Real Man is his ability to stand by his word! Let us start a new lease in life by learning to say I’m SORRY when MISTAKEN. The Manyu Man must learn to LOVE himself, his WIFE and CHILDREN. Let us show love and respect to our WOMEN. Let us stop the verbal, emotional and physical abuse of our women and children.

The ugly words: “AKPARA Woman” must be eradicated from the lips of ALL Manyu Men from today forwards! You must protect your homes, your marriages & your families. Please show dignity to all Manyu Women because they are: your Mothers, Sisters, Wives, Daughters, and your beloved friends! You must respect your women as life partners with equal goals and dreams that need nurturing. Please learn to love, pamper and nurture your wives and teach your wives to love, pamper and nurture you, so you can both be fulfilled/happy and sleep better every night!

 To Manyu Women: Please, LOVE and RESPECT yourselves! Love, respect, pamper, and support your husband’s ambitions, (as he would yours). Make your man the HEAD of your Marriage & Family! For, a marriage without LOVE, RESPECT, and SUPPORT is like home built on sand, without a solid foundation. It will eventually CRUMBLE. And, many have crumbled! I am appealing that we start respecting ourselves as Manyu People. I beg that we start respecting our homes & families which are in distress and disarray. Let us start loving, respecting/humbling

ourselves in the presence of God. Let us start promoting the fear of God which is the beginning of wisdom for our children and the Manyu Family.

Manyu People, let us start loving and respecting our Holy Matrimonies and God given Friendships. Ladies & Gentlemen, Let us reunite MECA-USA for ourselves, our children, our future and the future & sustenance of MANYU Division. Standing here today, I have no apologies or excuses for our brothers and sisters who could not join us today, due to their unforgiving souls or ill-fated tendencies. Today, let us not give room in the Manyu Community for envy, lies by our men & women, vile gossips, evil- mindedness, jealousy, divisiveness and HATRED. Today, let us start becoming our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers by promoting Love & Peace in the Manyu Family! OUR MARRIED Men Women, called: Manyu COUPLES, must show love respect for our single brothers and sisters so they too can find husbands & wives and be UNITED in holy matrimony.

Our Community is riddled with lack of respect, innuendo, gossip and hatred. Any community that doesn’t have respect & the love of family is amoral and lost! We are not immune! We must learn, and strive to SURRENDER ourselves to the LOVE of GOD our CREATOR, so he may GUIDE, UNITE, and KEEP us TOGETHER For-Ever. Let us LOVE & Cherish one-another like only another Manyu Son or Daughter would; as we are the only People whose UNITY will eventually build Manyu Division. Therefore, let us STAMP out envy and hatred!

LONG LIVE MANYU ELEMENTS CULTURAL & DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION (MECA-USA). Long Live Manyu Division; Long Live the Republic of Cameroon; Long Live the United States of America in which we live.

MY LOVE to YOU as ALWAYS, and May the LOVE of God Be with You All!

LADY K. ETTANDIP ARRAH-MANYI  MOTHER OF MECA-USA.  The last daughter of: Papa Moses Ettandip (Talangaye in Ossing Kingdom) and the Lovely Mami Frida Manyi-Etta (of Batchuo-Ntai Kingdom).  Former Vice Chairwoman of MECA-USA 1995-1997.  Former Chairwoman: MECA-California 1998-1999.  Former Vice President: the Cameroon Group Los Angeles, CA (CAMG-LA) 2005–2009.  Former President: the Cameroon America Community Assoc., (CAC-LA) 1992-1993.  Former President, Cameroon Students Assoc. (CAMSA-USA), Lubbock TX, 1986-1989.  Legal Scholar and Civil Rights.

REPORT # 4 NEC Handing over process: Former Chairman, Sessekou Solomon Egbe

T&R Conference in Atlanta on 10-10-2009:

Fact Finding Committee Enquiry on the NEC Handing-Over Process – Egbe’s administration (the issue behind the books):

Take-Over from the Joe Eyong Administration, July 2003:

It is important for me to start by addressing issues related to the take-over from the Joe Eyong Administration.

In July of 2003, I took over as Chairman of MECA-USA from Joseph Eyong, after serving as his Vice Chairman for 4 years. At the 2003 MECA-USA convention in California, Dr. Samuel Besong, Chairman Joe 34

Eyong’s Treasurer, presented his final financial report which was rejected by the general assembly and returned to him. The first objection to the report was raised by Mrs. Esther Ayukeno who pointed out that the numbers on the report, when added up, did not match the total figure on the report. Dr. Besong explained that some smaller donations were not included on the list, but were included in the total amount.

Ms. Kathy Ettandip then raised an objection that she donated $500, but her name was not on the list. Mr. George Takang then added that his donation too was not reflected on the list and various people started raising objections to the report.

Sessekou Arreymbi then raised a motion that the report should be returned to Dr. Samuel Besong to be corrected, and that an audit should follow after the report was amended. (The report is attached as Exhibit A) (Report # 6)

Following this complication, I then assigned incoming Financial Secretary, Ms. Patience Ebini, to contact the outgoing Financial Secretary, Ms. Joan Essim, to smoothen the transition. After several weeks of collaboration, she collected all receipts that were in Ms. Essim’s possession and they went to the bank and transferred signatures. However, there were about 3 Western Union receipts that Ms. Essim did not have copies of estimated to add up to about $6,000. Because the funds were transferred using former Chairman Joseph Eyong’s Western Union discount card, only he could request a duplicate receipt from Western Union. After about six attempts to get him to go to Western Union with her to request copies of the receipts, including one time when late Justice Ekortarh was in DC, Ms. Essim gave up.

At the Dallas Convention in 2006, an issue was raised about the $6,000 discrepancy between Late Justice Ekortarh’s financial report and the Joe Eyong Administration’s report. I pointed out that the Eyong administration report included $5,933 that was spent at the beginning of the project before Justice Ekortarh was recruited as Legal & Financial Representative of MECA-USA in Cameroon. (See Exhibit B) Unfortunately, Chairman Joseph Eyong never showed up to answer the specific issues about the Western Union receipts that got lost in his possession. I therefore convened a leadership meeting in Maryland to give the former chairman an opportunity to address the issue. Again he did not show up. I convened a third meeting at his home in Silver Spring, but this time only me, Philip Tabi, Cletus Ayuk and Angel Tabe showed up for the meeting.

Up to date, the issue about the missing Western Union receipts and its related $6000 transferred to Cameroon, but never received by Late Justice Ekortarh has not been clarified. Most of the information above was gathered through interviews with the Eyong Administration’s Financial Secretary, Ms. Joan Essim.

End of the first Solomon Egbe Administration, July 2005:

At the 2005 MECA-USA Convention in Boston, the outgoing administration did not present a financial report. The issue was raised on the convention floor to attack my candidacy to run for a second term. My supporters argued that my outgoing Treasurer, Ms. Elza Etchu intentionally withheld the financial

report to frustrate my campaign because she was not in my new administration, and was supporting my opponent. I explained the attempts I had made to get the Treasurer to produce the financial report without success, and won the elections by landslide. I hereby attach various documents (communications) between me, my Financial Secretary and Treasurer asking for the financial report. The documents also include the Treasurer’s e-mail to me warning me to get off her back about the report, and that she will make it available at the convention. (See Exhibit C1, 2, 3 and 4).

All the relevant documents pertaining to the first Solomon Egbe administration were handed over to the Peter Ako Administration on July 29th, 2007.

End of the Solomon Egbe Administration, July 2007:

At the 2007 MECA-USA Convention in Houston, members of the Ako/Besong Team spent hours questioning me (even though I was not running for office) until about 7PM. As we ran out of time to prepare for the elections, several steps of the electoral process were skipped, including the collection of administrative documents by the Council of Chiefs. The election ended up in chaos amidst allegations of fraud, most specifically because the Ako/Besong Team was declared winners by one vote which was cast by a member who had been suspended by MECA-DC. In addition to that, I personally observed MECA-DE registering members from different states on the floor, so long as they supported the Ako/Besong Team. Supporters of the Tabi/Mondi Team did not have this option because no other chapter was that blatant in their violations of the electoral rules. They immediately filed a petition to contest the results and threatened to file a lawsuit if the matter was not promptly addressed.

With all the confusion surrounding the elections, everyone left Houston without a proper handing over ceremony taking place. When I got to Maryland, I notified the Council of Chiefs that I will hand over all the documents that were supposed to be handed over to the Council of Chiefs to them through the MECA-DC Chapter Chief, Mr. Cletus Ayuk. The documents, which included all documents pertaining to the office of the Chairman of MECA-USA were handed over to Mr. Cletus Ayuk on July 29th 2007, for forwarding to the Council of Chiefs.

