The Sultan of Bamoun, His Majesty, El Hadj Ibrahim Mbombo Njoya, has declared that what is called Boko Haram has nothing to do with Islam.

He made the pronouncement on October 31; at the installation ceremony of the first ever head of the Bamoun community in Buea, Jean Claude Mapoure Nsangou.

“What they call Boko Haram is not Islam and when they say the Islamic sect Boko Haram, it is a sort of insult to Islam, because, I even doubt if those people read the Koran,” Sultan Njoya stated.

Sultan Njoya added that he is a father to all his children be they Christians, Muslims or whatever religion, thus, he prays for all his children; be they orderly or recalcitrant - they are all his.

“That is why my door is always open at any time to welcome all,” the king of the Bamouns said.

He thanked God who made it possible for him to be among his children. “Long ago, my children in Buea asked me to come and organise them, and what was a dream yesterday has become a reality today, and I did not know that they could organise themselves in such a manner,” Sultan Njoya noted.

“I also want to thank the traditional rulers who came in their numbers to welcome me; this shows the collaboration between us,” the Sultan said.

To the first ever leader of the Bamoun community in Buea, with a delegation of about 20, the Sultan intimated: “I have done my own part by presenting this team to you in the presence of the Divisional Officers, if you are wise, respect and collaborate with them,” Sultan Njoya advised.

Mapoure Nsangou thanked the entire population for making it an honour for him to be installed and for choosing him because it shows the confidence they have in him.

“I want to say thank you to the Bakweri people for accommodating me for about 27 years now and this shows Buea is really a town of legendary hospitality,” Chief Mapoure asserted.

“My obligation is to bring our people together and be faithful to the policy of the country. I will try as much as possible to do my best with my main function being that of coordination, whenever need be. I am a new chief and from what you have seen, I am not alone and I will be an intermediary between the Government and the population,” Mapoure declared.

The people of Bamoun faced many difficulties with the absence of a leader in Buea as recounted by the newly installed chief. “We were not well known and it made it difficult, because, whenever there was any event, the Bamoun people were not directly involved. We were like a little bit abandoned. But now that there is a Chief, I think there will be effective communication,’’ Chief Mapoure assured.