The decision by the fon of Nso, Sehm Mbinglo I, to convert to Islam has generated not only heated debate in Nso land but has also provoked fear that the move may signal a bleak future for Christianity in the Bui divisional headquarters, Kumbo.

This fear has been emboldened by the fact that a recently-constructed mosque in the Nso fon’s palace has completely undergone transformation and renovation.

Nso palace notables who spoke to The Guardian Post on condition of anonymity because they fear victimisation, expressed great concerns about the future of Christianity in Kumbo; saying both the fon’s decision to join Islam and the construction of a mosque in the palace were good ingredients to provoke a mass exodus from Christianity to Islam.

The fear, The Guardian Post understands, becomes tenable because unlike in other traditional set ups and fondoms, the paramount ruler of Nso is regarded as a deity whose instructions and actions can never be questioned. The Nso man, The Guardian Post has been told, has grown up to know that whatever instructions by the fon must be followed without any one raising a finger in opposition.

Analysts say the development poses a great threat for the survival of Christianity especially in the Nso fondom where the fon could just get up one fine morning and order his many wives and hundreds of children to, like him convert to Islam.

But even if it cannot be concluded and established that the fon of Nso might get up one morning and force his subjects to join Islam, what has been clearly established for now is that Fon Sehm Mbinglo’s royal seat at the Kumbo cathedral has for months remained empty.

“I cannot remember the last time I saw the fon of Nso in church...he used to attend church regularly but has not set foot here since he visited Libya and was converted to Islam by the former Libyan leader, Muammar Ghaddafi,” an usher serving in the Kumbo cathedral told The Guardian Post.

Patrick Sehm Mbinglo I becomes Alhadji Sehm Mbinglo I Meanwhile, following his return from Mecca recently, where he went with forty other pilgrims from Kumbo, for a month-long pilgrimage, the Nso paramount ruler was received at the Nso palace by a multitude of people who defied heavy torrential rainfall to catch a glimpse of Fon Patrick Sehm Mbinglo who now becomes Alhadji Sehm Mbinglo.

Speaking at the reception ceremony, Alhadji Sehm Mbinglo I called on his subjects to be God-fearing. He told all and sundry to be prayerful and to make it a duty to get up from bed and pray before carrying out their daily activities.

He cautioned motorcycle riders to be very careful while transporting passengers as he was not ready to lose one more soul after one of the pilgrims from Kuvlu died in Mecca.

For his part, the Imam of Kumbo mosque, Sheikh Mohammad Khalid who led the pilgrims to Mecca, called for unity between Muslims and their neighbours. He thanked those that turned out at the palace to give the pilgrims a splendid welcome.

The Imam disclosed that he led a delegation of 42 pilgrims to Mecca but only 41 persons returned because one of the pilgrims died during the month-long prayer session.