They included: (1) MECA-USA 501C3 documents; (2) MPC Land Title; (3) MECA-USA Financial Statement from the 2007 convention; (4) E-Mail from MECA Houston Chief acknowledging receipt of $2,525 sent to him as loan from MECA-USA to help finance the convention; (5) MPA Expense & Revenue Summary from 2000 through 2007; (6) MPC performance agreement and update letters from Ekor-Tarh and Tambe Carl; (7) Application with Standard Insurance Company to give universal life insurance coverage to all MECA-USA members; (8) Survey documents to create MECA-USA Credit Union; (9) Copies of all Western Union Transactions carried out by the two Solomon Egbe administrations; (10) Various receipts of reimbursed and un-reimbursed expenses during Chairman Solomon Egbe’s tenure; (11) Various letters from IRS; (12) Consent decree between Chairman Solomon Egbe and MPC contractor Tambe Carl regarding repairs on the MPC building; (13) Registration documents for MECA.org web site; (14) MECA- USA Official stamp and seal. These are the material that I used to run MECA-USA for the 4 years that I was chairman, and coupled with the $2,525 that Houston promptly forwarded to the Ako/Besong

administration, there was sufficient resources for the association to move forward smoothly. (See Exhibit D)

Technical Difficulties in the transfer of authority:

First of all, the Ako/Besong Team kept insisting on transfer of books. They went all over the airwaves whining that my administration did not transfer “the books” to them. I explained the difference between “transfer of power” and “transfer of books”, but they kept to their story, so I kept quiet. I knew that I had already transferred the books in my possession, and that the information will eventually come out. I also realized that with the type of pompous attitude that the incoming administration was exhibiting, they could never bring themselves to the point of engaging my administration properly to discuss the process of “transfer of power”. Instead, they spent their time insulting us on the internet in an effort to bully us to the point of “magically transferring powers to them” without a formal process. We understood that they could not figure out how to proceed, but with all the negative attacks on us, we decided that we would not volunteer assistance if it was not specifically requested by them. Blinded by ego, they resorted to accusing my administration of embezzlement, as a means of pressuring us to rescind our position. We stood our grounds, and the new accusations even pushed us further to request an “independent audit” before our finance team would even have any conversation with them about transferring their documents over. Up till today, they are blocking an independent audit.

The Lawsuit:

In the meantime, the Tabi/Mondi Team announced that they were going to file a lawsuit against the Ako/Besong Team and John Etta’s Council of Chiefs for stealing the elections. As we anticipated the lawsuit, I did a due diligence of the association and found out that its incorporation status had lapsed. I did not know this earlier because the former Chairman, Joseph Eyong, remained the resident agent after he left office. In August 2007 I went to the Secretary of State’s office and revived the association and changed its resident agent to me. The dispute between the Ako/Besong Team and the Tabi/Mondi Team ensued until October when the matter moved to court. The Tabi/Mondi Team accused the Ako/Besong Team for stealing the elections with the complicity of John Etta and the Council of Chiefs. John Etta and Ako Peter responded, on behalf of MECA-USA, claiming that the Tabi/Mondi Team filed the lawsuit to cover embezzlement by my administration.

I filed an inter-pleader, arguing that the real party qualified to defend the interest of MECA-USA is me, and that I needed to know who the legitimate leader was, so I could hand over to them. I also argued that MECA-USA’s position was that both parties should come together in a conflict resolution forum within the association and resolve this matter peacefully instead of wasting the association’s limited resources on a lawsuit. I strongly objected to the use of an external attorney who was causing the association tens of thousands when we could use pro bono attorneys within the association for free and use those funds to help the poor and sick in accordance with our charitable mission. While the Tabi/Mondi Team funded their lawsuit with donations from their supporters, the Ako/Besong-John Etta Team funded their legal bills through some insidious means with MECA-USA funds with the complicity of

some chapter chiefs who did not secure the opinion of their chapter members to disburse such large sums of money for a purpose that was not charitable in nature. In the end, Theodore Nkwenti, Esq., was the attorney for the plaintiffs on record; Jonathan Shurberg, Esq., was the attorney for the defendants Ako/Besong and John Etta; Solomon Egbe, Esq., was the attorney on record for MECA-USA. (See Exhibit E).

The Mediation:

Eventually, Mr. Emmanuel Ekumah, Dr. Daniel Essim and Ms. Patience Ebini and several others from both camps, organized mediation through teleconference, where the Tabi/Mondi Team agreed to drop the case in exchange for the Ako/Besong Team to call a reconciliation conference. The issue of whether my administration would “transfer the books” after the lawsuit was dropped came up, and I was contacted by the Tabi/Mondi Team. I agreed, on condition that and “independent audit” of my administration is part of the reconciliation process. The Tabi/Mondi Team dropped the lawsuit, and the Ako/Besong Team reneged on their promise to call a reconciliation conference. They came to me for “the books”, and I told them to setup an independent audit of my administration. Just because they did not want to implement an idea that came from me, they refused and Ako Peter resorted to attempt to suspend me and three other members of MECA-USA from the organization. The suspension failed, primarily because my home chapter MECA-DC refused to implement it.

MECA-DC Investigation:

At its September meeting, the general assembly of MECA-DC decided that they should give my administration an opportunity to explain the “handing of the books” issue. They setup a meeting at the former chapter chief, Cletus Ayuk’s residence. At that meeting I explained that I had handed over the books to Cletus Ayuk 14 months earlier, and was disappointed that when all this issue about “handing over the books” came up, that he never said anything. He explained that he sent an e-mail to John Etta and Peter Ako the day after I handed the books to them and explained that they had been transferred. Everybody at the meeting which noted that they had never seen anything from Peter Ako or John Etta acknowledging receipt of anything from my administration, and that they may have intentionally misled MECA members into believing that we were just refusing to hand over books. Mr. Cletus Ayuk then added that when he contacted my Treasurer to hand over his files, my Treasurer said he would hand them over only if I gave them the go ahead to do so. The members then asked if I would give the go ahead for my Treasurer to hand over the files, and I said yes – so long as my administration was audited first, so that Ako Peter and John Etta can show where they embezzled money. The members pointed out that the Ako/Besong Team is alleging now that they never said my administration embezzled money, and I produced a copy of their answer to the Tabi/Mondi complaint which accused the Tabi/Mondi Team of trying to cover up my administration’s embezzlement.

The minutes were taken by the current MECA-DC Chapter Chief, Chief Etchu Tabenyang, who presented his report to the general MECA-DC meeting. The chapter then decided to setup an independent audit team comprising 1 representative of my administration, 2 auditors appointed by the Ako/Besong Team,

and two “independent auditors” appointed by the general assembly. The chapter appointed its 2 auditors, Peter Ako appointed his 2 auditors, and I was the last to appoint my 1 auditor. I was asked to tell my Treasurer, Financial Secretary and Cultural Officer to turn over all MECA-USA material in their keeping to the coordinators of the audit – Mr. Victor Etta and Mr. Maurice Tabe. All the material requested were transferred before the due date. On the date of the audit, all the auditors showed up, but before the audit could begin, the Ako/Besong auditors withdrew. They refused to participate in the audit, that Peter Ako who appointed them had no authority to appoint them. Since then, all the material remained with the auditors and/or coordinators, and none was ever requested to be returned to my administration. However, at the convention, the Ako/Besong administration tried to use the police to remove members of my administration from the hall, that we still held MECA-USA material. The MECA- DC members, knowing that this was a blatant lie as the material was with auditors almost started a riot against the decision. Their attempt to remove my team from the hall was stopped by the masses in the most embarrassing manner. These “books” have been with auditors since March, and up till today they are still refusing to participate in an audit.

Conclusion: The truth is that the Ako/Besong Team focused so much on “handing over of the books”, when they should have focused on “transfer of power”. They went through four lawyers trying to strong arm me, but realized that they could not do anything, and certainly nothing could be done without the “audit” or “accounting” that I had requested. Not wanting to give in to my demands for and audit, they figured they could insult, blackmail and tarnish my reputation to force me into submission. They underestimated the amount of goodwill I have cultivated in the community over the years and were frustrated by their inability to destroy the loyalty of my supporters. By the time they realized that they had to focus on “transfer of power”, they had already antagonized my administration so much that they could not call them to discuss the transfer process as is normally required. Unfortunately, there is no other way to do it besides discussing the transfer process with the outgoing administration, or going to court.

REPORT # 5

FACTS ABOUT THE TABI MONDI LAW SUIT: LESSONS LEARNED.

The Tabi/Mundi Team took part in the MECA-USA elections of 2009 in Houston, TX vying for the NEC position. That Dear people,

On behalf of the Tabi/Mundi Team I would like to thank all of you for taking time of your busy schedules to attend this important event which has been coined as "The MECA-USA Truth and Reconciliation Conference" taking place today October 10th, 2009. We do understand that in every organization, problems are bound to occur and we also do understand that when such problems occur, members of the same organization should never shy away from looking for plausible solutions to the problems.

MECA-USA since its inception has faced so many problems. The members have always looked for ways to resolve those problems. Also, in the history of this organization, every successful leadership has in one way of the other never shied away from attempting to resolve issues or problems plaguing this great association. On that note, I thank all the members who have constructively made all their efforts for this reconciliation to happen election was marred with massive electoral irregularities such as our opponent the Ako/Besong Team registering members in the hall and failure of the electoral committee to respect and follow articles in the constitution that deals with election. The following members who never belonged to any MECA chapters, were registered on the floor by the Ako/Besong Team and allowed to vote by the Electoral Committee made up of Council of Chiefs. Mrs. Judith Ebini from Maryland, Ms Ashuntantang from NC, kima from MN. The Tabi/Mundi Team wrote a petition to the Council of Chiefs to look into the irregularities. The COC met in a teleconference and ruled that there were no irregularities and declared the Ako/Besong Team as the winners despite some objections from some chiefs to at least acknowledge the irregularities (see email from Dr. Kingsley Takor). The COC did not even care to talk to our Team or even invite us to any teleconference. We reiterated our position and called on COC to revisit its verdict for the sake of peace. They met again without inviting us and reiterated their stance on supporting the Ako/Besong Team amidst all provocations from our opponents to go to court.

The Tabi/Mundi Team through their Attorney filed a lawsuit against Ako Peter for acting as the chairman of MECA-USA, John Etta, the head of COC and Solomon Egbe as the resident agent of MECA-USA, asking for”MEDIATION" and not to destroy MECA as our opponents twisted the information and asked for legal defense funds from various chapters. See court documents.

ROADMAP LEADING TO LAWSUIT WITHDRAWAL.

Concerned manyuans have worked hard behind the scene in order to withdraw the lawsuit and settle the issues that emanated from the 2007 election convention amicably. One of those individuals is Minister Mengot who gave me a surprise call from New York where he was attending a UN summit. We spoke for almost an hour and he assured me that he had spoken with Ako Peter for us to withdraw the lawsuit. I listened to the Minister, respected his opinion and welcomed his suggestion. A teleconference was organized between some members from the Ako/Besong Team and Tabi/Mundi Team. Present at the teleconference were the following members: 41

1) Dr. Essim Daniel 2) Mr. Ekumah Emmanuel 3) Dr. Besong Samuel 4) Dr. Peter Ako 5) Ms. Patience Ebini 6) PA Hamilton Ayuk 7) Philip Tabi 8) Baiyee Mundi

During this teleconference, we all came into a conclusion that the lawsuit was to be withdrawn the following day, that Philip Tabi will announce on Manyunet and inform all the members that the lawsuit has been withdrawn followed by a similar announcement from Dr. Peter Ako. Finally, the Ako/Besong Team to put all logistics together and call for a General Reconciliation Meeting in Dallas, TX. The following morning, I called our attorney and notified him that we had had a teleconference and the decision is for him to withdraw the lawsuit. The attorney accepted and went ahead that morning and withdrew the lawsuit. I went on Manyunet and made the announcement and calling upon the Ako/Besong Team to put the logistics together for a general reconciliation meeting in Dallas, TX as per the teleconference.

Two days later, I received a call from Dr. Peter Ako informing that the reason why he has not come out to write on manyunet as per the teleconference was because some of his supporters were fighting him and never liked the idea that he took part in the teleconference. Few days later, his running mate Dr. Samuel Besong wrote a mail (attached with this report) challenging the teleconference, challenging me that I have not been regular in my local chapter meeting and that he will never spend his money to sit on a table with people who do not contribute financially to MECA-USA, thereby objecting to any reconciliation. From this point up to this point that we are meeting today neither the Ako/Besong Team nor COC ever called for any reconciliation so that we can collectively solve the problems affecting this organization today. Instead, we were faced with different types of electoral fraud in Washington, DC 2009 involving absentee ballots from the same Ako/Besong Team. COC again put the same dagger they used in Houston 2007 by giving the Ako/Besong Team another two years term without elections being held in Washington 2009. This was another major catastrophy to the serenity of the organization.

REPORT # 6 Constitution Review Committee (CRC): Recommendations to MECA-USA

The Constitution Review Committee, herein referred to as CRC, was tasked with looking specifically at:

- Election reforms (Absentee Ballots, Rotational/Sub-Divisional Cabinet, etc.. - Administrative & Structural reforms (Board of Directions – BOD, etc..) - Membership Criteria: Chapter & Individuals

It is the committee’s view that these broad recommendations, contained herein, would help build a stronger and a better focused MECA-USA.

1. CRC Composition

The following members, present at the Atlanta conference, volunteered to serve in the CRC.

Members (16):

 Kingsley Tako (Chair)  Stephen Agbor (Secretary)  Ako Jean-Jacques Enow  Obenny Tiku  Lady K. Ettandip  Sessekou Joseph Mbu  Emmanuel Ekumah  Maurice Enoh  Monica Ako-Bryant  Johannes Huberts Agbor  Constance Ebini  Frida Ebini  Belta Mondi  Patience Ebini  Evelyn Takor  Tabenyang Etchu

2. Observations

Following exhaustive deliberations, at the Atlanta Conference and through follow-up teleconferences, the CRC made the following observations within the broader scope of MECA-USA:

 The level of hate and animosity amongst MECA-USA members is usually at its highest in the weeks and months leading up to elections.  The members of MECA-USA are not mature enough to conduct simple elections without bias. Past elections, the committee noted, have been plagued by irregularities. These shortcomings do very little to lend credence to democracy in MECA-USA, and help undermine the leadership of the association.  Most progressive and stable organizations have a Board of Directors (BOD) which formulates the broad policies of the organization. The affairs of the association could be

better managed by creating a BOD which would set the broad policies of MECA-USA. The NEC’s main task would be to implement these policies.  The issue of the BOD had been discussed extensively by the General Assembly of MECA- USA at past convention gatherings, but no resolution as to its composition, functional guidelines, or term limits were ever agreed upon.  Most MECA-USA local Chapters are either very weak or dysfunctional, and membership within their ranks has declined steadily over the years. A stronger and stable MECA-USA can never be built out of a weak or dysfunctional collection of local Chapters.  Our Chiefs (COC) have an important role to play in the organization.  Mini Conventions are of no material benefit to MECA-USA. There is a tremendous waste of valuable resources (time & money) organizing and attending mini Conventions – money that could be put towards projects in Manyu.

3. Recommendations

Mindful of the above mentioned observations, the committee hereby offers the following recommendations to MECA-USA:

A. Election Reforms

To help break the cycle of hate and foster better understanding and co-operation amongst MECANs, the committee recommends:

(a) That there be no more elections at the convention to determine the leadership of MECA-USA

(b) That the leadership (NEC) of MECA-USA should be Rotational amongst MECA-USA Chapters, with each chapter given an opportunity to provide a chairperson for the association and other cabinet members based on an open lottery to be conducted during the National Convention. Accordingly:

(i) The Convention host would provide the Chairperson of MECA-USA (ii) The Chapter next in line to host the Convention would provide the Vice Chairperson of MECA-USA (iii) All other Cabinet positions to be spread amongst the rest of the Chapters, with the only exception being that the Treasurer and Financial Secretary should both be from the same Chapter (different from that of the Chairperson). This is to facilitate better accounting and handover of financial records to auditors in a timely manner.

(iv) The Treasurer and Financial Secretary should be the only signatories on the MECA-USA Bank Account, and the account should be maintained at a National Bank

(v) The term limit of the Chairperson should be two (2) years.

(IV) Any Chapter that is unable to provide cabinet members for the association could swap with other Chapters, provided the Chairperson and Vice Chairperson are both from Chapters different from that of the Treasurer and Financial Secretary.

B. Administrative & Structural Reforms (BoD)

The committee recommends that:

(a) A BOD should be formed to formulate the broad policies for MECA-USA. The NEC’s main task should be to implement these policies. (b) The BOD should be composed of one (1) representative per active Chapter. Each Chapter can nominate a second person (alternate), but there should be only one representation per-chapter during BOD meetings. (c) The Leader of the BOD breaks the tie should one arise (d) Each Chapter should be responsible for 100% of all reasonable travel expenses of its Board member each time they attend a physical Board meeting. (e) The term limit of the BOD should be three (3) years. (f) All projects undertaken by the MECA-USA should be scrutinized by the BOD, and must be approved by local Chapters or the General Assembly of MECA-USA. In addition, every major decision set by the BOD that affects MECA-USA should be approved by stake holders i.e. Local Chapters. (g) The BOD should take over the responsibilities of the Council of Chiefs (COC) as presently constituted i.e. in conflict resolution, Audit of MECA-USA finances, etc. (h) The BOD should setup permanent (standing) committees. These should include amongst others:  A Conflict Management Committee  A Project Management Committee  An Audit Committee  A Fundraising Committee

For a complete overview of the BOD, please refer to the draft article of the MECA-USA BOD.

C. Membership Criteria: Chapter & Individuals

The committee recommends that the current membership criteria as stipulated in the constitution be maintained.

D. Organs of MECA-USA

a. The organs of MECA-USA should be the General Assembly, BOD, NEC and Local Chapters. b. The General Assembly, at a National Convention gathering, should be the supreme body of MECA-USA.

E. National Convention

The committee recommends that:

a. MECA-USA National Conventions should be held every two (2) years.

F. National Executive Committee (NEC)

The committee recommends:

a. Change of title from “Chairperson” to “President” b. Change of title from “Vice Chairperson” to “Vice President”.

G. Role of Council of Chiefs (COC)

The committee recommends that:

a. Our Chiefs should concentrate more on running local MECA-USA Chapters in order to make them stronger, stable, and to help drive up membership.

REPORT # 7 DRAFT ARTICLES OF THE MECA-USA BOARD OF

DIRECTORS (BOD)

Article 1: ORGANIZATION AND STRUCTURE

I. The Board of Directors shall be one of the three main branches of the Manyu Elements Cultural and Development Association (MECA-USA). 49

II. The Board of Directors shall comprise of one delegate from each active chapter of MECA-USA. A chapter may nominate a second (alternate) non-voting delegate.

Article2: FUNCTIONS

I. The Board of Directors shall be the main policy formulating branch of MECA-USA. II. The Board of Directors shall be responsible for Reviewing and/or Developing and Pre-approving the strategic development plans for the organization. III. The Board of Directors shall be responsible for reviewing and approving the overall financial goals/budgets for the organization. IV. The Board of Directors shall oversee the activities of the National Executive Council and the committees. V. The Board of Directors shall oversee the general progress of all community development projects adopted by the organization VI. The Board of Directors shall network with the other Manyu organizations to develop the strategic development plans for Manyu division VII. The Board of Directors shall develop and maintain a fund raising plan for the organization. The fund raising plan shall primarily target external donor organizations. VIII. All MECA-USA projects and expenditures above $5,000 shall be approved by the BOD and ratified by two-thirds of all MECA-USA chapters.

Article 3: ELECTIONS

I. No Board elections shall take place the same year as the election of the National Executive Council Officers of MECA-USA. II. Board of Directors delegates shall serve a three-year renewable term. III. Board members shall elect a Chairperson and Secretary no later than March 31st of each year by simple majority voice vote. IV. The Board Chairperson and Secretary shall serve a three-year non-renewable term.

Article 4: MEETINGS

I. The Board of Directors MUST meet at a physical location at least once a year. II. The presence of two-thirds of Board members shall constitute a quorum for valid deliberations of the Board of Directors. III. All decisions of the Board of Directors meetings shall be carried by a simple majority of members present. The Chairperson shall serve as a tie breaker if need arises. IV. All Board of Directors meetings shall be scheduled by the Chairperson or designee with at least three weeks prior notice to the members except in cases of teleconferences and/or emergency situations. V. Board meetings shall be open to all registered members of MECA-USA. However, only Board members shall have the right to vote on matters before the Board. Teleconferences and/or special meetings shall be limited to board members and invited parties only unless a simple majority of board members elect to keep such deliberations open to the general assembly.

VI. Each chapter shall be responsible for 100% of all reasonable travel expenses of its board delegate(s) each time they attend a physical board meeting. VII. The National President of MECA-USA shall be periodically invited to appear before the Board to address matters of Finance, Policy and/or updates on administrative issues. VIII. The National President of MECA-USA shall present to the Board by September 30th of each year, an annual operating budget of the organization. The budget shall be approved based on a simple majority vote of Board members present. If rejected, the National President shall have 30 days from the date of the Board’s action to meet all deficiencies identified by the Board. IX. All Board decisions shall be communicated to the National President of MECA-USA within fourteen (14) days. X. All major Board decisions are subject to ratification by the General Assembly of MECA-USA through their respective chapter input or at the National Convention. XI. Any Board member who cannot participate in at least 50% of scheduled meetings per year shall be considered inactive and be recommended for replacement.

APPENDIX - A

FINANCIAL REPORTS

APPENDIX - B Email Extracts Relating to the Tabi Mondi – COC Law Suit

From: To: , , , , , CC: , , , , <[email protected]>, , , , , , , Subject: RE: The COC Re-affirms Electorial Committee Election 2007 Decision Date: Sun, 15 Jul 2007 13:49:32 -0500

Chief John Etta,

I am very disappointed that you’ve put out this report even after repeated pleas from me that you should at the very least call another meeting of the COC so that we can take a deeper look at the Ebini vote. I pointed out to you that I have very strong family affiliations to the Ako team, but that we should all throw out our personal affiliations and treat this Ebini vote very seriously. I mentioned to you that the COC is on trial here and as things stands, has the power to make or break MECA-USA. Of what use is the COC to MECA-USA if they can’t be seen to do the right thing I asked? I made it clear to you where I stand on this as it appeared to me after the last COC meeting that most of the COC members were using common sense to tackle this Ebini vote rather than confer with what is written in the constitution, specifically Article II (sections I, III & V), Article V (sections II & III) and Article VI (section VIII). After reading these articles again and again it was obvious to me, irrespective of who I voted for, that Mrs Ebini wasn't suppose to cast a vote in the past elections.

I made it clear to you, Chief Cletus Ayuk and Mrs Elza Etchu over the past few days that the COC has no powers to reverse the election results and the result should stand, but that if there was a genuine mistake on the part of the electoral committee then in our report, we must acknowledge this and apologize to the MECA members. This is why I asked specifically that you call another conference call so that we should all be absolutely sure that we’ve read the above articles again and again and come to a conclusion that we can all live with. If there are differences amongst the COC members on this Ebini vote, then point these out in the report. 72

Shouldn't the new administration be very concerned that the COC will choose to run away or ignore provisions in the constitution when confronted with issues like the Ebini vote?

I am very disappointed.

Accept my warmest wishes and may the LORD all mighty help MECA-USA.

Kingsley Tako (MECA-DALLAS)

From: ext john etta [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Sunday, July 15, 2007 12:16 AM To: Manyu Net; Peter Ako; phillip Tabi; Solomon Egbe; [email protected] Cc: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; Tako Kingsley (NSN - US/Irving); Tako Kingsley (NSN - US/Irving) Subject: The COC Re-affirms Electorial Committee Election 2007 Decision

THE COUNCIL OF CHIEFS RE-AFFIRMS ELECTORAL COMMITTEE ELECTION 2007 DECISION.

The MECA-USA Council of Chiefs held a teleconference on Wednesday, July 11, 2007 to address the issues raised by the Tabi/Mundi Team in relation to the 2007 Elections for the Chairmanship of MECA – USA. It must be noted that, Dr. Peter Ako of MECA California was declared the winner, and next Chairman of MECA-USA (2007-2009) by the Electoral Committee, the sole and legitimate body responsible for conducting national elections, in Houston, Texas on Saturday, July 07, 2007. Even though this complaint was not tabled through the appropriate channel as per the stipulations of the MECA-USA Constitution, the Coordinator of the COC deemed it necessary to immediately summon this meeting and have the said “discrepancies” resolved. A roll call was made and present during the teleconference were the following Chapter Chiefs and/or Representatives: Chief John Etta ------MECA – Houston (Chairman of COC) Chief Cletus Ayuk ------MECA – DC Chief Kenneth Eyong ------MECA – Delaware Dr. Kingsley Tako ------Rep. MECA – Dallas Vice Chief Elizabeth Forma----- MECA – Dallas Mrs. Elza Etchu ------Rep. MECA – New England (Interim Secretary of COC) Chief Major Fidelis Agbor ------MECA – Georgia Vice Chief Peter Takim ------MECA – Georgia Chief Rueben Eyong ------MECA – California

Before discussions started, Chief Cletus Ayuk of MECA – DC intimated to the Council that Judith Ebini has never been suspended from his chapter, neither has she been dismissed. He went on the say that she was fined by the previous administration and she refused to pay the fine. She continued to be part of the meeting but later on decided to withdraw from the chapter, despite pleas from her husband and Chief Cletus Ayuk for Judith to comply with the fine and stay in the meeting.

The Council of Chiefs identified the following issues and discussed them in detail as stated hereunder:

That the Delaware Chapter that was created as a tool to help Dr. Besong qualify to run for office registered several members on the Convention floor in violation of the Constitution; It is worthy to state here that when Dr. Besong and family moved from Mississippi to Delaware in 2005, he continued to be a due paying member with MECA – Georgia until January 2007. Philip Tabi knows this and Chief /Major Fidelis Agbor can attest to this. So, the notion that he registered Delaware as a tool to run for office is out of place. Also, Delaware had been a chapter of MECA-USA from the inception of MECA-USA, but due to dwindling membership, it stopped functioning fully.

As a result of more members moving into the state, the chapter reconstituted its self as a bona fide chapter, and joined the MECA-USA family tree. Commenting on the second part of this allegation, Chief Kenneth Eyong stated that, the Delaware list was typed and not hand-written, and that all those who voted from his chapter were registered and due-paying members. He explained that his Chapter being one that is going through renaissance conformed with all the provisions of the Constitution that states that, any member resident in a state with no constituted MECA-USA Chapter, can register with any chapter of his/her choice.

That some members were refused voting rights and others had their names removed from chapter list; This was the case of George Takang from North Carolina. Even though George Takang had been very active in MECA – USA (served as Campaign Manager to the former Chairman, Mr. Egbe Solomon, and current Campaign Manager to the Tabi/Mondi team); the COC regretted the fact that, he did not find it necessary to register with any chapter of his choice, as stipulated in the constitution.

Mrs. Elza Etchu explained that there used to exist a list for members-at-large to which she and the husband had once belonged, but that practice was abolished during the last Constitutional Amendment Conference in Atlanta, in September 2001, as such, members with no chapter around them had the latitude to register in any chapter of their choice. The issue of some members having their names removed from list was restated by Chief Elizabeth Forma who explained that, this happened with some members from Georgia. Vice Chief Peter Takim responded that no members’ name was removed from the list and that he instead added more names of members who had been omitted from the database.

That the Kima sisters, the Ako-Ebots, and Helen Ashuntangtang were not supposed to vote since they were not registered with and/or do not leave in Delaware or Georgia as the case may be; To confirm Helen’s and the Kima sisters’ eligibility, Chief Eyong of Delaware explained that 74

The ladies registered with his chapter more than one month before the elections as the Constitution stipulates. According to the Vice Chief of Georgia, Seyah Ako-Ebot and her husband are duely registered in the Georgia Chapter in spite of the fact that they are still in the process of moving from Boston. Chief Major Fidelis Agbor said that his busy schedule mitigated his duty to cross-check the list of registered members before the Convention and that; he will do so and make his findings known to the COC. It must be remembered that, Chief/Major Agbor has since confirmed that Seyah Ako-Ebot and her husband are bona fide members of MECA-GA.

Mrs. Etchu attested that the couple is still active members of the New England Chapter because their registration is current and they pay their dues. She went on the remark that Mr. Ekuma presently of the Dallas Chapter decided to vote with MECA – DC where his membership was also still current, and as such, Seyah and her husband had the latitude to choose under which chapter they wanted to vote. Chief Ruben Eyong of California testified that Kerenghe Ako-Ebot is as well a registered due paying member of his chapter, and as such, qualified to vote.

That Judith Ebini had been suspended and dismissed from the DC Chapter for failure to pay a fine levied on her and as such was not qualified to vote; Chief Cletus Ayuk of the DC Chapter once again disclosed that Judith Ebini had never been suspended nor dismissed from his chapter. He further intimated that Judith and another member quarreled during a meeting session and they were both fined with Judith being given a higher levy than the other member. She was ready to pay the fine if the levy was equal to that of the other member.

Chief Ayuk said that as far as he is concerned, his duty was to make sure that Judith did not vote under his chapter name since she had withdrawn from the meeting. Chief Kenneth Eyong reconfirmed that Judith was a registered member in the Delaware Chapter. It was therefore concluded that, she had the freedom of choice to decide where to get her membership, and it is not the special province of the Electoral Committee to check every voter’s background history, or ascertain why she chose Delaware chapter. Furthermore, it was the ruling of COC that, nobody but Judith could determine how and who she voted for because election was by secret ballot.

That MECA – New England had not held meetings regularly, and as such, should not have been represented; The Representative of MECA New England Mrs. Elza Etchu restated that the chapter has no problems just as she said during the Convention. The so-called Boston problem, if any, is purely an internal issue which was not a problem either for the COC or the National Executive Committee.

That Lt. Godfrey Tambe Eta acted as a Police Officer, intimidating voters on the Convention floor. Lt.Godfrey Tambe Eta was the Convention Chairperson whose duties include, but not limited to maintaining order, and not a police officer. He gave a resounding alert that Police action will be taken only after certain individuals decided to become very uncivil, and unruly on the convention floor while the voting process was in progress. The COC detests the intimidating and harrassment tactics of members on the convention floor which made it difficult for the electorial committee to carry out its job freely.

In the course of the discussions, Dr. Kinsley Takor of MECA - Dallas asked if any of the COC members was aware of any of the discrepancies with regards to the voters’ eligibility that were raised by the Tabi/Mondi team before the election exercise, and the response was a unanimous NO. The Council demanded to know whether the out-going Chairman, Mr. Solomon Egbe, handed over all MECA-USA documents and artifacts to the COC. The Coordinator of the COC responded that out-going Chairman Solomon Egbe did not hand over the Books/Artifacts as prescribed by the constitution. He said he has made three calls to Solomon Egbe, but did not get a return call from him until Monday (July 9th) afternoon.

After deliberating on the issues raised by the Tabi/Mondi team, the MECA-USA Council of Chiefs is RE- AFFIRMING the results of the 2007 election as pronounced by the Electoral Committee. Dr. Peter Ako is the Chairman Elect of MECA – USA 2007 – 2009. This decision is final and binding to all members of MECA-USA. The Council also asked Coordinator John Etta to send an official certified and registered letter with delivery confirmation to Mr. Solomon Egbe requesting him to hand over all Legal, Financial Documents/Records, and Artifacts of the Association to the COC for onward transmission to the new Chairman within the shortest possible delay.

The COC however earmarked the proposals hereunder that shall be tabled to the Constitutional Review Committee as possible Constitutional Amendment:

A list of registered and dues-paying members of each Chapter should by sent to the Council of Chiefs 25days before Election Day; The electorial committee rely completely on the honesty and sincerity of the chapter chiefs to provide a comprehensive list of voter eligibility for their respective chapters.

The Legal and Financial Documents of the Association should be put together by the out-going Chairman and handed over to the Council of Chiefs before the Election exercise begins. Articles/Sections governing membership, elections, and conflicts

Long Live MECA USA Long Live Manyu Division

Chief John Beteck Etta MECA-USA Council of Chiefs Coordinator (COC).

kingsley.tako@ nsn.com wrote:

Major Agbor,

I was equally disturbed and saddened when these allegations surfaced and I join you in calling for a thorough investigation by the COC. You know, it was my belief that the entire process was free and fair and I still want to maintain that belief. The MECA members have chosen a leader and we all should rally behind him but if these allegations are true, then I am really saddened that I may have been part of a process that was flawed and probably fraudulent from the onset. I was oblivious of any of these allegations prior to the elections, some of which are quite serious. The results should stand but the COC must take all the necessary steps to ensure this never happens again and reassure the MECA faithfuls. In as much as we wanted either Dr. Ako or Mr. Tabi to win, it was all our collective responsibility to ensure that the process was free and fair from the onset.

We all agreed to be responsible and unbias during the COC meeting but I am particularly disturbed that perhaps some of the Chapter chiefs present were aware of these allegations but sat on them without informing the electoral committee.

The most disturbing allegation though is the one coming out of GA. Did PA Hamilton informed you of this prior to MECA-GA members casting their votes? If he did, what action did you take to ensure that some members from your chapter were not disenfranchised?

These allegations must be addressed ASAP, else collectively, we may have sewn the seeds for more divisions in this once great association.

Accept my warmest wishes.

Kingsley Tako

(MECA-DALLAS)

From: ext FIDELIS AGBOR [mailto:fid642@ hotmail.com] Sent: Tuesday, July 10, 2007 10:09 AM To: John Etta; Tako Kingsley (NSN - US/Irving) Cc: linrider2@aol. com; 5enomae@dsosuds. com; agborenow@aol. com; narrey@capital. edu; eyongrb@yahoo. com; ctayuk@yahoo. com; metchu14@hotmail. com Subject: RE: The Philip Tabi Baiyee Mondi team rejects those results.

This convention has come and gone and the election process was put into place. As a member of the electoral board, I certified the ballots to seal the victory for the Ako/Besong team. I further talked to the Tabi/Mondi team to concede defeat and move forward. I congratulated the Ako/Besong team and, like I said in my convention speech, pledged that my administration will work with the new executive to ensure progress of our cause. I rejoiced with the Ako/Besong team for winning. This I would also have done if the winners were the Tabi/Mondi Team. That is my principle.

Shortly after the elections, the troubling revelations that surfaced got me too upset. Very upset. I got upset because I had planned to ensure that this convention moved on very smoothly. That was why we tried to be extra observant. Currently I cannot support a reason to annul the election because the conditions at the convention could not be replicated. That does not mean that the Tabi/Mondi Team cannot contest the election, or we should brush them aside. They have every right to. That is the American way. I will stand by any team that was in such a situation. US presidential, gubernatorial and mayoral elections have been recounted, investigations launched and all what not. The only reason why a candidate can be proclaimed a winner is when the other team (who have a reason) chooses not to fight it. But to suggest anything to that nature for MECA-USA now will surely make MECA-USA stay with no chairman for the next two years.

What I will suggest is that the COC call an emergency meeting to review these allegations for their validity. Take this seriously. We need to work on this. We need some answers so we can see how to help improve the way we do things next time. This is very important or else we will have our selves to blame. For my part, I will look at the allegations stemming from my chapter.

Major Agbor

Chief MECA-GA

Subject: RE: The Philip Tabi Baiyee Mondi team rejects those results. Date: Mon, 9 Jul 2007 18:07:20 -0500 From: [email protected] To: kingsley.tako@ nsn.com CC: Linrider2@aol. com; 5enomae@dsosuds. com; Agborenow@aol. com; narrey@capital. edu; eyongrb@yahoo. com; ctayuk@yahoo. com; Metchu14@hotmail. com; FID642@hotmail. com

Kingsley,

Thanks for your concern and input on this. Prior to the convention, outgoing chairman Solomon Egbe indicated to me that by tradition, the handover ceremony will take place at the chief’s residence (meaning my house) on Sunday. I called his cell phone on Sunday afternoon and left a voice message indicating that everyone is here waiting on him for the handover ceremony and that he should call me. He never called back so when Joe Mbu came for the bar-b-que, I told him we have been waiting on Solomon all afternoon for the handover ceremony and it was then that he indicated Solomon had already left for D.C. I have called Solomon again today and left him another voice message on this issue and as of now I still haven’t heard from him.

Regards,

JOHN B. ETTA, M.Sc. (Trans.)

Administrative and Intermodal Services Manager

Port of Houston Authority - Barbours Cut Terminal

1515 East Barbours Cut Blvd; La Porte, TX 77571

Telephone - (281) 470-5584; Fax (281) 470-5571

[Tenth Largest Port in the World] www.PortofHouston. com

______

CONFIDENTIAL COMMUNICATION

This message and attached materials are for the use of the addressee above and may contain confidential information. Please do not disseminate, distribute, or copy this message unless you are the addressee. If you received this message in error, please immediately notify the sender by replying to this message or by telephone at (281) 470-5584. Thank you.

From: kingsley.tako@ nsn.com [mailto:kingsley. tako@nsn. com] Sent: Monday, July 09, 2007 5:28 PM To: John Etta Cc: Linrider2@aol. com; 5enomae@dsosuds. com; Agborenow@aol. com; narrey@capital. edu; eyongrb@yahoo. com; ctayuk@yahoo. com; Metchu14@hotmail. com; FID642@hotmail. com Subject: RE: The Philip Tabi Baiyee Mondi team rejects those results.

Chief John Etta, As leader of CoC and head of the electoral committee, could you call a conference call ASAP to address the irregularities raised by PA Hamilton and if possible, discuss the way forward with the handover process? Handover hasn't happen and if former Chairman Egbe doesn't handover the books, where do we go from here? Have you spoken with Solomon Egbe to find out why he left town without handing over the books?

Your urgent attention will be greatly appreciated.

Accept my warmest regards

Kingsley Tako (MECA-DALLAS) Tel: 241-727-7199 (Cell)

______From: ext Jesusman [mailto:saintarrey@ yahoo.com] Sent: Monday, July 09, 2007 3:39 PM To: Manyunet Cc: Linus Eyong; Macdonald Arrey; Moses Agbor-Enow; Nyenty Arrey; Ruben Eyong; John Etta;

Cletus Ayuk; Elza Etchu; Fidelis Agbor; James Tabe; Tako Kingsley (NSN - US/Irving) Subject: The Philip Tabi Baiyee Mondi team rejects those results.

Manyu ah, We would like to thank all those who worked hard to support the Philip Tabi/Baiyee Mondi campaign during the last few months. We thank them for the massive showing witnessed in Houston, and the commitment they continue to show for MECA USA. We had hoped that by now we will be focused on raising this association to new heights, but unfortunately, 2 days after the election, we still cannot claim victory nor concede defeat. This election was so full of irregularities that we cannot, in clear conscience, bury it under the rug. We therefore state clearly that the 83 to 84 result announced by Chief John Etta (head of the electoral committee and a strong advocate of Dr. Peter Ako) in favor of the Peter Ako team is incorrect because of the following reasons below. Firstly, the Delaware Chapter created less than 5 months ago as a tool to help Dr. Samuel Besong qualify to run for office registered several members on the convention floor in violation of the MECA USA constitution which requires such registration to be done at least one month before. The one case that was glaring was the case of the two Kima sisters. When they walked into the hall, they were approached by Mrs. Besong’s representative and asked who they were supporting; Sheila said Philip and Evelyn said Peter. They pointed out that they were from Minnesota and did not have a chapter. Evelyn was promptly registered in Delaware because she supported Peter and voted subsequently. Sheila was not allowed to register in Delaware because she supported Philip, and because she frequently visits Washington DC, she tried to register there, but her registration was blocked by Elvis Etta of the Peter Ako team. Another case was the case of Helen Ashutantang who lives in North Carolina. She supported Peter Ako and was therefore registered in Delaware. George Tarkang who is a founding father of MECA-USA, has been active in MECA for over 17 years, and lives in North Carolina could not vote because no chapter would adopt him. Secondly, the same Delaware Chapter, represented by Bessem Besong, Dr. Samuel Besong’s wife, registered Mrs. Judith Ebini, a former MECA DC chapter chief who was suspended from the DC chapter meeting for failure to pay a fine after an altercation. We all know who she voted for based on her unfounded accusations about Philip Tabi during the several weeks leading to the convention. How could Delaware register a member who had been suspended by another chapter, just because she supports the chapter leader’s husband? Thirdly, the Ako-Ebot sisters, living in California, with a chapter, were registered in Georgia by the Georgia Chapter Financial Secretary, Awu Denis, who is on the Ako Peter Team. Several other supporters of Philip Tabi who drove 12 hours to the convention, and who were active in the chapter could not find their names on the list. The fact that one of the Ako-Ebots is on the Peter Ako ticket and the others were actively campaigning for that team can tell you who they voted for. Fourthly, on June 17th, 2007, during the Manyu Free Talk organized by Mr. Christmas Ebini , for a question and answer session with the outgoing Chairman, Mr. Ekinneh Agbaw-Ebai, clearly stated 81

that the New England chapter has been dead for 8 months. At the convention, Mr. Agbaw-Ebai was the first person on the line to vote as a member of the chapter he said barely three weeks ago did not exist. His frequent attacks on Philip Tabi during the Free Talks organized for the benefit of the candidates are a clear indication of who he voted for. Lastly, the initial result based on the acceptable ballots was 82 to 82, a tie. The 83 to 84 came about as a result of four additional irregular ballots that were introduced to the process. One was discarded one was given to Philip and the other two Peter Ako. Why were these irregular ballots not simply discarded? Consequently, based on the above points, we filed a petition with the Electoral College before the announcement of the results at the gala that these irregularities must be corrected especially that of Mrs. Judith Ebini. The Electoral College tried to announce the result without addressing the issues and we blocked the outgoing Chairman from formally introducing their hand picked leader and gave him a copy of the petition given to the Electoral College. Instead of Chief John Etta, as head of the Electoral College, addressing this, he resorted to using a police officer in a MECA gala, to bully Philip Tabi’s supporters into submission. MECA USA is not a police state and our supporters, several of them bona fide civil rights activists, are ready to go to jail anytime for the sake of Manyu. The following morning, we served the outgoing Chairman and the Electoral College with a petition not to formally handover to an illegal MECA-USA leader, until these irregularities have been addressed by Chief John Etta and his Electoral College or the general Manyu Community in USA. MECA- USA is a 501C3 organization registered under the nonprofit laws of USA. Its elections should be done according to the rules stated in its articles of incorporation. Nobody can take that right from its members. We would leave it up to the Electoral Committee members to resolve this peacefully within the family and reserve the right to exercise any cause of action available to us outside the family forum. We call on all Manyu Elements to be patient as we live through this leadership crisis, and call on all our supporters to maintain the same commitment and dedication to MECA USA that they have always had. While we want fairness and justice to reign, we do not want to do anything that will unnecessarily damage the foundation of this great association so we ask our supporters to show restraint in the way this matter is addressed. Once this process is completed, we should all rally behind one leadership to help move the association forward. But that must be the duly elected leadership of MECA USA. Until then, when there is fire on a river let those in a boat beware.

Long Live Manyu, Long Live MECA

Prince & PA Hamilton Ayuk Philip Tabi/Baiyee Mondi Team

“When an unselected majority who slept on the wrong side of their beds are going astray let the selected minority who slept on their right side bring them back. " (Hamilton Ayuk)

[MECA-USA] BREAKING GROUNDS AGAIN. Tue, March 4, 2008 2:19:21 PM From:"[email protected]" View Card To: [email protected] Cc: [email protected]

My Fellow Brothers & Sisters,

I come to you today to humbly announce that my team and I have heard your pleas and need for PEACE among ourselves.

My team and I broke grounds initially when we decided to take MECA USA to court following the events of the MECA USA convention in Houston 2007. It was another breaking ground because it had happened in the history of MECA USA in 2001 when the Organization was taken to Court by the Vision 2001 Team. Granted that it came across as a last resort, but the motive and intention was to see that significant issues that plaqued our organization be resolved once and for all since it appeared that we could not do it on our own. The motive as most people construed, was not to destroy our beloved Organization MECA-USA but to seek for mediation and address key fundamental issues that occurred during the elections of 2007. It is very obvious that during this time, the impact has been heavily felt not only by the organization, but by all bona fide members who really put the best interest of MECA USA first.

I will not revert to the altercations, personal vendettas, etc. that have happened in the past but rather, I will focus on the future by instilling more understanding, tolerance, Patience and better problem-solving strategies within ourselves in order to build a stronger and all inclusive MECA.

We have all listened to the pleas of our people and I would like to inform fellow Mecans and Manyuans that we had a teleconference last night with Dr. Peter Ako, Dr. Besong Samuel, Dr. Essim Daniel, Mr. Ekumah Emmanuel, Ms. Patience Ebini, P. A. Hamilton, Baiyee Mundi and myself. We all had a good dialogue and decided to call for a General Reconciliation Meeting as soon as possible in order to move the organization forward. Dr. Peter Ako and his team will be updating us when every logistic has been put in place. I thereby call on all MECA-USA members to attend en masse, so that we will be able to solve the problems plaguing the association and move on with our development efforts.

I want to thank all who have contributed positively in one way or the other to make it possible for my team to arrive at a decision that will benefit the entire association. I hereby announce that through my attorney, my team and I have unanimously decided to withdraw the lawsuit.

Long Live MECA-USA Long Live Manyu

PHILIP TABI

From:"[email protected]" View Card To: [email protected] Cc: [email protected]

My dear brothers and sisters this is a summary account of the conversation that took place during the March 3, 2008 conference call.

On March 3, 2008 at about 10:15 p.m., I received a call from Chairman Dr. Peter Ako asking me to participate in a conference call that Mr. Philip Tabi requested our participation. The Chairman promised to join the conference call as soon as he gets off from work. When I joined the conference call I requested for a roll call. The following persons were in attendance: Mr. Baiyee Mondi Mr. Emanuel Ekumah Ms. Patience Ebini Mr. Philip Tabi Dr. Daniel Essim Mr. Hamilton Ayuk Myself

When I realized that Mr. Hamilton Ayuk was a participant, I told the group that I will not participate on condition that Mr. Hamilton Ayuk is not a participant. After I gave reasons for asking Mr. Hamilton to leave, he angrily dialed out of the conference call. I made it clear that I joined the conference call to listen to what Mr. Tabi had to say and had nothing to offer. I further told the group that if Mr. Tabi has had a change of heart and has decided to terminate the lawsuit, I personally think that it a good thing for our community. And that he understands how the lawsuit has affected the personal relationship between our families.

Mr. Emmanuel Ekumah started the conversation by telling the group his own contribution to the lawsuit, followed by other participants who spoke about their discomfort with the lawsuit. Mr. Tabi talked about his feelings about the lawsuit and the major reason for taking his case to court. After talking for 7-10 minutes, he told the group that he has finally decided to withdraw the lawsuit and that he will instruct his attorney to withdraw the lawsuit the next day. The Chairman was not party to this conversation because he was still at work. He joined the conference call at the tail end. At no time did Mr. Tabi make reference to a General Reconciliation Meeting as a condition for terminating his lawsuit,

and at no time did he make mention of a negotiation between him and the Chairman prior to the conference call as a precondition for withdrawing the lawsuit.

The Chairman joined the conference call at about 11:25 p.m. It was at that point that Mr. Tabi suggested the need for a reconciliatory meeting that can help to heal the 2007 convention wounds. Mr. Tabi went further to tell the group that he is willing to work with the Ako administration. At no time did Mr. Tabi tell the Chairman that his suggested Reconciliatory Meeting is a precondition that must be met before the out gone Chairman Solomon Egbe will be free to handover MECA-USA finances to Ako's administration. After Mr. Tabi finished what he had to say, Chairman Peter Ako thanked Mr. Tabi et al. for withdrawing the lawsuit and welcomed his suggestion for a reconciliatory meeting and later said he needed time to think about it, have a discussion with his team then get back to Mr. Philip Tabi. The Chairman further promised to work with all MECANs of good faith for the purpose of building a stronger association. I do not believe that welcoming a suggestion is a bargain that must be met.

These are the facts it should not be distorted by any one for the purpose of making news.

The fact that the Chairman welcomed the possibility of a reconciliatory meeting did not mean that he agreed that there must be one to appease Mr. Tabi et al. Under no circumstance was I going to spend a dollar of my family income to attend a reconciliatory meeting as a condition to get along with Mr. Tabi et al. I would rather send that money to Manyu for development purposes than spending it on a trip for the purpose of making peace with people who have never provided any financial support to the association.

Some of us do not compromise our core principles for the sake of maintaining friendship. Remember, when former Chairman Eyong Joe delayed the handing over of MECA-USA finances to Solomon Egbe's administration, I called him and urged him to do so immediately. Later, when I found that he could not hand over the western union receipts, I called him again and told him bitterly how disappointed I am with his behavior. When you love an association, you have some time denounce the behavior of a close friend.

Mr. Philip Tabi you were proud to tell Manyu people that you asked the out gone Chairman Solomon Egbe to withhold MECA-USA documents, artifacts and finances pending the status of your lawsuit. Now that you have withdrawn your lawsuit, if you have Manyu at heart as claimed, why haven't you done the right thing by asking him to hand over MECA-USA property to Ako's administration? What is the new condition that must be met for him to hand over MECA-USA finances?

If Mr. Tabi thinks that the Ako administration has been silent, it is because 1) he has not been attending his chapter meetings regularly or 2) his chapter chief (MECA-Ga chief) has not been sharing information from NEC with his chapter.

Despite distractions from Mr. Tabi and his group, the Ako administration has accomplished the following: 1. raised over $12,000 2. raised over $3000 to help defend MECA-USA against Mr. Tabi's lawsuit 3. donated blood pressure cuffs, and glucometers with strips and lancets to Mamfe General Hospital and the Nursing School in Mamfe so that they can provide basic medical care to our people 4. established a working relationship with the Mamfe Nursing school to assist them with organizing 85

health fares that can help prevent diseases among our people 5. coordinated fund raising efforts with Chapter chiefs to raise fund in the amount of $7,000 for the Akwaya Relief Fund 6. worked with Houston Chapter to celebrate and show gratitude to our fallen MECA-USA representative family 7. updating the Manyu 411 phone and address directory to serve as a source for information for new immigrants 8. developed brochures and fliers to assist in soliciting funds needed to complete the MPC project 9. The MPC taskforce made recommendation for the MPC project to the COC for implementation 10. The constitutional review committee has forwarded a draft copy of a revised constitution to the chapters

The Ako administration is committed to implementing the MPC Taskforce recommendation in order to complete the MPC project and make it functional.

My personal appeal to MECANs is that never give up for the cause of humanity. The alternative is not the best option.

Please do not forget to make plans to attend the 2008 convention in Dover, Delaware. This is a time to show your love to your culture and your people.

Your participation at the convention will be appreciated.

I look forward to seeing you all in Dover, Delaware during the convention, July 3-6, 2008.

Samuel Besong Vice Chairman, MECA-USA RE: Facts about the conference call, prior to withdrawal of Mr. Tabi's lawsuit Fri, June 6, 2008 4:27:48 PM From:Patience Ebini View Card To: [email protected]; [email protected]

Dear Dr. Besong,

At this time, we should focus on moving MECA USA forward. There is an upcoming convention, we should all be appealing to people to make plans to attend and fully participate in any way they can. The financial support, above all, is very important as projects can not be realized without the financial backing.

Philip Tabi has made it clear in all his correspondences that his team and himself will work to bring unity to MECA USA. Our individual differences should be set aside for private environments and MECA's

interests should be served.

As far as the teleconference that we had, I am not going to comment on it because I intend to rehabilitate Philip's testimony as recounted in his email. Neither am I going to express that you distorted the facts. I understand that not every individual is blessed with retentive memory about certain events and given the lapse of time, we may mistate facts with no ill-will. Silence from all the participants of the conference may mean differently to different peope but when you truly serve a cause, it is but civil that you stand for what is right and objectively.

You rightly asked Hamilton to sign off the teleconference otherwise you will not participate. The main reason being that Hamilton's reactions on manyunet have not been instrumental, using several adjectives to describe Hamiliton's write ups. You further stated that you really did not care about Hamilton and one other person that yo called by name merely to emphasize how bad you feel about these two.

Hamilton refused to sign out. Mr. Ekumah immediately asked Hamilton to sign out so that the rest of us could move forward with the conference call. Hamilton still refused and stated that he will not leave just because Dr. Besong wants him to. Instead he asked Dr. Besong to leave if he is uncomfortable with him being a part of the conference. Hamilton then expressed his disappointment in Mr. Ekumah for jumping right in to tell him to leave simply because Dr. Besong expressed so.

I also initially asked Hamilton to leave because I did not want this effort of bringing us to the table to be vainless at that point because it would have been difficult if not impossible to have another chance given the nature of events. He refused to do so. It was at that point that I turned to Dr. Besong and spoke directly to him, asking him to soften up because what he had just displyed was the intolerance for one another that we were trying to work on. I appealed to you, Dr. Besong to understand that Hamilton was not the only one who writes the types of mails that you were referring to on Manyunet, and I even went as far as telling you that, you were also not exempted, not even Mr. Ekumah nor myself and a host of others. I begged you hard to let go, so that, we could move on with the conference call. It was then that Brother Dan Essim who had been quiet all along said to you that he joins me in making that appeal to you, expressing that I said it all and he really wants you to soften up and reconsider. At that point, you listened to your brother and sister and softened up. You expressed that, but for Brother Dan and myself, you will not be on the conference. We thanked you for doing that and the conference moved on. Hamilton later signed out of the conference on his own.

Everything else that siad was correct about what Mr. Ekumah expressed and what Philip Tabi also expressed about the lawsuit. Mr. Baiyee Mondi made it clear that he had never been part of the lawsuit and had never encouraged it but being part of the team he knew that the case was in court. He also expressed that MECA USA should look for better ways of resloving issues internally rather than going to court.

You misstated that Philip Tabi mentioned in his email or during the teleconference that there was suppose to be a reconciliatory meeting before the withdrawal of the lawsuit. There was no discussion about any conditions precedent for the withdrawal. The lawsuit was to be withdrawn the next day. Philip Tabi and Peter Ako both agreed to inform their attorneys before they went to court the next day that the case will be withdrawn by the plaintiff.

When Dr. Ako signed into the conference, he was given a recap of the discussions and he went right along. He was part of the discussion about the withdrawal and informing his attorney about it. I personally explaIned the reason why it is necessary for both people to notify their respective attorneys before they go to court, so that the matter should not be prolonged. He was also a part of the suggestion from Mr. Ekumah, Philip Tabi and Myself about a reconciliatory meeting. Reasons were advanced as to why this meeting is necessary. Discussions about this meeting was also centered about possible chapters that may host it and why some chapters may not be appropriate because they are very polarized. It is true that while Dr. Peter Ako thought it was a good suggestion, he made it clear that he would need to discuss it with some "core members" in his team for their input about the issue, which was quite understandable.

Mr. Ekumah explained the fact that the law suit could be withdrawn quietly but the reason why we found the need for this conversation was to bring the two teams together and discuss the possibility of a reconciliatory event. It would have been impossible to suggest that the event must happen before withdrawing the lawsuit the next day. We all understood that Dr. Ako will keep us posted about the developments of the reconciliatory meeting but we anticipated that it will be before the next convention.

It was also decided that following the withdrawal of the lawsuit, Philip Tabi will come out with an email informing members about the withdrawal and make a call for unity between the two teams. He was suppose to allude to the teleconference only because it will give members from both sides a sense of understanding that both leaders were able to come together to talk despite all the grievances. Hopefully, that will help reduce the tension knowing that the leaders will pull their teams together at the end of the day to this reconciliatory event. Peter Ako accepted to endorse Philip's mail following the withdrawal of the lawsuit and the calling of the reconciliatory meeting. However, details of the date, venue and other modalities and issues to be addressed at that meeting were reserved for Dr. Peter Ako.

One is not obligated to welcome a suggestion that they know at the time that welcome it, they will not act upon it. This is not about a personal matter. It is about a matter that could potentially benefit the organization. Just like another participant Dr. Daniel Essim suggested, the reconciliatory meeting could be used to raise funds depending on how it is presented to members and the turn-out.

Let us not continue to focus on trivial issues at this time. It is time to look for a better future for MECA. Book your tickets and start packing your bags for the convention.

May God bless us all.

Eyere.

Re: Facts about the conference call, prior to withdrawal of Mr. Tabi's lawsuit Fri, June 6, 2008 3:38:33 PM From:philip Tabi View Card 88

To: [email protected] Cc: meca usa ; meca ga

Dear Dr. Besong, Permit me make some clarifications to your quotations below. Your wrote; "The fact that the Chairman welcomed the possibility of a reconciliatory meeting did not mean that he agreed that there must be one to appease Mr. Tabi et al. Under no circumstance was I going to spend a dollar of my family income to attend a reconciliatory meeting as a condition to get along with Mr. Tabi et al. I would rather send that money to Manyu for development purposes than spending it on a trip for the purpose of making peace with people who have never provided any financial support to the association". I think it will be prudent for you to name the persons in my team or who participated in the teleconference that have never contributed financially towards MECA-USA. Is it Mr. Ekumah? Patience Ebini? Baiyee Mundi? Hamilton? or Philip Tabi? When people travel to conventions and pay registration fees that alone is a financial contribution toward MECA USA . When people register and pay chapter dues, that is a financial contribution. Although it may not mean a thing to you to appreciate the little efforts that some may make, it is very meaningful if we have to strive to achieve or motivate people to commit to greater things.

My dear Dr. Besong, I thought you have abandoned some of those old ways of rigid thinking and embrace humility, honesty and appreciation to be the leader that you purport to be. It seems you are still far from it.

You also wrote; " If Mr. Tabi thinks that the Ako administration has been silent, it is because 1) he has not been attending his chapter meetings regularly or 2) his chapter chief (MECA-Ga chief) has not been sharing information from NEC with his chapter".

If you have missed a couple of meetings which I have due to other commitments, which does not negate the fact that I am and still a devoted member of my chapter and MECA USA. How material is that at this juncture? You saw me in Delaware two weeks ago for the Ekandim occasion and if you were man enough and love peace, you would have asked me why I have not been regular in the meeting. May I remind you that your informants in Atlanta have failed to inform you rightly and I didn’t know that you have put them on your payroll and they have been reporting to you how many times Philip Tabi fails to attend the meeting. If you had good informants, they would have informed you that; 1) Philip Tabi has paid all his dues for the whole year of 2008 2) That Philip Tabi, the wife, sisters etc hosted the meeting in May 2008 after hosting the wake-keeping of the Aunt-in-law a day prior to the meeting, 3) That three quarter of the members in MECA-GA don’t attend meetings regularly 4) That the constitution of MECA-GA spells out that “TO QUALIFY AS CURRENT IN THE ASSOCIATION, A MEMBER MUST PHYSICALLY ATTEND AT LEAST FOUR (4) MEETINGS IN A GIVEN YEAR, AND ALSO, MUST BE SEVENTY-FIVE PERCENT CURRENT IN HIS/HER YEARLY DUES”

5) That we are still in the month of June which is the 6th month of the year and Philip Tabi has attended atleast three meetings. 6) That Philip Tabi is a current member of MECA-GA and chairman of the MECA-GA Constitutional Committee. Finally, you have rather revealed the good reason why your team has been silent as you rightly wrote “Under no circumstance was I going to spend a dollar of my family income to attend a reconciliatory meeting as a condition to get along with Mr. Tabi et al. I would rather send that money to Manyu for development purposes than spending it on a trip for the purpose of making peace with people who have never provided any financial support to the association”, instead of being dishonest that If Mr. Tabi thinks that the Ako administration has been silent, it is because 1) he has not been attending his chapter meetings regularly or 2) his chapter chief (MECA-Ga chief) has not been sharing information from NEC with his chapter. Manyu custom permits one to pick up the phone and check on a brother or sister if you don’t see that brother or sister in a meeting. Also, you rather focus on your chapter MECA-Delaware and the task at hand; which is that of adapting to new ways and making efforts to build a stronger and better MECA USA for all. God Bless.

Philip Tabi

To: [email protected] From: [email protected] Date: Wed, 5 Dec 2007 04:30:14 -0800 Subject: [mecadc] Tabi Philip Drags MECA USA to Court.

Manyu,

Ashu Philip Tabi, a disgruntled sore looser of the MECA-USA election for the office of National Chairman, MECA-USA filed a law suit against MECA-USA, Et Al in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, Maryland, United States of America on September 09, 2007. According to Notice of New Case Number, the above referenced case has been assigned Case Number 286747 – V, and was received on September 13, 2007, in the office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court for Montgomery County , Loretta E. Knight. Scheduling Hearing is billed on December 14, 2007, at 9: 00 AM.

According to the Writ Of Summons served on MECA –USA Council of Chiefs Coordinator, Chief Etta John of MECA Houston, current MECA-USA Chairman, Dr. Ako Peter of MECA-California, and witnessed by the Honorable Chief Judge of the Sixth Judicial Circuit of Maryland, the afore-mentioned defendants are hereby summoned to file a written response by pleading or motion in the above court with 60 days after service of this summons upon them. Failure to respond within the time allowed may result in a default judgment or the granting of the relief sought against them.

Now comes the Plaintiff, Philip Tabi, by and through his counsel of record, Law Offices of Theodore Nkwenti, and for his Complaint for Preliminary and Permanent Injunctive Relief and Declaratory Judgment, amongst other things states as follows: i). Defendants Ako Peter and Etta John fraudulently allowed, facilitated and connived with several 90

persons who by definition of the MECA-USA Constitution were not active members to participate in the electoral process in violation of the MECA – USA Constitution. ii). That Defendants, Ako Peter and Etta John fraudulently allowed, facilitated and connived with several persons who were not active members to register on the floor of the convention and participate with a view to participate in the vote in violation of the MECA-USA Constitution. iii). That the Defendants, Ako Peter and Etta John fraudulently allowed, facilitated and connived with several persons who had been suspended from other chapters and therefore did not meet the definition of a “member” pursuant to the MECA-USA Constitution. iv). That despite Plaintiff’s complaints, the Council of Chiefs has set aside October 20, 2007 to inaugurate the newly elected members of the NEC, MECA-USA in violation of MECA-USA Constitution. v). That MECA-USA is a 501(c) organization under IRS Code which benefits from the tax-exempt status of the US government and the state of Maryland. vi). That the IRS mandates strict compliance with federal, state, local laws and the organization’ s own rules and regulations. That the IRS sanctions for violating the standard are severe, including the loss of tax-exempt status.

Mr. Egbe Solomon: A Hostile Witness.

All MECA-USA observers fully well know that Philip Tabi’s inclusion of the out-gone Chairman of MECA- USA, Mr. Egbe Solomon, is a tactical ploy to veil the latter’s transparent role, and schemes in dragging MECA-USA to court, for but not limited to the following reasons: a). Mr. Egbe Solomon’s checkered tenure as Chairman of MECA-USA ended on Saturday, July 07, 2007, Four Hours (4hrs) before the said MECA-USA Election, as such, he neither participated, nor openly had anything to do with the electoral process. b). Mr. Egbe Solomon has refused to hand over the current Ako Administration the association’s bank account records, official minutes, financial records (including MECA-USA credit card information) , all cultural artifacts like Angbu, Moninkim, Obasinjom, Emanyamkpe, and other articles he inherited from the Eyong Administration. c). In Tabi Philip’s Writ Of Summons (Case No. 286747-V), no mention is made of any particular role Mr. Egbe Solomon played in Houston during the election. d). In terms of Jurisdiction and Venue, Mr. Egbe Solomon’s Jurisdiction is also not mentioned. e). If Mr. Egbe Solomon is a Defendant in Philip Tabi vs. MECA-USA Et Al, then why would he not filed the mandatory written response by pleading or motion as called for by the court in defense of MECA- USA? d). If Mr. Egbe Solomon is not a hostile witness, then why does he continue to oppose the funding of the 91

MECA-USA Legal Defense Fund? e). The MECA-USA 501(c) document or status had expired in 2000. Mr. Egbe Solomon fraudulently revive the document on August 14, 2007, more than one month after his mandate as Chairman had come to an end. Some of the questions that readily come to mind are: As Chairman from July 2003 to July 2007, why did he not revive the document if he cared so much about MECA-USA? With this in mind, is it fair to conclude that, as of Saturday, July 07, 2007, MECA-USA was not a 501(c) organization? Is the law then retroactive?

The last time I checked, Philip Tabi should be the last person to talk about electoral fraud and connivance, because Chief/Major Agbor Fidelis of MECA-Georgia masterminded the greatest fraud ever in the history of MECA-USA. According to records in our keeping, and if need be will be used in court, the former MECA-Georgia Financial Secretary, Awu Dennis did e-mail his chapter’s comprehensive chapter list to Chief/Major Agbor who claimed at the time to be in Ohio, but for some unexplained reasons, he connived with Philip Tabi and appeared in Houston with a different list after adding non- existent members who also voted in Houston. Hence, Chief/Major Agbor has no standing when it comes to election irregularities and transparency.

Appeal to Chapters.

It is for these reasons that I am appealing to all MECA-USA chapters to continue to contribute to the MECA-USA Legal Defense Fund. We will continue to defend the association, and if need be, MECA-USA too will hold all those found in violation of the statutes of the association, and those who cause an unnecessary burden to the letter of the law.

Ebini Tambe P.R.O. MECA-USA.